With the Xbox 360, you can enjoy countless hours of high definition gaming with some of the top selling games. But the Xbox 360 is not without its flaws and these flaws come in the form of annoying and mysterious errors where flashing red lights are the only hints that tell what the exact problems are.



If multiple lights around the power ring are flashing, the problem is pretty specific and can be easily looked upon by checking out Microsoft's Xbox support website.

Xbox Errors

The dreaded “Red Ring of Death” which is symbolized by three flashing lights is the worst of the errors and thankfully this particular error that will be covered isn't as bad, but still needs attention because it is occurs quite commonly on overused systems.

Xbox 360 errors are a bit more descriptive if only the bottom light of the power ring flashes. When the part of the ring flashes, an error code should be displayed on the screen with an “E” and a two digit number with the first digit either a 7 or an 8.

Causes of E74 Error

Each error code highlights a different hardware specific problem such as the DVD drive or the hard drive. The E74 error is a bit more common than the rest of the single light errors because it occurs when there are problems with the GPU or cable, which is pretty much what takes the abuse during prolonged gameplay.

The Microsoft support website describes the E74 as a general hardware failure, but actually, the problem is more like a bigger version of the 2 flashing lights error, which is caused by overheating.

What makes the E74 different is that the thermal glue that is used to keep the GPU in place expands due to the heat exposure. This allows the GPU to move freely while processing allowing it to break its connection to the motherboard.

The GPU is responsible for those realistic graphics and visuals and without it, the only thing that is displayed is the E74.

If the GPU is okay, there could be a slight chance that the problem lies with the AV cable that transmits the graphics to the display. This is unlikely, but possible especially if the Xbox 360 isn't used very often.

How to Fix

Microsoft recently expanded the extended 3 year warranty to cover the E74 error in addition to the Xbox 3 red lights error. So if your system is still under warranty then you can send it to Microsoft to fix.

However if you are not under warranty then you can fix the error yourself. There are many repair guides that give you step by step instructions on how to repair the E74 error. You can try doing a search or check our Xbox 360 repair reviews of guides.

After you fixed your problem, be thankful that you didn't have to buy a new console as what others have done. Next time try to keep the 24 hour gaming marathons to a minimum. After all everyone needs their sleep.