Update: We just word from Major Nelson telling us that "the problem has been fixed, but any incomplete d/l's need to be deleted and completely re-downloaded." Hopefully this freezing issue can be put to rest.
Ever since the August Xbox Live dashboard update and the maintenance that happened late last month, there have been a few Xbox 360 owners who are reporting console freezes when attempting to connect to Xbox Live. This problem - which we've heard reports of and has been talked about at length on the Xbox.com forums - seems to stem from the dashboard's management of background downloads. How we understand it, the console freezing occurs after a piece of content (music, trailer, DLC, etc.) is downloaded off the XBLM and then the 360 is turned off prior to the download's completion. This creates an incomplete file on the HDD and the next time the console is turned on and attempts to connect to live, everything locks up.
Ever since the August Xbox Live dashboard update and the maintenance that happened late last month, there have been a few Xbox 360 owners who are reporting console freezes when attempting to connect to Xbox Live. This problem - which we've heard reports of and has been talked about at length on the Xbox.com forums - seems to stem from the dashboard's management of background downloads. How we understand it, the console freezing occurs after a piece of content (music, trailer, DLC, etc.) is downloaded off the XBLM and then the 360 is turned off prior to the download's completion. This creates an incomplete file on the HDD and the next time the console is turned on and attempts to connect to live, everything locks up.
We've contacted Microsoft in hopes of getting some sort of acknowledgment or update of the problem, but have yet to receive a response. But fear not those of you who are experiencing console freezes, because we have a step by step plan that'll attempt to fix your problem. Just follow the steps after the break and hopefully your console will quit freezing. If it doesn't solve your problem, well, at least you can say you tried.
Steps to Try and Fix 360 Freezing at Start-up
- 1) Turn off your Xbox 360 and physically disconnect it from the internet by either unplugging the ethernet cable or disconnecting the wireless adapter.
- 2) Turn on your Xbox 360 and sign into your account. You should NOT be connected to Xbox Live.
- 3) Navigate to the "System" blade and choose the "Memory" option, then select your storage device.
- 4) Now search. Look through all the system folders then find and delete ALL incomplete content files. You can spot an incomplete file by the yellow exclamation point icon. Remember to delete ALL incomplete files
- 5) Once all the incomplete content files have been deleted, turn off your Xbox 360.
- 6) Reconnect your Xbox 360 to the internet by plugging back in the ethernet cable or wireless adapter.
- 7) Turn on your Xbox 360, connect to Xbox Live and hopefully your problem is solved.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-08-2008 @ 2:10PM
NBA Kirkland said...
Nick A. - that's me! I hope this saves some people some frustration. Nice pic and write up Dustin.
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 2:13PM
wargamer17 said...
I haven't experienced this while connecting to live, but I did experience it while starting Fracture last night after connecting to live. I'm not sure if it was related or just a fracture problem. But just something I realized after reading this.
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10-08-2008 @ 2:14PM
Mazrael said...
Downloaded loads & turned off the console.. never froze on me.. Is this only when the console isn't set to continue with the downloads when you switch it off?? I've queued up loads to download before powering down...
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 5:22PM
Al3XxXandr said...
i had this problem but now i just keep getting knocked offline now for some reason
10-08-2008 @ 2:16PM
Mullwell said...
I also found online that if you hold the sync button on the console during boot it will clear the cache. This worked for me and let me log into live and clear off the bad data.
For me it happened when I was downloading a demo and then loaded up an arcade game which asked me to update and then locked up. On reboots it would just log into live and lock up again.
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 2:26PM
Matt (DXL540) said...
My father had this problem (360 froze when he tried to connect to Live). I had him delete his profile and then Recover his profile. That was all that it took to fix the issue. YMMV.
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10-08-2008 @ 3:00PM
Deezul said...
Recovering a profile is "easy" if you haven't played that many games. But if you've played 100+, you're gonna be waiting a while. Last time I did it, I think it took an hour.
10-08-2008 @ 2:30PM
Ban Midou said...
Bro thanx a mil you're lifesaver
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 3:53PM
Josh said...
I had this problem and it happened when i download the megaman 9 and duke nuken trial version. Also I had the auto download on.. So it only happends to sertain games and downloads you do. it does freezes only when you sing into live. so just do what its saids in this post. I had to delete what did not download correctly. simple. Don't get frustrated is just an incorrect download. you can check if is was a good or bad by going to your memory and check everything from videos, games, pic, themes...
10-08-2008 @ 2:30PM
DBoyFlex said...
I have not had many problems. The marketplace is a bit slow sometimes and the initial log in to live is slower than normal for me, but still does and I do not have freezing issues as some have.
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 2:31PM
Mr.U2 said...
interesting... I've been having problems with this too. I'll give it a try.
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10-08-2008 @ 2:39PM
ZEBRA NINER said...
I've been experiencing freezing issues since the update... but then again, my console red ringed on me last night. So that's probably not connected. Sad times.
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 2:43PM
stukorn said...
i had this problem, took me three times to get on. Everything has been fine since that night.
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 2:50PM
L said...
Funny you should post this cause i know this has been happing to me and 4 mates!!! & yes it has only happen after the update/downtime! (GAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR)
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 2:52PM
L said...
sorry and the freezes happen even after start up! & i dont think your fix has much to do with the problem cause i have no incomplete files :S
& no its not a hardware problem atm
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 3:01PM
NBA Kirkland said...
This post relates only to freezing the moment you get connected to Xbox Live. It sounds like you are experiencing a different problem.
10-08-2008 @ 4:27PM
L said...
ture ture :)
10-08-2008 @ 3:55PM
Blunted said...
I just started having freezing issues, last weekend. I so hope this is what is causing it. OMG I hope this works!
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 4:27PM
Muckrak3r said...
The days following the update, my console would freeze up the second the host in Gears would hit the start button. It would completely freeze up my 360 and I would have to reboot. Never happened while connecting to Live and player matches worked fine, it was ranked matches causing the freezing.
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 5:01PM
Stuart said...
yea this keeps happennig to me a week ago i couldn't get online withoiut my xbox locking up, now as soon as i play gta online its the only 1 i play online atm i get logged out bout 5 mins in2 game says other users leavbe then game freezes up and next says returning to single player then says disconnected from xbox live.
1 word
BOLLOCKS
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