Xbox 360 getting too many freaking disc read errors!

[Oyeve]

Well, my Xbox 360 is getting more and more disc read errors. Tried all the fixes, even the stupid "remove your HD, and try playing the game" that MS has suggested. Its a real PITA and the 3 year extended warranty only covers RROD. So, I am looking to buy a new one but dont want to get all the extra crap. Saw the Xbox 360 Arcade 256 MB under 300 and may get this when the egg has free shipping. But, are these the supposed "fixed" 360s and do they have the HDMI port? If not then I dont want it. I already sent my current one back twice.

 

[Queasy]

Depending on the batch you get, the Arcade has HDMI and possibly the latest "Falcon" chipset.

I haven't heard anything about Arcades being refurbs.

 

[randay]

i think its "roll dice" when it comes to the dvd drives, ive got a falcon and i think i have a crappy dvd drive in it because its really loud and vibrates quite a bit.

 

[Trogdor91]

Not saying what is right and what is wrong, but maybe your 360 is closer to rrod than you think and you just need to help it along if its possible. Then MS will take care of it.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: randay
i think its "roll dice" when it comes to the dvd drives, ive got a falcon and i think i have a crappy dvd drive in it because its really loud and vibrates quite a bit.

According to that interview made by the supposed "informant" about MS and the 360s, this would be correct. However, the later models are supposed to have a better chance of working hardware.

Oyeve, the simplest solution would be to buy a 360 from Costco due to their nice return policy. There is no 100% guarantees here but your chances greatly improve over the older models.

 

[JPB]

My brother about 3 months ago bought a 360 arcade version. Of course I don't know if it was the Falcon or the other one. But I do know he only played for like 2 hours per day which was Oblivion and it is now RROD. Oh, and his box didn't have HDMI either. And it was three months ago like I said when he purchased it.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Oh, and his box didn't have HDMI either.

Then it was the first version, alleged >30% failure rate, motherboard.

Both the Zephyr (introduced with the Elite 360) and Falcon (cooler, lower-power 65nm CPU) have HDMI.

 

[Oyeve]

Well. I just found out I have the Samsung TS-H4943a drive. I thought these were the good drives. Am I wrong?

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: randay
i think its "roll dice" when it comes to the dvd drives, ive got a falcon and i think i have a crappy dvd drive in it because its really loud and vibrates quite a bit.

According to that interview made by the supposed "informant" about MS and the 360s, this would be correct. However, the later models are supposed to have a better chance of working hardware.

Oyeve, the simplest solution would be to buy a 360 from Costco due to their nice return policy. There is no 100% guarantees here but your chances greatly improve over the older models.

I thought Costco revised their return policy. I recommended them as a vendor for 360 purchases a while back and someone corrected me.

I used to get disc read errors all the time - Gears of War and Rainbow 6 frequently gave me read errors during coop games with a friend. Very annoying to say the least. On the bright side I have experienced them in a while. Played dozens of hours of Crackdown and none so far. I know, I'm jinxing myself.

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: Robor
I thought Costco revised their return policy. I recommended them as a vendor for 360 purchases a while back and someone corrected me.

Video game consoles were NOT included in the return policy revision. The returns page on Costco lists exactly what is now limited to 90-day coverage. Everything else, including game consoles, is still covered forever.

Link

Membership: We will refund your membership fee in full at any time if you are dissatisfied.

Merchandise: We guarantee your satisfaction on every product we sell with a full refund. Exceptions: Televisions, projectors, computers, cameras, camcorders, iPOD / MP3 players and cellular phones must be returned within 90 days of purchase for a refund.

How to Return: For an immediate refund (including shipping and handling), simply return your purchase at any one of our Costco warehouses worldwide. If you are unable to return your order at one of our warehouses, please email customer service or call our customer service center at 1-800-955-2292 for assistance. To expedite the processing of your return, please reference your order number.

 

[beat mania]

A video game system IS a computer by definition

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: beat mania
A video game system IS a computer by definition

Are you arguing semantics with Costco or telling me that Costco will not take an Xbox 360 or PS3 past the 90-day window?

If it's the first option, have at it. If it's the second, you're wrong.

 

[Oyeve]

Well, I dont feel like joining Costco just to get an xbox 360. No RROD but just the annoying disk read. I notice if I turn the 360 on and just let it be for about 2 mins without launching a game I do not get the errors. Most of the disc errors happen when launching a game after turning on the console. My apt is very cool usually 58-65 F all day until I get home and turn on the heat. Mayhaps the system needs to warm up a bit after being in the cold all day. WTFK.

 

[Yreka]

Originally posted by: CKDragon

Originally posted by: Robor
I thought Costco revised their return policy. I recommended them as a vendor for 360 purchases a while back and someone corrected me.

Video game consoles were NOT included in the return policy revision. The returns page on Costco lists exactly what is now limited to 90-day coverage. Everything else, including game consoles, is still covered forever.

Link

Membership: We will refund your membership fee in full at any time if you are
dissatisfied.

Merchandise: We guarantee your satisfaction on every product we sell with a full refund. Exceptions: Televisions, projectors, computers, cameras, camcorders, iPOD / MP3 players and cellular phones must be returned within 90 days of purchase for a refund.

