wolfromalkin
We’ve all been hearing reports lately from fellow gamers of the rapidly increasing E74 error that can strike the Xbox 360. Joystiq even did a whole investigative report on it and however un-scientific it may have been (not to discredit their findings by any means), it showed the E74 was on the rise. Did this mean that the E74 was the new RROD? Some people even suggested that within the NXE update, Microsoft had changed the diagnostics for qualification for the RROD so it would register as the E74 error, yet others with the NXE update were still getting the RROD. A change like this would have dwindled the RROD numbers, but since they still were occurring, did this theory have merit?
So which was it? A new error? Or was it a renamed, old error which Microsoft was trying to cover the RROD with? Well, according to Microsoft and their recently created knowledge base entry, Microsoft
determined that the E74 error message can indicate the general hardware failure that is associated with three flashing red lights error on the console.
So apparently, it was a bit of both, but it seems to have been triggered by the NXE update.
But, to all this, there is also what seems to be even more light at the end of the tunnel. Will anyone that had to shell out their hard earned cash to get this problem fixed be refunded? Of course!
Microsoft will refund to customers the amount paid for an out of warranty repair due to a general hardware failure associated with the e74 error message. Those customers should automatically receive the refund within 4-12 weeks, and no additional action by customers should be necessary. However, if a customer has not received a refund by July 1, 2009, the customer should visit www.xbox.com/support before November 1, 2009 for information on how to place a claim.
So you can expect your refund in the mail within the next 1-3 months.
We’re glad to see that Microsoft acted relatively fast on this issue, rather than the original warranty extension which took a long while to get an official response out of Microsoft for. Has anyone here fallen victim to the E74 or is expecting their refund in the mail?
