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Is my xbox about to die

SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
edited December 2009 in Help / Advice Forum
Just turned it on just now to play some Farcry2. After about a minute into the game I started getting weird graphics glitches um, kind of hard to describe - ok, here is a mockup I've done in photoshop:

kq71u97i.png

Something like that anyway. Like the brightness and contrast has just been severely screwed with in selected areas. I went to the game menu and the colours were all funky there as well so I reset the console and the dashboard now has a very strong green/blue hue to everything.

No red rings or anything yet but presumably, what, the graphics card is overheating?

Szechuanosaurus on

Posts

  • Kris_xKKris_xK Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    Yup, when you start getting random crap like that (I think smart people call them Artifacts or something...or maybe thats just Indiana Jones) its a sure sign the video card is overheating.

    Kris_xK on
    calvinhobbessleddingsig2.gif
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2009
    Anything I can do or is this likely the result of the heatsink separating from the GPU?

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • Kris_xKKris_xK Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    Someone with more hardware knowledge may be able to provide you with better suggestions, but I think you're pretty much done.

    You can probably extend the use of the console a bit by doing the "Towel Trick," but that merely puts off the inevitable.

    I can suggest however that you DO NOT open up the Xbox to see what went wrong. Wait for it to die, contact MS.

    Kris_xK on
    calvinhobbessleddingsig2.gif
  • cytorakcytorak Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    My Xbox did the exact same thing two days before it completely died with Fallout 3. Like Kris_xK, I am no hardware specialist, but, yeah, a call/online form to MS is in your very near future.

    cytorak on
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2009
    Ok, so sounds like it could be an imminent E74 error, which is now covered by the extended 3 year warranty so I should at least be covered.

    No idea if I still have the receipt though.

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • Kris_xKKris_xK Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    Ok, so sounds like it could be an imminent E74 error, which is now covered by the extended 3 year warranty so I should at least be covered.

    No idea if I still have the receipt though.

    It shouldn't matter if you have the receipt or not it you're going through MS. They'll want the serial number and that's it I believe.

    Kris_xK on
    calvinhobbessleddingsig2.gif
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2009
    Kris_xK wrote: »
    Ok, so sounds like it could be an imminent E74 error, which is now covered by the extended 3 year warranty so I should at least be covered.

    No idea if I still have the receipt though.

    It shouldn't matter if you have the receipt or not it you're going through MS. They'll want the serial number and that's it I believe.

    p. awesome.

    So...do I have to run it into the ground and get a verified E74 error before I can do anything?

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • Kris_xKKris_xK Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    Kris_xK wrote: »
    Ok, so sounds like it could be an imminent E74 error, which is now covered by the extended 3 year warranty so I should at least be covered.

    No idea if I still have the receipt though.

    It shouldn't matter if you have the receipt or not it you're going through MS. They'll want the serial number and that's it I believe.

    p. awesome.

    So...do I have to run it into the ground and get a verified E74 error before I can do anything?

    Yup.

    Turn it on and put a lavalap on top of it.

    Kris_xK on
    calvinhobbessleddingsig2.gif
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2009
    Huh.

    Well, tonight I'm not getting any video at all. I hear the audio coming through the TV for all the little pings and bleeps in makes when it boots up and signs into Live but no picture at all, so no error code either.

    Or any red lights.

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • PrecursorPrecursor Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    I had horizontal green lines all over my screen just before my xbox e74'd a couple days ago. So yeah, I'd say graphical errors are a precursor to rrod/e74.

    I'm not really sure what to tell you about this no video thing you're experiencing right now. Just hope it rrod's soon so you can send it in and get a free repair.

    Precursor on
    Quashdom.png
  • SkeezicksSkeezicks Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    Huh.

    Well, tonight I'm not getting any video at all. I hear the audio coming through the TV for all the little pings and bleeps in makes when it boots up and signs into Live but no picture at all, so no error code either.

    Or any red lights.

    This might sound really stupid but, are you sure that the actual cable isn't loose and/or fallen out of the console or your TV? (Hey, it happens. :D)

    Skeezicks on
  • DarkewolfeDarkewolfe Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    Most of the time when people ask this question the answer is yes.

