The Xbox 360 is definitely one of the best gaming consoles currently on the market. But like all technology it is prone to its problems. The Xbox 360's Achilles heel is the red ring of death also known as RROD. This particular problem is caused by various reasons which I will go into in more detail below. The number of lights that are displayed signify what is the issue with your console.

It is possible that you have a problem with your power brick and this will cause the RROD. If you experience a power surge this can sometimes cause the error, to fix this it is simply a case of unplugging your console and re connecting it and this should sort it out. However if this does not then you may need to get your power brick serviced or even a replacement one.

The next main cause for the red ring of death is if your console has trouble identifying the audio video cable. This is a simple fix you just need to ensure that the cables are securely in place and that the cable is not damaged. Once done reset your console and you should be playing again very soon. Just a quick note you will not get this particular problem if you are using a HDMI connection.

A major RROD cause is overheating and this will render your console unusable for prolonged periods of time. The obvious way to fix this is to cool your console down. Make sure you don't subject your console to extreme cold in an effort to quickly cool down your Xbox as this will cause more damage. If you find this is happening frequently then it may be something to do with where you keep your console. If you store it in an enclosed cupboard or entertainment unit there may be insufficient air flow around the console.

Another red ring of death cause is a hardware failure, normally represented by one red light on the front of the console. This is usually accompanied by an error code on the connected display. E74 is one such code and this typically means that there is an error with your A/V cable and you should probably replace it.

If you are looking at the dreaded three red lights then your machine is suffering from a general hardware failure. This is slightly different from previous hardware failure as no error code is displayed. You only have two options left to fix this problem.

1. Send your Xbox 360 back to Microsoft for repair; be without your console for around 6 weeks and have to pay $150 plus for the privilege.

2. Fix the problem yourself at home. I do recommend using an Xbox 360 repair guide though as you don't want to do more damage to your console. As long as you use a trusted guide you can be playing your favourite games in less than two hours.