3-year Xbox 360 warranty extended to cover E74 errors
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Apr 14th 2009 at 7:42AM } 
But your lonely torment is at an end, with Microsoft ceasing its defection discrimination and revealing via the Xbox Support page that the mysterious E74 error is now covered by the RROD's three-year warranty. Microsoft has determined "that the E74 error message can indicate the general hardware failure that is associated with three flashing red lights error on the console," and will "refund to customers the amount paid for an out of warranty repair due to a general hardware failure associated with the e74 error message." If you don't automatically receive this refund by July 1, 2009, you'll need to claim one through xbox.com/support before November 1, 2009.
Hooray! Welcome to the club, E74 victims! Um, sorry about your Xbox.
[Thanks, Peter]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
sach92 @ Apr 14th 2009 7:49AM
YAAAYYYYY!!!!!
roger @ Apr 14th 2009 9:22AM
Where are are the useless trolls that were bashing joystiq for bringing this up and defending MS? They will be either completely silent or will be touting the awesomeness of MS, hypocrites give credit where it's due and that's Joystiq for reporting this.
NoughtSoClever @ Apr 14th 2009 10:01AM
You get what you pay for? (oh man, this is gonna be modded down HARD!)
Vidikron @ Apr 14th 2009 10:28AM
@roger
I had the exact same thought. Joystiq got bashed hard by a lot of readers claiming that they were making a mountain out of a molehill. Obviously there was more to this than many wanted to believe.
quadraphonic @ Apr 14th 2009 10:30AM
@Roger,
It isn't trolling. I find it very curious that people would defend Microsoft so vehemently when it's obvious they rushed faulty hardware out the door just to be first in the next-gen race.
Personally, I prefer quality hardware over bragging rights. Though, at any rate, it seems that the Jasper revision is faring a little better.
That said, I think most people would agree that such a high failure rate on launch consoles is absolutely unacceptable. Just think what Microsoft could be doing for the console if they didn't have all those warranty repairs to pay for!
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Apr 14th 2009 10:36AM
@Roger: either they will show up and admit their faults while STILL blasting the 'Stiq, OR they wont show up at all....lol
I'm looking at the latter...
Burritoclock @ Apr 14th 2009 11:14AM
OR...
Bad press quelled by MS extending the warranty, which if they noticed was a small problem would be a no brainer, as extending the warranty won't cost them much because they aren't going to be fixing 3 million more consoles then they would have normally.
In other, simpler terms, I doubt they would have extended the warranty if it was going to mean 500,000+ NEW repairs, but if the number is much lower it would be worth it to just make it all go away and take the bitch away from the ol' blogesphere.
Is THAT what happened? I have no clue, but either do you, so if this helps you, great! If it makes you feel good about buy a PS3 instead GREAT!, but try to get over your crusade to save us all from evil microsoft please.
CLShortFuse @ Apr 14th 2009 11:28AM
@burritoclock
Stop being such a fanboy and read:
"the E74 error message can indicate the general hardware failure that is associated with three flashing red lights error on the console"
Killjebus...PSN Killjebus @ Apr 14th 2009 12:25PM
I think this error is the fabled RROD. MS just decided to change the error so it looked different. If not, then this consoles "quality" sank even lower.
ssuk @ Apr 14th 2009 12:38PM
@killjebus: A true RRoD will cause the system to crash as it's POST will see there is a problem and not attempt a full bootup incase the error reporting (flashing lights) is hampered by whatever component is missing. It could also potentially be a fire hazard from components sparking or blowing fuses. An E74 error is probably something vital corrupting or a non-vital yet essential component breaking, blowing or come away from the board.
The rise of the E74 error post-NXE is probably a corruption of the NAND Flash inside the system, as the new dashboard is probably larger than the older one, thus taking up greater space and a potential conflict is occurring on certain Xbox machines. I'm inclined not to speculate that the error could be caused by excess strain on network or the GPU, as the NXE will most certainly not put as much strain on these components as a Xbox 360 game. It has to be something obscure and only accessed by the dashboard frequently but not by games. Hence, the NAND Flash.
I could be completely wrong on both accounts. I'm not sure how the 360 is built and how things work within it. I'm just taking a slightly educated guess at it.
Latin_Trident @ Apr 14th 2009 12:51PM
I am finally going to have a good night's rest...
zzz...zzz...zzz...zzz...zzz...
