The Beginning
I have been looking online at others issues with XBOX 360 replacements and issues. I have seen those with no problems, but mainly those who have had a 3 red light issue (red ring of death) or grinding noise coming from there XBOX 360 CD Drive. I figured my story would be something of interest because of how many I have actually owned now.
I have just returned from Best Buy with my 8th XBOX 360. That's right 8!! Now I must be truthful in this article I have actually only had problems with 6 of them but I will explain that in a minute.
The First XBOX 360
I had been wanting an XBOX 360 for awhile and finally talked my wife into letting me spend the money on one. She picked it up for me at Best Buy. I began playing it that night but noticed a grinding type noise come from the cd drive. The game would occasionally freeze up in spots. This was November 2006. I did not have a warranty but due to Best Buys Return Policy I had bought the system after November 1st 2006 which fell into their Christmas Return Policy which is I can return it until January 31st 2007. So I did.
The Second XBOX 360
I got home with my next XBOX still November 2006. This one played at first and sounded much better; But after a couple weeks I started getting disc read errors. So back to Best Buy I went.
XBOX 360 The Third
By now I was very skeptic of this product. I had read issues online and was wondering if I should keep rolling the dice on this until I'm stuck with a dead system. I got the new XBOX home plugged it up and this was the worst one I had seen. I put in a game and I had a strange screen come up that said "You must put in an XBOX 360 game to play on this unit" It did not even recognize my games as a legit XBOX 360. I had noticed the stickers were on crooked when I got it so I was already concerned. Seems someone must have owned this returned it and it was put back on the shelf. I quickly went back to the store.
The Fourth XBOX 360
When I came back to the store this time, the cashier noticed my receipts stapled on top of one another were piling up and ask me "Why are you going to get another one?" I replied "The game selection is great!" I did not get far with this one. I could tell after opening it that it had been returned. I did not want somebody's returned XBOX 360. I had problems enough with the ones that I knew were factory sealed. At first I tried to overlook it and maybe if it was working I would be fine. Once I looked at the serial number area I knew it would not be. It looked like somebody had took a knife to the system when opening because part of the sticker was lifted up along with a deep mark from a knife that ran up part of the XBOX 360. Not good checking Best Buy's part there. Back to the store.
XBOX 360 V
I checked this one out really good before I left. I wanted to make sure it had never been tampered with and I bought the two year service plan as well before my deadline in January 2007. This one worked well....for awhile.
XBOX 360...ELITE!! but still the 6th
In August 2007 I started getting frequent disc read errors on Gears of War. It was very agitating. I had heard about the new Elite's and also the new heatsink's that were in the latest ones. It was then I remembered that wonderful two year replacement plan I had got from Best Buy. So off I went. I was able to get my full purchase price amount towards the XBOX 360 since I was upgrading. This one worked great and I was stoked! However being the impulsive person I am, I decided to take it back for a return towards a totally different product, but this was not the last I would see of this system.
XBOX 360 7
November 2007, see I told you I was impulsive, Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3 were released. I must have them! So I bought another. So let's see where we are. I had bought 6 which of those 6 five were problem systems. So I was 1-5. For any nerds who don't watch sports that's 1 win and 5 Losses. I bought the Elite again since that was my best chance I figured since my last one was still working after a month.
XBOX 360 8!!
Only two days went by and alas the cd drive is making that awful noise of a skateboarder grinding a rail. Ok so it was not that bad because that would scratch my disc's all up but it was loud and clicking louder than my previous ones. I'm no expert but I have had 7 of them at this point so I figured I would know how they sound. The drive would even grind louder when it had to load a lot more detail.....Call of Duty 4 what a beautiful game. So back to the store I went. This time no Elite's in, so I settled for the credit back on my card. I spent that night ill, even my new favorite show Chuck was talking about Call of Duty 4 that night I could not escape! I decided I would forget about the black Elite and the 120 GB Hard Drive and HDMI cable that came with it and just save $100.00 and go for the premium again, plus I could use the leftover money to get another 2 year warranty. SCORE!! I had seen the stockers putting out new 360's around the Rock Band display that night so I went for those since they would be the latest ones that had came in. Once I was back at work I got even more great news. I did not know that the new 65nm dies were out yet but after my friend showed me how to find out if I had the Falcon board with the new die I inspected it and I could see only two conductors on the side of the board! YES!! I have yet to go home and try this one out but here is to hoping.
