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Gadgets Microsoft Fixes Xbox 360 Dashboard Update
Marcus Yam (Blog) - November 2, 2006 10:51 AM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 14 comment(s) - last by otispunkmeyer.. on Nov 3 at 4:15 AM
Update reportedly caused crashing and inoperable machines

A few days ago, we learned that Microsoft would finally be releasing its Fall Dashboard Update, which adds to the Xbox 360 1080p support and other improved features.

Unexpectedly and unfortunately, the update also added a lot of headache and panic for a small percentage of Xbox 360 owners as the new Dashboard crashed consoles and rendered them mostly useless. It seems that it is mostly new or recently refurbished Xbox 360s are the ones affected.

Microsoft quickly acknowledged the problem, saying that an installation code was the cause of the majority of the reported issues. The issue will not affect those who have already downloaded and installed the update, as the bug only appears during installation.

A fixed version of the update is now available from Xbox Live. Those who continue to have issues are advised to contact Xbox support at 1-800-4MY-XBOX.

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Patch is great
By IMPoor on 11/2/2006 1:59:53 PM , Rating: 2
I donwnloaded the the patch last night without any problems. My 360 is only 3 months old. I called my borther in-law and he bought his 2 weeks ago and it went through just fine. I suspect it is only a few cases of problems that once again is being blown out of porportion.

Anyway the new features on the patch are awesome. I like the way things are organized and the subtle changes to the UI. I don't have a 1080p TV but I saw the choice in the setup.

I am really hoping that one day they add support for media files other than wmv and mpg. I would love to play avi file without having to convert or hack things. The old xbox (modded) was a great media player. I dont see why microsoft does not allow for divx, mp4, or whatever. There are many legit reasons to use these formats. Maybe its because of the royalties or the extra support that would be needed.




RE: Patch is great
By IMPoor on 11/2/2006 2:02:59 PM , Rating: 2
sorry to reply to my own post but I wanted to add that the maybe we will see some homebrew players now that they added support for the xna stuff in this update.


RE: Patch is great
By Aikouka on 11/2/2006 2:39:18 PM , Rating: 2
If I remember correctly, the XNA update that allows you to compile code for the X360 doesn't come out until December. XNA is already out for PC compilation and I believe you could write a program and simply recompile it for the X360 once the X360-enabled version comes out (provided you have a subscription)!


RE: Patch is great
By willow01 on 11/3/2006 12:03:06 AM , Rating: 2
The update just added functionality (probably a .net runtime update) in readiness for XNA. Like Aikouka said to actually release apps using xna you'll have to wait until around December. But even then you'll need to pay a subscription to both upload your own apps, and to be able to dl others onto your 360.


RE: Patch is great
By otispunkmeyer on 11/3/2006 4:15:41 AM , Rating: 2
i hope they add more video types too

even sony have DVD players capable of playing DivX/Xvid and if those money grabbing bastards can do it then microsoft surely cant have a problem


I wonder...
By Aikouka on 11/2/2006 12:03:25 PM , Rating: 3
I wonder if this is why my XBOX 360 just suddenly froze up at the dashboard before any sort of installation prompt ever occured? I was sitting on the settings menu I believe and everything just stopped responding. I shut it off, turned it back on and after a minute I was prompted with the update message.

But oh well, it updated for me and works just fine so far. Although I still wish they'd add a time-based newly-added content feature to XBOX Live. I want to see what's new since I last checked, not weekly or whatever it currently is.




RE: I wonder...
By kristof007 on 11/2/2006 12:25:20 PM , Rating: 2
That is actually a really good idea. Kind of like what most forums have with different symbols noting the threads you have read or not read or new posts in a thread .. all in all the idea for the xbox would be really cool. Kinda like an RSS feed of demos, videos, and whatever else.


RE: I wonder...
By Aikouka on 11/2/2006 1:38:26 PM , Rating: 2
Yup, very similar to that. I haven't checked yet (I keep forgetting to), but I was hoping that Microsoft may've implemented that feature on the web version of XBOX Live. I guess we're just too used to true new items, not recently added items (although Microsoft chose the prior naming convention).


RE: I wonder...
By One43637 on 11/2/2006 8:24:25 PM , Rating: 2
about time they updated the thing. i thought it was rather plain looking even when you applied themes to it.

i was hoping the fall update would include a feature like that, but oh whelps.


Toll free numbers
By peternelson on 11/2/2006 10:14:25 PM , Rating: 5
"contact Xbox support at 1-800-4MY-XBOX. "

These numbers are fine for USA based customers, however, for those living outside the USA who have great difficulty dialling such numbers unless using some calling card or skype, manufacturers should ALWAYS also post a conventional landline alternative number including area code for international callers.

I appreciate that in Microsoft's case there is probably a local country alternative, but for the many USA companies who do this, you lose business by failing to consider your more distant customers.

I don't even mind paying the international charges, but I need a number I can actually dial to reach you.




No problem for me.
By AlexWade on 11/2/2006 12:02:41 PM , Rating: 2
I have a brand new XBox and the update worked just fine. I'm glad I didn't end up with a white brick.




RE: No problem for me.
By MonkeyPaw on 11/2/2006 6:20:26 PM , Rating: 2
Mine updated just fine as well. Odd that some 360s would reject the update, since they should all be basically identical, right?


Very hasty!!
By klingon on 11/2/06, Rating: 0
RE: Very hasty!!
By Wolfpup on 11/2/06, Rating: -1
"Nowadays, security guys break the Mac every single day. Every single day, they come out with a total exploit, your machine can be taken over totally. I dare anybody to do that once a month on the Windows machine." -- Bill Gates











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