MS offering replacements for consoles affected by Dashboard Update

anoffday

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/new-xbox-360-update-incompatible-with-some-models-ms-offering-r/

I thought this was pretty exciting news. The first time I'm kind of hoping my console breaks. My 20 gb 360 is from launch day, so I'm crossing my fingers. A console upgrade would be nice and is long overdue anyway.

Apparently this update is suppose to roll out tomorrow (May 19th), so we'll see. If it doesn't work for you, it'll basically make your discs unreadable, but it may also be your lucky day.

It hasn't been officially stated, but a couple people are saying it's the Hitachi and Samsung drives. You can see pictures of them here.

http://www.xblog-360.com/forum/showthread.php?t=564

I have the Hitachi, but like I said, it's not official news concerning which drives are affected, so don't jump for joy just yet.

Skull2185

Wait... what?

There's a console update coming that could negatively affect your console, but the update hasn't dropped yet?

Why not delay the update?

Fakedit: Aaaaand like clockwork... "server too busy"

anoffday

I guess it'd be more trouble to find a fix for the update than it's worth, and they're assuming most people have either upgraded already or have suffered from the RROD on an old console and it doesn't work anymore anyway.

Satsumomo

It's an update to install new anti-piracy measures, but some drives aren't compatible. MS is willing to issue a new console to any affected users.

How will they do this outside of the US though?

a5ehren

Skull2185 wrote: »

Wait... what?

There's a console update coming that could negatively affect your console, but the update hasn't dropped yet?

Why not delay the update?

Fakedit: Aaaaand like clockwork... "server too busy"

I'm guessing they figured out what caused the problem with those drives, saw they couldn't fix it, and put out a pre-emptive press release :P

Skull2185

Oh...oh, lrn 2 read, Skull...

So, If I purchased a new 360 within the last 2 years, I should probably be ok?

SyphonBlue

Oh man I hope mine breaks!

anoffday

Satsumomo wrote: »

It's an update to install new anti-piracy measures, but some drives aren't compatible. MS is willing to issue a new console to any affected users.

How will they do this outside of the US though?

Click that joystiq link. It's from eurogamer so people in NA are waiting on what to do.

wobblyheadedbob

Ooooooooh man I hope it bricks mine. 250 gb would be sweet!

joshofalltrades

This is actually official news now. I only have a 20 GB HD, so I would be willing to forgo 360 usage for a couple months even for the latest and greatest console.

anoffday

joshofalltrades wrote: »

This is actually official news now. I only have a 20 GB HD, so I would be willing to forgo 360 usage for a couple months even for the latest and greatest console.

I knew it was official news, but have they officially said which drives are affected? That's what I wasn't sure about.

Magic Pink

If you have a console that's affected, you're supposed to be getting an email about it.

anoffday

Magic Pink wrote: »

If you have a console that's affected, you're supposed to be getting an email about it.

Do they know this from being on Xbox Live or do you have to have had your console registered?

Because I'm not sure if I ever did that. Then again, I did send it in for repairs once, so I'm guessing it would have had to be registered for me to do that?

Jason00

I was part of the beta, and I didn't have a single issue with the update. My console is almost 2yrs old, so I am pretty sure this is only for the earliest drives (and how those things haven't all red ringed by now, is beyond me -- I babied my original console and it still gave me the RROD).

anoffday

I have the same console that I walked out of Best Buy with after waiting for what remains the longest night of my life in their cold parking lot almost 6 years ago.

I need this new console.

Satsumomo

anoffday wrote: »

Satsumomo wrote: »

It's an update to install new anti-piracy measures, but some drives aren't compatible. MS is willing to issue a new console to any affected users.

How will they do this outside of the US though?

Click that joystiq link. It's from eurogamer so people in NA are waiting on what to do.

Ah it's just that I read it on Dtoid, they didn't mention what region this was in so I naturally assumed the US. Ok then, what about people out of US/EU? Like, smaller countries that probably don't have "official" Microsoft presence there.

Custom Special

I'm hoping, but not holding my breath. I sent in mine for a Ring a little over a year ago and the system they sent back was a different one. I can only assume the drives that will brick are going to be the older ones, but maybe I'll hit the brick-lottery jackpot...

NailbunnyPD

It would be nice to know in advance what consoles will be affected, so we don't miss the window of opportunity for replacement. My older 360 is not actively used, but it has a Hitachi drive. If its affected, I hope I can find out sooner rather than later.

(edit) To clarify, this older console is not my main, and its not active on Live, so MS would only know about it by looking at my previous consoles registered (and repaired, many times) on my account. I'll take it online for the update, but then it goes back to being offline due to location.

joshofalltrades

The firmware update is tomorrow, and if you brick you'll have til September to swap it out

ThePantsAssociation

I like the sound of this news. I have a launch day 360 that somehow, somehow never had any problems whatsoever. I believe I deserve a free new Xbox for this little miracle.

Dunxco

Even if my 360 doesn't brick after the Firmware update, the extra Gig of free disc storage capacity will be a nice bonus.