XBOX 360 Buying Tips
Here is a little list of tips I have put together when buying an XBOX 360. Some may good, other tips may just be anal retentive but you can decide. I get more paranoid after each return.
1) Inspect the sides of the box in the store for big dents, crunched corners or other direct signs of "box trauma" These things are delicate so I don't want one that has been smashed into by a forklift during shipping.
2) Inspect the sticker seal. It should not be broken and resealed or it is possible it was a return. Many times they will have been opened and then resealed with a similiar round sticker but I don't trust it.
3) Buy your XBOX 360 somewhere they offer a return policy even if opened and played. So that puts GAMESTOP out from my discussions with them, also make sure they offer a two year service plan. A MUST HAVE!! I'd rather swap it out in the store then send it off for more possible damage in shipping and returning.
4) Inspect serial number. From my experience, it is good to get one with the last 5 digits being after the 71000 mark, which is a good sign it has the new heatsink. Or better yet, though this is not a sure thing, one that is manufactured in September of 2007 because many of those have the new die. Look up Falcon identifier information to make sure as well.
5) Upon opening make sure the stickers over the cd tray are perfectly straight so that you know that it was not stuck back on there. Make sure everything looks like it has never been opened before. Stickers on the back of the controller and front. Make sure tape is closing each bag and not retaped. Also make sure the little rolled up information paper is stuck inside the battery compartment of the controller. Twisty ties on all parts and wires wrapped in natural folds and not rewrapped.
Then and only maybe then you can be as paranoid as me....but can you blame me? I hope I don't have to edit this ever. Good Luck!
I have been looking online at others issues with XBOX 360 replacements and issues. I have seen those with no problems, but mainly those who have had a 3 red light issue (red ring of death) or grinding noise coming from there XBOX 360 CD Drive. I figured my story would be something of interest because of how many I have actually owned now.
I have just returned from Best Buy with my 8th XBOX 360. That's right 8!! Now I must be truthful in this article I have actually only had problems with 6 of them but I will explain that in a minute.
The First XBOX 360
I had been wanting an XBOX 360 for awhile and finally talked my wife into letting me spend the money on one. She picked it up for me at Best Buy. I began playing it that night but noticed a grinding type noise come from the cd drive. The game would occasionally freeze up in spots. This was November 2006. I did not have a warranty but due to Best Buys Return Policy I had bought the system after November 1st 2006 which fell into their Christmas Return Policy which is I can return it until January 31st 2007. So I did.
The Second XBOX 360
I got home with my next XBOX still November 2006. This one played at first and sounded much better; But after a couple weeks I started getting disc read errors. So back to Best Buy I went.
XBOX 360 The Third
By now I was very skeptic of this product. I had read issues online and was wondering if I should keep rolling the dice on this until I'm stuck with a dead system. I got the new XBOX home plugged it up and this was the worst one I had seen. I put in a game and I had a strange screen come up that said "You must put in an XBOX 360 game to play on this unit" It did not even recognize my games as a legit XBOX 360. I had noticed the stickers were on crooked when I got it so I was already concerned. Seems someone must have owned this returned it and it was put back on the shelf. I quickly went back to the store.
The Fourth XBOX 360
When I came back to the store this time, the cashier noticed my receipts stapled on top of one another were piling up and ask me "Why are you going to get another one?" I replied "The game selection is great!" I did not get far with this one. I could tell after opening it that it had been returned. I did not want somebody's returned XBOX 360. I had problems enough with the ones that I knew were factory sealed. At first I tried to overlook it and maybe if it was working I would be fine. Once I looked at the serial number area I knew it would not be. It looked like somebody had took a knife to the system when opening because part of the sticker was lifted up along with a deep mark from a knife that ran up part of the XBOX 360. Not good checking Best Buy's part there. Back to the store.
