How to Fix the XBOX Red Ring of Death Yourself

Don't panic when those three red lights pop up on your Xbox 360. There are a few steps you can follow that will tell how to fix the red ring of death yourself in less than an hour. It's worth a try. After all, a last resort is that you can always send it off for repairs, but who wants to wait several weeks? Here are a few tips to get you started.

First of all, take the shell off of the Xbox. It's not rocket science. Then, begin to disassemble the parts (remember where they went) until you find the X shaped metal piece in the middle. This bracket is clamped down and you need to take it off as it holds the processor (little square shiny thing) in place.

Now, take the processor out carefully. You'll notice a ton of old paste on the bottom of it that feels like rubber. That stuff must go! All of it! I used rubbing alcohol and Q-tips to loosen it and then I used an old credit card to scrape the paste off of the processor and the mounting board. Then re-apply new thermal paste, which you can find at Radio Shack, and make sure you cover the entire surface of the processor.

Put the processor back in place and re-assemble your Xbox. You may want to use some #8 washers under the X shaped metal piece to keep it from loosening when it gets heated. These can be found at any hardware store.

Lastly, wait 20 minutes before booting it up and then enjoy the rest of your gaming experience.

These steps are for more advanced "techies" but if you want extremely detailed instructions and videos on how to fix the red ring of death yourself, then I highly suggest you visit http://www.fixmyxboxredlights.info. You'll save days of waiting and I must say it is quite the feeling of accomplishment. Good Luck!