Is it normal for my XBOX 360 to...

[Spades]

As a female gamer, I'm finding it really upsetting that I have to admit to the fact that I don't know JACK about my 360.


I really did JUST buy it. All I have for it is Oblivion, Lost Planet, and... yes... Viva Pinata. (That game kicks ass. I'm really into farming sims, and I'm really into beating animals to death. It just works out.)


Okay, so here's the GIRL question.

Is it normal for my 360 to do the following?


Many times, as in, 2 times out of 15, when I put a game into the console, a message pops up asking me to please place the disk in an XBOX 360 console.

Well, I've grown up with computers, and I know that an OCCASIONAL message like that is alright... but it happens, honestly, 2 times out of 15, as said before, and after that message pops up, it takes three restarts, a cleaning of the disk, and often a shriek of frustrated anger to get it to work, and not give me that message.


Is that normal...? I can tough it out if it is, but if it's absolutely out of the ordinary, I'd like to know that now before I tear out my luscious hair in childish frustration (yes, I've used that word twice)...


Question two.

While playing Viva Pinata about... 15 minutes ago... the game froze. VP isn't an exceptionally graphics-intensive game like Oblivion... so I was rather shocked when it froze up, in the middle of planting a nice little sunflower to make my manic depressant [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]'s life just a little bit brighter...

So... yeah. I played for about 15 minutes.


And then it froze... I restarted it, and it gave me the message I was talking about before. Please insert into 360 console and all that.


.... and so I pulled out the disk to clean it and it was... like... burning hot. The entire console was really overheated, and I'd only been playing for 15 minutes or so.




... so. It's taken me a novel to say it, but basically that's what I wanna know.

Is it normal for my game to overheat after 12 seconds, if it's only happened twice in my three month 360 career, and is it normal for my 360 to insist that it's not a 360?




... that is all.

Best answer gets a custom portrait by me.

[Dan]

Okay, here's the deal:

I had the exact, exact, exact thing happening with my first Xbox 360. If you call 1-800-4MY-XBOX and go through the process, you'll find that your 360 has a defective disc drive. Every so often it will not be able to recognize its own freaking game, and that is not cool.

Also, in regards to the freezing, I recognize that as one of my past problems also. Basically, you won't get 3 flashing red lights because there is no technical hardware failure, but there is potentially a piece of hardware that is overheating inside the Xbox 360. Overheating can happen with any game, even Viva Pinata, if it isn't cooled properly.

So, here's some steps for you to do:

1. Make sure it's in a well ventilated area. Its fan should be blowing hot air into open space, so if the 360 is up against a wall, that's a no-no.

Most likely the problem has escalated beyond that, and with your many problems, you'll have to do the following..

2. Check the back of your console. Write down the Serial number which is directly under the Bar Code. Also, for fun, note the manufacture date which is in that same area. If it's manufactured before January 1st, 2006, then you have been screwed like many others have before you.

3. Serial Number in hand, call 1-800-4MY-XBOX and talk to an agent. They will recognize that there is a severe problem with the system. Now, here's where it gets a little tricky. Microsoft gives you a 1 year warranty with every purchase of a 360. Now, so long as you bought your 360 within a year from this day, they will replace it for free with free shipping. They will send you a prepaid shipping box with prepaid labels. You will have to then put your console (and just the console) into the box and ship it out to Microsoft. HOWEVER, if you bought your 360 further than a year ago, you will have to unfortunately pay a hefty 129.00 + shipping and handling for repair fees. If you're put in that situation, as I was, you should know that your best option is to either stick it out with your broken console if the problem can be tolerated, OTHERWISE you should fight and argue on the phone mentioning lemon laws of your state and mentioning complaining to the Better Business Bureau until they give in and offer you 25% off the repair fee as well as free shipping. The phone process is nothing short of annoying. But as for the rest of the work, (ie. Putting your console into a box, shipping it) It's a fairly simple process, so don't be too intimidated.

4. 3-5 days later, Microsoft will receive your broken console and fix it, or if they can't fix it, replace it. 3-5 days later, you'll receive the 360 in a box which you will then (hopefully) enjoy.

If you've read all that and still need help, post away! I'll be here to guide you through it. Rar!

[Scrib]

Everyone here has 360 problems.

[Dan]

I know!

We must be that .01% Microsoft was talking about.

[Scrib]

.01%?!

PFFFFFFFT

[Spades]

Thank you so much, Dan-face!

I'm gonna JUMP OHN IT, just as Hip Hop has told me to do.

Oh my gawd.

That was seriously the most helpful thing I've ever heard.


Custom portrait on the way.

And lemme say... it will blow your mind.

[Scrib]

Just got a white screen saying..

"If you want to play this disc, put it in an Xbox 360."

wtf?

[Dan]

Scrib, you somehow got screwed twice. You need to exchange once more. That is truly bad luck. Or call 1-800-4MY-XBOX.

[Scrib]

I'll exchange it if it happens again.

Mine was made 7/11/06..



And someone give me Crackdown. I wanna play more than just the demo.