Have a problem with Xbox 360? Find out how to fix Xbox 360’s worst problem: The Red Ring of Death!

The worst Xbox 360 problem is the red ring of death, and that’s exactly what this article will help you with. If your problem with Xbox 360 is that your system is freezing and you are getting red lights on the power button, this article is for you.

You’re going to learn:

-the cause of the Xbox 360 red light issue

-what NOT to do when trying to repair your Xbox

-A guide on how you can fix your Xbox 360 problem yourself and get rid of red light errors once and for all!

First of all, I will admit how angry you can be to have this Xbox 360 problem. It is a real pain, it ruins your playing time as you have a constant fear of freezing. Worse still, it locks you out of online games (hurting your game score) and you constantly lose level progress.

This Xbox 360 red light issue essentially turns your system into a paperweight.

However, no matter how frustrated you feel, don’t resort to desperate quick-fix tricks (like the towel trick I’ll show you in a moment). There is a safe and fast way to fix your Xbox 360 problem permanently, and you will see how you can do it.

The cause of the Xbox 360 red light problem

Hot! The cause of this Xbox 360 freezing red light issue is heat!

Here’s the technical explanation: Microsoft made the heat sink (the cooling unit) too small. They made it small to make room for the DVD drive. Now what happens is that this heatsink is too small to keep the motherboard cool. As the motherboard heats up, it vibrates. These vibrations cause the GPU (graphics processing unit) to loosen. The cause of your Xbox 360 problem is that the GPU comes loose and your system hangs.

The solution to this Xbox 360 problem is explained below, but basically what you need to do is decrease the vibrations of the motherboard and allow it to breathe more (keeping it cooler). Don’t worry, this isn’t as difficult as it sounds, and you can fix your Xbox 360 problem with basic home maintenance tools.

No technical experience is required with a safe Xbox 360 repair, but in your frustration, don’t resort to the towel trick!

The towel trick won’t fix your red ring of death

Some blogs and sites say that you wrap your system in a towel (leaving it on and overheating) or using a hair dryer and overheating. Do not do this.

You saw above how heat is the cause of your Xbox 360 freezing problem, so more heat will only make your Xbox 360 problem worse.

You have been warned.

Your Xbox 360 Troubleshooting Guide

Before doing anything, I suggest you take a look at a professional Xbox 360 repair guide. These guides have videos and step-by-step instructions to guide you through the entire process. They make it very easy to follow.

Also, don’t be afraid to disarm your system. 94% of red light errors Xbox 360s don’t need new parts, they just need a small adjustment to get them working. It is not difficult to disassemble your system and do this repair. Also, now it’s broken anyway, right?

Also, you CAN fix this Xbox 360 problem by sending it to Microsoft, but it will cost you $ 140 and it will take 6 weeks. This Xbox 360 Troubleshooting Guide (and a Professional Xbox 360 Repair Guide) are very easy and much cheaper. Choose what works best for you.

So with that and in mind (and my strong recommendation to watch a repair video), here’s how you can fix your Xbox 360 freezing issue once and for all (note: arctic silver thermal compound can be found at any computer store and only costs about $ 1):

1. Remove the faceplate and the casing. You will find slightly gray circles between all the holes in your system. Prick these with a sharp point. Also, on the back, there are 6 small box-shaped holes that also need to be drilled to open your case system.

2. Remove the DVD drive and disconnect its cables.

3. Gently pull out the motherboard.

4. Flip the motherboard over and look at the 2 X-shaped clamps. The heatsink is a big silver box on top of one of these X-clamps. Remove that X-clamp and unscrew the heatsink.

5. Now clean the CPU and GPU with isopropyl alcohol (remove all thermal compound).

6. Once clean, place a new Arctic Silver Thermal Compound over the CPU and GPU.

7. Before replacing the heat sink, place 2 nylon washers under the heat sink holes on the motherboard, and before screwing in the screws, place 2 washers on them as well. This allows your motherboard to breathe and is a very important part of fixing your Xbox 360 problem.

8. Replace the motherboard and DVD drive. Replace the case and turn it on for 15 minutes. Just leave it. Then turn it off for half an hour or so.

9. Turn it back on and you’re done! No more Xbox 360 problems.

Now that you know how to fix your Xbox 360 problem, I suggest you take a look at a professional Xbox 360 repair guide if you need help with this Xbox 360 repair. Just don’t do anything, your Xbox 360 is too expensive to become a paperweight.

Good luck fixing your Xbox 360 problem!