The Simple Guide to Microsoft: Getting to Know Your Xbox 360 By Chris Mozdzen
Table of Contents iii Table of Contents Contents Introduction... v Chapter 1: Setting up your Xbox 360... 1 Horizontal or Vertical?... 1 Wires... 2 Syncing the Controller... 2 Chapter 2: Achieving Online Access... 5 Wi-Fi (Wireless Internet)... 5 Wired Connection... 6 Router... 6 Modem... 7 Chapter 3: Taking Care of Your Xbox 360... 9 Chapter 4: Red Ring of Death... 11 Don t cry, I ll dry those tears... 11 Chapter 5: Fixing the Red Ring of Death (Maybe)... 13 4 Red Rings... 13 3 Red Rings... 13 Checking for the specific secondary error code... 14 2 Red Rings... 14 1 Red Ring... 15 Chapter 6: Other things the Xbox 360 has the Potential For... 15 Chapter 7: Citations And Thanks... 17
Introduction v Introduction In the last decade or two, technology has made huge leaps in evolution. From the basic cellular telephone to the touch screen smartphone, almost all aspects of everyday human life are touched by high quality technology. As machines continue to advance, people become more dependent on the usage of high end technology. People rely on technology for entertainment, information, transportation, and many other aspects. 30 years ago, the quality of technology available today was a dream people never thought could happen. For instance, there is more technological power contained in a smartphone today than used to send a man to the moon nearly 50 years ago. With the constant advancement of technology at an alarming rate, it is difficult to keep up with all the basic guidelines to set up and operate a specific product. The purpose of this manual is to help a new user begin using the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 is one of the top leading systems on the market right now available for purchase. The system contains a powerful Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) which allows it to play games with crystalline clarity. A powerful gaming system such as this should come with a proper manual to detail the initial product set up and long term maintenance. This manual is exactly that, starting at the opening of the packaging all the way to the maintaining of the system, this will ensure that your console is properly put together and has a long lifespan. The Xbox 360 is an easy system to use with very user friendly interfaces. Although it s a simple system, some problems still occur when trying to set up and enjoy the system. This guide gives simple steps to fix the possible confusion and offers many pictures to go along with the text to aid the reader. This guide is largely based on the Xbox 360 Slim but most procedures can be superimposed onto other Xbox 360 consoles. Note: Microsoft can answer any and all questions and has many helpful resources at http://support.xbox.com/en-us/?xr=shellnav or can be called at 1-800-4MY-XBOX.
Chapter 1 1 Chapter 1: Setting up your Xbox 360 Horizontal or Vertical? After opening the packaging that the Xbox 360 arrived in make sure all the necessary cables and accessories have been included. An Xbox 360 system should come with: Note: Special edition consoles may come with more products inside, these are the bare essentials Console A/V cords Power supply Wireless Controller 2AA batteries(for wireless controller) And wired headset Now that the system packaging has been opened, it is time to decide which orientation you want to have the system operate in. The Xbox 360 can be laid on its side with the disc facing out or stood up vertically with the disc tray facing to the right. In either case it is very important to make sure your system is resting on a flat surface to ensure that nothing can fall. If you decide to change the position of the Xbox 360, make sure the console is turned off and the disc drive is empty. Another important part of orientation is making sure that the area in which the console is being set up is free of debris. Nothing should be blocking the vents in the back of the system or the signal receiver on the front of the console. If the area is too crowded, the Xbox 360 may overheat which could result in serious internal damage. Note: Always make sure the vent on the back of the system is not covered
2 Getting to Know Your Xbox 360 Wires (Figure 9) (Figure 10) (Figure 11) (Figure 12) Now that you have decided on a position, it is time to plug in and start the console. For this part of the guide, you will need the A/V cords, figure 9, which provide audio and visual for the console and the power supply. Xbox 360 power supply comes in two parts, the power pack and the cord that connects it to an electrical outlet (Figure 10). First, connect one end of the power pack to the back of the console (Figure 12), attach the secondary cord to the opposite of the power pack and plug this into a wall outlet. Second, attach the A/V cords to the back of the console (Figure 11) and connect the color coded audio and video cables to the corresponding ports on the back of your television. Third, turn on your Xbox 360 by pressing the central button on the face of the console. May sure the audio and visual are proper, if not one of the A/V cords are in the wrong place or halfway in the port. Once the console is operational and visually and audibly correct, sync your controllers to the console. After turning on the console for the first time, you will be prompted to select a language and settings regarding your individual gamer profile and overall family settings. Note: you will not be able to access Xbox Live until you have set up internet access. Syncing the Controller To sync the controller first start by turning on the console by pressing the central button located on the face of the system. Power on the Xbox 360 controller and find the button on the top of the controller with three arrows next to it (Figure 13). Hold this button until the lights around the central button on the controller begin going in a circle. Once this happens, find a similar button on the face of the console, below the central button, (Figure 14).and hold it until the lights begin
