We recently reported that a number of Xbox One users had been experiencing issues with their new console – namely with regards to a particularly noisy Blu-ray drive. Thankfully, Microsoft quickly addressed the issue, promising to replace any affected machines, as well as offering customers a free game by way of recompense.
If, for some bizarre reason, you are averse to having a newly guaranteed console direct from the manufacturer – and don’t like free games – then you needn’t worry, because a helpful YouTube user has posted a quick and easy solution for you to try at home* – Punch it. That’s right, you can apparently knock some sense into your Xbox One.
The issue is caused by a misaligned gear which can pop back into place with this quick fix, although again, why you’d not just get a certified replacement is beyond me.
We can’t be sure if punching slightly disappointing consoles is a fix across-the-board. I’m off to find my Virtual Boy, so I’ll let you know later.
*Disclaimer: Don’t try this at home. TSA will not be responsible for any physical or emotional damage caused.
3shirts
At least this is one fix where you can easily see how they discovered it!
The classic ‘Fonz technique’
Tarbun84
Ayyyyyyyyyyy
Bilbo_bobbins
The old “give it a smack” way of fixing it is back. I thought this stopped when TVs started going flatscreen.
3shirts
Percussive maintenance
yd
That’s the proper technical term for it.
Should that fail to get things working, the old “yank and spank” is a good option. This isn’t something rude, but the practice of pulling anything that isn’t permanently attached out, trying to remember where it went, and then ensuring it’s firmly pushed back in.
Certainly used to be a good plan with older computers. Tolerances on the size of the slots on the motherboard and the cards you’re trying to put in can be quite small. And people seem afraid of pushing expensive graphics cards in too hard. These things can easily pop out once they start to heat up.
I believe there’s a third option. Something about reading the manual? Traditionally something you do after hitting stuff, ripping it to bits, and finding new and inventive ways to swear at things. I think it might just be a myth though.
E8_BALL_
Yank & Spank sounds the more intriguing.
RocketSOL
When in doubt, give it a clout.
gaffers101
I guess Microsoft will have to employ someone to sit there smacking all the returned Xbox Ones before putting them back into stock now.
Skillshot-89
I posted this on TSA yesterday on the previous article with the link to this actual video and no mention of a thank you to me? Thanks TSA glad you only acknowledge the members who have been members for a few years. I will no longer report any more news to you. I also sent an email to you guys about game cancelling pre orders. No skin off my nose anyway you guys are always posting news that I knew atleast a week before.
Tuffcub
Sorry, we didn’t spot that. The news team are so busy we don’t get much time read comments, it wasn’t on purpose.
Skillshot-89
I appreciate your reply. I will continue to email news that you have not posted. This is a great website and its probably one of the best. I’m really sorry if i come across as a pleb I’m just the type of person who likes to know ive done something good.
Tuffcub
Not sure where you’re mailing your news tips too, but send them directly to me (tuffcub at thesixthaxis.com) taht way at least I’ll see them. Thanks!
Adam Guest
Apologies my good man, I don’t have access to the email in question, and as TC says, had not read the comments in said earlier post – thanks for the tip-off, even if we did accidentally overlook it!
bunimomike
Always be careful with this one, Skillshot. :-) Usually it’s for genuine reasons and if something’s overlooked, the lads are quick to apologise and correct where necessary. Many times, I’ve tweeted Teflon (Stefan) about some news, only to have my chances of international fame dashed with a simple “we have an article going out in five or so minutes” simply because the keen buggers have already started fashioning something. Cunning swines.
Anyway, seeing as you’ve joined this month, a warm welcome to TSA as well. :-)
Skillshot-89
Thank mate and i apologise to all on here if i have offended anyone. But maybe my chance of international fame was dashed and I took it like a fool and not a man.
Sorry again guys. I will still send info to this site if i dont see anything written.
bunimomike
You’re a good man for apologising. We don’t see enough of it on the internet. :-) Not you… I meant everyone else! :-)
E8_BALL_
Did you just call me a Pleb? I call for an independent inquiry.
Scythegpd
I think it’s a smear campaign!
I demand video evidence!
cam the man
Isn’t that the way guys fix everything, either hit it with fist or hammer.
E8_BALL_
It has always fixed any of my relationship issues.
ron_mcphatty
You have a Virtual Boy Adam? Awesome. I was lucky enough to have a go on one once, five minutes with a tennis game resulted in two hours of splitting headache. It was worth it.
Adam Guest
I don’t, that’s a little bit of poetic license I’m afraid. Wish I did.
bunimomike
I had a Virtual Adam… then he got a job.
How I miss AG2297. :-P
Vallon
Last week a friend of mine decided last minute to go to the dark side and buy a ONE over the PS4, we were discussing the problems with the drives and I told him they should just give it a whack!
Reason being, I had an XBOX 360 Jasper revision (pre slim redesign) as a replacement for my RROD original launch console – had to get the stock off ebay – anyway when it arrived it was fine, but it wouldn’t read the discs all the time (similar noise as the ONE makes but not exactly the same), gave it a good whack and bingo been going strong ever since. I just figured it was the laser being misaligned on delivery being knocked about.
Seems tech doesn’t change that much after all! :D
double-o-dave
Tell him if he gives it a good kick it will turn into a PS4.
Vallon
haha :D
he’ll see the light in time I’m sure ;)
sparkyscrum
Or that it thinks cats play with it so signs them in.
Nocure-fd
Xbox 360 fix = wrap it in a towel, just like Arnie in total recall.
Xbone fix = hit it firmly like the fonz
Next MS console = ? (I’m hoping it’s walk around bare foot on the carpet while making fists with your toes…)
Vallon
That towel trick was a little misleading, and a very short term fix for the 360. I tried it on my launch console and it actually did work for an extra couple of days. What actually happens was the main board actually warps under the temperature making the connections to the GPU fail. All the towel did was to heat up and unwarp the board (for a bit!)
Due to the way its put together resoldering it is nye on impossible unless you have a reflow machine, but I managed to successfully fix mine but using a heat gun and a lot of patience. Ended up using it as a media extender for a while (as I’d already bought a Jasper revision as replacement) and was still going strong after a couple of years.
I did read somewhere (probably a load of rubbish) that 70% of launch XBOX 360 consoles actually failed within 3 years of release.
I like the fact that the PS4 seems to have a fail safe when it hits a certain temperature and actually shuts itself down – no brainer to include something like that! But techs moved on a lot since 360 launch eh? ;)
webby_15-0
The sane thing used to happen with my old PS2. If it made a crunching noise then I just used to hit it really hard on the top and it would start working again. It worked for months. See kids, violence is the answer to life’s problems (joke).