I'm sure most of you with an Xbox360 have heard or at least experienced of the dreaded Red Ring of Death (aka Three Red Lights). The RRoD (short for Red Ring of Death) is a general hardware failure in the Xbox360. Most likely, if you are experiencing three red lights on the system, that means you must get it repaired as it will not longer boot up to the dashboard or play any of your games. We all know that sending your console to Microsoft takes around a month. You recieve a refurbished console back, but that doesn't mean that it is fixed! Some people's newly returned Xbox360 consoles have RRoD'ed again in the next few days!
Temporarily Fixing RRoD
If you have seen the three red lights on your system (as seen in picture above), then you might want to try the Towel Trick. The Towel Trick involves wrapping 3-4 towels around your Xbox360. Before I explain how to do the Towel Trick, you must first understand why you are doing it. Inside the Xbox360 are "Chips" which are connected by Soldering. Sometimes the soldering cracks. Using the Towel Trick, you are basically "cooking" your Xbox360. Through this cooking process, there is a chance that the soldering will melt and then cool again, forming a connection which will allow you to play your Xbox360 again -- with no RRoD! The only downside is that this is dangerous. Your Xbox360 "might" catch on fire. Keep in mind that all consoles have recieved an extended 3-yr warranty on RRoD. This means you can send your console back to Microsoft with no cost. However, you can still get a bit of gametime before your Xbox360 dies for real. The Towel Trick isn't a permanent solution. It is a temporary solution which allows your Xbox360 to run for 3 hours, 3 days, or even 3 weeks.
How to do the Towel Trick
1. Unplug all cords except the Power Cord. Leave the Power Cord attached to your Xbox360, and put the Power Brick in the Outlet. Your Xbox360 must be turned on for this to work.
2. Turn on the Xbox360. Your Xbox360 should be flashing Three Red Lights (aka RRoD). If it isn't, then it's already working and there is no need to do this "Towel Trick".
3. Place a towel underneath the Xbox360. Cover the sides, back, etc..
4. Place a towel on the top of the Xbox360. Cover the sides, back, etc..
5. Place another towel anywhere and wrap it around the Xbox360. Make sure you DON'T see the Xbox360. You want it to cook inside its own juices.
6. Leave it on for 15 minutes. Set the timer.
7. When 15 minutes is over, take the towels off and turn the console off. Also unplug the power cord from the Xbox360. Let it cool for 20 minutes. You NEED to let it cool. Don't just turn it off and back on.
8. When the Xbox360 is done cooling, plug all the cords back in, and turn on the Xbox360. The Three Flashing Red Lights should be gone! TA-DA!
Written by Chronotrigga
Leave a Comment
greenandhorniess at 2:28am on Jul. 22, 2008
5 months ago
My boyfriend and I had the RRoD and we did the towel trick, it worked for about a month but we had to do it every time we wanted to play. We sent it in to Xbox they gave us a new one back. I looked on the back and checked the manufacturing date and it was less than a week old. Its been good ever since. Reply...
pepmod at 5:26am on Mar. 26, 2008
9 months ago
the 360 is a great machine but it has to many hardware problems Reply...
JD Ross at 10:49am on Mar. 22, 2008
9 months ago
Just got a free RRoD xbox 360 and I'm getting it refurbed. Sometimes Microsoft does the right thing Reply...
Chronotrigga at 1:30pm on Feb. 17, 2008
10 months ago
That's a great question Akash. If you do this trick and it doesn't work, chances are you might have made it worse. If this happens, Microsoft probably won't repair it. There is a chance that the chips inside will crack. However, there are people who did this Towel Trick and then sent it back to Microsoft with no complaints. Reply...
akash at 10:45pm on Feb. 14, 2008
10 months ago
wow..nice article..but are u sure it's going for everyone..
i believe it violates the guarantee ..so not a option for just purchased people...
Now i didn't understand the logic u told "there is a chance that the soldering will melt and then cool again, forming a connection which will allow you to play your Xbox360 again.."
well what if it alters some good connection coz the heat will be experienced for all the parts including the one which is right... Reply...
madhur at 7:37pm on Feb. 14, 2008
10 months ago
xbox 360 i will try your towel trick. Chronotrigga a good tirck for xbox users to prevent from hardware failure. Reply...
mark123 at 3:38pm on Feb. 14, 2008
10 months ago
hey man thats cool and i love xbox! Reply...
amaron at 3:17pm on Feb. 14, 2008
10 months ago
I gotta buy an XBox console, today! Reply...
JD Ross at 7:24pm on Feb. 12, 2008
10 months ago
Come on man, abusing the site to get votes and views? It's a good piece, but the contest isn't even judged by votes and views, it's by a panel of judges from different blogs Reply...
Chronotrigga at 4:55am on Feb. 13, 2008
Hey JD Ross,
What abuse are you talking about? Thanks a lot. I spent maybe an hour or so typing it up and making it look good. I was going to edit in the Youtube video I found earlier but there was some swearing in it (didn't want people to be offended). If anyone does want to see the video incase your Xbox360 has the RRoD issue, then you should the first or second comment on the last page.
Also, I am aware that it is being judged by a panel of different blogs. I've actually visited WiiNintendo before. I also have my own website called Keywii.com (also a Wii-based fansite, but never really hit the ground yet because I've been lazy). Said aloud, Kiwi -- like the fruit. :D Reply...
Adam Durfee at 2:56pm on Feb. 12, 2008
10 months ago
Xbox sauna! I like it. Pretty slick approach to try to solve the RRoD. So long as the Xbox doesn't catch on fire, that is. Reply...
Chronotrigga at 3:29pm on Feb. 12, 2008
Haha. I heard that some people use their Xbox360 as a heater. When the Xbox360 is on and you put a thermometer in the back, temperatures can rise up to 120 degrees fahrenheit. For some people that have small rooms, Xbox360 is a multifunctional device as it can also serve as a heater. Some people turn their 360 on and sometimes have to open a window because the room gets so hot. :D Reply...