Just over 2 years after I first got my Xbox 360 and I have been graced with the 3 flashing red lights or “Red Ring of Death’ as it is affectionatley known.

I’m particuarly narked as I just bought GTA IV a few weeks back and hadn’t had a good chance to play it until tonight!

So, I called Xbox support here in the UK (though I think I was re-routed to India along the way) and my fears were confirmed. My Xbox is dead. They are sending me a returns lable via email and have asked that I wrap the Xbox in bubble wrap and place it in a plain cardboard box. When I asked if I could return it in the original box they stated that under no circumstances should I return it in a box with any Microsoft or Xbox insignia. How strange… perhaps they are trying to hide the number or returns from UPS staff here in the UK.

I gave the nice lady a bit of grief about the fact that I had to provide my own coffin for faulty hardware that they had produced but to their credit they confirmed that the returned Xbox would be subject to a further 3 year warranty and that they would provide me with a months free Xbox Live Gold membership. Not bad.

Apparently it should take 3 weeks for my Xbox to be returned minus the three red rings. I’ll keep you updated…

Update: My Xbox 360 arrived back home today, just 1 week to the day after it left, it’s been to Germany, had the mortherboard replaced and a new faceplate (Thanks Microsoft!), the old faceplate had been vandalised by my son. I also got a months free Xbox Live Gold Membership.

Add to this the fact that it’s significantly quiter when idle than it was before, I’m well impressed. Good job. :)