    The only way to troubleshoot is to test connections and if possible try it on another tv. With artifacts like that, though, you're probably about to fry.

    Darkewolfe on
    What is this I don't even.
  • SteevLSteevL What can I do for you? Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    When I had my E74 error back in September, first I got artifacting in 3D graphics. One of the troubleshooting suggestions was to try a different video cable. I use HDMI, so I just switched it with the one I use for my PS3 and no longer got video. When I switched back to my 360's cable, I had the E74 error waiting for me.

    SteevL on
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2009
    Skeezicks wrote: »
    Huh.

    Well, tonight I'm not getting any video at all. I hear the audio coming through the TV for all the little pings and bleeps in makes when it boots up and signs into Live but no picture at all, so no error code either.

    Or any red lights.

    This might sound really stupid but, are you sure that the actual cable isn't loose and/or fallen out of the console or your TV? (Hey, it happens. :D)

    yeah, this was something i considered. The no video at all scenario actually occurred after I disconected and reconnected the hdmi cable to check it was seated properly (while the system was powered down).

    Is it possible that the hdmi cable is actually damaged? It's always worked fine and hasn't had any physical tampering except for me unplugging it and then plugging it back in last night. Cables can't just wear out through use can they?

    The only other tv I have to test it on is non-hdmi. I guess I could try that, the regular and hdmi signal all comes from the same bit of hardware doesn't it? I suppose I should also try plugging it into another hdmi in port on the actual tv, I think this one has multiple hdmi in sockets.

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • WillethWilleth Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    Get a can of compressed air and blow into every crevice you can find. If the components are overheating, it could be dust build-up as easily - probably more - than the mainboard warping.

    Willeth on
    @vgreminders - Don't miss out on timed events in gaming!
    @gamefacts - Totally and utterly true gaming facts on the regular!
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2009
    Willeth wrote: »
    Get a can of compressed air and blow into every crevice you can find. If the components are overheating, it could be dust build-up as easily - probably more - than the mainboard warping.

    Just on the xbox or...?


    Yeah, I think I will give that a shot as well. It appears that the case is designed not to be opened easily? Would be easier to be able to pop it open and make sure I'm actually removing dust, not just clogging more of it against whatever is overheating.

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • WillethWilleth Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    Opening it will void your warranty.

    Willeth on
    @vgreminders - Don't miss out on timed events in gaming!
    @gamefacts - Totally and utterly true gaming facts on the regular!
  • Kris_xKKris_xK Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    DO NOT FUCKING OPEN THE XBOX

    Kris_xK on
    calvinhobbessleddingsig2.gif
  • vonPoonBurGervonPoonBurGer Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    Your Xbox is most likely dead. My first 360 died the same way, I started seeing artifacts and weird color distortions, then one day I started it up and had sound but no video. MS wouldn't cover it under warranty because it was neither an E74 error nor a red ring. They may have changed this policy, I'm not sure.

    Before you give up all hope, you should reset the video settings if you haven't already. Hold down the Y button and the right trigger on the controller while starting up the console. That'll reset the video to its lowest setting, 480i. If you still have no video, your video chip is probably dead. Call MS and see if they'll fix it under warranty. If they won't, you could always try to towel trick to see if that fixes it, or at least see if you can force a red ring that way.

    vonPoonBurGer on
    Xbox Live:vonPoon | PSN: vonPoon | Steam: vonPoonBurGer
  • SkeezicksSkeezicks Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    Definitely try this...
    The only other tv I have to test it on is non-hdmi. I guess I could try that, the regular and hdmi signal all comes from the same bit of hardware doesn't it? I suppose I should also try plugging it into another hdmi in port on the actual tv, I think this one has multiple hdmi in sockets.

    ...and this.
    Before you give up all hope, you should reset the video settings if you haven't already. Hold down the Y button and the right trigger on the controller while starting up the console. That'll reset the video to its lowest setting, 480i. If you still have no video, your video chip is probably dead. Call MS and see if they'll fix it under warranty.

