XBOX 360 Aug 11 System Update Update
Posted by Don Hass in gaming, hardware, microsoft, softwareSo since I have posted the following over on the xbox forums and seem to get back quite a bit of feedback that it has solved several others RROD August 11 System Update deaths, I figured I would post it here as well before MS decides to pull the whole thread to make sure they don’t admit that they had anything to do with everyone’s consoles dying!
So my console was completely dead after working with MS support related to the Aug 11 update failure on my 3 year old Pro console. They basically wanted me to send it in saying I had a hardware failure (even though initially didn’t have RROD) and wanted the 100 bucks to repair since it was long past its warranty.
Since I wasn’t going to pay for any old hardware to be fixed that was broken by their software, I figured I would find a solution on my own since their support was pretty useless on the phone.
Since the console was working fine before the update I started to see what options to clear the system of the update. Since mine was not even getting past the 360 startup logo before it completely froze and then showed RROD recently, I had nothing to lose. It was going to meet the dumpster at this point!
First thing I did was use the sync clear method stated early on in the post and several others places in the forums and web:
- Held the sync button (on the console to the right of the 2nd memory module port).
- Pressed the power button (still holding down sync button the whole time) until it was at the dashboard.
Mine didn’t say anything, but oddly enough it got me past the logo and I actually could see the NXE dash now. I have not seen this for days (say the last 8 tries of starting the console). That was positive.
Next I used the 360 Clear Cache method (the new method, since the August 11 update was still in place at this point apparently). Not the long (X,X,LB,RB,X,X) combo.I quickly navigated to the system blade (thinking I had less than 30 seconds before it RROD on me):
- Selected Memory.
- Selected Hard Drive.
- Selected Y for device options.
- Selected Clear Cache (3rd Choice).
In my case it freed up about 5 gigs worth of disk space by clearing out the “cache”. Dang all those software updates for games!
Restarted the console to be safe and see if everything still worked. Sure enough it started up, the lag I noticed after the August 11 update was not there and I actually was able to play two XBL games and even some Fable II. All of which was impossible the previous days.
Does this solve all my problems, probably not, but things are working again until the next failure or RROD. I find it interesting that MS doesn’t force these kinds of clearing of the cache if they can be problems with system updates.
Since both of these steps together has currently (and maybe only temporarily) fixed my RROD. This leads me to believe it is really not hardware failure! Does anyone else see something wrong with this if my console lives on and MS was going to take my 100 bucks to just clear the cache on my box and send it back to me!!! Or is there really changes to the latest system code that is taking a border line stable console and sending it over the edge?
This was the first time I ever had any failures on my 360, which would lead one to believe something not right with this system update. I wonder if these steps works for anyone else out there with the Aug 11 failures!?”
I have verified that this has worked on my console (still working many gaming sessions later) and at least 8 reported instances of others consoles (ranging from 3+ years old to not even a month old elite) being fixed by these steps above. Even with complete RROD’s. Of course I can’t guarantee this will work for anyone else’s 360 or that it will last, but it has worked on ours at this point.
Thanks for nothing Microsoft, maybe you would like to test your stuff before releasing. All for new avatar and netflix junk!? Dang, what happens come fall with the Twitter and Fackebook stuff piled on top of this… I smell smoke in them there hills?
Dover
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There is no doubt that we have to add up every piece of info we receive. I found an article posted on August 5, 2009 in which the author suggests that maybe Xbox 360 is saying goodbye to its Pro model. Maybe we are experiencing the last days of the Pro console. Too bad! Thanks for the tips on fixing it!
I continue to get emails related to the 08/11 system “update” bricking consoles. Definitely across the board in terms of machines (1st gen boxes to 1 month old elites).
To make matters worse, it appears that MS like they have since the release of the 360, don’t care since even with high failure rates (on the actual console and bricking as part of updates) continue to sale more of their machines. People will continue to buy new 360 to replace their dead ones even though IMO it is MS failure to create a good product. They still make $$$ off their huge user base through abuse of that user base. Plus sales figures are really skewed if you think a 360 owner has bought more than one 360 due to previous failures. Heck I have heard some users actually having bought up to 5 or 6 consoles since the release of the console due to failures! One way to say you sale lots of consoles!
For me personally, all new MS (XBL Gold subscription included) games and content is on hold by me. I still have my dying console, but at this point I have jumped to the Sony camp with the release of the PS3 slim and reduce price point, I will spend my gaming $ over there. I see that I mean nothing to MS from their unreliable product and unmentionable support. I will give Sony (somewhat reluctantly) my gaming coin. Thanks MS.
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Its incredible now there is a professional way to fix your Red Ring Of Death I just found out yesterday. Check my link posted. If it does not work try rrod-fix-pro dot com.