Microsoft fixing fall 360 update

[UPDATE] Citing problems in "less than one percent" of consoles, company is updating update; patch reportedly now on Xbox Live.

This week's Fall System Update for Xbox 360s went very smoothly...for 99 percent of console owners. For the remaining one percent, the past day has been nothing but a next-gen nightmare.

The update, which was released yesterday, added several new features to the Xbox 360's dashboard and the console itself, including 1080p resolution support. But for some Xbox 360 owners, it simply turned their consoles into a $400 paperweight.

Many among the Xbox modding scene believed the update crashed supped-up Xbox 360s and was a message from Microsoft to modders to stop tinkering with the hardware. Microsoft weren't exactly forthcoming about the problem, but today the company broke its silence.

"A small percentage of consoles were affected negatively by the fall update (less than one percent have reported issues). We're working with those affected to get them back up and running, whether that be by providing another console or fixing their existing console. We're committed to resolving this issue."

Microsoft expects to have the problem solved within the next 12 to 24 hours, according to Microsoft's marketing team's Gamerscore Blog. Microsoft urges anyone in North America encountering problems with the update to call technical support at 1-800-4-MY-XBOX.

[UPDATE] Today, Microsoft issued the following statement.

"An updated version of the Fall Update is now available on Xbox Live which has elminated issues relating to new or refurbished consoles failing after applying the Fall Update. Users who have already applied the Fall Update and are seeing an error message should call Xbox Support (1-800-4-MY-XBOX in the US and Canada). Microsoft is making every effort to resolve this issue for its customers as fast and easy as possible."

Those who have already updated their Xbox 360s will not be prompted to update again.

369 Comments

  • Sho-Down

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 1:21 am PT

    My 360 freezes within 30 minutes of gameplay every time now, I didn't have one single problem with my 360 before the fall update so I know that's why it's broke. I never got a second update that I was aware of though, is there anyway to manually download the "fixed" patch they later released?

  • _Sam_

    Posted Nov 10, 2006 1:07 pm PT

    I'm glad that they are dealing with this issue

  • NameYourBullet

    Posted Nov 5, 2006 5:09 pm PT

    "makeyourself181
    NameYourBullet said:

    "My friend threw his out the window! I said that's the most exciting thing I've ever seen it do!"

    Liar."

    True, it wasn't that exciting!

  • davidahughes200

    Posted Nov 4, 2006 6:11 am PT

    You can get 1080p through a vga cable on your tv. if your tv supports 1080p it will have a vga and hdmi connection.

  • STEALTH5000

    Posted Nov 3, 2006 6:45 pm PT

    Well, my Xbox 360 was up and running after I installed the Update from Xbox Live. I feel sorry for those that weren't so fortunate.

  • Dr_Yassam

    Posted Nov 3, 2006 12:45 pm PT

    Correct Lewpy79, 1080i and 1080p are the SAME resolution (1920*1080).

    1080i is interlaced, displaying odd lines for one field, even lines the next, and so on (hence requires 2 fields per frame), whereas 1080p displays all the lines in a field, resulting in 1 field per frame.

  • SemiMaster

    Posted Nov 3, 2006 10:23 am PT

    If the consoles are totally ruined from the patch, or in other terms... Bricked... how the heck can you install another update to fix it?

  • TheChosenCheif

    Posted Nov 3, 2006 9:06 am PT

    Gamestop got an email yesterday from Microsoft explaining that microsoft is beginning to fight back against people who have hacked xboxs. It didnt go into much detail but it sounds like they are going to start banning the 360's off of xbox live.

  • Dr_Yassam

    Posted Nov 3, 2006 7:39 am PT

    XBOX sucks wrote "You can upscale all you want, but how are devs going to design games for Native 1080p when the 360 Motherboard does not have a 1080p card".

    The GPU in the 360 DOES support that resolution! 1080i on the 360 was NOT A GPU LIMITATION.

    The GPUs of BOTH the 360 and PS3 are based upon PC GPU technology from ATI and NVidia, whose GPUs have been supporting HIGHER resolutions than 1080p for years.

    So snarple_Basic is absolutely WRONG! Since current 720p games can be upscaled to 1080p (just like the PS3), but soon we will see a few native 1080p XBox 360 games (again like the PS3).

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Nov 3, 2006 6:17 am PT

    --XBOX sucks--

    Have you seen a PC in the last half dozen years???

    Everyone that thinks you need all that for 1080p is a Sony Zombie. Further developers do not produce anything in Interlaced mode. But again the average IQ of some posters here is closer to their age and clearly people are unable to even master the google search for information much less pass a compentent grade school course.

    If you are all knowing you'd have realize that better compression methods allow full HD content on current DVD's. Sony is just to cheap to licence anything and prefer to make it all themselves. And based on their failures over the last decade why are you surprised?

  • V-Nine

    Posted Nov 3, 2006 6:03 am PT

    Im enjoying my 360 but this patch this patch that is typical MS nonsense. At least they are addressing the problem very quickly.

  • dandoc2

    Posted Nov 3, 2006 5:36 am PT

    mine was fine - tho it did freeze a tad after it was installed but now its A *ok

  • wellingtonfo

    Posted Nov 3, 2006 3:35 am PT

    Xbox360 will blow you away LOL...