Tikhon

My second 360 I purchased at a garage sale. The guy supposedly RROD-proofed it. If this thing has been opened but it still gets bricked, am I screwed?

Skull2185

Tikhon wrote: »

My second 360 I purchased at a garage sale. The guy supposedly RROD-proofed it. If this thing has been opened but it still gets bricked, am I screwed?

I believe so, yes.

Tikhon

Skull2185 wrote: »

Tikhon wrote: »

My second 360 I purchased at a garage sale. The guy supposedly RROD-proofed it. If this thing has been opened but it still gets bricked, am I screwed?

I believe so, yes.

Well.... I got my 40 bucks use out of it.

Zilla360

Magic Pink wrote: »

If you have a console that's affected, you're supposed to be getting an email about it.

This is what the e-mail looks like BTW, if anyone's interested (not mine):

Some more details from Eurogamer (this is first time they're flashing the drive firmware, so whilst your old consoles won't 'brick', you won't be able to read discs any-more, XBLA etc will still work).

Henroid

So a free internal storage upgrade basically awaits people because of this? Sweet deal.

BloodySloth

Oh man, my launch console RROD'd on me like two months ago and I haven't been able to pony up the cash to get it fixed. This could be my lucky break.

TheOtherHorseman

Time to dust off the 360 that's been idle for a year and a half and give this baby a whirl.

darleysam

I recently bought a new stealthbox to replace my old one that was on its way out (and out of warranty), but kept ahold of the dying console in case someone wanted to try and fix it up. Might see if it falls under this system when the update hits..

NailbunnyPD

Everyone keeps indicated that the update will "brick" the console, but I haven't read anything to indicate that the console gets bricked.

This issue manifests itself a as a unique 'disc unreadable' or 'disc unsupported' error on the screen.

This is what concerns me. Do I need to play a new game that uses the new antipiracy feature, or will it affect existing games, too? If the console remains offline, and I don't buy any 360 games before the deadline, how would I know?

sir_pinch-a-loaf

So, say you have to replace your console. Do the slims come with any data transfer kits to go from your old drive to the new internal one?

Magic Pink

NailbunnyPD wrote: »

Everyone keeps indicated that the update will "brick" the console, but I haven't read anything to indicate that the console gets bricked.

This issue manifests itself a as a unique 'disc unreadable' or 'disc unsupported' error on the screen.

This is what concerns me. Do I need to play a new game that uses the new antipiracy feature, or will it affect existing games, too? If the console remains offline, and I don't buy any 360 games before the deadline, how would I know?

It makes the 360 unable to play games off of discs anymore. Any games.

Willeth

sir_pinch-a-loaf wrote: »

So, say you have to replace your console. Do the slims come with any data transfer kits to go from your old drive to the new internal one?

They don't, but I can't see them overlooking this.

Magic Pink

Willeth wrote: »

sir_pinch-a-loaf wrote: »

So, say you have to replace your console. Do the slims come with any data transfer kits to go from your old drive to the new internal one?

They don't, but I can't see them overlooking this.

Don't they only sell them now?

BloodySloth

Do we know when these emails will be sent out?

NailbunnyPD

sir_pinch-a-loaf wrote: »

So, say you have to replace your console. Do the slims come with any data transfer kits to go from your old drive to the new internal one?

Probably not, but $20 is a minor expense for such a sweet upgrade.

And thanks for clarifying, Magic Pink.

Magic Pink

BloodySloth wrote: »

Do we know when these emails will be sent out?

I would have thought already since the update is tomorrow.

BloodySloth

Magic Pink wrote: »

BloodySloth wrote: »

Do we know when these emails will be sent out?

I would have thought already since the update is tomorrow.

I was afraid of that. no email for me

Zilla360

BloodySloth wrote: »

Oh man, my launch console RROD'd on me like two months ago and I haven't been able to pony up the cash to get it fixed. This could be my lucky break.

Unfortunately not. You can't get online to receive the update if it's RROD'ed. AFAIK MS will be scanning for consoles on Live with the drive error after the update installs.

Oh, and if anyone needs a transfer cable, I have one going spare.

Magic Pink

BloodySloth wrote: »

Magic Pink wrote: »

BloodySloth wrote: »

Do we know when these emails will be sent out?

I would have thought already since the update is tomorrow.

I was afraid of that. no email for me

I donlt know for sure, I'm just guessing.

Kevin Crist

Joystiq article has been updated:

Update: Altered text above with new information. Microsoft's official statement can be found after the break.

Microsoft tells Joystiq that the issue is "not tied to the pending update that has been in beta" and that information given earlier today to Europe was "incorrect." They also inform us that the problem isn't region specific. The official statement:

"Following a recent update to our system software, we have become aware of an issue that is preventing a very small number of Xbox 360 owners from playing retail game discs. This issue manifests itself as a unique 'disc unreadable' or 'disc unsupported' error on the screen and is unrelated to our recent public beta. We are also able to detect this issue over Xbox LIVE and are proactively reaching out to customers that may be impacted to replace their console. Any Xbox 360 owners receiving this error are encouraged to contact us at www.xbox.com/support/contact so we can verify if the console has been impacted."