Article ID: 817385 - Last Review: October 4, 2011 - Revision: 9.0

Your Original Xbox console freezes and you do not receive an error message

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SYMPTOMS

When you play a game, move throughout the Xbox Dashboard, or wait for the console to load, you may experience the following behavior:
  • The console screen stops responding, or “freezes.”
  • You do not receive an error message.
Important This is a separate issue from when the console screen stops responding and you receive an error message. If you receive an error message, search for the error message in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.
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THINGS TO TRY

Use the following table to troubleshoot the issue that most closely matches your situation. For more information about these troubleshooting steps, see the “Notes” section.
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Your Xbox console only stops responding when you use only one or two game titles and the console does not exhibit this behavior when you start the console or when you use the DashboardYour Xbox console stops responding when you start the console, use the Dashboard, or use most media
  1. Determine whether the issue has occurred more than one time.
  2. Test the console using a different disc.
  3. Determine whether the console is overheating.
  4. Verify that the Xbox console is set to the correct time and date.
  5. Remove all unnecessary peripherals and then test the console.
  6. Try the disc in another console if you can. If you cannot try the disc in another console, exchange the disc at the retailer where you made the purchase.
  7. If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may require Microsoft to service the console (See Below).
  1. Determine whether the issue has occurred more than one time.
  2. Determine whether the console is overheating.
  3. Verify that the Xbox console is set to the correct time and date.
  4. Remove all unnecessary peripherals and then test the console.
  5. If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may require Microsoft to service the console (See Below).

Notes

Determine whether the issue has occurred more than one time. If this is the first time that you have experienced this behavior, it is likely that it will not occur again.

Determine whether the disc in use is the source of the problem by testing several similar Xbox-compatible discs in the system. If the problem occurs with only one disc, search the Microsoft Knowledge Base to determine whether that particular disc has any known issues. Use game discs to test game freezes and DVDs to test DVD freezes.

Determine whether the console is in an unsuitable environment such as near a heat source. Heat sources can include TVs, computers, monitors, and other electrical devices. If the console is in a poor location, move it to a location with sufficient ventilation, such as on top of a table or on the floor. If this resolves the issue, the previous location likely did not provide sufficient ventilation for the console to function correctly. Review the Xbox instruction manual for information about correct placement of the console.

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Additional Support

If the steps in the previous section did not resolve your issue, your console may have to be serviced. Please follow this link to confirm whether phone or online support is offered in your country to initiate an exchange order for your console:
961531  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/961531/ ) Original Xbox support offerings per region
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APPLIES TO
  • Xbox
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