Xbox 360 – How To Avoid The Red Ring Of Death

The red ring of death refers to the three red lights on your console that indicate a general hardware failure. Perhaps you have a new xbox that works just fine and want to prevent the red ring of death from happening to you.

Maybe you’ve had your xbox repaired and don’t want a repeat of the red ring of death. Whatever your situation, here are some simple measures that you can take to keep your xbox running perfectly.

1.) Your xbox will overheat if air can’t freely flow into it’s cooling vents. Therefore you need to know where the cooling vents are located so that you won’t accidentally block them. There should be lots and lots of open space around these vents. Make sure they aren’t pushed up against the wall and keep them clear of clutter.

2.) Make sure that your xbox is kept clean and keep your xbox in a dust free environment. The reason for this is that the cooling vents can suck in dirt, dust, and pet hair which will interfere with the cooling system. The fans get over worked if too much dust gets into the vents and they won’t be able to supply the xbox with enough cooling air.

3.) The rules that apply to your Xbox console also apply to the power brick. That is, the power brick must be kept cool. Therefore, make sure that air is free to flow around it. Don’t place it on soft or shaggy surfaces such as a carpet. Put it on a table or you can hang it off a hook.

4.) Don’t operate your xbox in a hot environment. If it’s a hot day, turn on the air conditioner. Keep it away from direct sunlight and other heat sources. This includes stoves, heaters, or other hot electronics nearby.

Another point to remember is that the longer you run your Xbox, the hotter it will get. So it’s a good idea to limit your gaming to no more than a couple of hours at a time.

At this point, you may have guessed correctly that the red ring of death is caused by overheating. The xbox has a weak cooling system and doesn’t tolerate heat very well. It’s internal components are very powerful and therefore put out a lot of heat. So the key to avoiding the red ring of death is to do everything you can to keep your xbox running cool.

Marc Sandford is a gaming enthusiast and author. Get more Xbox 360 trouble shooting advice about fixing the Xbox 360 ring of death.