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Fix Your Crashing X-Box 360 With String
mkraft writes "A gamer fed up with his new Xbox 360 crashing every 20 minutes has fixed the problem by raising the power supply off the ground with some string. Goldeneyemaster over at the GameSpot forums indicates that the main reason for his Xbox 360 freezing up is the power supply overheating. The solution is to lift the power supply off the floor and allow the air to circulate better around it."
And sadly, it's probably a better quality fix than MS would provide on Warranty
Don't get me wrong, I love the Xbox, but my first one was one of those that cought on fire. Why am I not surprised that there are problems with the 360 at release?
Someone save me from this sanity.
. . . to tie some fins or something to it to raise the P/S off the floor and allow circulation. But then, I'm not in the market for one of these until it's cracked wide open. And probably not even then.
I too have felt the cold finger of injustice.
Well, at least you don't have to lift the console itself this time around....
Somebody patent this!
cat * >> sig
The string should be placed on around the neck of the user...
A great, fast, good graphics gaming console! The XBox360! Yours now for only $399... no strings atta...
Hello,
Your string is on its way!
Thanks,
Microsoft Support
I built an anti-gravity system for my Xbox 360 using magnets. Now if only I could figure out why the drives keep getting erased.
Now you can tell your girlfriend to keep blowing on your Xbox 360 power supply while playing.
i read the headline to mean an exploit was found. then i read the article. oh, not a literal string, it is literally string. nevermind...
Serenity now, insanity later.
"Improper suspension of the unit will cause overheating. Poor air circulation around the power supply will cause it to retain heat. Overheating may cause unwanted results such as system freezing, jerky video, slow performance, fire, violent and frequent bowel movements (an urgent need to have them, and an inability to control them), and sudden death. It is highly recommended that the unit be suspended a distance of at least 6" from any flat surface. Microsoft is currently developing technology that will levitate the unit without the need of any suspension device. Until research and development is completed, we suggest you elevate the unit using string, duct tape, corregated shelving, or your kid brother. We are certain that despite any minor inconvenienced listed above, you will enjoy your XBox."
BURNS:
Could you explain your model, young man?
GRIMES:
What's to explain? He's an idiot!
LENNY:
Pipe down!
HOMER:
Well basically, I just copied the plant we have now.
BURNS:
Mm-hmm.
HOMER:
Then, I added some fins to lower wind resistance. (pointing) And this racing stripe here I feel is pretty sharp.
"There is no time, sir, at which ties do not matter," Jeeves, (Jeeves and the Impending Doom)
I don't see what the big deal is about!
It's really an easy fix. All you need is a shot glass, some confetti, a little Valerian root, and tongue of newt.
Balance the Xbox on the shot glass. now take the Valerian root, mash it up and smear it along the outside of the case. Stay with me, this works. Sprinkle the confetti over the top, take out the hard drive and stick in the Newt tongue. Now, this is very important, chant this 3 times: "Begone, 360 demons, begone!"
I can only speak for myself, but this fixed my Xbox. No more artifacts!
...A well designed...
Sorry, pal. This is a Microsoft product.
I give you a 10 on misdirected anger, and a 0 on content...ie a great slashdot post!
Monstar L
In a few weeks, we might see some stickers on the sides of the equipment that politely tell people to not be idiots. Who knows? Maybe they'll be region specific stickers. In Boston you'll see "YO! Put a couple of brewskis under me will ya!" whereas in San Francisco, you'll see "Be a sweetie and put me on a trivet."
CHEESE! That's right. Just stick some string cheese in the power adapter and it'll work like a heat sink and draw the heat from your console, making some tasty nacho sauce all the while. Microsoft has done it again! And if they manage to find a way to encorporate their version of the George Foreman grill into their next next gen console then I'll have everything I could even need!
The eternal struggle of good vs. evil begins within one's self.
"Sorry, pal. This is a Microsoft product."
Exactly. Microsoft products use evolution. In other words, it takes JUST A FEW MILLION YEARS to get them right - almost.
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say
G-String Theory?
I used to hang the power supply brick out the window in the winter to get more run time from a C64 about 20 years ago.
Sorry, a quick google search turned this up:
United States Patent: 5,960,411
A method and system for cooling down a device with gases from it's environment. The cooling is done by a novel application of a long piece of material consisting of intertwined fibres. This material is attached to the device by a novel application of fastening techniques covered by other patents. The other end of the material is then fastened to a point high enough to cause the device to stay stationary at a certain height. This results in a novel, non-obvious flow of gas around the device resulting in a interaction that cools down the device.
