If you've owned an Xbox 360 for any length of time or know someone who has, then you are probably aware of the dreaded "three flashing red lights of death." What are the "three flashing red lights of death?" They are when three of the four lights around the power button for the Xbox 360 start flashing red when the system is turned on.

The three flashing red lights aren't the only problem that can impact an Xbox 360, but it is certaily one that requires the most effort to remove. The three flashing red lights are often called the "Xbox 360 red circle of doom" or "the three flashing red lights of death" because of what it means for the Xbox 360 console. Unfortunately, the Xbox 360 afflicted with the 3 flashing red lights will not work properly until the the three red lights go away.

Three flashing red lights on an Xbox 360 indicates a General Hardware Failure by the consolde. Powering the system on and off will unfortunately not resolve this problem. Repairs will be needed before the system can be used again. A phone call can be placed to Microsoft support and they can provide information on how to return the console to them for repairs. It will take 2-3 weeks for the console to be repaired and returned in working order from Microsoft.

If the problem with the console is severe enough, it might cost close to $150 to get it repaired. Now that a few weeks have passed and hopefully less than $150 spent on repairs, the Xbox 360 console hopefully returns either repaired or refurbished. There is always the chance the console could not be repaired and had to be replaced with a refurbished model or that the console is damaged in transit on the way back.

Another solution for the 3 flashing red lights issue is do-it-yourself repair. A guide that can help is the Xbox 360 Red Lights Repair Guide. This has easy to follow instructions on how to fix the three flashing red lights of doom as well as other common issues like graphics errors, freeze ups, and overheating. The screenshots provided in the guide are very helpful for resolving any issue that might plague an Xbox 360. A nice benefit is that the guide can help resolve the 3 flashing red lights issue in less time than it normally takes to call Microsoft and box up the 360 console for shipping.

In fact, many users of the Red Lights Repair Guide have reported getting their Xbox 360 console up and running again in less than 2 hours. Compare two hours to two weeks and that's a lot more time that can be spent gaming instead of waiting for the console to return. Also, the cost for the Red Lights Repair Guide ($25) is a fraction of what it could cost to send the console off to Microsoft (around $150).

While the Xbox 360 Three Flashing Red Lights is a showstopper for any Xbox 360 player, it's a problem that can be quickly and easily resolved using the proper guide and tools. Instead of waiting 2 or more weeks for the Xbox 360 to return from Microsoft, a 360 player can perform the repairs themselves and get back into gaming.