Xbox 360 dash update to bring HDMI audio fix
by Dustin Burg 
{ Feb 2nd 2009 at 8:57PM } 
Those not experiencing audio from their Xbox 360 HDMI connections may soon find their complaints silenced.Major Nelson just informed us that a mandatory 360 dashboard update will be released this Tuesday morning at 2:00AM pacific, and will fix the HDMI audio problems some have been experiencing. As always, dashboard updates will only begin rolling out at 2:00AM pacific, so it may take a while before actually being prompted to download.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
eNrique @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:02PM
"Those not experiencing audio from your Xbox 360 HDMI connection can stop complaining. Not only because your whining was becoming irritating, but because Microsoft has a solution that's coming soon."
Sure, almost 3 months later;
I love ms...
time @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:03PM
That took a looooong time.
Jody Anthony (gamertag and psn: JodyAnthony) @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:04PM
I would prefer if I could start my console when connected via hdmi without having the tv set to the correct hdmi input. I set something to download in my browser from work, then got home, pressed the power on the xbox, and watched tv for a bit, thinking it would download. come to find out 15 minutes later upon switching to my hdmi input that the console hadn't even fully started up yet.
WiredKnight @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:11PM
That's HDCP for ya.
KingOfGods @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:26PM
That's most likely an issue with your tv. I do that all the time with my Sony Bravia and the box starts up fine same goes for my PS3.
Jody Anthony (gamertag and psn: JodyAnthony) @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:28PM
well my ps3 starts up fine, it's just the 360 that sits in it's never-ending loop of horror.
Mazrael @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:30PM
My elite does that (if I understand you right) since it came back from where ever they fixed it in Germany.. this was way before NXE, it was when Soul Calibur 4 came out...
I used to switch my 360 on, go off make a drink then switch the TV on, mine is only ever on the HDMI channel for the 360, and I'd be at the dashboard..
Since the fix, my 360 waits til I switch my TV on before it'll even do the sphere logo..
DBoyFlex @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:30PM
That then sounds like your console has a problem. Weird.
McWilly @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:31PM
My 360 starts up normally when I don't have the channel on HDMi. So it's your TV.
Desi_D @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:34PM
"That's HDCP for ya."
Actually, that's Xbox 360 for ya.
Nick the Hero of Canton @ Feb 2nd 2009 10:00PM
If your TV has more than one HDMI port try, the other(s).
One of my HDMI ports has the same problem (wont boot the Xbox unless the TV is set to the correct HDMI output) but the other does not.
Jody Anthony (gamertag and psn: JodyAnthony) @ Feb 2nd 2009 10:06PM
tried swapping my ps3 and 360 hdmi inputs, still wont start up
oh well, might have something to do with my tv being a crappy Dynex.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Feb 2nd 2009 10:26PM
I agree. I'd love that. It waits forever on the 360, but the PS3 boots right up.
Apparently the HDMI is a bit of a hack on the 360. It doesn't even answer the controller, so the controller sits there flashing, instead of showing 1P.
And you can't even turn it off from the controller in this case (that I can tell), you have to go over and press the button on the front, or maybe the IR remote sensor works too.
Pretty lame.
343 Guilty Fart @ Feb 3rd 2009 2:20PM
I had the same problem Jody, my 360 would not boot up when I had the HDMI plugged in going to my receiver but was on a different input (like TV). I was so annoyed I went and plugged the component cables back in.
Cal @ Feb 3rd 2009 3:43PM
I have the no start up or controller connection problem too with my Dell S2409W and 360 60GB
Farseye21 @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:19PM
Im still waiting for the update that will allow you to watch netflix movies with your friends online when they might not even have netflix... Heard that was coming around 2-3 months from now?
KingOfGods @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:28PM
That was never the case. Your friends had to have Live Gold and a Netflix account that allowed unlimited streaming.
DEEZNUTZ @ Feb 2nd 2009 10:05PM
LMAO. McWIlly's reply is typed in "win" font.
Rudolphe @ Feb 2nd 2009 10:51PM
lol mcwilly
Tiptup300 @ Feb 2nd 2009 11:45PM
You can do that, via lan.
Sir Buzz Killington( The Artist formerly known as Jakka) @ Feb 3rd 2009 8:05AM
...but given LAN's nature, couldn't you just like walk to the other room and just watch it together with said person?
Vcize @ Feb 3rd 2009 9:12AM
And engage in real social interaction Buzz? No way man, no way.
Tiptup300 @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:41PM
WOOOOOOSH
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, Ultrastiq Revolutionary) @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:17PM
Remember back in the good ol' days when if shit like this occurred, your console was pretty much DOA? Don't get me wrong, I love how now if shit like this occurs, it can be easily fixed, but it seems like the strategy is push a game/console out the door ASAP then squash any bugs later.
Hydrophobicfish @ Feb 3rd 2009 6:51AM
I own all three major current consoles, (and both portables). So I'd like to imagine I'm not as tainted by fanboy bias.
But, I'd disagree with you on this one. My memory might be hazy, but I don't remember the PS3 or the Wii having any major problems. Sure, the occasional lost save file here and there, but I don't think I've heard of any of them bricking.
At least not nearly as much as the 360 did. There has to be a little bit of leeway though, if you've ever done ANY sort of programming, you'll know that no matter how much you test it in-house there's still going to be bugs in release. There's just no way of foreseeing every single outcome with any sort of reasonable testing team.
FemaleOrca @ Feb 3rd 2009 5:31PM
My PS3 just straight up refused to turn on one day. I had to send it in and have it replaced. Lost all my game saves. Sucked a lot.
