Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Remember the number of flashing red lights on the front of your Xbox 360. The number will range between one and four. Connect the Xbox 360 to your television and turn the TV on. Write down the error message that appears on the screen or note if your TV screen is blank.
Turn off the Xbox 360 if you have one flashing red light and either a blank TV screen or an error message that reads a number other than "E74." If your message reads E74 you will need to send the Xbox 360 in for repairs.
Unplug the power cord from the wall and the Xbox 360, then replug it in. Unplug the memory card and reinsert it into the front of the console. Turn your console back on and see if the red light still appears. If so, turn the Xbox 360 back off and remove any accessories such as controllers or headsets. Reconnect your accessories and see if the red light still appears.
Turn the Xbox 360 off if a red light still appears and remove the hard drive. Not all Xbox consoles come with a hard drive. To check, lay the console flat and look for a release button on the left side. Press the button and gently pull off the hard drive. Reattach it and try turning the console back on. If you still get a red light, you will need to send your Xbox 360 in for repairs.
Turn off your Xbox 360 console if you have two flashing red lights. This indicates a cooling problem according to Support at Xbox.com. Clear out the area around the console and set it somewhere with circulating air, such as on a clean table. Leave the console off for one to two hours to allow it to cool down. If the red lights still appears when you turn it on, you will need to send the console in for repairs. Otherwise, it may overheat and cause more damage to the unit.
Check your power supply if you have three flashing red lights on the front of your Xbox 360. The large, gray block part of the power supply has a tiny light on one end. If the light is green, turn off the Xbox and unhook the power cord from the wall and the console. Reconnect the cord and turn the console on to see if the red lights are gone. For an orange, red or unlit light, try unhooking and reconnecting the power cord. If this doesn't fix the problem, try using a power outlet in a different room. If this does not work, replace the power cord. If none of these solutions fixes the problem, have your console repaired.
Turn off the TV and disconnect the AV cable connecting your Xbox 360 to the TV if your console has four flashing red lights. Replug in the AV cable and turn the console back on. Try a different AV cable if this does not fix the problem. Send your console in for repairs if this still does not eliminate the flashing red lights.