Rumor: MS Rep - Fall update will be big trouble

[Louminater]

A trusted source working as a customer service rep for Microsoft has revealed that there will be some bad drama when the Xbox 360's Fall update hits on November 19th. He says the update could bring the dreaded "three red lights of death" issue roaring back to life. The rep said that there has always been an influx of calls from owners of bricked Xbox 360s after every major Xbox 360 software update. Most of the complaints come from owners of launch consoles. "The slick move by Microsoft here is that it's releasing the update on the 19th, just a couple of days after the extended warranty period for launch Xbox 360s end. The owners of these units are headed for some pretty tense times in the weeks to come,"" he said.

I might wait a week before installing it if that's the case :/

edit: got the news from xboxscene, who got it from here

[kenta]

Douchiest move ever if true

[The Lamonster]

God I wish this shit was optional.

[Psychotext]

I'm fairly certain one of our very own posters who works for MS support said something very similar...

Oh, and I believe the warranty ends on the 22nd for launch owners, not the 16th as the article suggests.

[Blimblim]

I might wait a week before installing it if that's the case :/ edit: got the news from xboxscene, who got it from here

If this is true (and I somehow doubt it will be any different from every other firmware update, meaning some of the bad quality flash chips in some 360 will fry), what's waiting going to do anyway?

[beermonkey@tehbias]

A friend of mine killed his PS3 with the 2.52 update, and we know that PS3 is way more reliable than most 360 hardware revisions. So I could totally see the updates being a risky time for 360 owners.

[Y2Kev]

I don't really get that. The original 360 launch was on November 22nd (23rd?) and 3 years from that date is not the 17th...

And why would a dashboard update cause red ringing?

[sionyboy]

Nonsense, MS have reworked the installation for the dashboard update to avoid a repeat of previous updates which have led to people getting RROD. One of the reasons that storage is required for the NXE is so the installation has a place to unpack into non-volatile memory (as previous updates have been done).

(note: previous updates have caused RROD because the update downloads and installs directly from the system memory. Being that it is volatile memory if anything should go wrong during installation then the install files are lost and you are left without an OS)

[jrricky]

I might wait a week before installing it if that's the case :/ edit: got the news from xboxscene, who got it from here

which means you cant play it at all. :/

[AndyD]

I'm fairly certain one of our very own posters who works for MS support said something very similar...

This. I read it too in one of the other NXE threads. How they waited until all those warranties would be expired.

[BootlegSnackz]

wow, that is exactly what they planned... no wonder they pushed it out to a few people, they have never done this early stuff before...

[DuckRacer]

Haven't they been testing the NXE since, like, July?


Besides, you're referencing a pirate sight which is referencing a no-name blog created a month ago. With four blog posts total. Come on now.

[westical]

So the source is a call centre worker? BELIEVE

[RBH]

Doesn't matter much for me personally since I have a in-store warranty anyways.

[GavinGT]

Ha! Like anyone still has a launch 360.

[Zombie James]

No problems with the NXE pre-release on my system... but it's not a launch system, though.

[Jtyettis]

Pirate site you say, nice! Sounds a little bogus to say the least. Not to mention the original launch date is off just a wee bit.

Nonsense, MS have reworked the installation for the dashboard update to avoid a repeat of previous updates which have led to people getting RROD. One of the reasons that storage is required for the NXE is so the installation has a place to unpack into non-volatile memory (as previous updates have been done). (note: previous updates have caused RROD because the update downloads and installs directly from the system memory. Being that it is volatile memory if anything should go wrong during installation then the install files are lost and you are left without an OS)

Interesting.

[harSon]

wow, that is exactly what they planned... no wonder they pushed it out to a few people, they have never done this early stuff before...

They've never done a complete dashboard reconstruction either

[Danthrax]

Haven't they been testing the NXE since, like, July? Besides, you're referencing a pirate sight which is referencing a no-name blog created a month ago. With four blog posts total. Come on now.

Bullshit > Blogosphere > GAF


I doubt there is a massive conspiracy to fuck over the Xbox userbase. Hell, call me optimistic, but I doubt this update is bricking anyone's console.

Maybe like two gimpy ones that were going to redring in a week anyway.

[Louminater]

If this is true (and I somehow doubt it will be any different from every other firmware update, meaning some of the bad quality flash chips in some 360 will fry), what's waiting going to do anyway?

I don't play on live all that much so it's not a big deal to me. I'd rather wait and see if it's just a random few RROD, or a slightly more common occurrence. I'd rather have a 360 with no live than a bricked one.

[DIrtyWeasel]

Note to self: Do not buy the next Xbox at launch.

[I AM JOHN!]

Ha! Like anyone still has a launch 360.

I do. :(

[itxaka]

:O

Bans + Mandate Update RROD!

That is MS plan to win holydays NPD!!

/Conpiracy

[GavinGT]

Pirate site you say, nice! Sounds a little bogus to say the least. Not to mention the original launch date is off just a wee bit.

There's nothing disputable about their post. The system updates have historically bricked some consoles, and the release of the NXE is just after the 3-year mark. I don't see the point in disputing the source.

