Xbox 360 update bricking consoles?
by Cyrus Farivar 
posted Nov 1st 2006 at 3:46PM
Read - Xbox 360 Fanboy
Read - CrunchGear
Update: Jake wrote in to point us to the Sony manual [PDF link] which has some words regarding the TV problem: "If you look on pages 16 and 17 of the manual for the TVs you'll not that it only lists up to 1080i over component. I knew that when I bought it but this no 1080p over VGA is for the birds. Maybe it has to do with the frequency that the picture is displayed at. The manual says for best picture viewing at 1080p you should set the PC or in this case the Xbox to horizontal 67.5 kHz and vertical to 60 Hz."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ME2 @ Nov 24th 2008 3:10PM
mine got bricked... I have read there is a class-action lawsuit over this now... sign me up for that.. I am not paying a dime to have this cr@p fixed.. I am on my 2nd unit already.
Mitch R. @ Nov 1st 2006 3:51PM
It was proven that the E66 errors were only on modded Samsung drives.
varun @ Nov 1st 2006 3:56PM
Mitch, that may be so, but I can attest to my completely unmodded Xbox360 (the little sticker in front holding the cases together is intact) now sitting deader than a doornail in my house. It's one of the September 2005 batch, got it on opening night, and it locks on startup - the noise plays, the image either doesn't display or gets jammed as the X ball rolls in from the bottom right. Looks like a bad update on Microsoft's part.
Mitch R. @ Nov 1st 2006 4:30PM
The first batch had problems. But Microsoft will replace it for free.
James @ Nov 1st 2006 4:26PM
Really? I have one from the same batch and my update went fine.
Danny @ Nov 1st 2006 4:36PM
Varun,
The same freezing issue happened to me in September, with a tiny little xbox live update. My 360 would work for a little while, and then freeze, and eventually it got to the point where it would freeze on the startup screen, and then it reached the 3 red lights of death stage. Mine was manufactured in 11-05, and I just had to send it off to microsoft to get it fixed. It seemed like the live update, which didn't really do much, was the straw that broke the camel's back. So probably the same thing is happening with these fall dashboard updates.
Craig @ Nov 1st 2006 3:57PM
isn't the xbr2 vga display problems the fault of the tv? i really like the KDS-XBR2 series (and am considering buying one), but isn' that just one of the tv's drawbacks, that it can't properly display a signal through vga?
it makes me so mad because i'm sure it's sony just trying to make blu-ray/ps3 look that much better. i'm getting really tired of companies with agendas like that. it's kinda like canon and their digital cameras... no compact camera in their line has "everything", and they have seemingly discontinued the very popular s-series, just so to make you choose between an slr or compact point-and-shoot (or ideally, for canon, buy both)
end of my rant...
MJGallicchio @ Nov 2nd 2006 11:24AM
Got my 360 on release day and it is sitting in my room right now with the "red ring of death" after an attempted update.
sycks @ Nov 1st 2006 4:14PM
No the TV is not at fault, if you read more into it, the VGA 1080p works on other sets, AND the VGA 1080p from devices other than a 360 work....
WillGonz @ Nov 1st 2006 4:17PM
When Microsoft says they want to patch something, be very afraid. The very first patch that went out caused my 360 to over heat. Does any one know of a PSP patch that went and bricked PSP's other than homebrew? Some Windows patches have broken some machines that I had to go back and fix.
DigitallyInsane @ Oct 4th 2007 8:28PM
Actually my Xbox360 updates have all worked flawlessly, whereas yesterday I updated my PSP to Sony's 3.71 firmware, and halfway through the update, my PSP bricked itself.
TVGenius @ Nov 1st 2006 4:20PM
Wow... that picture is what every 360 used in store displays in our town looks like...
varun @ Nov 1st 2006 5:25PM
Ohh... I've always wondered. My Xbox says "Pronduct ID" instead of "Product ID" on the back? Does yours too? I nearly dropped mine laughing when I saw that.
varun @ Nov 1st 2006 4:52PM
And then the Xbox tech support gal swears it's the first time that's ever happened. You wouldn't happen to have a reference number for that when I call them back? :(
Raz @ Nov 1st 2006 4:45PM
Hi there, my xbox 360 was affected by the update....i've got a black screen of death with error 71 and it's UNMODDED
Called support and they told me it is a hardware problem but after reading this I'm not pretty sure, maybe they don't have any idea why
hooopla @ Nov 1st 2006 4:44PM
360 is displaying 1080p on our Sharp's D90U series via component. Looks the same as the 1080i picture. There is no noticeable difference. I can also verify it did not work on the Sony XBR3's component in.
RomeoDude @ Nov 1st 2006 6:18PM
YES IT IS VERY TRUE!!!! MY XBOX IS BRICKED!! It has never been modded, and xbox tech support told me it should be resolved shortly. I am EXTREMELY upset with this, as I cannot play anything online or offline without recieveing an update notice, to be later returned to the dashboard.
Skeg8 @ Nov 1st 2006 5:02PM
Just got a brand new xbox last night and it asked me to update when I turned it on... Now I have a dead box with E71 and lower right quater blinking red. Call MS and they told me lots of people are having the issue and they still have no word on how to troubleshoot it, he asked me to call back tomorrow :-(
I think I will be taking this one back for a replacement and not running the update next time!