Chapter 1 3 to go around the central button in a circle. The two devices should now sync together. When this happens, the top left light remains lit on the console and controller. The controller can now be used on the console and powering up the controller turns the console on. (Figure 13) (Figure 14)
Chapter 4 5 Chapter 2: Achieving Online Access In order to gain access to the internet and Xbox Live content, you can establish a Wi-Fi connection or a wired internet connection through a network cable. Wi-Fi (Wireless Internet) Note: Xbox 360 S models have built-in Wi-Fi, for wireless internet connections on older models, you will need a wireless adapter. The following steps will apply to both situations To establish a wireless internet connection, first make sure your television is on. If not turn it on now. Now turn on your Xbox 360 by either pressing the central button located on the console or wireless controller. Second, scroll over to the setting tabs on the Xbox 360 dashboard and select System (Figure 1). Under this tab select Network Settings and a list of options should appear. Choose your home network, but if your Wi-Fi fails to appear, select Advanced Options to enter the name of your home network. Once the wireless network is chosen you are asked to enter your Wi-Fi password. This is the password you use to set up wireless security (Figure 3). After correctly entering in your wireless password, your console will test the connection to ensure that you have internet connectivity. If it prompts you to update your software, the updates are optionally but generally helpful. You are now able to connect to Xbox Live and many other online features. (Figure1) (Figure 2) (Figure 3)
6 Getting to Know Your Xbox 360 Wired Connection A wired connection is the most reliable and fastest way to acces the internet. For this you will need a: Network Cable (Figure 18) Router/modem to connect to (Figure 19&20) Before starting, decide which you want to connect your console to: the wireless router or the modem. Both will give the same connectivity but having the Xbox 360 close to the device it is plugged into will ensure a strong connection. Router First, make sure the Xbox 360 is turned off. Second, plug one end of the network cable into the back of your console (Figure 18), then plug the other end of the cable into an empty slot on the back of your wireless router (Figure 21). Now turn on your console and scroll over to the setting tabs on the Xbox 360 dashboard and select System (Figure 1). Under this tab select Network Settings and a list of options should appear. Choose Wired Connection and under this prompt select Test Xbox Live Connection (Figure 4). You should now have internet acces. If it prompts you to update your software, the updates are optional but generally helpful. If the console fails to access the internet, turn off the console and check the system connections. If internet acces still fails turn off the Xbox 360, unplug the network cable and reset your router. (Figure 4) (Figure 18) (Figure 19) (Figure 20)
Chapter 4 7 (Figure 21) Modem Note: Modems only have one Ethernet slot meaning that only one device can be plugged into it at a time First, make sure the Xbox 360 is turned off. Second, plug one end of the network cable into the back of your console (Figure 20), then plug the other end of the cable into an empty slot on the back of your modem (Figure 19). Now turn on your console and scroll over to the setting tabs on the Xbox 360 dashboard and select System (Figure 1). ). Under this tab select Network Settings and a list of options should appear. Choose Wired Connection and under this prompt select Configure Network (Figure 4). Now choose the first option containing: IP Settings, IP address, Subnet Mask, and Gateway (Figure 5). In the next prompt select Manual and enter your specific IP address, Subnet Mask, and Gateway. Click done and go back to the Configure Network tab. This time select the option containing: DNS Settings, Primary DNS Server and Secondary DNS Server (Figure 6). Select Manual, you will now enter specific servers. For the Primary DNS Server enter: 203.97.78.43(Figure 7) and for the Secondary DNS Server enter: 203.97.78.44 (Figure 8). These two values tell your Xbox 360 which servers to use to access the internet. Select Done and now you the console will have internet connectivity. If it prompts you to update your software, the updates are optional but generally helpful. If the console fails to access the internet, turn off the console and check the system connections. If internet access still fails turn off the Xbox 360, unplug the network cable and reset your modem.
