Gizmodo: Repairs

Texan Law Requires Computer Repair Techs To Have PI Licenses

Matt Hickey — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:43:34 EDT

Texas has a new law that makes it mandatory for computer repair technicians in the state to have private investigator licenses. This is being contested by at least one advocacy group that's suing, as many techs don't know they're being criminals by doing their jobs. The strange new law comes about because sometimes in the course of repairing a computer some investigation is needed, and in the great state of Texas that's a felony without a license. It can take up to three years to get one, so this whole thing is messed up. Hopefully no poor minimum wage Windows jockey will wind up in jail over this, but stranger things have happened in Texas. Looks like those Geek Squad guys will get real badges, though. [Gear Log]

Xbox 360 Bill Gates Edition (1 of 1 Limited Apology Run)

Haroon Malik — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:30:00 EDT

A few weeks back, an unlucky Xbox owner shipped off his customized Bungie autographed console to Microsoft's repair center, and to his horrors they wiped it clean. Bungie resigned a console for him, but now, Microsoft is chiming in with a new console with Bill's signature on it and hundreds of dollars worth of new video games.

Since Nathan's Xbox was returned stark naked, his girlfriend left him, his pet dog didn't even recognize him and people on the street looked at him in disgust. (Probably.) Such was the change in Nathan's life, he could hardly bare waking up in the mornings. However, Microsoft saw this atrocity going on, and they sure fixed it:

Despite Bungie jumping (ha!) in and giving our man all of the following:

• Legendary Edition Helmet signed by most-if not all-of the studio staff
• Halo 3 Soundtrack (two disc) signed by Marty O'Donnell (with "DO NOT ERASE!" written under his name)
• Bungie Jacket
• Bungie T-Shirt
• Halo 3 Messenger Bag
• Two Halo 3 Limited Edition Wireless Controllers (one covenant, one human)
• Signed Halo 3 Faceplate and Skins for Xbox 360
• Four McFarlane Action Figures (MC, EVA Spartan, Brute Chieftan, Jackal Sniper)
• Halo Actionclix Preview pack (Target exclusive sticker on the front)
• Halo Actionclix Game Pack 4
• Halo 3 Wall Graffix
• Halo 3: Ghosts of Onyx Novel
• Halo Graphic Novel
• Halo 3 Wristband
• Halo 3 Hackeysack

M Nathan is, we presume, now back with his girlfriend, his dog loves him and people in the street can't wait to stop and chat with him. He's so cool, we want to be his friend. [Kotaku: 1, 2 and 3]

Xbox 360 Repair Turnaround Times Are Down in the Crapper

Jason Chen — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:00:15 EDT

The recent Xbox 360 warranty extension to three years has really done a number on the repair queue. Everyone must be sending in their broken Xboxes, since the turnaround time has increased from two weeks to as much as six. Anecdotally, it so happens that three people I know sent in their 360s around this time, and it took them about three or four weeks to get theirs back, with one still Xbox-less. [Kotaku]

Xbox 360 Getting Added Cooling After Being Repaired

Jason Chen — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:00:08 EDT

French Xbox 360 owners who've sent in their defective or broken Xboxes to Microsoft to fix are finding that the return console have a little extra "wooooosh" in them.

Yeah, Microsoft's adding extra cooling power to their Xbox 360s to address all the overheating problems. It's about time, and probably should have been stuck into the Elites to make them an even more tempting offer for current owners.

– Jason Chen

Confirmed: MS conducting hardcore turning on ROD Xbox 360's - Extra Cooling! [Maxconsole]

Fix a Broken Xbox 360 with a Towel

Travis Hudson — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 13:33:59 EST

You know, there is something funny about electronics sometimes. If you are an Xbox 360 owner it is likely that you have heard of the blinking red lights of doom. This is where the lights around the power button illuminate red meaning the 360 is done busted. Someone managed to fix this problem by doing the unthinkable—overheating the 360, in a way. The red light broken 360 was fixed by wrapping the console in a towel, turning it on, letting it run for 10 minutes, then turning it off and removing the towel. For some people overheating the 360 fixed the problem entirely, for some others it fixed the problem temporarily. Regardless, it rendered your $400 console useful again. Gizmodo is not responsible for any damage done with this fix. –Travis Hudson

The Towel Trick Fixes 360s? [The Xbox Domain]