Mark @ Nov 1st 2006 5:41PM
Chalk one up for a non-eventful update on a 360 here. Everything works...
Raz @ Nov 1st 2006 5:11PM
Yes, let me first describe everything...
First, this is from Xbox Support in Mexico so I don't know if it would be useful to you...I don't have they number with me right now, I'm at work.
They initially told me it was a hardware error and that it was not covered by waranty anymore because I bought it on the US and it was on last december. Then, out of the blue, the guy told me there was an mistake and that my 360 was still covered by waranty because it was of the first generation of 360s. Then he told me they would fix it for free and that I'd receive a box from UPS to send my 360.
Initially I thought this was isolated and due to some sporadic problems I've been having with my 360 (especially in NBA 2k7), but now after reading this, I'm not sure at all....what's going on?? I just hope they actually fix this.
Ben @ Nov 2nd 2006 2:03AM
Ohhh, man, i havn't turned on my Xbox since this update has been released, (not to try and avoid it, i have been busy) now at least i am informed, mine was a pretty early model, i wonder if the uk Xbox support will fix mine, even though i have a USA console :(
Ps. i am in the UK
Will @ Nov 1st 2006 5:14PM
For anyone who has successfully installed the update, is it possible to play 1080i/p WMV video files from a USB external drive or is there a resolution restriction?
GG @ Nov 1st 2006 5:22PM
The 1080p over component issue was discussed well before the update launched. Most HDTV's, including the entire Sony line, will NOT accept 1080p over component, from ANY source. Only a scarce few (including some Samsung and Westinghouse sets) will.
I have a Sony SXRD (KDS-R50XBR1) set that I LOVE, and I was aware of this caveat (as well as no 1080p over HDMI, or even VGA) before I purchased it 6 months ago. I tested my 360 post-update for kicks and giggles, and sure enough, no 1080p. However, this particular issue is the fault of the TV manufacturers, not Microsoft.
Now I'm just hoping that my 360 doesn't brick. Thanks for the panic...now I'll break into a sweat every time I turn it on. Hmm...reminds me of launch.
The1 @ Nov 1st 2006 5:37PM
I sent my secondary XBOX 360 back to MS 3 weeks ago because of issues. I got the replacement console back today and did the update. The update gave me an E-71 error with a flashing light in the seond quadrant. I am so pissed at MS at this point with their lack of support. They are telling me it is going to take another 3 weeks for them to fix this new one. I cannot wait to get my PS3 and my WII. I am a diehard XBOX fan but this ia the straw that broke my back, freak the camel.
THE1-GT
Paul Hawkins @ Nov 1st 2006 6:01PM
I had to replace my old 360 because of freezing problems and failures to boot, got myself a brand new console.. brought it home connected everything except ethernet cable, everything worked fine.. sorted out the settings then realised i had forgotten the ethernet cable.. i connected it.. Xbox live said there was a new update.. having had no problems previously i just installed it.. the console rebooted... to a lovely black screen saying i need to contact Microsoft Tech support and that i had an "Error Code E 71".. the 360 was goosed!.. thinking it was a manufacturers fault i took it back to the retailer and got yet another replacement.. took it home and repeated the process all over again... everything was working fine till it installed the update.. it rebooted to the exact same screen as the previous 360 did. Now i knew there had to be a problem so i phoned Microsoft tech support.. first it was a lady who had stated she had had many phone calls that day with the same problems and said the update may be at fault and the tech team where looking into it she then advised me to either go back to the retailer and get another replacement or send the console back to Microsoft and they would fix it but said if i got another one one from the retailer to not install the update. I phoned back later this time it was a man who answered i went through it all with him again and he said he wasn't sure whether it was the update or not but again advised me not to install the update on the new machine until the tech team could look at the update. i did manage to get a third replacement and everything (upto now) is working fine.. but then again i have not updated xbox live this time ;)
Joe SMith @ Nov 1st 2006 5:43PM
Patch worked fine for me and my TV is working great with the new resolution. The DVD upscaling is pretty good. Of course, I wouldn't buya Sony TV if you paid me to do it. One thing with the HD form teh Xbox is that they are using standard sync on green -- which Sony TVs don't support. I suspect they'll fix it.
Can't speak to the rumored bricking problem.
briguybb @ Nov 1st 2006 5:56PM
I intstalled the update last night and it worked w/o any issues. I have an original XBOX 360 from Release and it is unmodded.
The1 @ Nov 1st 2006 6:00PM
Briguybb, my launch console worked without a hitch, My other console is the one that crashed.
Jason @ Nov 1st 2006 10:17PM
Many Many HDTV's are not accepting the 1080p rez via the VGA. I hope MS fixes this soon. Just read avsforums.com many people are showing documented issues with the update.
mac @ Nov 1st 2006 6:31PM
I just got a replacement xbox 360, hooked it up, downloaded latest upgrade and then it gave a e71 error code. This is my THIRD 360, MS has really screwed up, but the ps3 wont be able to capitalize.
