Need urgent Xbox assistance folks! Please!

Well, last night my Xbox crapped out again.

After sending it away to Microsoft in 2007 (faulty disc tray) and again in 2008 (RROD), last night when I swtiched it on, it got to the Xbox 360 logo screen and stopped. No further I went. Just stopped there. Tried a bunch of things (including Microsoft support, who I'm waiting to hear back from) to try to remedy it but nothing. Oddly enough, it goes through to the dashboard without the hard drive installed, but when that thing is in, it says "You ain't getting past the logo screen buddy."

As you can imagine, I'M INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATED and need advice.

1. Has anyone had this particular problem before? If so, how did you fix it?

2. Since this particular console has had its fair share of issues, should I just dump this piece of shit and go buy an Elite?

3. Are Elites reliable?


Please help me Giant Bomb people! Skate 2 comes out next week!

Hmmm, as it is only when your HDD is plugged in, it's probably a problem with the hard drive.

I think you should instead ask yourself why you are willing to keep going back to a product that has now failed you three times. You are rewarding Microsoft's disservice to you with loyalty.

No no, i had this happen to me.  Just keep turning it on with or without the HDD, it will eventually get the RROD, these are the starting signs.  Eventually you will get it and have to ship it to get fixed.  Elites are but I am pretty damn sure the new pro systems are more reliable.  Just wait for the new Jasper chipset to be in all of them.  If you really want one, go get an arcade, that has the new chipset in it.

"Hmmm, as it is only when your HDD is plugged in, it's probably a problem with the hard drive."

"No no, i had this happen to me.  Just keep turning it on with or without the HDD, it will eventually get the RROD, these are the starting signs.  Eventually you will get it and have to ship it to get fixed.  Elites are but I am pretty damn sure the new pro systems are more reliable.  Just wait for the new Jasper chipset to be in all of them.  If you really want one, go get an arcade, that has the new chipset in it."

I have an Elite and it has never caused any problems. But I agree Gameboi... if my Xbox cocked up as many times as that I would move to a PS3. What's the point in haivng all that grief. Consoles are supposed to be fun!

Just did some quick research on the Jasper chipset. Hmmm...

Once again costs will be cut, which is good news for

"I have an Elite and it has never caused any problems. But I agree Gameboi... if my Xbox cocked up as many times as that I would move to a PS3. What's the point in haivng all that grief. Consoles are supposed to be fun!"

So if I go buy an Arcade, will there be any chance in hell of me being guaranteed it has a Jasper? Will the sales clerk have any idea? Or will they just respond with "Dave's not here, man".