I recommend against fixing your Xbox360 crashes in this way, you open yourself up for litigation.
The technical/geek solution to an overheating brick (psu) is simple. Use some zip ties to attach one or two old slot a/1 HSF to the overheating brick. Don't forget to use a good load of Arctic Silver (or thermal pads if you are not l33t) between the HSF and brick.
Two HSF @ $7.49 - $14.98
Two Arctiv Silver tubes @ $8.99 - $17.98
A reasonable total of $32.96 to solve yet another MS oversight.
Dear Customer,
We have decided to deny your warranty request to replace the external power supply and deny your request for a complimentary Microsoft XPCool Strings(tm).
The reason for this is that you have not used your unit according to the specifications.
As per the instruction manual included in MS Word format on the XBox 360's hard drive, it clearly states in section 361.27.5a(iii) the following:
"As an additional winter bonus, we have provided you with a power supply that doubles as a personal block heater, this block heater must be set up by suspending over the cardboard box provided with the XBox360. Failure to do so can cause system instability or fire.
If your friend or family member has thrown away this box, please purchase an additional usage license for that friend or family member as you are clearly in violation of the EULA (as this the console is provided with a single user license); we will provide you with an extra box for power supply suspension along with the additional license upon request"
I feel like a dunce. I thought the 360 was for 360 degrees in a full circle. But clearly it is for 360 degrees, the operating temperature of the power supply (you get to choose Fahrenheit or Celsius).
I have contacted each of the cooling device manuafacturers and they are on this already. There is a new water cooling solution being produced specifically for the X-360 power supply and it will be at the affordable rate of $199.99.
Q: I am short, useless and provide no value. What am I? A: a sig
Hmm. Tape takes care of DRM...
String solved overheating problems...
Does Staples or Office Depot sell stock? I have a feeling they could help me become very rich, soon...
what's the problem people? just dunk it in a bowl of water and all your troubles are over!
shanegrant.com
Personally I don't see what's so interesting about this whole solve-a-problem-using-string story. Now MacGuyver, there's a guy who knows how to use string. I mean, in one episode of MacGuyver, MacGuyver builds a helicopter using string. And a little bit of duck tape, of course.
Answers on a postcard to: http://www.microsoft.com/xbox360-fires
Hm, I've opened the PC, unscrewed the PS from the frame, suspended it on a string from the side of the desk, but the bloody Windows continues cras!@#$%^.....
Darwinizing xbox fanboys/girls is not the solution.
it's a blue bright blue Saturday hey hey
It was originally developed during World War II in 1942 under the name "Duck Tape" as a waterproof sealing tape for ammunition casings. Permacel, then a division of Johnson & Johnson, used a rubber-based adhesive to help the tape resist water and a fabric backing to facilitate ripping. Because of these properties, it was also used to quickly repair military equipment, including jeeps, guns, and aircraft. After the war, the housing industry boomed and people started using duct tape for many other purposes. The name "duct tape" came from its use on heating and air conditioning ducts...
Ironically, however, the Nintendo game "Duck Hunt" was originally supposed to be about shooting ducts. Nintendo reasoned that the piping theme developed in their Super Mario Brothers franchise would translate well to a shooting game and secure Nintendo's hold on the lucrative piping-based video game market. However, due to a typo in the memo sent to the development team, however, "Duct Hunt" evolved into an entirely different game concept.
Damn I hated that stupid dog.
that the Xbox360 power supply was sponsered by Duraflame logs as part of an intentional relief effort to combat the rising costs of heating oil for homes.
You are who you are, let no one tell you different. But, never close your mind to a new point of view.
On the plus side, the 360 has a much warmer sound.
Atlas Shrugged : Thematic Story
Cast:
Adrian Wapcaplet: John Cleese
Mr. Simpson: Eric Idle
Adrian Wapcaplet: Aah, come in, come in, Mr....Simpson. Aaah, welcome to Mousebat, Follicle, Goosecreature, Ampersand,
Spong, Wapcaplet, Looseliver, Vendetta and Prang!
Mr. Simpson: Thank you.
Adrian Wapcaplet: Do sit down--my name's Wapcaplet, Adrian Wapcaplet...
Mr. Simpson: how'd'y'do.
Wapcaplet: Now, Mr. Simpson... Simpson, Simpson... French, is it?
Mr. Simpson: No.
Adrian Wapcaplet: Aah. Now, I understand you want us to advertise your washing powder.
Mr. Simpson: String.
Adrian Wapcaplet: String, washing powder, what's the difference. We can sell *anything*.
