The Red Ring of Death (RRoD) error has already been a massive headache for Microsoft. But despite a special extension to Red Ring warranties, an estimated $1 billion repair bill and a string of new Xbox 360 innards behind it, it seems Xbox 360 hardware errors are still plaguing the console. A new error, known as E74, has forced Microsoft to extend Xbox 360 warranties yet again. Read on for the full details.
Microsoft’s Help and Support page describes the “extension of the warranty to three years for general hardware failures indicated by the E74 error message.” Echoing closely the statement that formally acknowledged the existence of the Red Ring of Death, the E74 warranty extension announcement reads:
“While the majority of Xbox 360 owners continue to have a great experience with their console, we are aware that a very small percentage of our customers have reported receiving an error that displays “E74” on their screen. After investigating the issue, we have determined that the E74 error message can indicate the general hardware failure that is associated with three flashing red lights error on the console.”
That means if your console is less than three years old and has received an E74 error message, you’ll get your repair for free. Sadly, you’ll still be lumbered with a couple of weeks’ worth of unscheduled gaming hiatus. The good news is that if you have already had the E74 error and paid for a repair, you’ll be getting your money back in the next 4-12 weeks.
Make no bones about it though; this is another PR disaster for the Xbox 360. It has long suffered from its dodgy hardware image and seems utterly incapable of shaking it, despite all the numerous changes that have been made on the inside.
(via Gamezine.co.uk)