    It's best to eliminate every possibility. :)

    Skeezicks on
  • saltinesssaltiness Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    My xbox did this before going E74 on me. Funny thing is, this was before MS covered E74s with the extended 3yr warranty so I wound up opening the thing to try and fix it. I got it to work some of the time but it was still messed up. Then MS announced E74 being covered to I figured I might as well send it in and see what happens. They wound up replacing it anyway even though I'd opened it. Of course I don't recommend opening yours, just saying.

    saltiness on
    XBL: heavenkils
  • vonPoonBurGervonPoonBurGer Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    saltiness wrote: »
    My xbox did this before going E74 on me. Funny thing is, this was before MS covered E74s with the extended 3yr warranty so I wound up opening the thing to try and fix it. I got it to work some of the time but it was still messed up. Then MS announced E74 being covered to I figured I might as well send it in and see what happens. They wound up replacing it anyway even though I'd opened it. Of course I don't recommend opening yours, just saying.
    I think E74 and this problem might be closely related, not sure though. MS extended the warranty for E74 returns several months after I replaced my 360, and "audio but no video" type issues might also be covered now as part of that change.

    vonPoonBurGer on
    Xbox Live:vonPoon | PSN: vonPoon | Steam: vonPoonBurGer
  • PeregrineFalconPeregrineFalcon Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    Kris_xK wrote: »
    DO NOT FUCKING OPEN THE XBOX

    Seriously, that's a bad, bad idea. It will void your warranty.

    That's a far worse idea than those people who stuff their 360 in an enclosed space wrapped in a towel, I'm not surprised that they get RRODs and have to have their systems serviced.

    PeregrineFalcon on
    Looking for a DX:HR OnLive code for my kid brother.
    Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2009
    Skeezicks wrote: »
    Definitely try this...
    The only other tv I have to test it on is non-hdmi. I guess I could try that, the regular and hdmi signal all comes from the same bit of hardware doesn't it? I suppose I should also try plugging it into another hdmi in port on the actual tv, I think this one has multiple hdmi in sockets.

    ...and this.
    Before you give up all hope, you should reset the video settings if you haven't already. Hold down the Y button and the right trigger on the controller while starting up the console. That'll reset the video to its lowest setting, 480i. If you still have no video, your video chip is probably dead. Call MS and see if they'll fix it under warranty.

    It's best to eliminate every possibility. :)

    Ok, goin to try these. Out of interest, if it isn't covered under warranty how much does it usually cost to pay for the box to be fixed? I've been planning on buying a 120Gb HDD anyway which costs about £90 and with the elites with 120Gb drive only costing £190 with two free games plus a new controller if the cost of repair is substantial I might be just as well buying a new box if I can't get this one working on my own.

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • WillethWilleth Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    When mine red-ringed recently, it was out of warranty, and I was told it would cost around £60 to repair, I believe. I managed to wrangle a free repair (and free lifetime future repairs), though, because it had been serviced more than three times when it was in warranty.

    Willeth on
    @vgreminders - Don't miss out on timed events in gaming!
    @gamefacts - Totally and utterly true gaming facts on the regular!
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2009
    For the sake of £40 difference I might be better of with a fresh new system then. I could probably sell this one as spares and repairs on eBay for at least that much anyway. Well, I'll see how things go and whether I can get it repaired under warranty but if I can find the scratch a new system would be mighty tempting.

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2009
    Ok, I've tried reseating the cable and resetting the video and it hasn't worked. According to this and this article from the xbox support pages they reckon the most likely cause is an issue with the connection between the xbox and the TV, which comes back to a faulty cable.

    I'm currently using the Xbox 360 Component HD AV Cable connected to the TV by an RGB input. I've also tried using this cable to connect to the TV by a composite video input (both options detailed in the "No image appears on your TV or monitor when you use your Xbox 360 console" article). I'm getting the same issue with both options - audio but no picture. I'm going to have a dig around in the attic for the packaging because I think the xbox also came with the Xbox 360 Standard AV Cable (composite), so I can try that in the composite video input as well. If that does work, generic HDMI cables actually only cost a couple of quid by the looks of things, so I guess it wouldn't hurt to give them a try.

    If none of that works, I guess it's of to microsoft to see how much a repair will cost.

