games  anime  |  toys
This is a Dtoid readers's blog. For staff blogs click here. Confused? read this Create you own!  |   Members: Login now





Random Failings: Dead Xbox 360/RRoD Edition
Furnimus | 4:06 PM on 08.06.2008 6 comments




I woke up and downloaded "Toxicity" and "B.Y.O.B." by System of a Down on Rock Band, as I was super excited for these tracks. After I played them once each on Expert guitar, I powered my Xbox down to go do the things I should have done when I first woke up (brush teeth, feed face, etc.) I came back in a hurry, wanting to get pwned on Expert drums by these songs, and lo and behold, Red Rings of Death.

I am the guy that always bragged. Yes sir, I was THE only guy I knew who got the launch Xbox that lasted. I was the guy that said not all of the 360's are defective, just look at my beautiful white box, with it's glistening green LEDs and its lewdly loud DVD drive. So when I saw these rings, my heart sank and my soul shriveled (ok it wasn't that bad). I was very distraught however. I unplugged the power and video connections many times, all in one feeble attempt to resuscitate my Halo-Box 360. None of them worked, so I took drastic measures...



This video has moved! Try our new Destructoid HD video section



I heard about the "towel trick" and had seen the video by Cheapy D on how to, in a sense, melt your Xbox into working order. I unplugged my HDD, USB cables, and video connection. Next, I got three towels and I wrapped them all around my Ecksbawks after powering it on and gazing into the cold red stare of the machine. After reassuring myself it was wrapped well, I set the timer for 20 minutes.



I came in due time and unwrapped my Xbox, with almost as much as excitement as tearing paper off of gifts at Christmas time. As the instructions said, I promptly turned it off and let it cool down from its surprisingly hot state. After 15 minutes, it was finally the moment of truth. Would my Xbox work? Was the heat treatment enough discipline to show it who's boss? I securely fastened all of my previous connections and configurations, excitedly depressed the power button, and as my eyes widened, I saw a familiar sight. Not the red rings, but the Xbox 360 startup screen!

It worked, but before I picked up the drumsticks and tested the pedal, I practically leaped to my local Wal-Mart (oh yeah, it happened) and bought a Nyko Intercooler EX. I figured it couldn't hurt...

When I returned home and installed the device, it was time to fail B.Y.O.B. on expert. And although System of a Down made me look like a three year old flailing on pots and pans with a whisk and a wooden spoon, I couldn't have been happier.

(DISCLAIMER: I ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO YOU OR YOUR XBOX 360 OR ANY OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY WHILE TRYING ANYTHING I DESCRIBED. TRY AT YOUR OWN RISK, OR DON'T, BUT YOU DIDN'T HEAR IT FROM ME. I ALSO MANAGED TO NOT BREAK MY ROBOCOP GUN, SAVING ME A LOT OF MONEY.)

"Don't forget to bring a towel!"


[Song lyric credits: "Baby Come Back," by Player]



Is this post awesome? Vote it up!

0


Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

6 comments | showing # 1 to 6

prev next

Arttemis's Destructoid Blog
Damn, dude, that blows.
Also, I don't own Rock Band, but Toxicity and BYOB seem like fucking awesome music-game titles to play.


My god, is it just me or has there been an influx (harkening back to circa.2006-2007) in the last few weeks?
Furnimus's Destructoid Blog
@ARTTEMIS: They are awesome songs, some of the best songs on Rock Band I think. They are also very hard in my opinion. And it does seem like quite a few have been dying lately. Luckily mine is alive for now!
Holyetheline's Destructoid Blog
I got the red ring while playing Rock Band with my girlfriend. I shipped my xbox off to damn Microsoft.
Anus Mcphanus's Destructoid Blog
Unfortunately I hear that the towel trick doesn't last long. It's more like a temporary fix. On the bright side though if it does brake again (which hopefully it won't) you'll be able to get a replacement 360 with an HDMI output
Crunshii's Destructoid Blog
why not just get a ps3, get the same game and no more fear of rrod :)
Furnimus's Destructoid Blog
@Anus McPhanus: I have heard that too, but I am hoping (maybe possibly somehow) the intercooler will make it last... wish me luck!

@Crunshii: I do have a PS3, but I invested in RB for the Xbox 360 first, and now I have like 50+ dollars worth of songs downloaded and I am WAAAYY too cheap to pay for them again. Other than that, with wireless instruments to boot, the PS3 version sounds ok.


prev next


Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 about me

Current Games:
Borderlands
Fallout 3
Rock Band 2
LittleBigPlanet

My Setup Specs:
Sony WEGA 50" 720p LCD-RPTV (Sony KDF-E50A10)
Panasonic 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound w/ DTS
Microsoft Xbox [20gb] (Launch Model, 1 RRoD w/ Component @ 720p and Digital Optical Cable (DD 5.1)
Sony Playstation 3 [80gb With Software BC] w/ HDMI @ 720p and Digital Optical Cable (DTS 5.1, DD 5.1)
Nintendo Wii (Also Launch) w/ Component @ 480p (DD PLII)
Sony Playstation 2 w/ Component @ 480p and Digital Optical Cable (DTS, DD 5.1)
Toshiba DVD Player with Component @ 480p and Digital Coaxial Cable (DTS, DD 5.1)
Dish Network DVR w/ Digital Optical Cable (DD PLII, DD 5.1)
Terk High Definition OTA Antenna

Gamertag = Furnimus
PSN ID = Furnimus
Everything else probably = Furnimus

Main Computer Setup Specs
Custom w/ Windows XP Black and Blue (SP2)
3.4ghz Pentium 4 Extreme w/ HyperThreading
3GB of RAM
320GB Western Digital Blue 7200 RPM Hard Drive
500GB External [re]drive
NVIDIA 6800 Ultra (256MB of DDR3 VRAM)
21" 1680 x 1050 LCD Flat Panel

Laptop Setup:
Toshiba Satellite w/ Windows 7 Professional 32 bit
2.0ghz Centrino Core Duo (2 processors @ 2.0ghz)
3GB of RAM
120gb 5400 RPM Hard Drive
Intel Mobile 945 Series Graphics (up to 256mb)
15.4" 1280 x 800 LCD w/ Web Cam & Microphone built in

MEMEMEME:
I live in the sunshine state. I enjoy most FPS's, rhythm games (other than RB > GH), and RPG's. Zelda is my favorite series of all time, forever. I soooo rock at LittleBigPlanet.

 xbox 360 gamertag
 friends' updates


 

 
  get involved

register or login
post a blog
post a forum
enter a contest
contribute a news tip
suggest a feature
be a guest editor
support

new member's guide
login assistance
tech support
report abuse
email our editors
read our dev blog
nuclear crisis?
keep in touch

RSS feed
Twitter
Facebook
Myspace
Flickr
Game nights
Meetup+play online
seriously

about Destructoid
advertising
terms of use
privacy policy
jobs at MM
buy our crap
our network

Tomopop
Japanator
Despingation?




Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
living the dream since March 16, 2006