XBOX 360 V
I checked this one out really good before I left. I wanted to make sure it had never been tampered with and I bought the two year service plan as well before my deadline in January 2007. This one worked well....for awhile.
XBOX 360...ELITE!! but still the 6th
In August 2007 I started getting frequent disc read errors on Gears of War. It was very agitating. I had heard about the new Elite's and also the new heatsink's that were in the latest ones. It was then I remembered that wonderful two year replacement plan I had got from Best Buy. So off I went. I was able to get my full purchase price amount towards the XBOX 360 since I was upgrading. This one worked great and I was stoked! However being the impulsive person I am, I decided to take it back for a return towards a totally different product, but this was not the last I would see of this system.
XBOX 360 7
November 2007, see I told you I was impulsive, Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3 were released. I must have them! So I bought another. So let's see where we are. I had bought 6 which of those 6 five were problem systems. So I was 1-5. For any nerds who don't watch sports that's 1 win and 5 Losses. I bought the Elite again since that was my best chance I figured since my last one was still working after a month.
XBOX 360 8!!
Only two days went by and alas the cd drive is making that awful noise of a skateboarder grinding a rail. Ok so it was not that bad because that would scratch my disc's all up but it was loud and clicking louder than my previous ones. I'm no expert but I have had 7 of them at this point so I figured I would know how they sound. The drive would even grind louder when it had to load a lot more detail.....Call of Duty 4 what a beautiful game. So back to the store I went. This time no Elite's in, so I settled for the credit back on my card. I spent that night ill, even my new favorite show Chuck was talking about Call of Duty 4 that night I could not escape! I decided I would forget about the black Elite and the 120 GB Hard Drive and HDMI cable that came with it and just save $100.00 and go for the premium again, plus I could use the leftover money to get another 2 year warranty. SCORE!! I had seen the stockers putting out new 360's around the Rock Band display that night so I went for those since they would be the latest ones that had came in. Once I was back at work I got even more great news. I did not know that the new 65nm dies were out yet but after my friend showed me how to find out if I had the Falcon board with the new die I inspected it and I could see only two conductors on the side of the board! YES!! I have yet to go home and try this one out but here is to hoping.
XBOX 360 Buying Tips
Here is a little list of tips I have put together when buying an XBOX 360. Some may good, other tips may just be anal retentive but you can decide. I get more paranoid after each return.
1) Inspect the sides of the box in the store for big dents, crunched corners or other direct signs of "box trauma" These things are delicate so I don't want one that has been smashed into by a forklift during shipping.
2) Inspect the sticker seal. It should not be broken and resealed or it is possible it was a return. Many times they will have been opened and then resealed with a similiar round sticker but I don't trust it.
3) Buy your XBOX 360 somewhere they offer a return policy even if opened and played. So that puts GAMESTOP out from my discussions with them, also make sure they offer a two year service plan. A MUST HAVE!! I'd rather swap it out in the store then send it off for more possible damage in shipping and returning.
4) Inspect serial number. From my experience, it is good to get one with the last 5 digits being after the 71000 mark, which is a good sign it has the new heatsink. Or better yet, though this is not a sure thing, one that is manufactured in September of 2007 because many of those have the new die. Look up Falcon identifier information to make sure as well.
5) Upon opening make sure the stickers over the cd tray are perfectly straight so that you know that it was not stuck back on there. Make sure everything looks like it has never been opened before. Stickers on the back of the controller and front. Make sure tape is closing each bag and not retaped. Also make sure the little rolled up information paper is stuck inside the battery compartment of the controller. Twisty ties on all parts and wires wrapped in natural folds and not rewrapped.
Then and only maybe then you can be as paranoid as me....but can you blame me? I hope I don't have to edit this ever. Good Luck!
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