Xbox 360 is displaying E 73 and bottom right quadrant is flashing red

This problem occurs when the Xbox 360 console experiences a hardware failure.

If your Xbox 360 is still under warranty, which lasts for three years since the purchase date for this type of problem, then the best thing you can do is request for your Xbox to be fixed by Microsoft. Even if it is expired, it still best to send it in and pay the small fee, compared to trying to fix it yourself, which will most likely cause more damage.

To send your Xbox to Microsoft, visit www.myservice.xbox.com and select "Start a repair request", then follow the on-screen instructions.

Also see:
E74 Support Page
Extended Warranty Info

The red rings are a fatal Xbox 360 error. There is no way to solve this problem except by having a qualified professional perform a reflow to the problem Chip. This can usually be determined based on the number of quadrants lit.

• 1 Red Quadrant is usually System Error. A "E##" error code will be displayed on the screen. Most common is E74.
• 2 Red Quadrants indicates the console is overheating.
• 3 Red Quadrants indicates hardware failure. A secondary error code can be acquired by pressing and holding the sync button then while continuing to hold the sync button repeatedly pressing the eject button and noting the number of red quadrants that becomes lit.
• 4 Red Quadrants indicates that either no A/V (Audio / Video ) Connection is available.

Good Luck! Let me know if you have any further questions. If you tell me which number of quadrants or the error code I can point you in the right direction.

Hi,Turn on unit until the red light flashes and the error code(E 73) shows up on the screen. Next insert toothpicks in the back of the console(while unit is running) into the cooling fans, this is to suppose to overheat the console and start two red lights flashing. Turn off console when this happens(unplug all cords from console) and turn the system back on.
This solution will fix your problem for sure. Thank you!

if your x box is displaying a red segment on quadrant 1 and quadrant 3 you are suffering from an over heating issue. Your xbox should be shutting off the CPU and the GPU (fancy terms you dont need to wory about unless you want too) and flash Q1 and Q3 till unit has sufficiently cooled.

This is a AV problem. Try changing the position of the HDTV/TV switch on your AV cable.

An E74 error is when the lower-right quadrant of the ring piece indicator flashes red and displays an error message in multiple languages: "E74 System Error. Contact Xbox Customer Support". The error is caused when there's a video problem with the Xbox's hardware scaler chip being damaged. As of April 14, 2009, the E74 error is now covered by the three-year extended warranty.

Is there an error on the screen E74? We can fix this for you email if interested [email protected]

SYMPTOMS loadTOCNode(1, 'symptoms'); Three lights flash red on the Ring of Light (RoL) on the front of your Xbox 360 console. The upper-right quadrant light is the only light that does not flash red. Back to the top
CAUSE loadTOCNode(1, 'cause'); The three flashing red lights may indicate that there is a hardware problem with your Xbox 360 console. Back to the top
MORE INFORMATION loadTOCNode(1, 'moreinformation'); If you are experiencing this problem, you can submit a console-repair request online. However, before you submit your request, first try the following two steps to verify the problem: 1. When you turn on the console, look at the light on the power supply. The power supply light should illuminate green even if the three lights on the Ring of Light flash red. If the power supply light is not green, please follow the steps in one of the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles: 906101 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906101/) Troubleshooting your Xbox 360 Power Supply when the light is red 906102 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906102/) Troubleshooting your Xbox 360 Power Supply when the light is orange 906103 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906103/) Troubleshooting your Xbox 360 Power Supply when the light is not illuminated 2. Turn off the console. Wait 10 seconds, and then turn on the console again to see whether the problem re-occurs.If your console continues to display three flashing red lights, your console may have to be repaired. If none of these help, pease contact Xbox support at http://xbox.agent.asahost.com/ to talk to a live agent.

What is the error code at the bottom of the screen & check for flashing red lights on the power button if 3 illuminate it the infamous RROD(Red Ring of Death-google it) which you will get a free repair for if its the bottom right quadrant flashing red then its most probably E74 or E61. E61 is a hard drive related problem so try playing without it, & E74 is the AV cable snapped inside or the GPU/CPU inside the xbox 360 has weak solders on it, I suggest MS support ASAP.

2 red lights flashing is'nt too bad of a deal. just reposition your xbox 360 to a place where more airflow can get to it. plus, dont have anything that gives off heat near the xbox 360, thats vary important to give it room for cool air. it worked for me