If you have been using your Xbox for a long period of time chances are that it might get damaged due to wear and tear. You can take it to the manufacturer for repair if it is still under the warranty period. However, if the warranty period has expired, you need to know how to fix a broken Xbox on your own. In this article we will look at the various ways in which you can fix you can fix different parts of your Xbox such as the controller, cord, power supply and some error messages.

Fixing the controller

• If you have a controller with sticky buttons you can clean it and makes it reusable again by doing a few simple things.
• Take a screwdriver and unscrew all the screws from the holes and lift the top cover.
• Now, remove all the buttons and be careful while doing this. Take out the rubber caps also very gently.
• Clean the buttons in warm soapy water to remove all the dirt and stains on them. You can clean the board with a soft rag dipped in warm water. Don’t use any harsh cleaners as they may damage the device.
• Leave it to dry for a few hours. Ensure that the buttons are also completely dry before you proceed to the next step.
• Put back the cleaned and dried buttons back in place and also put the rubber caps back in. Fix them all properly in their place.
• Put the top cover on and put the screws and tighten them.
• Your controller buttons are clean now and won’t stick together any more.

Fixing the controller cord

• The first thing to do is to cut off the damaged portion of the controller cord. Then, strip the insulation cover back by a few inches.
• Now, remove the shielding but remember to keep a half-inch as it is for patching it with tin foil later.
• Strip off a quarter inch from the wire and tin it with solder. Keep the joints separated to reduce the chance of shorting of wires.
• It also allows for the patch to be smaller width-wise as the electrical tape is not just spread in a single area but much further.
• Solder these together and then use an electrical tape to wrap them individually. Repeat this process for each wire and then tape all of them together.
• Wrap the bundle of wires together with tin foil and ensure that there is contact between the tinfoil and the shielding as it cuts down interference.
• Wrap the entire thing with electrical tape and ensure that it does not bend to reduce the chances of reopening it for future repair.

Xbox locks up

• If you are experiencing lock ups in the graphics it means that you need to clean your Xbox and remove the heat for it to function properly again.
• Blast the heat sinks and clean the dust from the surface using compressed air.
• Clean the air holes that are at the front and on the sides of the case fully.
• You can add an aftermarket heat sink to the Nvidia MPCX chip during reassembly to allow more effective cooling.
• After cleaning the motherboard with compressed air thoroughly, remove the backing of the heat sink and place it on the chip squarely.
• Finally, replace the power source for the fan with a one with higher voltage so that the fan runs faster and improves cooling.

Your Xbox can also get damaged because of power supply failure. You will realize that there has been a power supply failure if you hear a popping sound when you try to turn the device on. You might also notice a hot smell and see faint smoke coming out. You can fix this problem by either referring to a Xbox power supply tutorial on the internet or replace the parts.

Warning: Do not try to open and service the insides of the Xbox or Xbox 360 yourself as this will void the warranty provided by Microsoft. Its important to keep the warranty seal intact to ask for warranty.

• Modifying or stripping your Xbox or Xbox console or even removing or tearing off the warranty seal will null and void your warranty.
• An Xbox or Xbox 360 requiring repair or service of any sort should be take to a Microsoft service center after calling the Xbox customer support.

To clean your Xbox or Xbox 360 console follow the following steps:

• Wipe your Xbox or Xbox 360 console regularly with a clean and dry soft cloth and keep the surface as well as the bottom clean.
• Do not let the Xbox or Xbox 360 console tip over, to avoid this, wipe the rubber bottom end of your Xbox with a clean dry cloth.
• First step is to unplug your Xbox or Xbox 360 console from its power outlet.
• Only clean the surface with a cloth. Do not insert foreign objects inside the ventilation outlet as this will prevent the hardware from cooling adequately reducing the life of your console.
• Only use a dry and clean cloth. Use of any abrasive pads, solvents, detergents, scouring powders or any other areosol or liquid cleaners will only harm your console. Solvents include gasoline, paint thinners, benzene or alcohol etc.
• Additionally never use laser lens cleaners or any other similar products. Its recommended to not use any kind of cleaners while cleaning your Xbox or Xbox 360 console.

To clean your Xbox or Xbox 360 controller follow the following steps:

• Unplug your controller and set it on a dry and clean surface like a coffee table.
• Grab a few toothpicks and a few ear buds (cotton swabs).
• Pick up a toothpick and take a good look at your controller. Look for hidden dirt in nooks and corners and use the toothpick to scape it off. If you are unable to remove the dirt with it or if its out of reach use a pin or needle to loosen it up first. Make sure you are careful and do not damage your controller.
• Clean the back and start buttons as well as the triggers using this method.
• Once done run your toothpick along the side seam on the bottom and top half of your Xbox or Xbox 360 controller.
• If the controller has stains, rub a little bot of alcohol on the cotton swaps and brush with it until the stain is no more.

Following the above given steps will not only keep your Xbox or Xbox 360 clean but will also make sure you do not lose the warranty cover.