I also have a 360 that has worked perfectly since day 1. Just goes to show neither system is infallible.
DBoyFlex @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:29PM
I never got the last update... Seriously, I connect to live but never got the last mystery update from a few weeks ago. Oh well, maybe we shall all live with the same firmware starting tomorrow.
Vcize @ Feb 3rd 2009 9:13AM
You probably got it and didn't notice because Live updates take all of 3 seconds and then re-boot automatically.
DBoyFlex @ Feb 3rd 2009 10:04AM
I actually still have the old version number.
michas_pi @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:39PM
I'm curious to find out what was wrong on the technical side.
DangerMouse @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:54PM
3 months? Damn, i hope it doesn't take that long to release the GoW PC patch.
Terry @ Feb 2nd 2009 10:31PM
I'm curious to hear what the problem was, also. My Xbox will not 'boot up' until it gets a signal from my receiver relaying the video to my TV. It has to do with the way the HDCP was implemented from Microsoft, but it does seem to be more touchy if you have it going through an audio reciever. (Onkyo TX-SR876 and Samsung 61" DLP) I don't see the big problem with the system not booting up until it gets a signal back from the ending device, but someone always has to complain about something........You can please some of the people, some of the time, but never all of the people, all the of time..... :)
Xenokai @ Feb 2nd 2009 11:15PM
I have a 32" Westinghouse and i dont have this Audio issue and i dont have the no signal issue. I can turn my tv on after my 360 boots or turn it on when im wacthing tv and swicth over and it works great. My HDMI port is 1.2b i think on my tv. Westinghouse isnt the worst brand but its a cheaper brand that i picked over the toshiba i tryed and returned. Still nice to not have these issues when people with top of the line name brands seem to have them. Hopefully this update does more for the HDMI then just fix the audio issue.
Rudolphe @ Feb 2nd 2009 10:50PM
I've been using HDMI since NXE and don't have any problems at all, it's your tv's!
El Rey @ Feb 2nd 2009 10:55PM
How about a fix for the WMP media sharing now? I know its not a big issue but mine stopped working (PS3 still shows up) and in researching the problem (which I have not resolved) it seems like it happening more and more to people just randomly. Strangely i never had an issue until around the time NXE came out.
If anyone knows about a fix please help me out.
Tiptup300 @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:04AM
Have you used your pc to have a shared internet connection?
El Rey @ Feb 3rd 2009 1:33AM
Yeah it had always been set up but around the time NXE was launched it was having issues and would randomly choose when it wanted to work. Then finally this weekend it decided it didn't want to work at all - keeps saying "PC not listed" however the PS3 is still able to connect to the PC.
Tiptup300 @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:42PM
No, I mean did you ever use ICP on your pc. Like having a 360 hooked to the ethernet on the pc so the pc gave internet to it. It screws up the media sharing for the 360.
Xenokai @ Feb 2nd 2009 11:10PM
That wont be added theres a copyright problem there.
seakae @ Feb 2nd 2009 11:36PM
How bout the problem with the dashboard activity freezing everything for 10-30 seconds?
Secre @ Feb 3rd 2009 1:11AM
Will this fix the fact that I haven't been able to connect to live properly ever since the NXE came out? Doubt it. I remember an article way back when saying that Microsoft knew about that, but I haven't heard anything since.
Dave @ Feb 3rd 2009 1:43AM
ZOMG I hate small firmware updates!, says the MS fanboy.
Ji @ Feb 3rd 2009 6:00AM
Its 2.0.7363.0, Wonder why it got out to people like a week ago.
Timmy @ Feb 3rd 2009 7:29AM
TOTALLY USELESS and STUPID update for 95% of users. Why make it mandatory and waste my time having to download this update and slowing down the service with all the wasted bandwith serving up this stupid download that most people don't even need.
DBoyFlex @ Feb 3rd 2009 10:10AM
I am sure those 5% are happy though. Next time you have a problem hopefully MS won't help you out, just for being in the 5%.
Travis @ Feb 3rd 2009 7:48AM
my audio cuts out sometimes for like 1 second...i attribute it to crappy speakers...since it happens when things get loud in the game...
all that aside, HDMI works wonders on my 50" LG plasma
Conor @ Feb 3rd 2009 9:02AM
So is this why I could never get my surround sound to work with my 360?
Because with the hdmi cable hooked up to my 50inch LG plasma I could only ever get sound coming through the tv which was a real pain.
DBoyFlex @ Feb 3rd 2009 10:09AM
If you are running your HDMI through your home stereo then running to the TV, your stereo may not actually transmit audio without running it back from the TV. Some older systems with HDMI will pass the audio right through and not play it, but you would then get it on your TV, but not your stereo. You would then need to run the audio out from the TV to your stereo. If you have a newer system, then it should pick up the audio without having to pass it back down. Anyways, sounds like that may be your problem, not the actual xbox firmware. Check your instruction manual. Mine actually says that in order to get audio from and HDMI device I need to route the audio back down from the TV to the receiver and that it will not pick it up on the pass through. Odd, but it happens.
Conor @ Feb 3rd 2009 3:41PM
Thanks for the reply man,
Much appreciated!
alu @ Feb 3rd 2009 5:09PM
dboy is right, unless your receiver has HDMI with audio passthrough (the cheaper HDMI receivers don't) then you need to use the audio dongle that comes with the elite or hack your component cable connector to get it to fit while using HDMI. either way you need to get the optical out to your receiver along with the HDMI.
alternatively if you don't have an HDMI receiver you run HDMI to your TV then optical out as above to your receiver.