8 Getting to Know Your Xbox 360 (Figure 5) (Figure 6 (Figure 7) (Figure 8)
Chapter 4 9 Chapter 3: Taking Care of Your Xbox 360 Now that your Xbox 360 is set up and functioning properly, it is time to take measures to prolong its lifespan. The following are simple tips that may help to keep your Xbox 360 console running for a while without purchasing additional accessories. 1. Let it breathe. Placing the Xbox 360 console in an area that is well-ventilated and leaves all of the console s side free of clutter is the best thing one can do for the console. Giving the system enough room to breathe keeps the internal workings of the console cooler and prevents it from overheating and suffering internal damage. Along with this, keep console away from smoky and dusty areas. Flying debris can clog the fan and other inner workings of the system and cause fatal problems to the console. 2. Download your favorite games. Download the discs of the games you play most to the console s memory drive. When you play downloaded games, the game discs don t spin in the tray so they stay healthier for longer and the console works less. Some consoles only have memory for a small amount of games; download only your favorites or new games to prolong the life of your game discs. Downloading games also lessens the loading times in the game. Games can download as many times as needed as long as you have the game disc so delete downloaded games to make room. Downloaded games still need the games disc in the driver in order to play. To download a game to the memory drive, press the Y button when you have the game selected and choose Install. This may take 5-10 minutes depending on the size of the game. 3. Connect to the internet sometimes. Keeping track of Xbox Live updates will keep your console running at peak condition. Updates allow your console to adapt to more user friendly software and other devices such as the Kinect. Updates may also allow your console to run more quietly or faster depending on the type of update, so make sure you try to stay on top of them. If an update creates a bothersome glitch on the Xbox 360 dashboard of within a game, you can easily go into the memory drive and delete the update causing the problem. 4. Clear your cache. Clearing the cache may help you console run more quickly. Clearing the cache removes only downloaded game updates and nothing else. The next time you play these games you will be prompted to download these updates again. To clear your system s cache go to Settings tab (Figure 1) and select System Settings. Select Storage and highlight any storage device, all caches will clear no matter which storage device is selected, press the Y button and select Clear System Cache. Press Yes when prompted to confirm storage device maintenance. Note: If you encounter any major issues call Microsoft for help. Each Xbox 360 comes with a 3- year warranty.
Chapter 4 11 Chapter 4: Red Ring of Death Don t cry, I ll dry those tears If you are reading this then something has gone terribly wrong and your world is about to end. The Red Ring of Death or RRoD is the boogeyman hiding in the Microsoft closet waiting patiently to violently scare unsuspecting gamers. RRoD can occur at any time and happen to any one person. It has more to do with the initial construct of the system rather than the maintenance of the person who owns the system. In order to release the Xbox 360 in time, the developers had to overlook a fatal flaw in the design of the system. This flaw is what causes the fearful Red Ring of Death. Some people believe that the RRoD was a form of planned obsolescence on part of Microsoft but it is unclear to determine. In either case, the most common RRoD is three red lights appearing on the central ring of the Xbox 360. These lights are caused by the heat sinks attached to the mother board becoming loose and overheating the CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphics processing unit). The CPU and GPU are the soul of the Xbox 360 and without them the console stops working which leads to the red rings. In the next section, this guide will detail a few potential remedies to the situation. These fixes work only on the older models of the Xbox 360. The developers removed all of the red LED lights from the newer models so the system is fails to RRoD even if it wanted to. The newer models still get error messages but they are displayed on the screen; if you look up these messages online and they fatal, you can send your console back to Microsoft for free, if you still have a warranty, or for a fee if your warranty expired.
