First Xbox 360 experience

[Republik]

Well yesterday I found myself in Game purchasing a preowned Xbox 360 with 20GB hard drive. 2 controllers and Forza 3 for £140. Unpacked, setup and ready to go.

I tried to open the disc tray and...it wouldn't open. No bother, I search YouTube for a fix - remove the faceplate, use a paper clip, remove the rubber band, wash it and put back in to the machine. Problem solved.

I load up Forza, download the system update and the console freezes. I turn it off and on - 3 red lights. I do YouTube searches and its a minefield. I read about the 'towel fix' but decided against it. Seeing as Game is open for another half an hour and its close to home I return and exchange the console.

I get home, unpack and plug in, load up the update and guess what - 3 red lights.

Please tell me I am just unlucky and this isn't a problem that is going to haunt my entire Xbox 360 ownership. As for Game, they have been had. So far they have 2 faulty consoles they have taken in part exchange in good faith. No doubt they will have to foot the bill to repair them.

[nick heppinstall]

Mmmm... £140 seems a bit expensive for a secondhand console even with Forza.... Better off buying new and buying the other bits when you have the spare cash.

[nick heppinstall]

I'm picking up a brand new Arcade today from Arogs. Cost £99. My launch Premium is still going strong. Had 3 lights on my first console after about 18 months since then no probs.

[Republik]

I thought it was a better deal than the £99 at Argos. Especially with a hard disc, Forza and extra controller. Whats do you get with the Argos deal?

[nick heppinstall]

Just the controller and mem card. Probably just me but I would not spend that sort of money on a second hand 360. Like I said I'd rather have new and if cashflow was a problem wait a bit longer..

[Buzzkill]

It could have been worse - you actually manage to play forza 3 online and in doing so, realise there's a high chance in every race at least one person will attempt make you spin by rear ending your car somehow.

Edited by Buzzkill on Sunday 14th February 09:33

[Digby]

nick heppinstall said:

Probably just me but I would not spend that sort of money on a second hand 360.

At this stage of the RROD game and due to the age of the machine, any second hand 360 is a risk these days.A good percentage of cheap ebay deals, for example, will simply be dead 360's someone has purchased cheaply and then tried to fix with the X clamp mod.And despite what anyone says, that is not always going to last and will often die within days/weeks.

If there was any second hand purchasing to be done, a new £99 console with a second hand hard drive (often you will find 20 gig ones knocking about where people have upgraded) and a cheap copy of forza 3 would be the way forward.At least you are getting a later machine with better/revised internals and less chance of a red ring attack.

My advice would be that unless you know the history of the machine and maybe who you are buying it from, stay well clear of second hand 360's!

[bonsai]

I'm truly surprised Game don't test pre-owned 360s, especially given their pre-disposition to RROD.

Edited by bonsai on Sunday 14th February 10:11

[Republik]

I'm on my way there now. They have given me a 2 year warranty so any problems in that time and I'll get it repaired. That is if they give me one that works!

[T89 Callan]

Buzzkill said:

It could have been worse - you actually manage to play forza 3 online and in doing so, realise there's a high chance in every race at least one person will attempt make you spin by rear ending your car somehow.

Edited by Buzzkill on Sunday 14th February 09:33

Or he could have actually played Forza 3 single player and been bored to death.

[Munter]

Buzzkill said:

It could have been worse - you actually manage to play forza 3 online and in doing so, realise there's a high chance in every race at least one person will attempt make you spin by rear ending your car somehow.

Edited by Buzzkill on Sunday 14th February 09:33

Why are you letting them catch you?

[HereBeMonsters]

I think it's pretty well known that Game rarely test the consoles or games they get in as part exchange. I had a similar experience to you, eventually got my money back and bought a brand new one from John Lewis with a 5 year warranty.

[Republik]

Console number 3 seems to work perfectly fine. Fingers crossed. I don't think they were happy to see me again.

[soad]

Unlucky there, chap - got there in the end, i see. Third time was lucky it seems! That is all.

Managed to trade in your older consoles yet?

Edited by soad on Sunday 14th February 13:59

[Republik]

I didn't bother in the end. Doesn't seem worth it for the pittance I was offered. £10 for the Game Cube so I'm letting my little sister have it for free instead. PS2 is still in the loft gathering dust.

[Merry]

Digby said:

purchased cheaply and then tried to fix with the X clamp mod.And despite what anyone says, that is not always going to last and will often die within days/weeks.

!

Well mine was purchased cheaply and has the x clamp mod plus some uprated fans and is still going after 2 years.

Its cost me £100 all in after buying a Controller and 60gig hdd. Which isnt bad really.

[Daston]

I purchased a brand new Jasper Elite just before xmas for £80 off ebay. OK was just the console but that didnt bother me as Game were doing a deal on the ODST Pack (Game plus ODST Controller for £30) and then just got a second hand 60gb HDD.

[Scraggles]

suspect the second hand owners knew about the red lights and why it was so cheap

might be better getting a new one, with gurantee ?>

[Buzzkill]

Munter said:

Buzzkill said:

It could have been worse - you actually manage to play forza 3 online and in doing so, realise there's a high chance in every race at least one person will attempt make you spin by rear ending your car somehow.

Edited by Buzzkill on Sunday 14th February 09:33

Why are you letting them catch you?

It's usually during the first lap early on when things are a little edgy. If I'm honest though it doesn't always work and they can end up spinning themselves.

[Digby]

Merry said:

Digby said:

purchased cheaply and then tried to fix with the X clamp mod.And despite what anyone says, that is not always going to last and will often die within days/weeks.

!

Well mine was purchased cheaply and has the x clamp mod plus some uprated fans and is still going after 2 years.

Its cost me £100 all in after buying a Controller and 60gig hdd. Which isnt bad really.

It's a lottery though, that was my point.I had one which lasted almost a year, another lasted a few weeks.I also have 3 other dead ones which would last a matter of days and needed regular heat gun attention to the motherboards.I could have sold them on fully working though and let someone else watch the red lights kick in after a few days/a week.There is no way I would take a chance on a repaired one after having done numerous clamp fixes etc myself.Two friends of mine also got stung by purchasing repaired machines.
Some will last, some won't, which pretty much sums up the Xbox 360!