To all RWP Xbox owners - power cord issue

[Icy Guy]

http://replacements.webprogram.com/en-us/programoverview.asp

Apparently, many Xbox power cords have some sort of an issue. According to MSNBC, has recalled 14.1 million power cords, and is letting users get new ones for free.

That's where the above link comes in. Flip your Xbox over and look around for a serial number and manufacture date. Note what they are, and then click "Place an Order" on the above page. Enter the serial # and manufacturing date into the form, and see whether or not you need a new power cord. Like me, since mine was manufactured on July 5th, 2003.

Thought I'd give you guys a heads-up, because this is fairly important.

EDIT: Oh, and for the record, that's the U.S. page. To get an international page, just go through xbox.com's main page.

[Gold Jinjo]

Well feck a duck, my XBox was manufactured Dec 24th, 2002. I guess it could spontaneously combust if I don't send in for a new cord. I heard this on the news earlier today, but for some reason never paid attention. And I'm somewhat unsettled by this news, because I often let my XBox idle for considerable amounts of time.

I hope they ship to post office boxes. But considering the scenario, they better damn well do it ;)

[Jason]

Apparently, many Xbox power cords have some sort of an issue.

Many of them have a issue, but only 60 have caused damage.

[Gold Jinjo]

Many of them have a issue, but only 60 have caused damage.

I thought it was 30 that was reported?

In any case, it couldn't hurt to do this. It's free, and it eliminates that 1 in 10,000 chance of your XBox making kindling out of your nearby possessions :)

Although if one could really not be buggered, then just don't let the XBox idle. But once I get my new cord, mine can be on 24/7* again :p

*Slightly exaggerated.

[Icy Guy]

Many of them have a issue, but only 60 have caused damage.
Now just imagine if some person decided not to replace their power cord, because they looked at that number and thought, "Oh, the odds are low that it'll happen to me."

Now just imagine that, a few hours later, they're being rushed to the hospital with minor burns, because they were trying to unplug their Xbox from an outlet.

OK, so that's a bit of an exaggeration, but, as Gold says, it can't hurt.

[Gaming Master2k]

thanks for the warning but my Xbox is ok. I thought it would be since I got it at christmas but it still didn't hurt to check.

[Jason]

I got my cord a few days ago.

[Icy Guy]

So did I, and it's been working nicely. MS' fulfillment center sure was quick. So much for their "2-4 weeks."

[OmegaPirate]

Maybe they haven't had too many people send in for one?

[Gold Jinjo]

I haven't gotten mine yet. Knowing the way things happen in my favor*, I probably won't get it until July.

*Sarcasm.

[Gold Jinjo]

DOUBLE POST'd!

Anyway, I got my cable today. It's similar to the (defective) one, except the female end of the cable that plugs into the XBox is slightly bigger. It even has a little warning sticker on it.

The cable kind of stunk when I took it out of the package. Blech. New-plastic smell is nausiating. Although the new-XBox smell is enchanting, and I still smell if on my XBox occasionally. That takes me back ;)

[Icy Guy]

I'd say "No comment" if it weren't for the fact that I loved the smell of the controller's cable. ;)

Another difference is that the new ones have "JHT-031" written on them, instead of "JHT-013." Kind of reminds me of that bit from The Offspring's "Pretty Fly for a White Guy" (Parentheses needed? I'm too lazy to go look at the CD's jewel case.) ...

He's gettin' a tattoo, yeah
He's gettin' ink done
He asked for a 13, but
They drew a 31.

[Gold Jinjo]

I'd say "No comment" if it weren't for the fact that I loved the smell of the controller's cable. ;)

Yes! I tell yeh, the XBox has been, by far, the best smelling console I've ever had. I hope the next generation XBox delivers the same greatness :)

[Jason]

Gasp! A letter from Microsoft just arrived in my mailbox.

It's about the powercord... and... well, they say I need to get a replacement. I already did that though. Those idiots.

[Roystein]

Lucky me... I'm getting a present from Microsoft too... :D


*claps hands uncontrollably*

[icegod]

I had mine yesterday :D But Microsoft lied! There is nothing wrong with the power cord! Here from Xbox-scene:


So, here's the deal. MS lied.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with the Xbox power cords. MS just had the recall to cover their butts (they had to do something, but recaling every 1.0/1.1 console would be way too expensive).

The real problem is the Foxlink power supply. There have been numerous reports of "loose power connectors" in xboxes, and the cause of this is that the solder joints on the PSU have actually broken where the connector mounts to the board, which can result in the xbox not powering on, or possibly even sparks, smoke, and fire.

this is a picture taken on one of MY OWN Foxlink 1.0/1.1 power supplies, and sure enough, the solder joints are broken. I checked another psu, they were broken too. So, although MS reports "about 1 in 10,000 failures", the problem is actually much more common, but usually has no results. The Foxlink PSU is a timebomb.

So, instead of taking the costly duty of recalling all older xboxes, what do they do? They give you a power cord with this huge GFI thing. This in no way will solve the problem, it is merely a bandaid. So, when your PSU sparks and shorts out, it just trips a switch instead of catching fire, but your xbox still doesn't work.

With the newer xboxes, you get a replacement power cord that doesnt look any different. Why? Because theres nothing wrong.

All of you with a 1.0 or 1.1, I would HIGHLY suggest checking to see if you have a foxlink PSU, and if you do, to resolder these 2 joints, a huge blob on em seems to fix the problem.

This was MS's uber-lame attempt at a coverup.


The picture and thread can be found @ http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=361537