The Xbox 360 red ring of death happens to many gamers around the world. It can be very frustrating to have your console give up on you while you are playing your favorite Xbox 360 game. Purchasing more than one Xbox 360 console can be very expensive.

So, what are the chances of your Xbox 360 console coming face to face with the three flashing red lights? Well, most experts agree that 1 out of 4 consoles will be effected. Some have even suggested that 1 out of 3 might be a better estimate. Either way, the statistics are very scary. The Xbox 360 red ring of death might be the reason why some gamers have deciding not to purchase the Xbox 360 at all.

So what are you supposed to do when your Xbox 360 malfunctions? Well, you have several different options. The first option is a very common one, let Microsoft fix it the problem. That is usually the first thing that comes to a gamers mind when the red ring occurs. Microsoft will fix it, but only if your warranty has not expired.

Of course they will still fix your console with out the warranty, but you will have to pay a repair fee. It can cost upwards of 100 bucks to get your Xbox 360 fixed by them. That is very expensive, considering the fact that they made a mistake on their end. If you do decide to send it in, you will have to wait around 4-6 weeks to get it back refurbished.

Another option to try, is to fix the problem yourself. It might seem as though it would be very complicating to try to fix the console yourself, but it actually is pretty simple. Fixing the red ring of death on your own is probably the best, and quickest way to repair your console. You do have to be careful though. Following the wrong repair guide could cause even more damage to your console.

You really have to be careful with which repair methods you try. One of the Xbox 360 repair methods you should avoid by all means is the “towel trick method”. This repair method is very popular on You Tube, and many other video hosting sites. It tells you to wrap towels around your console to get rid of the 3 flashing red lights. Doing this, will only cause more damage to your Xbox 360 console.

Are there any ways to avoid the Xbox 360 red ring of death? That’s a though question. There are things you can do to help your console stay cooler, but the red ring of death might happen do to other reasons. You should consider buying an external cooling fan for your console. This will help the console run smoother.

Be sure to place the console in an open area. You want to create a nice air flow for your console. Get rid of the dust. It is very important to keep the Xbox 360 dust-free. Try to clean your console at least 3 times a week to prevent over-heating. Most Xbox 360 consoles malfunction do to over-heating. By following the tips above, you can reduce the risk of getting the red ring of death.