*dreaming of future consoles with no errors running through tall grass fields with Jack Black
JAmerican @ Apr 14th 2009 1:33PM
I don't people just modify their 360 like I did to prevent RROD and E74 errors. I have only had my console freeze over an extended period of time. The freezing occurs once in a blue moon too :).
http://www.jamerican.net/?p=48
Adriaan @ Apr 14th 2009 1:45PM
Ironically, my friend lied on the online support application for the 360 and said that his E74-plagued box had three red rings. He got his box back completely fixed.
Looks like this was in the process of becoming a reality for awhile.
Reddrive @ Apr 14th 2009 6:39PM
Now, should we extended the warranty? Take the number of 360's in the field, A, multiply by
the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of extending the warranty, we don't.
/obvious
M @ Apr 14th 2009 7:51AM
I just payed 3 months ago to get my console fixed because of an E74. How do you get the refund I can't see it on the page?
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Apr 14th 2009 8:16AM
best bet call them....best time is prolly now before it gets CRAZY from all the calls relating to this
j.howlett @ Apr 14th 2009 8:19AM
it said the refund process should be automatic but if you don't hear anything by july call the number
Obie (XBL: Obienator) @ Apr 14th 2009 9:34AM
GODDAMMIT! I also had to pay to get my last Xbox replaced because of the E74!
You bet your ass I'll call them! Watch out India, here I come!
sheva @ Apr 14th 2009 10:22AM
hey idiot, whats the point of cursing?
Obie (XBL: Obienator) @ Apr 14th 2009 12:23PM
@Sheva: After 4 broken Xboxes, I can curse as much as I want, just have your mommy cover your eyes if it scares you.
ssuk @ Apr 14th 2009 12:41PM
Cursing? You haven't been on the internet long, have you?
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Apr 14th 2009 2:30PM
This makes me sad :( I'm had my 4th or 5th (Honestly I've lost count now) 360 RROD on me about a week ago. My SNES, PS1, Saturn, Dreamcast, PS2, and Gamecube all still work fine. Even my NES works like new after I replaced the 72-pin connector. It sucks knowing I most likely won't be able to use my 360 even 3 years from now.
David @ Apr 14th 2009 7:56AM
Fantastic! It's been really really tough letting my 360 gather dust since December as I refused to pay Microsoft to fix this issue (or even give them a temporary loan as I figured this would one day get covered, and they'd have to reimburse people who already paid).
Anyhow many thanks for the Joystiq team for getting and keeping this in the spotlight. L4D here I come!
Mike @ Apr 14th 2009 1:35PM
Since Decembers its been collecting dust? My E74 Xbox has been in my closet over a year now. I too refused to pay anything to have it fixed and instead opted to buy a PS3 and use another 360 I had in the house. But still, I'm Glad everyone that had this error is getting their boxes fixed.
Took me less than 10 minutes on the phone with support and the repair page is already up on the website with a coffin coming my way. :-)
xGeneral DEATHx @ Apr 14th 2009 7:59AM
As much as I appreciate the fact that Microsoft is owning up to some of their mistakes, it's a bit too late for some of us.
xGeneral DEATHx @ Apr 14th 2009 8:07AM
And just for the record, not trying to start a flame war here. I just wish they'd have spent another year in the R&D phase so this sort of headline might never have existed.
Jack Tretton @ Apr 14th 2009 8:39AM
I own a launch 360 that's never seen a single red light or error message...
/knocks on wood/
...and having said that it is mind-bogglingly ridiculous how shoddy the 360's guts are. Just think of the cutting of costs and corners to beat Sony to the U.S. market. Sure, Microsoft got its 12-month head start, but wouldn't six months have sufficed? Well, no, because that would have made it summertime instead of the holidays to launch the 360, and everybody's at the beach.
The 360 was Microsoft's opportunity to stick a great big middle finger in Sony's face, but what's instead happened is they've proven the winning formula isn't quite within their grasp yet. I mean, suck up the extra nickel it would have cost to use a better glue on the motherboard, amirite?! :P
Lord Negatron @ Apr 14th 2009 8:45AM
Agreed Death...
My Xbox might live until next Gen since i am back on the WarCraft binge..
:( :) (confusion)
MrBlank @ Apr 14th 2009 9:24AM
Too little, too late. I got rid of my broken Xbox a long time ago. Unless they want to refund me the price of my new console, I couldn't care less.
