If your Xbox 360 has stopped working, how quickly you can have it up and running again depends largely on how you approach the problem. For the best results, a logical and methodical approach is called for. This article will guide you through this process using three easy to follow steps.

1.) Diagnose the trouble. This may be the most crucial step, get it wrong and a lot of time and maybe money is lost. Write down the number lights on your console that are flashing red. How many are there?

One red light means that your console has a hardware failure. Two indicates that your Xbox is overheating. Three red lights, otherwise known as the red ring of death, means that there is a hardware failure with the console or there is something wrong with it’s power supply. Four lights indicates that there is a loose AV cable.

2. Decide on a plan of action for you to take. If there is a hardware or overheating problem you have three repair choices.

First, if your warranty is still valid, you can send it back to Microsoft for repair or replacement. This option will cost you time (up to 4 to 5 weeks) and money (shipping and handling fees).

Second, if your warranty is expired or invalid, Microsoft will do the repairs for $140 or you can pay even more money to have a repair service fix your Xbox. The third option is to do the repair yourself. You would be amazed at how rapidly and easily this can be done provided that you have a good repair guide to follow.

3. Finally, you will have to take action and make it happen. Call up Microsoft’s customer service to get shipping instructions if your warranty is still good. If you would like to use a repair service, go online and look for one that is local.

If you would rather do the repairs yourself, look for a quality repair guide that you can download instantly off the Internet so that no time is lost. Using the right guide can have you up and going in under an hour or two.

Marc Sandford is a gaming addict and writer. Get more Xbox troubleshooting advice about repairing the Xbox 360 red ring of death.