If you are unfortunate to one of the reported thousands of people whose Xbox 360 shows them the red ring of death it can leave you feeling a little annoyed. You may want to rush out and send your console back to Microsoft to get your machine repaired. Be aware they will probably charge you in the region of $150. Listed below are 5 things to try before you do. You never know just reading this could save you enough money to buy three new games.

1. Check your audio video cable as this can be causing the red ring of death on your console. Try removing all the connections then inserting them again. Making sure they are in the correct positions and are securely in place. Check the condition of the cable. Looking for damage caused by general wear and tear.

2. Making sure the power brick has not overheated is a good thing to check out too. If you leave your power supply on a carpeted floor for example this will restrict the amount of heat that can escape from it. It is a good idea to keep the brick on a table or other flat solid surface, where air can flow freely around it.

3. Making sure that the hard drive is attached properly, this can cause the RROD to be displayed. If you have moved your console or even dropped it this can sometimes dislodge the drive and will result in the error.

4. Disconnecting the power supply for a few minutes, from the wall too. This can help if there has been a power surge and it has affected your Xbox 360. Doing this can often help remedy the three red light error which indicates a general hardware failure.

5. Take a look at where you store your console. If you are one of the many people that keeps their Xbox in an entertainment unit this can cause overheating in your console. All the other equipment in the unit will produce heat of some kind and this can have an adverse result on your Xbox. It is advisable that you store your Xbox in a well ventilated area which will allow heat coming from the console to disperse quickly. Also ensuring the vents are dust free is a good way to keep your console performing at its best.

These solutions can solve a majority of red ring of death errors however sometimes a little more information may be needed. You can do your homework online with plenty of blogs and websites all offering solutions to fix your problems.