Anyone who has played the Xbox 360 for a long time has probably seen the 4 lights around the power button turn red and the system crash.

While the colored lights look nice, they actually serve the purpose of telling gamers whether the Xbox is functioning. 4 red lights is the code for a major problem. Your Xbox 360 will need to be fixed if you see the 4 red lights.

You may be able to do one of the red ring of death fixes yourself. Of course, you can always send your system into the manufacturer for repair if it is under warranty.

If your Xbox 360 warranty has expired then you have to do the red ring of death fixes yourself or pay to get it repaired. Be sure your first step is to unplug your Xbox to avoid possible shock.

Gently pop the faceplate off the console and be careful not to snap the plastic tabs off. You can use a precision flat tip screwdriver to help remove the faceplate.

Look for the metal vent, and using a thin tool press against the little prongs holding it to the case to remove it.

Once the vents are successfully removed, use your 360 key or precision screwdriver to remove the sides of the game console. To remove the sides, look for the tiny holes and press the tool inside them while removing each side.

Now you will see more screws holding the unit together, so take them out next. Use a torx 8 to get the final screws out of the case because they are a different size from the bigger ones you did already. The next step is to find cables that are still connecting parts together and take them out.

With everything disconnected, your next step is to lift the motherboard out of the case. The steps you've done so far are needed no matter which of the red ring of death fixes you are doing.

Find the processor on the motherboard and press the x-clamps with your tool to release it.

Once it is clean, you can put on new thermal paste to the chips. Use very little and thin it out across the CPU evenly. Once that is done, carefully replace the heat sink making sure that it adheres to the new thermal compound. Repeat the process with all the processors and reassemble the consoles back together.

Congratulations, you just completed one of the red ring of death fixes.