Xbox 360 Freezing - And What to Do About It!

Xbox 360 Freezing - And What to Do About It!By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Markus_Novak]Markus Novak
When it comes to the Xbox 360, freezing is sometimes a problem. And of course, this problem always chooses to come up at the worst time. Timing aside though, here I will discuss what it is that causes such a powerful and typically graceful machine to malfunction like that.
Xbox 360 freezing can actually be caused by a slew of different errors. Unfortunately, since an Xbox freezing is such a common symptom, it will be a bit more difficult to determine what is causing it--and more importantly, what to do about it. With the proper information, the problem can easily be solved, and it'll be back to gaming!
So you have a busted Xbox 360, freezing like it just wants to make you mad, and you don't know what to do with it. There is one fix that works more often than most people will admit--restart it. Especially if your console just froze up for the first time, the problem will probably go away without any trouble just from doing that. Even if your 360 has been freezing a few times lately, simply restarting the system will still work. If your Xbox locks up every once in a while, that's just a fluke. But if it's happening consistently, then there definitely is a problem.
Keep in mind, if only a certain game is getting stuck, for instance if GTA stopped working every time you went to a certain portion of the map, your Xbox 360 freezing is most likely a result of a scratched or damaged disc--not the actual Xbox console. If this is the case, the next time the game freezes up, hitting the big button on the controller should still bring up the dashboard. Further, try playing some other games on your Xbox, or playing the damaged game on another Xbox, and see if the results are similar.
So your whole Xbox is freezing because of a lousy disc? Well, I'd recommend cleaning it up. There are plenty of products out there that fill in scratches, and for cleaning off dirt or dust, any soft fabric cloth will do. Additionally, you should try loading the game onto the Xbox's hard drive. From there, it should work more smoothly. However, if the problem is not just the disc, Xbox 360 freezing can also be the product of an error on your Xbox's cache, or a CPU/GPU malfunction, or even something with your internet connection.
It's easier to handle the cache, so we'll cover that first. To check if this is causing the problem, just run your Xbox without the hard drive connected. If now the Xbox stops freezing, your hard drive was obviously at fault. To empty the cache, follow these steps. First, reconnect your hard drive, and turn on the console. Going to the Dashboard, locate the "System" section. From there, pick "Memory," and press Y to see "Device Options." Then on your controller,in this order, push X X Lb Rb X X. If it brings up something about system maintenance, press A.
If, on your Xbox 360, freezing only occurs when you are playing on Xbox Live, it might be due to your internet connection. If this were the case, you should notice it when just using the internet on your computer; unless, of course, the cord just isn't plugged in right. I'd recommend checking that out.
Lastly, it is possible your Xbox 360 freezing is a visual clue to an issue hiding within the shell of your console. If at any point your console might have overheated, the GPU's connection to the motherboard may have been compromised. The console locking up consistently is a very common result of this. Fixing this would mean reestablishing the GPU's contact with the motherboard, and repairing the thermal compound to prevent it from happening again.
This sounds intimidating, I know, yet it isn't so bad. If your Xbox's freezing issues are in fact a symptom of a hardware malfunction like this, they aren't going anywhere until you make them. But don't just accept your Xbox as broken and buy a new one; these types of problems are totally fixable! At least give it a shot.
I have researched this field for a long time now, and through my investigations, I have managed to figure out what repair tactics will actually work for an Xbox 360. Check out my site to learn more about [http://xboxredringrepair.com/xbox-360-freezing/]Xbox freezing, or for more general information about [http://xboxredringrepair.com/]Xbox repairs.
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