Microsoft offering free repairs for all 2005 Xbox 360s

Those Redmond folks are sure on a good news streak. After announcing 1080p upscaling and a delightfully low-priced HD DVD drive for their 360, they're offering a helping hand to early adopters who haven't had quite as much fun with the console. Microsoft is offering free fixes to all problematic Xbox 360s built in 2005, and is sending out refunds to users who paid for repairs to that "three red lights of death" problem or other quirks before this dealio went into effect. Of course, one could argue that Microsoft should've been doing these repairs for free from the outset, and it seems like 2006 Xbox buyers are just SOL, but this is at least an improvement to the situation.

[Via DailyTech]

[zAlphaOmega @ Oct 2nd 2006 2:50AM]

I have a launch console. I have never had a problem, it gets played a couple hours everyday. If I have any problems, it's all good now the fixin's paid for!!

[John Corcione @ Dec 20th 2006 2:56PM]

Now I am a little scared now. I called tech support to get some support expecting to pay thru the nose, Ricky the support tech told me that I was still under warranty until Jan 15 2007, and that I could send my unit in to have it repaired. I sent it in on 12/15 they received it on 12/18 and are returning what I think is a replacement unit. I just hope it's not the so called "Refurbished" one. Anyway just making a comment on the fast turn around, I was actually quite surprised. Lets hope I am not surprised with a crappy replacement. Sorry for digging up an old post!

[JANICE @ Jan 1st 2007 8:34PM]

HOW CAN I GET A FREE REPAIR FOR MY XBOX 360
FOR SUM REASON THE DISC ISNT SPINNING
IT WONT PLAY AT ALL

[Joe C @ Feb 13th 2007 10:04PM]

Well MS won't own up to all pre-2006 owners of the original 360s released. I just got the three red rings of death and it died - wont go on anymore!

I called up MS and they said sorry we changed policy two weeks ago (according to the supervisor) and now you have to pay for it since its past the 1 year warranty. I find this totallly unjust as MS said ANYOEN who had a 2005 model could get it repaired for free, and now they turn around a few months later and decide we wont pay for our defects anymore. Nice customer service and a way to make an xbox fanboi reakky think about scrapping the 360, buying a PS3, and selling off my games on ebay (over 50 at $60 a pop USD). Nice way to treat your consumer public MS! Just think at 140 bux a pop, they will make over $11 Million plus on repairs for all those 360s that are just now blowing up (its almost like they patched your 360 to blow up on a certain date past the warranty since we all know they can put stuff on your machine and not tell you about whats there at any given notice for anyone who received the infamous "xbox live is updating your console please dont turn it off while this takes place" during certain games! That, AND after losing every game save thanks to the infamous dead rising game crash that effecte dme has driven me to madness! I wonder if the dead rising game is tied to early adopters and if everyone who bought the game and was an early adopter were the ones having defective 360s - possible tie-in or link? Wouldnt doubt it. This MS lemon they sold me for $400 bucks is worth the same as my trashbag now. MS is no longer reimbursing for pre-05 consoles and they have not informed the general public!! WRONG WRONG WRONG! They should recalled this garbage!

[ardy @ May 18th 2007 10:21PM]

Are you f%$#in kidding me that was my life line and i was just going to use it!!!
damn ring of doom

[Keith @ Feb 19th 2007 8:57PM]

Same thing just happened to me. They said policy changed and they will no longer repair consoles for free made in 2005.

[ill will @ Jul 14th 2007 5:46AM]

i herd on the news bout 4 days ago how this problem is effecting all xbox users, i went upstairs to try mine and the same thing happend. but i foned xbox and ups turned up to my door the next day. i was shocked how quick they were, 7 days they told me. im not annoyed eventhough this is my 2nd xbox to have this problem. mean while ill have to stick to my ps3.

[yamile escudero ganem @ May 8th 2008 12:50AM]

HELLO I HAVE AN XBOX360 IT WAS WORKING GOOD,BUT LAST DAY WHEN I TURNED ON APPEARSE 3REDLIGHTS AND I DON`T KNOW WHY? I BOUGHT MY XBOX IN SEARS AND THE TRUE IT`S THAT I DON`T USE IT TOO MUCH THAT`S WHAT I SURPRISED ME PLEASE HELP ME BECAUSE I DON`T HAVE WHERE TO FIX IT BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE SAY THAT IF SOMEONE OPEN THE XBOX LOSE THE WARRANTY PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO AND WHERE. I HOPE YOUR ANSWER SOON I LIVE IN TORREON,COAHUILA MEXICO.

[stephen @ May 19th 2008 1:32PM]

when i put in the game it wont play game it says play dvd ?????? i have no receipt i purchased it in christmas 2006 how do i go about fixing it

[Joshua Scott Steffens @ May 20th 2008 12:17PM]

i had to pay $99.00 to get my system repaired but they gave me a 1 year warranty. im still upset because they are now offering a 3 year warranty on any new systems being purchased.