B @ Apr 14th 2009 9:51AM
I agree they should have waited but if they didn't rush it they would have been slaughtered at retail by the PS3. Just because of the PS2's success.
Troy Powers (PSN: TroyPowers) @ Apr 14th 2009 10:03AM
Yeah, part of me wants to say, "Yay, Microsoft!" for owning up to this and reimbursing the people that got screwed. On the other hand, it's like walking up to someone and punching them in the nose, then saying "Sorry."
All in all, it's been an interesting saga though. I can't wait to see what the effect of all this is on the next gen of consoles. Will consumers balk at buying another MS console? Will folks have forgotten all about this mess? Will MS's huge user base this generation carry over to the next?
I surely hope not. It's one thing to conceed that MS has run away with the game this time around. But to see them prance from this fiasco into the next gen unscathed...
Well, I guess that's all on us.
jackal @ Apr 14th 2009 10:26AM
xGeneral DEATHx,
Surprisingly, it has very little to due with the actual R&D of the components and more to do with Microsoft's efforts to reduce manufacturing costs to as low as possible when production was being ramped up for launch. In essence, once ATI churned out the design, Microsoft ran straight to TSMC with their own implementation of Xenos rather than contract an ASIC vendor to do the work. By cutting out the "middleman" Microsoft was going to save millions of dollars in manufacturing costs...had they any actual experience physically designing GPUs. The RROD plague began and didn't start to abate until 2 things happened: they moved Xenos to a smaller manufacturing process and, perhaps more importantly, they went to an ASIC vendor (funnily enough, ATI) and had them redesign the chip in order to fix its flaws. It also didn't help that they went with cheaper backplates (probably in order to save a dime) for both the CPU and GPU; when an irreparable RROD does happen without giving up the blue genie, it's because the GPU unseats itself too far from the motherboard. In essence, because Redmond was pinching pennies, their final product's build quality was relatively piss poor.
You see the same thing with certain videocard manufacturers, too (since both ATI and NVIDIA are fabless companies that don't physically make their own products). Three great examples are Diamond, Powercolor, and Visiontek when they released revised HD 4870s this past year in order to cut production costs. They opted for cheaper fans and a less beefy heatpipe assembly. The cards were a little cheaper to make than ATI's own reference design, but it didn't take long for widespread complaints of fan failures and overheating to occur. Diamond's card in particular were known for the VRMs burning up, turning a then $250-$300 card into a glorified paperweight. Customer's avoided them like the plague, either going with the reference designs those three offered or turning to the likes of Sapphire or HIS (both of which actually know something about making quality, custom designs). It goes to show that while the technology may be great on paper, how you actually manufacture the product determines whether or not it'll last.
CLShortFuse @ Apr 14th 2009 11:32AM
@xGeneral DEATHx
Voting your comment up out of the sheer truthiness of it.
xGeneral DEATHx @ Apr 14th 2009 11:48AM
Truthiness™: It makes teh world spin.
Spartacus @ Apr 14th 2009 12:48PM
I agree and disagree. I agree that MS dropped the ball a bit with this set of hardware, but I disagree that 6 months or even a year longer wait would've changed anything. I mean, come on, the 360 has been out for 3 1/2 years now and they're STILL working out a few kinks.
I think jackal is spot on- it wasn't bad R&D, it was cheap execution. I also think MS just had a fair share of bad luck. Either way I expect MS learned a lot this gen and their next console will be much more stable, well thought out and well executed.
Frostybolts @ Apr 15th 2009 1:35PM
Microsoft is a software company, so it put out a console with shoddy hardware but a great software package (firmware plus online functionality)
Sony is a hardware company, so it put out a console with top notch hardware but mediocre software (and even though the hardware they designed is theoretically much more powerful than the 360 in some ways, it's massively deficient in other ways and harder to code for)
Tyler @ Apr 15th 2009 2:41PM
@Spartacus
I don't think they will learn jack crap. People still buy their product, and re-buy their product.
+ The Original Xbox was a Flippin' TANK, I dropped that thing so many times while carrying it to friends houses for LAN parties... Those were the days!
I didn't dare to even MOVE my 360 (while I had it) while it was on OR off...
@Frostybolts
How is Sony's software so mediocre? 360 has Halo3, Gears2, and Fable 2 (The other 'exclusives' worth a dam are also on PC)...
