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How to Fix the Three Red Bars on an Xbox 360

Every gamer dreads the "red ring of death," or the four flashing red lights that appear on Xbox 360 consoles. When the console displays only three flashing red lights, this typically indicates a hardware problem and may mean that you have to send your Xbox 360 to technical support for repair. Before you go that far, however, try a few simple troubleshooting methods to ensure that the problem isn't an easy fix.

Instructions

- 1
  Check the power supply light on the rectangular box in the middle of your power cord. It should be glowing green. If the power supply light is glowing red, try switching to a different power outlet. If the power supply light is now green, the problem was likely with the power outlet or surge protector if you use one.
- 2
  Cool the Xbox 360 and its power supply. Turn off and unplug the console, and move it to a more ventilated area. Remove any dust from the console and power supply as well. Plug the console and power supply back in.
- 3
  Request a replacement power supply. If you have tried the previous steps and the console's lights are still flashing red, there may be irreparable damage to the power supply. If your console is still under warranty, you should be able to receive a new power supply free of charge. Contact Xbox support to request that a new power supply be sent to you.

Xbox 360