Chapter 5 13 Chapter 5: Fixing the Red Ring of Death (Maybe) 4 Red Rings (Figure 15) Four flashing red lights means the A/V cable is malfunctioning. To fix this problem: 1. Make sure the A/V cable is correctly connected to the console 2. Remove and reconnect the cable from the Xbox 360 3. If the lights remain, wipe the metal area of the A/V cable that plugs into the console 4. If the lights are still flashing but the cord is correctly attached, try using a different A/V cable 3 Red Rings (Figure 16) Three flashing red lights means that there is a overall hardware failure on the internal parts of the console. This is the worst RRoD because so many problems are associated with three red rings. It is best to check the secondary error code to know what the exact problem is. To fix the overall problem without checking error codes: 1. Restart the console 2. If restarting fails to work a) Turn the console off b) Unplug all cords from the console c) Unplug the power pack from the wall outlet d) Reconnect all cables e) Turn the console back on
14 Getting to Know Your Xbox 360 3. If the lights persist, turn the console off and remove the hard drive. Turn the console back on and if the three red lights are off, turn the console off, reattach the hard drive and turn the console on. 4. Examine the lights on the power supply. The light on the power pack should be green when the console is turned on, even if the red lights are flashing. If the light is orange when the console is powered on, there is a problem with the power supply. Checking for the specific secondary error code 1. Turn on the Xbox 360 and wait for the red lights to appear 2. Hold down the sync button on the front of the console and press the eject button on the disc tray. 3. The lights will indicate the first number in the error code 4. Let go of the eject button and press it again. The lights will indicate the second number of the code. 5. Complete this process until you have four numbers 6. Once you are done, let go of the eject button and press it again 7. The lights will turn back into the RRoD 8. You can look up the error code online or call Microsoft support for help Key to error codes All 4 Led Flashing=0 3 LED Flashing=1 2 LED flashing=2 3 LED flashing= 3 2 Red Rings (Figure 17) Two red flashing lights is caused by overheating or from the console freezing. Console freezing or lockups are usually a problem within a game rather than the console itself. To fix this problem: 1. Turn off the console and allow the Xbox 360 to cool. It may take a few hours for the console to be cool enough.
Chapter 5 15 2. Leave the console off when it is hot, refrain from turning it on while it is hot. 3. Make sure the console has enough ventilation and that the fan is free from debris and works normally. 4. To prevent this: Leave console off of a bed, sofa or any soft surfaces that may block the vents Leave the console out of a confined space such as bookcases or racks unless wellventilated Refrain from putting near a heat source such as stove or radiator 5. Some people believe that placing the console next to a cold source could prevent overheating however; this could bigger problems so avoid placing the system in cold weather or in freezers. 6. Another option is to replace the thermal compound on the mother board however this requires opening the console and potentially voiding your warranty. Simply send your console into Microsoft for a replacement if you are still under warranty. 1 Red Ring This type of hardware failure is determined by the error code on the screen. Look up the error that is being displayed and try to find the proper remedy. Call Microsoft if the problem is too large to be fixed by normal means. Note: There are professional guides for sale all over the internet that detail how to fix RRoD. These guides come with all necessary equipment. Chapter 6: Other things the Xbox 360 has the Potential For Very Important: If your Xbox 360 is still under warranty disregard this next section. Opening your Xbox 360 voids the warranty and the actions detailed in the following section may get you banned from Xbox Live. The Xbox 360 console is capable of many more things than advertised on television and on the packaging. It can play burned game discs, download and play music and movies and many more things. In order to be able to do these things, you have to flash your Xbox 360. Flashing is similar to jail breaking a smartphone which allows it to do many new things. This technique requires that you open your console, remove the disc drive and attach it to a computer in order to download new software onto the disc drive. Microsoft looks down on people that open the Xbox 360 at all and may ban your permanently from Xbox Live. They can ban your individual gamer tag or your console completely depending on the gravity of the issue. Although the likelihood of Microsoft catching one opened Xbox 360 from the hundreds of thousands of other users on the server is small, it is best to avoid Xbox Live after opening your console. If an Xbox 360 is connected to the internet, it will send regular reports to Microsoft about the inner workings of the console. These reports will detail all of the things you did to the Xbox and will lead to you
16 Getting to Know Your Xbox 360 getting banned. If you are going to flash your console, the first thing you need to do is open of the system and determine which disc driver you have. Some drivers are more difficult to deal with and may require more steps to unlock it. After determining the type of driver you have, look up how to flash this driver on the internet. I have provided a link to one type of flashing below to give you a good idea of this process. Adding a how-to section on about this type of process would be inaccurate for some people because require different steps. Instead I encourage you to go out and look up the process yourself to decide if it is the best actions to take with your system. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stojfinyume
Chapter 7 17 Chapter 7: Citations And Thanks 1. http://www.xbox.com/en-us/?xr=mebarnav 2. http://blog.jantoh.com/xbox-360/xbox-360-error-codes-explained.html#secondarycodes 3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yarufjhuyq Thank you for choosing to read my manual on the basic setup and handling of the Xbox 360 system. Hopefully it was helpful and gave you a better understanding of how to operate your console.