Patrick @ Apr 14th 2009 8:00AM
My Xbox got this less than two months ago, and I paid the franklin to get it repaired. I hope I can claim a refund.
skyzbig @ Apr 14th 2009 7:59AM
Temptation to troll rising...
j.howlett @ Apr 14th 2009 8:10AM
think of baseball
MowDownJoe @ Apr 14th 2009 8:25AM
That's just raising MY temptation to troll! Damn Mets... HOW DO YOU BALK HOME THE WINNING RUN?!
Prof_Chaos @ Apr 14th 2009 8:29AM
I'm a Jays fan. Thinking about baseball is all I've been doing. How the hell did they get to 6-2? I'm enjoying it before the bubble bursts.
Jack Tretton @ Apr 14th 2009 8:41AM
I'm an Astros fan. Thinking about baseball is all I've been doing too. How the hell did they get to 1-6? Oh, right... shitty pitching and no offense. I'll enjoy it when the bubble inflates.
Commando62 @ Apr 14th 2009 9:06AM
I'm a Royals fan... Maybe they will be good this year?
*as I remember saying that for the past 10 years*
samfish @ Apr 14th 2009 10:44AM
I'm an Indians fan and we BEAT THE JAYS ASS on Sunday. Yeah!
Now we're not 0-5! We're 1-6 because we finally won a game!
Courtney @ Apr 14th 2009 11:17AM
@Commando, Royals fan here too, can't wait to get out to the remodeled K and see what it looks like. I don't know if I will like it all or not, but I just want to see the place.
Markez @ Apr 14th 2009 12:18PM
Royals fans... You poor sons of bitches...
*weeps
Dr. Stabbingworth @ Apr 14th 2009 1:20PM
@Jack
There's no bubble to inflate. Try not to finish behind the Pirates.
finnith (gamertag-epimeth1us) @ Apr 14th 2009 4:21PM
Maybe this will be the year the Jays make the playoffs.
Kenny Powers Fastball (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Apr 14th 2009 5:50PM
With all the pitching inuries Toronto has had it's a big surprise to see them doing well out of the gate. BJ Ryan has been shaky but finally got his first save of the year yesterday (yay for my fantasy squad!).Purcey, Halladay and Romero give them three solid pitchers (well Halladay is in another league) but the real key has been the offense. We all know Lind won't keep up this insane pace but should have a good season and if Wells, Hill, Rolen, Overbay and to a lesser extent top prospect Snider can stay healthy then ... who knows.
KC is such an enigma and it would seem with three bonafide starters (meche, grienke & davies) they could have enough to win what is possibly the worst division in all of baseball. However, considering we are talking about the Royals here it probably won't come to fruition.
I am a native Floridian and have been a fan of both the Rays & Marlins since they came into existence. Last years world series run for Tampa gives me great hope they we may have both of our team in the playoffs for the first time I can remember since they were expanded into the league. It's hard for me to say which team has more talent because they are both so young and talented. When David Price gets called up I'll probably say The Rays but with the Marlins hot start, great young hitters (Maybin, Ramirez & Bonifacio) and their talented starting five (Johnson, Volstad, Sanchez & Miller) I think there is a real chance we could win our 3rd world series.
I would also like to personally thank the Detroit Tigers & their fans for acquiring Miguel Cabrera & Dontrelle Willis for Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller and a whole farm system worth of prospects. It's not that Miggy is aq bad player (actually one of the best in the game) but we decided to build our team around Hanley ramirez and I don't think anyone would second guess that at this point. While I'm thanking other teams I would also like to thank The Boston Red Sox for trading Ramierez & Sanchez to our team for Josh beckett & Mike Lowell. That trade was a win-win for everyone because Boston went onto win the world series and we got arguably the best young player in the game.
If The Rays & Marlins both happen to make the world series this year it will really shove it in the face of teams like The Yankees, Red Sox, Mets & Dodgers. If you look at the MLB salaries you will find The Rays & Marlins as the two lowest salaried teams in all of baseball last year with a slight bump for The Rays this year. Thankfully we signed Ramirez to a huge contract extension so that we won't have to worry about him being traded elsewhere.
Source:
http://content.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/totalpayroll.aspx?year=2009
Hopefully The Marlins can pick up Kenny Powers ;) I heard his contract negotiations with Tampa fell apart recently.