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • quietguyinthebackquietguyintheback Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    I don't know how technically inclined you are, but they don't take much time or money to fix on your own. It takes eight screws, about 32 washers and some thermal compound. Mine did pretty much exactly what yours is doing, but it's fine now. There are walkthroughs and videos all over the internet showing how you do it.

    quietguyintheback on
  • ascannerlightlyascannerlightly Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    Willeth wrote: »
    Get a can of compressed air and blow into every crevice you can find. If the components are overheating, it could be dust build-up as easily - probably more - than the mainboard warping.
    the internal components can get downright furry if you are/live with a smoker.

    ascannerlightly on
    armedroberty.jpg
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2009
    Smoker free environment but dust isn't out of the question. I'll pick up a can of compressed air as well, I could do with some for my pc anyway. Actually, that reminds me I need to wash the air filter on my pc sometime.

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • cytorakcytorak Registered User regular
    edited November 2009
    Huh.

    Well, tonight I'm not getting any video at all. I hear the audio coming through the TV for all the little pings and bleeps in makes when it boots up and signs into Live but no picture at all, so no error code either.

    Or any red lights.

    Remember how I said my did the exact same thing, a little bit up on the page?

    I am fucking Nostradamus. It is coming to pass. :P

    Seriously, everything you have said has happened so far is what happened to my 360. When I described this to the MS tech, he pretty much all but said, "Yeah, you're 360 is pretty fucked." I sent it in with a prepaid label I printed off, and I had it back within 10 days. They even gave me a free month of XBL Gold for my trouble.

    This is all assuming you are still under warranty.

    cytorak on
  • RaekiRaeki Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    If you aren't under warranty anymore than you can have a lot of fun with it.

    For instance last summer my friend's Xbox died, and he's had it for four years, so there was no chance of him getting it fixed for free, so we did the logical thing and took it apart. We looked at it, turned it on a couple times just for the novelty of trying to play it with all of it's guts exposed. And it still got the rrod, then just as an afterthought we sprayed it out with an air can. We then turned it back on and started playing CoD 4, and after about an hour we realized we had fixed it. So we spray painted the case black and gold. Now his Xbox looks awesome and works.

    But if it's under warranty don't do anything like that, my friends and I were just really surprised that just a little dust could ruin the Xbox like that.

    Raeki on
  • ascannerlightlyascannerlightly Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    i think this thread is jinxed. my refurb 360 bit the bullet yesterday morning. no warning, no precursor of color bleed/video error that i read everywhere as heralding an e74. aside from having it freeze on a loading screen a couple times in the past month i hadn't had any problems. i was playing saint's row 2 and turned off the box to help my roommate install some new speakers in his car. came back about an hour later and turned it on the be greeted with that lovely screen telling me in 9 different languages how fucked i was. amazingly enough though my 360 was still eligible for the e74 repair even though it was manufactured in december of '05. i printed the label at work today and now i just need to find a box to ship it in (or if not just break down and buy a box at the office).

    ascannerlightly on
    armedroberty.jpg
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited December 2009
    cytorak wrote: »
    Huh.

    Well, tonight I'm not getting any video at all. I hear the audio coming through the TV for all the little pings and bleeps in makes when it boots up and signs into Live but no picture at all, so no error code either.

    Or any red lights.

    Remember how I said my did the exact same thing, a little bit up on the page?

    I am fucking Nostradamus. It is coming to pass. :P

    Seriously, everything you have said has happened so far is what happened to my 360. When I described this to the MS tech, he pretty much all but said, "Yeah, you're 360 is pretty fucked." I sent it in with a prepaid label I printed off, and I had it back within 10 days. They even gave me a free month of XBL Gold for my trouble.

    This is all assuming you are still under warranty.

    yeah, I suspect the end shall come to pass, but figure it would be stupid not to try the obvious first. I've got a £2 hdmi cable and some compressed air coming in the post, so I'll try those cheap and chearful tests before contacting MS. I'll be outside the standard 1 year warranty and haven't had the e74 error (there's no image at all on the screen) so I'm not sure if they'll cover me under the extended 3 year warranty (which I would still be eligible for). Looks like I can probably get at least £30 for it on eBay if all else fails, I'd rather do that than open it up and try to fix it myself so I can at least sell it as untampered with.

    Szechuanosaurus on
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