    The update in my console was smooth.

    As soon as I can buy an PS3, my xbox360 will be only for exclusives.... Everything else I will be playing on my PS3.

  • microwaveman

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 10:06 pm PT

    that sucks to have your xbox break. mine is still goody.

  • livinlegend222

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 8:11 pm PT

    that really sucks for the people who's 360 messed up
    im on my second 360 and they gave me a half-broken faceplate i called em to give me a replacement faceplate, they told me to send in the console and the hdd my tv only puts out 1080i so this update is pretty much useless to me....
    no hdmi for the hddvd drive... why would they release it without...doesnt make any sense...
    ever notice that with every 360 discussion...ps3 or wii somehow get mentioned

    if i wanted a ps3 i would have bought one...ps fanboys, stop pushin ps3 on me i tol u already im not buyin a ps3...

  • ApisBee

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 6:23 pm PT

    LOL, good old MS.

  • Voten13

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 6:09 pm PT

    why dont you all buy a ps3 lol

  • SilentHillX

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 5:59 pm PT

    Snarple_Basic is absolutely right

    You can upscale all you want, but how are devs going to design games for Native 1080p when the 360 Motherboard does not have a 1080p card, and when the console doesnt use Hi-Def DVDs (their only for the movies, but thats a whole nother story). And dont even get me started at the appaling lack of an HDMI Port...

    The only way your going to get it is if Microsoft releases a revised 360, one with a built in HD Drive and a HDMI Port. To me, that would be fantastic, but too bad that'll never happen.

    What I truly dont get, is how Microsoft tries to justify all of these added features, and tout them off like theyre so great (HD-DVD Drive, 1080p, etc), and in turn, implying a cheaper competitive choice to the PS3. The PS3 comes with 1080p, HDMI, and a HD Drive, all out of the box. Not mention an extra 20-40GB and Online at the start, for a more mere 100-200 bucks? Whether or not you think the price point of the PS3, in regard to appeal and/or a potential purchase, is reasonable, is an opinion and can differ from person to person depending on what they need/want, but from a technical standpoint, the PS3' price is MORE than justified for its hardware/tech.

    Take it easy.

  • Yerot

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 5:17 pm PT

    So is it now okay to download the update. Because I'm on my 2nd replacement due to this problem. Has microsoft released any thing.

  • 1599510

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 4:58 pm PT

    yeh...... basically Microsoft should work out all bugs BEFORE they released it..... but not Vista style.... delayin it for like half a year... tisk tisk tisl

  • Mariofan1314

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 3:57 pm PT

    Why are we talking about the PS2 if this is a Xbox 360 topic?!

  • chinesehaohot

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 2:58 pm PT

    Microsoft said later down the road when XB360 is able to play HD-DVD MOVIEs on 1080P, they NEVER said they are going to put games in native 1080P. How many games coming out for XB360 are 1080p? ZERO. OH and people just because you work at Best Buy Home Entertainment does not make you a expert. You don't even need a college degree to become a "SALESMAN" there. Good god, go back to and finish your school and get a job in entertainment or game development business. Don't become a half-as* expert at "Best buy"

  • djoyce92

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 2:29 pm PT

    Thats not true microsoft said later down the road that devs can choose to put games in native 1080p

  • JBBJR

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 2:04 pm PT

    My PS2 had some issues so I sent it back and charged me a kings ransome then let me know it couldnt be fixed. I then had to buy another and just lost that money all together. Microsoft seems to be doing more than sony in this department. I own a 360 and havent had one issue but one.....and when I called in to ask a question....they gave me a game for my trouble. Win WIn for me.

  • snarple_basic

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 1:58 pm PT

    Ahem remember its upconverting to 1080p, not true 1080p in games. That means textures and video are going to be stretched to the 1080p resolution, being a graphic designer i know for fact you cant stretch a image biger and not lose some detail...... Sorry to rain on everyones parade.

  • GodsBusy

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 1:36 pm PT

    @HuhJustaBox
    There really is very little difference between 1080i and 1080p, I work at Best Buy in home entertainment, and believe me, it's not that big a deal unless you have a $10,000 TV. But, if you want to buy into the BS hype, go ahead. And the update allows for future games to be made natively in 1080p.

  • HuhJustaBox

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 1:29 pm PT

    Less than 1% were affected. Hmmm just like the normal 3-5% were defective at launch. Yeah I really believe those numbers (cough, sarcasm, cough).

    And no the 360 still cannot do 1080p. Upscaling is far different than native 1080p. And I am not sure why MS is even updating to allow the 360 to upscale to 1080p...weren't they the ones that said 1080p does not matter and you can see no difference?

    Oh wait, but you can...and now they realize that people have seen through their smoke screen so they are upscaling your games to 1080p. But can you all still see through this smoke screen that upscaling is not nearly as good as native?

  • Flat_Line_____

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 1:12 pm PT

    Ok thanks, I know I was probably making it harder then it needed to be but wasn't sure lol. What weird is when I first applied the update (the first one) I actually had my system crash with the red ring twice right at the 360 splash screen, I thought that something was messed up. But since then it has been fine Thank God... And I don't even have a refurbed or brand new system, or modded...

