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Many Xbox 360 owners have heard of the dreaded flashing lights, sometimes known as the red ring of death, that appears when the console is experiencing a hardware failure. However, what you may not be aware of is the fact that not all flashing lights mean the same thing. In fact, some may simply be an incorrectly plugged in AV cable or overheating whereas others can mean that the console has suffered a major error. In this article I am going to concisely and briefly explain what the different flashing lights on the Xbox 360 are and what they really mean.

Before we begin its important to note that the light ring on the front of the Xbox 360 is divided into four sectors. Sector one is the top right hand corner, sector two is the bottom right hand corner, sector three is the bottom left hand corner and sector four is the top left hand corner.

If only sectors two of the flashing light circle is illuminated then the console has overheated. You need to remove any discs from the drive, power down the console and leave it to cool down for a few hours. Overheating is a notorious problem with the Xbox 360 but if this happens there is no need to get the flashing lights confused with a more serious problem. Try moving your 360 to somewhere where it receives better airflow and make sure you don't place it on carpet as this can worsen the problem. Although overheating is annoying it isn't too much to worry about unless your console overheats after very short periods of use (one hour or less)

If all four sector lights are flashing then the problem is even more simple to rectify. All that has happened is that the AV plug has come loose in the back of the 360 console. Power the console down, remove the AV cable and plug it back in (a clicking noise should be heard) Power the console back on and all will have returned to normal.

The real problem starts if light sector three or all light sectors but number one are flashing. This means that the 360 console has suffered a hardware failure and no amount of restarting or cursing will fix the problem. Although the causes of general hardware failures appear to vary the most common seem to be the malfunction of the Nyoko intercooler and micro-fracturing of the lead-free solder used during construction.

To fix the problem you could either -

a) Buy a new Xbox 360 console. This is the best solution if you have the money to do so, just remember to get an extended warranty in case the same thing happens again! However, many people can't afford to buy a new console so this option isn't always open.

b) Get Microsoft to repair the console. This is probably the most common way of fixing a faulty 360 console but it can go wrong! Because some people have to pay for the shipping and handling there have been cases of those who have had to pay over $100 to have the problem fixed. Shipping the console to Microsoft can also be a patience draining affair - it can take weeks to get your 360 back. If you wish to follow this course of action then you need to call 1-800-4MY-XBOX if you are an American gamer or 425-635-7180 if you are an international gamer, between 6am to 10pm Pacific Time.

c) Fix the flashing light problem yourself. Although this may sound ridiculous, it can actually be done at home without special tools or technical expertise. There are instructional guides that feature video, as well as written, instructions for diagnosing and repairing the problem. I personally have repaired a number of consoles and I see know reason why you should be unable to do so too! You can learn more about various Xbox 360 flashing light repair programs on my information website (this can be found at http://www.squidoo.com/xbox-360-central)

In today's article I have explained what the various types of flashing lights on the Xbox 360 really mean. Also, I have covered how you can fix the problems, and the different routes available for repairing your console should it suffer a general hardware failure.

Click Here to visit James Phillipson's information page about the Xbox 360 and how to fix it from home. Also, read reviews on the top Xbox 360 repair manuals and learn about the latest news and technical info in the Xbox 360 world for free!