I do. :(

I'd wrap that puppy in a towel and get a new system before your warranty expires.

[BLaZiN PRopHeT]

Ha! Like anyone still has a launch 360.

i do

[RSTEIN]

Ha! Like anyone still has a launch 360.

Yup... my launch unit was 3 360s ago.

[Xyphie]

Whenever you change data on a flash chip there's always the chance of something going wrong, that's just how it is and it's true for routers, TVs, media players and other consumer electronics that are regularly updated. I don't see why it would get RRoD though unless they use that error code for firmware failures as well.

[Darklord]

Wow a rumour by customer service rep says there COULD be problems? Shit, info like that is like Bill gates saying it himself.

[Jtyettis]

There's nothing disputable about their post. The system updates have historically bricked some consoles, and the release of the NXE is just after the 3-year mark. I don't see the point in disputing the source.

Aye, the system updates have, but had you read the previous post I noted it isn't using the same method for the NXE.

[Azzurri]

Ha! Like anyone still has a launch 360.

me too

[Blimblim]

I don't play on live all that much so it's not a big deal to me. I'd rather wait and see if it's just a random few RROD, or a slightly more common occurrence. I'd rather have a 360 with no live than a bricked one.

Well, games released starting december/january will force you to update anyway, so waiting is not going to do you much good. That was my point ;)

[Dabanton]

Note to self: Do not buy the next Xbox at launch.

Yeah right it will be irresistible.

Once New system fever hits Gaf you'll be there with your pre order like the rest of us.

[GavinGT]

Whenever you change data on a flash chip there's always the chance of something going wrong, that's just how it is and it's true for routers, TVs, media players and other consumer electronics that are regularly updated. I don't see why it would get RRoD though unless they use that error code for firmware failures as well.

Yeah, it's for a general hardware failure.

Aye, the system updates have, but had you read the previous post I noted it isn't using the same method for the NXE.

Twas an edit, so I didn't see it. I didn't know that, but it's not much of a stretch to say the update could cause other problems. And those other problems could potentially lead to RRODs.

[Y2Kev]

...but it's not after the three year mark. 3 years from November 22, 2005 is November 22, 2008...the update is November 19....

what am I missing....

[levious]

bullshit -> pirate site -> GAF...

next stop, Kotaku

[Son of Godzilla]

The issue isn't that launch consoles will get fried, it's that any console will get fried. Problem arises then, that the three year warranty for anyone that bought at launch is soon to be gone.

[soco]

a customer service rep? doesn't microsoft contract out all customer service people anyway?

we've all got a pretty good idea what the cause of the RROD is, and the new update isn't really going to make it any more likely. a bad flash doesn't cause the RROD that everyone's been worried about, and when those happen MS, like Sony and Nintendo, have generall honored the repair, even if it was out of warranty.

the only argument you could make is that the new update is going to cause more GPU heat while in the dashboard, but that's not much different than leaving your console on with games in there or playing them for hours on end.

if anything, not having that cd drive spinning and generating additional heat, may make the RROD less likely in older units.

if anyone is that worried, you can towel your machine now, then you'll get updated hardware if you didn't already have it, and you'll get an additional 30 day warranty or whatever.

[harSon]

Why is this even news worthy? The source is some unknown blog (http://gamingconfidential.blogspot.c...&max-results=4)

[Danthrax]

bullshit -> pirate site -> GAF... next stop, Kotaku

then back to GAF in two days!

[Louminater]

Well, games released starting december/january will force you to update anyway, so waiting is not going to do you much good. That was my point ;)

oh......... :(

[westical]

I don't see the point in disputing the source.

When they get their dates wrong there's a point.

[Foxtastical]

Didn't you guys see that Call of Duty: World at War is coming out for the PS2 and Xbox?

[Guled]

bullshit -> pirate site -> GAF... next stop, Kotaku

then back to GAF

[Jtyettis]

Surely someone from GAF with a launch console has gotten in the NXE preview/beta whatever you want to call it. Maybe thay can shed some light for us. Or anyone in it for that matter.

[dark10x]

Ha! Like anyone still has a launch 360.

I will also chime in on this one! My launch unit is still humming nicely. Never had a single problem with the system itself and I've put a lot of time into it.

It would indeed be cruel fate if this unit decided to crap out directly following the end of the warranty period, however.

[Psychotext]

The issue isn't that launch consoles will get fried, it's that any console will get fried. Problem arises then, that the three year warranty for anyone that bought at launch is soon to be gone.

I really can't see it being hard to argue your case if a mandatory update kills your console.

[GavinGT]

...but it's not after the three year mark. 3 years from November 22, 2005 is November 22, 2008...the update is November 19.... what am I missing....

Damn, you're right. For some reason I thought they launched in early November.

[cartoon_soldier]

Random Blog --> Scene site lol --> GAF.

I don't understand why some sites which do post credible information 80% of the time are banned, but we get "rumors" from random blog sites every day.

[BLaZiN PRopHeT]

The update comes out on the 19th if you have a launch system you have until the 22 to contact MS. i dont get what the issue is since you can get your system replaced before the warranty is up.

[sionyboy]

Has anyone here with the NXE tried booting the system without a storage device attached?