When your Xbox 360 isn’t working anymore, what do you do? Once the shock of seeing those three red lights in a ring wears off, you need to take some time and figure out what your options are.

The number one thing to keep in mind is not to panic.

While the three red lights have often been a signal that your Xbox 360 has given up the ghost, that doesn’t have to be the case. While older methods of fixing this general hardware failure were ineffective or costly, there are other options.

Sending the console back to Microsoft is one option, but it’ll cost you. Repairs start at one hundred forty dollars and it can take eight weeks to receive your Xbox 360 from the shop. That means most people don’t want to use this method if they can help it.

Cracking your Xbox 360’s case probably isn’t the right answer, either. After all, once you’ve opened it, you’ll need a soldering iron and the skills to use it for high end electronic repairs. That’s work that should only be done by experienced technicians, not amateurs at home.

Then there are urban legends and mythological fixes. Some will tell you that wrapping the console in a towel is what it takes to get rid of those three red lights. Others say you have to tilt it to forty-five degrees and store the adapter for the power in a vertical position.

If these fixes sound absurd, that’s because they are. You still end up looking at three red lights and an Xbox 360 console that just doesn’t work.

The good news is that you can relax now – there are a few fixes you can do yourself. They’re simple and could be the answer to all your Xbox 360 problems. Developed by professionals who know their tech and know these consoles, these repair tips can be a big help.

These people have run into hundreds of cases of Xbox 360s with the red lights of death, and they’ve been able to use these simple solutions every time. These consoles were up and running in a little less than two hours.

There are quite a few repair secrets available if you know where to look. For instance, think about checking out Xbox repair guides online. There are several put together by trained technicians to help Xbox gamers like you. You’ll get video instructions and a full manual to show you what to do.

The great thing is that you can use these methods, and if they don’t work, you’ll be able to send your Xbox back to Microsoft. Most of the time, that won’t be necessary, however. You’ll probably be able to fix your problem on your own, saving a lot of money and time.

Of course, it’s important to look for an Xbox repair site or repair manual that’ll give you a money back guarantee. This way, you won’t need to pay if you can’t fix your machine.