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Here are some tips on how to repair a xbox 360 console. If you are getting screen freezes or the dreaded 3 ring of death here are two things you can try to start with.

First, unplug the power. remove the hard drive. Plug in your game console. Press the power button. If that worked your in luck. Now shut the power off and hook your hard drive back in. Still working? Great, you fixed it!

Second thing you can try is to unplug your xbox 360. remove the hard drive. remove all the cables plugged into your console, including the video and anything else that can be disconnected. Plug in the console. Start it up. Did it work? Shut it off and hook everything back in, including the hard drive. power it up again. If it works, great. Neither one of the tips corrected your problem you may have a more serious problem and will have to look deeper into your game console.

microsoft has extended their warranty support of the Xbox 360 in order to accommodate owners who have become so frustrated with their game unit. You may want to check if your unit is still covered by there extended warranty before tearing it apart.

The big issue with the console is overheating. Make sure your console is getting enough ventilation. Do not enclose it in a cabinet or throw your blanket over the top of it. Is it laying on a thick carpet or rug? Make sure it can get enough air circulation. Before plugging it back in, use your compressed air to blow all the vents clean of dust and particles. I was at a friend's house and the vents on the console were so clogged with dust and dog hair I was amazed that it was still working.

Fixing your 360 yourself is not difficult, as long as you are comfortable opening up the machine yourself and following instructions. just note that if you do open it to repair it on your own, you'll void any warranties on it. If the idea of opening up the box and working on it yourself makes you nervous, it might be better to wait the 2-8 weeks it may take for microsoft to take care of it for you. Of course it will cost you $140 plus shipping and there is no guarantee they will repair it.

Screen freezes are the beginning of a more serious problem. Make sure your console is not getting too hot. If you catch this problem early enough you can save yourself a more costly repair.

// posted by 91850 @ 6:30 PM