Red Ring of Death

[tesco]

I haven't touched my xbox 360 in a few weeks. I turned it on to play some Bioshock (the first one). I had to install it first. It fully installed and I started it up. I got into the game and paused, then seconds later the screen went blank. I shut teh xbox off immediately and when I turned it back on I had 3 red lights.
I'm getting code 0102 Unknown Hardware Failure (usually means the GPU/cold solder joint problem apparantly).

To top it off my extended warranty ended in Dec 2009. Why couldn't it have broken 2 months ago it lasted 2 years.

So who has a link to a good article for fixing this thing? Or am I better off sending it in to microsoft?

Also I'd like to know, if I open the thing myself, then decide to send it in to microsoft when I can't fix it will they still fix it for me?

[Tv Controls you]

Towel trick it and then sell it to your local gamestore.

If you don't know what the towel trick is:
1) unplug everything except power cable from xbox
2) wrap the xbox with around 3 towels
3) turn on for 15-20 minutes
4) unwrap out of towels
5) turn back on, should work fine for around 20 minutes- 6 hours. (enough time to sell to a game store lol)

If you want to fix it legitimately and are semi knowledgeable about hardware... Try this guide

http://www.se7ensins.com/forums/topic/41458-how-to-permanently-fix-the-3-red-lights-rrod-by-scar/

*note* This may not work for you either. In which case your pretty much screwed, because you already opened it up.

Also I'm pretty sure microsoft will still fix it although they will charge you around 60 euros to repair

[tesco]

I just went to do the towel trick and the 360 started right up without me doing anything. About 1 minute later it went back to 3 lights. Now i'm getting error 0110 (memory error).
Going to try the towel trick...

[Tv Controls you]

I just went to do the towel trick and the 360 started right up without me doing anything. About 1 minute later it went back to 3 lights. Now i'm getting error 0110 (memory error).
Going to try the towel trick...

The towel trick will actually make the core problem worse...

If you ever plan on fixing it forever do not towel trick, although I have did it a few times before repairing using similar methods to the guide I posted.

[tesco]

I just went to do the towel trick and the 360 started right up without me doing anything. About 1 minute later it went back to 3 lights. Now i'm getting error 0110 (memory error).
Going to try the towel trick...

The towel trick will actually make the core problem worse...

If you ever plan on fixing it forever do not towel trick, although I have did it a few times before repairing using similar methods to the guide I posted.

Now I wish I would have read your post after you edited.
I didn't think the towel trick could make anything worse.

Reading that guide now...

I'll probably try doing what that guide says if this towel thing didn't take. It doesn't look hard at all, I've fitted many heatsinks to motherboards and I've replaced my GPU heat sink as well.
I'm just worried that it would void any chance of microsoft repairing my console for me if nothing else works.

What are those X Clips held on with? Just those cheap nylon pushin connectors?
And what is the point in them? Why does removing them help?

[towerblocks]

There's 3 years warrenty for 3RROD, Phone microshit and send it in.

[tesco]

There's 3 years warrenty for 3RROD, Phone microshit and send it in.

I'm phoning tomorrow, but exploring my options.
Their site says my warranty is expired even though it hasn't been 3 years yet.
We'll see what they say when I call in...

edit: I just submitted my repair request online. Just found the canadian support site.
Looks like I won't be repairing it myself after all.

[mr. nails]

get it working and sell the pos then buy urself a better vcard for ur pc (start playing ur pc again dude!). i know u know bypass DRM procedures. either make that happen or ps3 it.

[Tv Controls you]

The x clamp is the source of most of the problems.

All the guide does is remove the x clamp and replace it with 4 screws with washers which is much more effective than the clamp.

The towel trick just heats up the solder joints which gives you some game time, because it fixed the joints for the time being.
They then cool down and may get even worse.

Sometimes that may not even work, which is when you have to bake the motherboard with a heatgun to reheat the joints.

I personally find its not worth my time, and just towel trick it and then sell it to the game store.

[S!X]

Throw it in the garbage and buy a PS3.