Ive just had a scare with my Xbox 360  

Turned it on and after about 3 mins in the dashboard it locked up, no flashing lights, just stopped responding.

So I reset it, it booted again and this time locked up after about 1 minute, still no flashing lights.

Reset it again, this time it locked up during the splash screen, again, no flashing lights.

Is it bricked? Or just throwing a tantrum?

 :?

its a tantrum

Check all your AV cable

AV cable is 4 lights iirc.

ive had it lock up with a loose AV cable before as well, boots initially ok then just freezes.

blow the connectors out and make sure its pushed home securely

Tried blowing out the connectors, even a different AV cable, same thing though, wont even get past the splash screen now (and still no warning lights).

 :cry:

Sounds like the way my first one died. After a couple of days of lock ups it started three red lights.

Quote from: GoblinSounds like the way my first one died. After a couple of days of lock ups it started three red lights.

3 red lights for me last night  :cry:

Yup its dead. Call MS and get them to send you The Coffin (aka free shipping box).
Have a google for "dead xbox 360 towel trick" while youre waiting, it can sometimes temporarily resurrect them from what Ive heard...
(Guy on another forum got 4-5 hours more playtime out of his before it finally kicked the bucket). :?

I managed to copy the more important save games over to a memory card before it died completely and have now removed the HD. Ill call MS in the morning!

Had this happen to me over the weekend, trademark checkerboard effect (FOURTH TIME Ive had this, im on my 3rd 360)

Heatgunned it and now fine, also redid the heatsink with some decent antec formula 5 stuff, now noticably cooler and quieter.

Quote from: matt5cottHad this happen to me over the weekend, trademark checkerboard effect (FOURTH TIME Ive had this, im on my 3rd 360)

Heatgunned it and now fine, also redid the heatsink with some decent antec formula 5 stuff, now noticably cooler and quieter.

Lasted 10 days, doing it again, out comes the heatgun tomorrow, sigh :?  

QuoteI think we all know where the issue lies:  Microsoft used the Ball Grid Array method of attaching the CPU and GPU to the mainboard.  Doing so greatly reduces production costs and increases manufacturing output (i.e. units per hour), but once the mainboard warps even slightly from built-up heat, those tenuous connections can break.  This points to one of two problems:  Either the BGA mounting was improperly done (i.e. not baked long enough for the solder to flow well, causing cold solder joints), or the cooling design of the system is inadequate to prevent disconnection of the chips caused by heat-related issues.

We know this because of the methods people are using to repair red-ringed systems, specifically systems with the 0102 error code.  Youve heard of the "towel trick".  This likely works because it heats the internal components enough to re-flow the solder in the BGA joints, effectively reconnecting the CPU and GPU to the mainboard.  Youve also seen the heatgun trick, where the CPU and GPU mounts are heated up to re-flow the solder in the same manner.  The X-bracket replacement trick that is becoming common now does something similar - you replace the tension-mounted bracket with screws and nylon washers, allow the system to heat up enough to re-flow the solder, then tighten the heatsinks down while still hot to re-seat the chip pins into the solder.  The added benefit of this method is that the resulting pressure of the heatsink on the CPU/GPU should prevent future disconnection from the mainboard.  It also allows you to use better thermal transfer material on the heatsinks, reducing the chance of future heat-related disconnections.

http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=312565#312565

It all points to the fact they got the cooling of it wrong. Either they are using a low temp solder or the CPU/GPU is getting up towards 180C...

Actually it only has to soften so its a bit less than 180 but probably more than 120.