If you were in the middle of playing your Xbox and you encountered the Red Rings of Death, you are not alone. It is estimated that over 16% of Xboxes fail at some point. In fact, Microsoft even extended the warranty from one to three years because there were so many problems. But even though Microsoft will gladly fix your Xbox, it doesn't change the fact that it takes 4 to 6 weeks to get it back from them. Plus not everything is covered by the extended warranty. So what should you do if you don't want to wait to get your Xbox back from the repair center? Should you try to fix it yourself?
Really, the answer to this question depends on a couple of factors. First, is your Xbox still under warranty? Microsoft has extended the warranty for three years to cover the Red Ring of Death. You still have to wait for them to repair it and send it back to you, however. This can take up to 6 weeks.
Second, if you are considering fixing your Xbox yourself, you have to remember that it will void the warranty. So you need to be confident that you will be able to fix it yourself. If you don't have a lot of tools around the house to help you fix your console, it might be cheaper and easier to just send it in for repairs. Then you don't have to worry about buying a lot of tools and still not being able to fix it yourself.
Don't try to repair your Xbox yourself without a good repair guide. Look for a guide that has step-by-step instructions and that has good reviews. Some repair manuals even have video instruction that make it even easier to repair your Xbox yourself. Plus if you get a good one and fix your Xbox this time, chances are the repair manual will help you if you ever have more errors in the future.
When your Xbox stops working, it is easy to get caught up in the frustration and want it fixed immediately. Just make sure to use your head if you decide to fix your Xbox yourself. If you aren't confident in your ability to fix it, just send it in. You can always rent an Xbox from your local game store and play that while you are waiting to get your Xbox back from the repair center.