Mr. Simpson: Good. Well I have this large quantity of string, a hundred and twenty-two thousand *miles* of it to be exact,
which I inherited, and I thought if I advertised it--
Adrian Wapcaplet: Of course! A national campaign. Useful stuff, string, no trouble there.
Mr. Simpson: Ah, but there's a snag, you see. Due to bad planning, the hundred and twenty-two thousand miles is in three
inch lengths. So it's not very useful.
Adrian Wapcaplet: Well, that's our selling point! "SIMPSON'S INDIVIDUAL STRINGETTES!"
Mr. Simpson: What?
Adrian Wapcaplet: "THE NOW STRING! READY CUT, EASY TO HANDLE, SIMPSON'S INDIVIDUAL EMPEROR
STRINGETTES - JUST THE RIGHT LENGTH!"
Mr. Simpson: For what?
Adrian Wapcaplet: Uuuh..."A MILLION HOUSEHOLD USES!"
Mr. Simpson: Such as?
Adrian Wapcaplet: Uhmm...Tying up very small parcels, attatching notes to pigeons' legs, uh, destroying household pests...
Mr. Simpson: Destroying household pests?! How?
Adrian Wapcaplet: Well, if they're bigger than a mouse, you can strangle them with it, and if they're smaller than, you flog
them to death with it!
Mr. Simpson: Well *surely*!....
Adrian Wapcaplet: "DESTROY NINETY-NINE PERCENT OF KNOWN HOUSEHOLD PESTS WITH PRE-SLICED,
RUSTPROOF, EASY-TO-HANDLE, LOW CALORIE SIMPSON'S INDIVIDUAL EMPEROR STRINGETTES, FREE
FROM ARTIFICIAL COLORING, AS USED IN HOSPITALS!"
Mr. Simpson: 'Ospitals!?!?!?!!?
Adrian Wapcaplet: Have you ever in a Hospital where they didn't have string?
Mr. Simpson: No, but it's only *string*!
Adrian Wapcaplet: ONLY STRING?! It's everything! It's...it's waterproof!
Mr. Simpson: No, it isn't!
Adrian Wapcaplet: All right, it's water resistant then!
Mr. Simpson: It, isn't!
Adrian Wapcaplet: All right, it's water absorbent! It's...Super Absorbent String! "ABSORB WATER TODAY WITH
SIMPSON'S INDIVIDUAL WATER ABSORB-A-TEX STRINGETTES! AWAY WITH FLOODS!"
Mr. Simpson: You just said it was waterproof!
Adrian Wapcaplet: "AWAY WITH THE DULL DRUDGERY OF WORKADAY TIDAL WAVES! USE SIMPSON'S
INDIVIDUAL FLOOD PREVENTERS!"
Mr. Simpson: You're mad!
Adrian Wapcaplet: Shut up, shut up, shut up! Sex, sex sex, must get sex into it. Wait, I see a television commercial - There's
this nude woman in a bath holding a bit of your string. That's great, great, but we need a doctor, got to have a medical opinion.
There's a nude woman in a bath with a doctor--that's too sexy. Put an archbishop there watching them, that'll take the curse
off it. Now, we need children and animals. There's two kids admiring the string, and a dog admiring the archbishop who's
blessing the string. Uhh...international flavor's missing...make the archbishop Greek Orthodox. Why not Archbishop
Macarios? No, no, he's dead... never mind, we'll get his brother, it'll be cheaper... So there's archbishop Macarios, his brother
and a doctor in the bath with this nude woman, two doctors and a dog....
Check out a PowerMac G5. The big dual processor water cooled beastes have a 1kw (yes, you read that correctly) power supply. All PMG5 supplies are the same size - they occupy the entire bottom 2 inches of the computer, side to side and front to back.
Once again, it appears that Microsoft has blatantly ripped off Apple.
and to think, with my Gamecube I just turn it on
These pretzels are making me thirsty.
And did you hear about how the tech support person told that guy to "wipe his video cables with a soft cloth"? Too rich.
Hey, you never know. Maybe a few electrons got stuck and needed to be massaged out...
Be a real patriot: Question authority. Think for yourself. Formulate your own conclusions.
If Darwinizing the xbox fanboys/girls isn't the answer, you've very obviously not asking the right questions.
"Good night, good work, sleep well, I'll most likely kill you in the morning." - Dread Pirate Roberts
In Soviet Russia, the Revolution waits for YOU! Wait now, did I win anything?
A World in a Grain of Sand / Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Infinity in the Palm of your Hand / And Eternity in an Hour.
Darwinizing xbox fanboys/girls is not the solution.
At least it's an aqueous solution.
Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
Well, it must be evolution, cause it sure wasn't intelligent design.