XBOX 360 - The Three Lights of Death - Noooooooooooooo!!!!!

So you've dropped a million dollars on an awesome home theater setup, another million on an xbox 360, all the cords, controllers, xbox live, cable internet, a nice comfy couch, beer, chips, and Halo 3.

So you frantically take the wrapping off of halo 3, press power on the xbox 360, and....

...you get nothing, just 3 flashing red lights on the ring of light around the power button.

Another thing that may happen, is the xbox may turn on just fine, and go to the dashboard, or even start playing a game (halo 3) just fine, but then you see video artifacts, or static, and/or then the thing freezes, then, when you restart, you get the three lights of death...

I have been using the following method to fix this.

Resolution

Ok now that that is out of the way, the first thing to do is check the error code on the xbox to see what the problem is.

You can do this by:

The specific type of hardware failure can be determined by a "hidden" error code

• Turn the xbox 360 on, and wait till the 3 red lights are flashing.
• Press and hold the sync up button (the small white one), while holding that button press the eject button.
• The LEDs will now blink the first number in the code (as described below).
• Release the eject button and press it again.
• The LEDs will now blink the second number of the code.
• Release the eject button and press it again.
• The LEDs will now blink the third number of the code.
• Release the eject button and press it again.
• The LEDs will now blink the forth number of the code.
• Release the eject button and press it again.
• The LEDs will go back to the 3 red flashing lights.

You should be able to determine the difference between the 3 flashing lights and the error code lights by the rate in which they flash.

Here is how you interpret the LEDs to get the code number:

• All four lights flashing - 0
• One light flashing - 1
• Two Lights flashing - 2
• Three lights flashing - 3

This fix is for boxes that give the error code 0102

I think it has something to do with the GPU of the unit overheating and cooling off and moving around ever-so-slightly because of the temperature changes...

You can try doing these first (probably won't have great results, but try anyway)

1. Try restarting the console.
2. If restarting the console does not resolve the behavior, follow these steps:
   • Turn the console off.
   • Unplug all the power and AV cables from the console.
   • Unplug the power cord from the wall socket.
   • Firmly reconnect all the cables.
   • Turn on the console.
3. If these steps do not resolve the behavior, turn the console off, remove the hard drive, and then turn on the console. If the 3x Red LED error light is no longer displayed, turn the console off, re-attach the hard drive, and then turn on the console.
4. Also examine the lights on the power supply. When you turn on the console, the power supply light should illuminate green even if the three lights on the RoL flash red.

When that stuff doesn't work, turn on your xbox and try flipping the video cable switch from HDTV to TV and back to HDTV again, it may restart on it's own and start working.

Disclaimer: Please note, by trying the procedure described below, you run the risk of SERIOUSLY DAMAGING your xbox and/or VOIDING your WARRANTY! so only use this as a last resort!

But the real fix, brace for it, is:

Just turn off the xbox, make sure everything is plugged in securely. You may want to pull it away from the rest of the home theater (to the middle of the room even) and stand it up on its side so the most surface area is exposed to sweet, sweet cool air)

Then turn it on..

Still getting red lights? You probably are... Now just walk away...
leave the xbox on and the 3 damned red lights flashing. Come back in about an hour, maybe more, maybe less, and restart the xbox again. Chances are that it will start working normally.

The theory here is that there is something up with the GPU and Heat. Maybe excessive temp changes from hot to cold and back again makes the graphics chip move around slightly and lose contact with the mainboard. By leaving the xbox on, everything heats up, and thus expands, making it easier for the GPU to maybe slide back into place and start working.

Related, and sources:

http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?s=e9ab693438b161381b2100ed3d96daca&showtopic=484726&st=0&p=3213514&#entry...
http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=484726&st=105&p=3550914&#entry3550914
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYv6b7MndJk - link to the hot air gun fix

The downside:
M$ got your 500plus dollars, and you ended up with a shoddily soldered xbox that needs to be literally warmed up before use, and your only options are to buy another that will end up the same way, or send your box away for six weeks only to have it return with the same issue...

Thanks Micro$oft!