Drew @ Nov 1st 2006 6:49PM
I got my 360 on opening day (it is not modded). I have updated, no problems at all ever. Never had any problems at all ever. Take that MS haters.
Jake @ Nov 1st 2006 6:58PM
... I just bought my 40" Brivia. no 1080p over componet... I knew that, no 1080p over VGA didn't know that. I hope this gets worked out because I was planning on buying the HD-DVD drive for 1080p video.
Maybe this has to do with sony's recommended 60Hz vertical frequency when using 1080p over VGA. Does anyone know what the XBOX uses?
JW @ Nov 1st 2006 6:56PM
I'll throw in my 2 cents with another successful update story. I have a June-06 dated box and all seems well. Everyone on my friends list seems to have gotten through it ok as well, so that would be another 30 or so stories of a successful update. I'm curious to find out the specifics of this problem and what is conflicting with what in the troubled boxes. Best of luck everyone!!
stephane @ Nov 1st 2006 7:00PM
yeahhh man..this damn update messed up my 360..the light didn't turn red but it froze 3 times. Playing the demo of rainbow six, then madden, and then mortal kombat...Come on microsoft you guys need to better test these updates man..
Ken F @ Nov 1st 2006 7:03PM
Some people are trying to use 1080p output on the Xbox360 when their display doesn't support 1080p through component or VGA. Change back to 1080i to fix the problem.
[Many 1080p displays like the XBR2/XBR3 only support 1080p input through DVI/HDMI.]
Sal @ Nov 1st 2006 7:01PM
Happened to me. I just got my 360 yesterday, hooked it up, updated, it restarted and I got Error E71, what luck right? I should be getting a new one in the mail tomorrow as a replacement from where I bought it from.
Justin @ Nov 1st 2006 7:16PM
Guess I'll thow-out another: have a launch day console (not modded) and updated with no issues
Jake @ Nov 1st 2006 7:34PM
Ken F you are wrong. The 40XBR2 and 46XBR2 do support 1080 over VGA. I have hooked my PC up and ran 1080p and it works well. The problem is just the green sync as stated here:
http://forums.xbox.com/1/7789857/ShowPost.aspx#7789857
Hopfully the xbox team puts some options in for dealing with this issue.
hooopla @ Nov 1st 2006 9:02PM
A few of us at work have now finished trying sets from most major manufacturers and the only set that we were lucky enough to get the 1080p update to work on is the Sharp.
_man1c_ @ Nov 2nd 2006 12:15AM
i had a nice launch xbox that worked with no problems and updated nicely. i exchanged it since my warranty was up though for a freshly new 360. load and behold im already at my 3rd exchange cause of this snapfoo. and i havent upgraded my 3rd for F.E.A.R. this will happen again. then again im wondering if the 3rd times a charm and itll actually upgrade successfully.. :P
Alden @ Nov 2nd 2006 1:04AM
my brand new 360, which i picked up last night, plugged in, and started installing the update, locked up and threw the E71 error. Called MS, they told me to exchange it and dont install the update and to call them back in a few days to see if they have a solution.
Deluxe @ Nov 2nd 2006 1:55AM
Wow, this really makes me wanna rush out and get one :-/.
Eric @ Nov 2nd 2006 8:31AM
I have a launch day console. No problems, no mods.
mike @ Nov 2nd 2006 9:17PM
Good thing I didn't update yet!!!
james pokey @ Nov 3rd 2006 2:34PM
my update worked fine and i am so glad that it did would have probably shot my self otherwise
lawfool @ Nov 3rd 2006 5:05PM
Weird, I played COD2 online late last night and wasnt asked to install this update. Wonder what's up with that!
Rick @ Nov 7th 2006 1:18PM
My xbox360 turned to brick after applying the fall update. I just called 18004mybox, tell them about my system freeze after applying the update. After went through the troubleshooting, still having the problem. The rep told me they are aware of the fall update turning to the system to brick issue. Then the rep told me their computer system is down, therefore he can not tell me that they will fix my system for free or not and tell me to call back in 24 to 48 hours.
Houdini @ Nov 8th 2006 5:51AM
Man am I glad to see this thread. I thought I was alone. Yep same happening here. Locks up, plays a crappy screeching noise and then Sam Fisher can't save the world anymore. Hope this can be rectified quickly and at no additional cost to any of us.
Rick @ Nov 9th 2006 3:30AM
Called xbox support, they want to charge $97(25% discount) for the faulty fall update. I told the supervisor that I am filing a complaint, so I did. I failed to Better Business Bureau of Washington State, California Department of Consumer Affairs, Washington State Attorney General. This is ridiculous since it is M$' fault.
Jeffrey Skelly @ Nov 11th 2006 11:24PM
I applied the fall update, then downloaded the new Rainbow Six 3 demo. I played the demo for about 5 minutes and then the game froze. When I restarted the console I noticed the 3-rings of death. I called Microsoft tech support 3 times now and they refuse to acknowledge the problem. The other thing they tell me is that they will be happy to fix my Xbox if I pay them $139. Gee... that's way too much support for me. I am overwhelmed by their generosity.