How to Return: For an immediate refund (including shipping and handling), simply return your purchase at any one of our Costco warehouses worldwide. If you are unable to return your order at one of our warehouses, please email customer service or call our customer service center at 1-800-955-2292 for assistance. To expedite the processing of your return, please reference your order number.

I had a friend get denied a return on a 360 because the local costco tried to call it a "computer". Long story short, he ended up shopping it around and finally got one to return it 100mi away in Sacramento.

I thought this sounded like BS, so I emailed corporate. and got the following response:


--Original Message--
From:
Date: 12/17/2007 1:44:13 PM
To: memberservice@costco.com
Subject: Warehouse Returns

Note this message was submitted through the costco.com web site customer suggestion page on 12/17/2007 13:39:40 PST

Comment/Suggestion/Request/Question Text:
I have a question about your lifetime return policy as stated here:

"Merchandise: We guarantee your satisfaction on every product we sell with a full refund Exceptions: Televisions, projectors, computers, cameras, camcorders, iPOD / MP3 players and cellular phones must be returned within 90 days of purchase for a refund "

Does this include video game systems like the XBOX360 and Playstation 3, or would they fall under the computer catagory ?

Dear Jason,

Thank you for your email to Costco Wholesale.
Those items do not fall under the computer category or the 90 day return policy.

Thank you,

Rhemy
Costco Wholesale Corporation
memberservice@costco.com

 

[Robor]

Thanks for the info guys. Based on that I will recommend Costo as a place to buy a 360.

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: Yreka
I had a friend get denied a return on a 360 because the local costco tried to call it a "computer". Long story short, he ended up shopping it around and finally got one to return it 100mi away in Sacramento.

I thought this sounded like BS, so I emailed corporate. and got the following response:

<snip>

Wow, that's ashame your friend had to go so far. I think I would have been on the phone with corporate while standing in the LOCAL Costco customer service line. Maybe it's just because I'm a message board monkey, but I've seen SO many stories about Costco replacing 360 RRoDs no-questions-asked that I'm really surprised your friend got jerked around like that.

 

[Yreka]

Originally posted by: CKDragon

Originally posted by: Yreka
I had a friend get denied a return on a 360 because the local costco tried to call it a "computer". Long story short, he ended up shopping it around and finally got one to return it 100mi away in Sacramento.

I thought this sounded like BS, so I emailed corporate. and got the following response:

<snip>

Wow, that's ashame your friend had to go so far. I think I would have been on the phone with corporate while standing in the LOCAL Costco customer service line. Maybe it's just because I'm a message board monkey, but I've seen SO many stories about Costco replacing 360 RRoDs no-questions-asked that I'm really surprised your friend got jerked around like that.

Yeah, I'm with you on that one.. My buddy is really laid back though, he wouldn't say shit if he had a mouthful.

By the time I found out, he already had it resolved.

He said he just pulled up all the costcos within 100mi, and started calling about the policy until he found one that said "no problem"..

I should ask how many actually said no return.. It had to be at least the two in our area ( Livermore, and Tracy CA). I told him to print out the email and bring it back to show them they are full of crap.. He should at least get a free hotdog & churro out of the deal

 

[indamixx99]

Just called Microsoft support and requested repair on this unit - 2 weeks after receiving it as a replacement for my RRoD'd unit. This is shit i must say. They ship me a brand new unit manufactured 12/25/2007 using the old Zephyr motherboard and Hitachi drive that sounds like an airplane taking off. My old RRoD unit had a Benq drive so I am upset they downgraded me drives. Well.. hopefully 3rd time's a charm.

 

[Oyeve]

Hers another question. I got my 360 last may, it RROD and got it back in june, 4 week turnaround. Whats the warranty on this POS? Does the original warranty get refreshed after a replacement? I gotta get the SN and call MS, maybe this sucker is still under warranty.

 

[DaveSimmons]

1 year from original purchase or 60 days from the latest repair, whichever is longer. 3 years from original purchase for RRoD only.

The clock doesn't reset to a full year, you just get the 60 days minimum if that's longer than what's left of your year.

 

[Oyeve]

I assume the external HD-DVD addon won't let me play games, correct?

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: Oyeve
I assume the external HD-DVD addon won't let me play games, correct?

No, it will not.

 

[Oyeve]

Well, time to crack this bitch open and replace the lens mech. May as well see if I can clamp the HS and do all the "fixes" to it at the same time. out of warranty and I dont get RROD ever so what the hell. Thanks all.

 

[indamixx99]

You could take your chances and call MS and tell them you got the RRoD again on the replacement unit. There is a possibility they will replace it again since I'm sure there have been RRoD units sent in that have "mysteriously fixed themselves" during shipping and test out fine at the repair center.

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: indamixx99
You could take your chances and call MS and tell them you got the RRoD again on the replacement unit. There is a possibility they will replace it again since I'm sure there have been RRoD units sent in that have "mysteriously fixed themselves" during shipping and test out fine at the repair center.

I'm a terrible person, but that's what I'd do.