Ever since Microsoft released the XBox 360 back in 2005, hardware malfunctions have been par for the course for many players. Well, it’s 2007 now and the problem hasn’t exactly gone away, but to a certain degree it has been diagnosed and Microsoft has extended their warranty support of the Xbox 360 in order to accommodate owners who have become so frustrated with their merchandise.

The big issue with the XBox is overheating and Microsoft finally admitted this July that this is caused by a major design flaw. Warranties have been extended from one to three years and you should also get free shipping if you choose to return your XBox 360 to Microsoft for either repair or replacement if it has stopped working due to the 3 flashing red lights. It’s unfortunate that they didn’t simply issue a recall on the device, but I guess they do not have a better model to replace it with yet so for now dealing with the hassle of packing, returning and then waiting for them to ship it back to you -- or alternatively, fixing it yourself -- are your only two options.

If you haven’t had any major lock-ups or freezes yet, there are a couple of things you can do to extend the life of your XBox before it locks up on you. You need to keep it from overheating so make sure you place your XBox someplace where it has adequate ventilation all around the device. This means being sure to keep it away from any heat source such as a radiator or resting it on top of your PC tower; keeping it out of enclosed places such as bookcases or the cabinet beneath your television; and avoid placing it on the carpet, or on your bed, the couch or anyplace else where the air cannot circulate around it. I would also do a little preventative maintenance as well. Buy yourself a can of compressed air and use it frequently to make sure all of the vents on your XBox are free of dust.

If your XBox has already fallen victim to freezes and/or the 3 red lights, the first thing you should do is unplug the device and let it cool for at least several hours. Overnight is ideal. Before plugging it back in, use your compressed air to blow all the vents clean of dust and particles. If this doesn’t work, then you’ll need to decide whether you want to place a call to Microsoft and schedule your XBox for repair, or would you simply prefer to tackle the repair yourself?

Fixing the XBox 360 yourself is not difficult, as long as you are comfortable opening up the machine yourself and following instructions. Just note that if you do open the XBox to repair it yourself, you’ll void any warranties on it. If the idea of opening up the box and working on it on your own makes you nervous, it might be better to wait the 2-8 weeks it may take for Microsoft to take care of it for you.