  • Carpe_Noctum

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 1:04 pm PT

    Flat_Line_____ If you already have the Fall Update then you don't need to update again. If the first Fall Update caused an issue then you can't use the new Update as you would not be able to get that far. E17 right after the splash screen. Basically, if you CAN update than do so, if not then it's time to send it in...
    Still weary on updating my nephews NEW 360 after yesterdays mess.

  • Osinocavalli

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 1:01 pm PT

    AgileNate, Nice to see some ppl can help each other fanx very much

  • Flat_Line_____

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 12:54 pm PT

    OK a little confused here.... they say that users will not be prompted for the fix to the update, that applied the first update? Does that mean that if you updated the first time and nothing went wrong then you don't need this update and that it is just for people that didn't apply the first update release?

  • Notoria

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 12:40 pm PT

    It's too bad that 1% of people got screwed but for everyone else: Go Xbox 360, 1080p! Soooo COOOLL!!!

  • mikekare79

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 12:16 pm PT

    The update is awesome. 1080p on my 360!!! Who needs a PS3?

  • AC305

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 11:59 am PT

    Well, I'm happy. I just got my Xbox 360 back from repair and the update didn't affect my Xbox.

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 11:30 am PT

    Good, I can reconnect my X360 so I can get the new update now. After the news of the Fall Update making some systems become useless, I definitely wasn't going to let my 360 get the Fall Update until news of a patch or fix was released.

  • acehardy

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 11:24 am PT

    I review these system and games for a living. Sadly after the update my 360 would not load my profile, it would just freeze, also failed to get on live after update. I had an issue with 1 xbox 360 they didn't repair just sent a new console within 2 days of it leaving my home. Sony fan boys I own all the systems even the Wii and PS3 (prepaid) PS2 had issues out the arse, and Sony never even said it was their fualt just want to charge for looking at it?. Until I get my PS3 the 360 will be glowing green for sometime.

  • JYGFluffy212

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 11:18 am PT

    damn that sucks thank God my xbox is good

  • bevander

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 10:42 am PT

    TOSgamer10, That's exactly what MS is doing and has been doing...they have a standing offer that any of the 360's purchased in the first year that screw up, they will replace for free. They're doing the same thing with these. MS's customer service is fantastic compared to Sony's (my unit died and they charged me $129 to send it in and tell me "we can't fix it", then I found out the problem was widespread). It took a class-action lawsuit for Sony to accept any responsibility for making faulty units.

  • TOSgamer10

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 10:33 am PT

    What MS should do is fix all their faulty 360's free of charge.

  • oxymoron1331

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 10:24 am PT

    One little glitch and everyone is jumping down microsoft's throat. Just wait till the PS3 if it was anything like the ps2 you will see plenty of faulty hardware, then we will see who makes a better console.

  • Elite_Jounin

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 10:09 am PT

    to "XBOX sucks"...... i'm sorry to hear that man that's just jacked up, You're going on your fourth xbox?! Man I hope not that many people have to through that.

    Ouch!

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 10:09 am PT

    nitrog, now that consoles are aspiring to be more pcish they will get most of our problems and less of our benefits. i think that the 360 is basically a solid budget pc, nintendo and sega offered the best console experiences of the last generation. and the ps2 is just there. though their games like shadow of the colosus and katarmi and okami make me really want one i have so many gripes with the hardware it's hard for me to swallow them and get a ps2.

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 10:06 am PT

    yuck foo well put, i do really like the treatment that xbox users get when they buy the platform. sony i know is a little stiffer, but generally all companies treate their consumers great, i think nintendo is the best. but then agian i love nintendo. i love the live refund of a week for a month it's great. to bad microsoft doesn't have any killer apps yet, i want to love my 360 but there isn't any good reason to besides the solid interface and hardware.

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 9:52 am PT

    --nitrog--

    LOL...now you need to be in stand-up "...own a ps2 ...I am a fanboy for anything good..."

    Sony's numbers on how many PS2's were replaced again?

    That was funny.

    As for your comments on they shoudl fix the consoles for free and credit your time for Live...if you knew what you were talking about you would know that IS how they do things and how they have done it since the original Xbox.

    In fact for every week you are down from Live for any fault of theirs they extend your account by a month.

    Just call 1-800-4-MY-XBOX

    But again I don't expect you to really know about any of this...how could you.

  • nitrog

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 9:47 am PT

    "cjcr_alexandru
    Updating an update... That's not new in the gaming industry."

    It is new to consoles.

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 9:46 am PT

    Updating an update... That's not new in the gaming industry.

  • nitrog

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 9:42 am PT

    "anamnawshad
    So M$ will help teh Modders?!?!?"

    Nowhere in that article does it say anything about helping the people that modded their consoles. I expect those people to get a stern "you should not of modified your console" and thats about all. which is true they should not of. Even though it's looking more and more like the failures had nothing to do with being modded since it is not localized to people who did modify their consoles and seems to be effecting New and Refurbished consoles the most.

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