Microsoft Admits Hardware Failures

[Gareth]

source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6275728.stm

Originally Posted by BBC

Microsoft has said that it is facing a bill of more than $1bn to cover the cost of offering extended warranties, after failings with its Xbox 360.

The company admitted it had been forced to make "an unacceptable number of repairs" to the consoles after key hardware failed.

Customers who suffer the problems will now be given a free three-year warranty, the company said.

The failures are indicated by three red flashing lights on the console.

Microsoft, has not revealed how many of its machines have suffered the problem, but said the number was "bigger than we are comfortable with."

Wow, I wonder why they're only admitting it now? Everyone has known for ages that there have been problems with some consoles.

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

Originally Posted by Gareth

Wow, I wonder why they're only admitting it now?

For the same reason it took Apple so long to acknowledge problems with ipods and laptop batteries id guess "Denial"

[Matt D]

About time.


Hmm.


But what about those of us who have already paid for an extended warranty, or already paid for an out of warranty repair? Any chance of a refund & a nice three year warranty, eh, MS?


Also mentioned there: October launch for the "Elite" in Japan. FFS, MS, why bother? IT IS JAPAN. THEY WON'T BUY IT. BRING THE BLOODY THING OUT HERE IN EUROPE ALREADY!

---------- Post added at 23:11 ---------- Previous post was at 22:58 ----------

A ha...

"Xbox 360 Warranty Coverage Expanded"

"Open letter from Peter Moore"

"Expanded Xbox 360 Warranty Coverage FAQ"

[fizgog]

Thats great news for the people who have had the ring of death or who might get it in the future.

Fingers crossed mine is still fine after 2 years

[Matt D]

It's excellent news.


Global three year warranty for the ring of death - existing customers & new customers


And refunds for anyone who has already paid for an out of warranty repair


Hopefully, the "certain improvements" (extra heatsink previously rumoured?) Peter Moore says they've now made will mean that new 360s will not suffer the problem anyway.

[icestar2]

Well thats good to hear. Shame it took them so long to acknowledge the problem.

[Gareth]

for MS (and it ain't often I say that!)

[AndyIggs83]

Really good news as my 360 is nearly a year old, if you've had it replaced with a refurbished console do you start a fresh guarantee?

[Uncle Peter]

I don't think Microsoft had any choice really with Christmas approaching and mounting discontent within the community.

They will be counting on the Elite to be a big seller this Christmas and people are quite rightly going to think twice about buying something that's potentially going to fail days or weeks after it's bought, especially if the PS3 is becoming more attractive as it's software base expands.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by AndyIggs83

Really good news as my 360 is nearly a year old, if you've had it replaced with a refurbished console do you start a fresh guarantee?

Apparently,yes.

[AndyIggs83]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Apparently,yes.

Superb! Well in MS!

[Matt D]

BUMPEROO...

Microsoft have now announced that the three year warranty will also apply to the "E74" error:

http://support.xbox.com/support/en/u...egory=hardware

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2...s-warranty.ars

Customers who have already paid for an "E74" error to be repaired will be able to get a refund.

[mr_bo]

Bah! Mine has copped the red ring and is 3 yrs 1 month old

[matt-h]

Originally Posted by mr_bo

Bah! Mine has copped the red ring and is 3 yrs 1 month old

Ahhh gutted.. Thats gotta suck fella. Sorry to hear it

[brundles]

What's worse is that most of the places offering non-standard repairs pretty much disappeared after the MS warranty extension was announced .