Microsoft to cover ‘E74’ Xbox 360 error
Problem linked to three flashing red lights
The Xbox 360’s infamous three flashing red lights error has returned to bite Microsoft, with the company now confirming that it’ll cover “E74” errors under its three-year warranty programme.
The "E74" error is now covered under the three-year Xbox warranty
Image courtesy of 8BitJoystick
Microsoft admitted that a “small percentage of gamers” have reported receiving “E74” error messages on their screens and – following an investigation – it’s concluded that the problem can indicate a general hardware failure associated with the three flashing red lights problem.
Back in July 2007 Microsoft extended the Xbox 360’s warranty period out to three years to cover gamers against “certain general hardware failures”. Although it’s fair to say that the three red flashing lights problem – also known as the Red Ring of Death – was the main driving force behind the warranty extension.
By classifying the “E74” error as a general hardware failure, some afflicted gamers will now be able to get their consoles repaired under the three-year warranty programme.
Microsoft will also refund gamers who’ve previously paid for repairs caused by the hardware failure.
Although Microsoft has “made improvements to the console” to help reduce the likelihood of E74 errors occurring in future, the firm hasn’t said what the specific problem is.
But, according to a report by website 8BitJoystick, the error could be caused by hot air from the CPU and GPU flowing over the console’s ANA image scaling chip.
Further information about the three-year warranty programme is available online. ®
COMMENTS
as a huge mac fan...
i love my 360 and the games are great. it brings "cheap" hd gaming to the masses, it's a nice little (ish) box.
i did have to take it back to toysrus when the memory card flaps broke, and it never starts up first time, and it sounds like a jet engine, and you can't play all old xbox games on it (please why?) but apart from that i enjoy playing it and xbox live (updated) is superb.
down with microsoft
MS have bullied their way into most markets, luckily most have failed. They have messed up big style with Vista, people dont want it.
Xbox is a failure, most consoles have been replaced, mine twice. They wont release the figures for how many replacements have been made, only how many consoles have been shipped (these include the replacements) not forgetting the games are at their peak performance wise, they can go much further, so every xbox user will have to buy the next heap of crap with tech that should of been included in the 360 anyway.
As far as im aware, the PS3 is planning on beinging around for another 7 1/2 years, Sony own the Blu Ray rights - it wouldnt suprise me if it appeared on the next Xbox console, but Sony will have MS by the balls, no exclusive games for Xbox "720" using a blu ray disk. Downloads only im affraid!! I wouldnt like to have to download a 20GB - 40GB file to play a game, it would take forever to download!!
Haha!!
Where is the old Microsoft?
Seems they have totally lost the plot.
Apache > IIS
Opera > Firefox > Safari > IE
MacOS > Vista (desktop)
LInux > Windows (server)
PS3 > Wii > PS2 > Xbox360
Java > Flash > Silverlight
Walkman > iPod > Zune
Blu-Ray > HD DVD
See the trend, the Microsoft items at the bottom...
About the only things left they havn't totally fooked up, is their developer tools (Visual Studio) and the Office Suite (although with Office 2007, they are clearly working on it.)..
@Anonymous Coward
I'm sorry that you think that Microsoft are my masters because they certainly aren't. As an IT professional I have to work with a lot of Microsoft software some buggy, some not.
I think therefore I am! if that's the case I must be real then.
Not all 360 consoles are effected by these issues, as I said before i'm not.
My launch day console has had no issues. No disk scratching, no red ring or any other problem.
Of course their not providing it out the goodness of their hearts and I never suggested it nor would I. Microsoft are a business and businesses are in the business of making money. Microsoft's culture of trying to make as much money as possible is probably what's caused these issues, as well as them rushing to the market with it. Well that and the huge loss they made on the original Xbox console.
I'm sure Microsoft wouldn't have offered this warranty, limited warranty, guarantee against certain issues call it what you will if they hadn't have be forced or felt like they were being forced to. At least it's now there for the people that do have the issues and at least in certain cases people who have paid for specific repairs in the past have had their money refunded.
Anything is a lot better than nothing isn't it?
@adam
"Microsoft appear to be addressing the issues with modifications to the console and a three year warranty."
Are you for real? nearly 4 years after launch, and the consoles are just as unreliable are the day they were rushed prematurely out the door.
As for the 3yr warranty, when will people understand that:
a) it's not a warranty, it only covers specific issues, there are plenty of other Xbox faults tat aren;t covered (total death, disc scratching for example)
b) they are not providing it out the goodness of their hearts, a FTC investigation forced them down that road.
If Ford recall faulty car parts for replacement, and that can't be called a warranty, not can this...
Still nice spin thou, your masters will be very proud.
