The Xbox has two built-in features that give you an indication of what's gone wrong when
it stops working properly. There are error codes that sometimes come up in the top
left-hand corner of your screen when the message appears saying "Your Xbox requires
service. Please call Xbox customer support". What these codes mean is listed below.
Microsoft customer support uses them to help diagnose the problem so they can then tell
you what you need to do. Unfortunately their advice is almost always to send your
machine in to them so they can repair it for large sums of money. Sometimes though they
may be able to help you for free over the phone so it's worth a phone call to find out.
The round light on the front of the console will also display different colors which mean
different things. They're listed at the bottom of the page.
it stops working properly. There are error codes that sometimes come up in the top
left-hand corner of your screen when the message appears saying "Your Xbox requires
service. Please call Xbox customer support". What these codes mean is listed below.
Microsoft customer support uses them to help diagnose the problem so they can then tell
you what you need to do. Unfortunately their advice is almost always to send your
machine in to them so they can repair it for large sums of money. Sometimes though they
may be able to help you for free over the phone so it's worth a phone call to find out.
The round light on the front of the console will also display different colors which mean
different things. They're listed at the bottom of the page.
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HARD DRIVE PROBLEMS
07-Kernel = Usually a hard drive timeout but can also be a DVD drive problem
08-Kernel = Can't locate hard drive
09-Kernel = HDD parameters
This is usually bad news. In a standard stock Xbox it normally means the hard drive is
dead or dying and will have to be replaced but I have seen several instances of a DVD
drive defect causing an error 7. See "Flashing Red and Green" below for hard drive
information. There's no way to tell which component is causing the problem without
swapping out parts and seeing if it works or not. If you have an error 7 coming up you're
welcome to send me the console and I can see if there's a reasonably cheap way to fix it.
If I can't fix it or it's going to cost too much there's no charge for diagnosing the problem
but you'd be out for the postage.
DVD DRIVE PROBLEMS
10-Kernel = DVD timeout
11-Kernel = DVD not found
12-Kernel = DVD parameters
This is good news. Almost always means a bad DVD drive so replacement is easy.
DASHBOARD (start up/menu) PROBLEMS
13 and onwards usually means a dashboard problem. This is usually the result of a bad
mod attempt though it could also be a hard drive problem. In either case it won't be an
easy fix, see below for hard drive info.
LIGHTS
FLASHING GREEN AND RED
Unfortunately this is rather common and it is not good news. Basically what it means is
that there is a problem with one of the major components and there's only three major
components, the DVD drive, the hard drive and the motherboard. If the red and green is
accompanied by a 'call customer service' message with the numbers 10, 11, or 12,
you're in luck. That's just the DVD drive and it's easily replaceable. If there's other
numbers shown, or no number at all, it usually means that there is a problem with either
the hard drive or the motherboard, and that is truly bad news indeed. The problem is that
you can't just replace the hard drive or the motherboard like you can the DVD drive. Each
hard drive is 'married' to a specific motherboard via a special code, and if you replace
one you have to replace the other or it won't work. To buy a mobo/hdd combo costs
around a hundred dollars and in my opinion isn't worth it. You can install a modchip and
try locking a previously unlocked Xbox hard drive to your existing motherboard but
you're still back to the hundred dollar mark. You can buy a good second hand Xbox for
that, usually with a warranty, and then you also have the option to sell your broken Xbox
and make a little money back. Quite often you can hear your hard drive making a
'clinking' sound when it's dead or dying. With the front of the console facing you, plug it
in and listen very closely to the top right hand side of the console. If there's a distinct
clinking sound it's pretty much a sure thing that the hard drive is toast and in my opinion
it's time to trade the whole thing in for another one. You can email for more info on who
offers this type of service and approximate costs etc. Lastly, if there's no clinking and
your console tries to start up three times THEN starts flashing green and red, it may be
worthwhile installing a modchip to see if that will do the trick.
FLASHING GREEN - constantly - not just for a few moments
FLASHING ORANGE
FLASHING ORANGE AND RED
The above are often attributable to a failed mod attempt - solder splashes, cut trace, bad
modchip etc. You'll probably need a professional to look at it and try to locate the
problem. If YOU put the modchip in, try removing it and see if the chip itself is the
problem.
FLASHING ORANGE AND GREEN - Problem with the AV cord that goes to the TV, make
sure it's plugged in properly. If so, try someone else's to see if it works then. If not, there
may be a damaged internal connection.
SOLID OR FLASHING RED - Usually means it's overheating. Does it work well when you
first turn it on and messes up later? If so, make sure the console has plenty of airspace
around it and there's nothing blocking the air vents. It may need a new cooling fan or an
added heat sink if airspace isn't the problem.
SOLID GREEN with no audio/video (black screen) but the tray WILL eject - Make sure
the AV cord is plugged into the TV properly. Wiggle it around a little on the TV end to
make sure the connection is good, watch the TV screen to see if the Xbox screen flashes
up while you're doing this, if so, the problem may be with the connector on the television
itself. Double check that you have the TV tuned to the right channel. Try someone else's
AV cord to make sure that's not the problem. Lastly, try a different TV altogether and see
how that goes.
SOLID GREEN with no audio/video (black screen) and the tray won't eject - This is
probably what's known as a Coma Console. If you have a 1.0 or 1.1 version Xbox you
can usually solder a couple of well placed wires and have it up and running again for
minimal cost. If it's a later version you can usually install a modchip and boot right past
the problem. If you want to try the soldering the good folks over at www.llamma.com
have posted the instructions here.
charm. The service
you provide is
fantastic! I only wish
I had found your
website before
wasting time and
money on lens
cleaners and such. I
thought the only
option my boy was
going to give me
was an XBOX 360.
Whew!! Now I can
approach that
subject on my own
terms.
Thanks,
R. M.
Dear Lynn,
I received my PSU
replacement when
I got home from
vacation. I just
wanted to let you
know that the
instructions were
very
understandable,
and what initially
looked like a
daunting task was
actually quite
simple. I
completed the
entire repair in
about 30 minutes,
and my XBox now
is back to working
perfectly. Thanks
for all your help!
Sincerely,
Blair S.
you provide is
fantastic! I only wish
I had found your
website before
wasting time and
money on lens
cleaners and such. I
thought the only
option my boy was
going to give me
was an XBOX 360.
Whew!! Now I can
approach that
subject on my own
terms.
Thanks,
R. M.
Dear Lynn,
I received my PSU
replacement when
I got home from
vacation. I just
wanted to let you
know that the
instructions were
very
understandable,
and what initially
looked like a
daunting task was
actually quite
simple. I
completed the
entire repair in
about 30 minutes,
and my XBox now
is back to working
perfectly. Thanks
for all your help!
Sincerely,
Blair S.