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Is Microsoft striking back with a bricker?

Posted Oct 31, 2006 at 5:28AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: Hackers, Microsoft, piracy

Forums far and wide over teh intarwebz are reporting that the Fall update from Microsoft is causing their modded 360s to get bricked. Now, we really don't have any definite confirmation about this, but we thought of informing some of you guys to warn you of a possible threat to your system. The details of this brickage is still a bit hazy, but from what we could gather:

it doesn't seem to be a permanent brick
a small handful of un-modded 360s (Samsung drives?) are getting bricked as well
the brick issues an E66 error once rebooted after the update
some say the bricking is deliberate to catch the hackers' systems

There's no official statement on this; no cold, hard facts to support any (positive or negative) assumption and nothing is yet confirmed. We'd like to hear what you think though...

What do think about the rumor that's going around that this is a "deliberate brickage" to strike back at the haxorz? Some say a company has a right to protect its OSes (operating systems) and firmwares anyway.

Is all this just a rumor? If it isn't, any idea how to fix it? Some suggest that removing the modified firmware would solve the problem... temporarily, at least. Maybe you'd want to react on the issue of modding your system itself? Is it really "legal," in the sense that backing up your games is useful? Or is it downright piracy to begin with?

We're also calling out to you QJ readers if you have any info on this issue. So, comment below, and say your piece.

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I have a Samsung using 3.3. Btw, I love the new update. I like the way they have redone the Market place with all the icons and GUI Tweaks. Also, it use to take me like a minute for it to find all the 21 of my Arcade Titles. Now its instant. I feel that WMV streaming is utter rubbish myself. They need to pick up Divx.

# .... pfff — Guest 2006-10-31 07:07

this is just a bull***** rumor some QJ writer, desperate for his $$$$, turned into news.

first of all, the writer neglected to mention that the problem ONLY HAPPENS TO SAMSUNG DRIVES WITH REALLY OLD HACKED FIRMWARE... it can easily be fixed by flashing newer hacked firmware. most likely this was just an incompatability and not something done intentionally. but the writer neglected to mention all this because he's fearmongering.

# True! — Guest 2006-10-31 07:46

This IS true, I have heard it directly from people who have bricked their xboxes with the new update. It only seems to affect people with Samsung drives with a specific firmware version.

A way to avoid this is to upgrade to a newer firmware or just flash

it back to its original state.

Its about *****ing time if you ask me, we dont want another PSP.

The console will not survive when everybody is playing downloaded

game isos.

# Simple — WC 2006-10-31 07:49

The answer is simple: Microsoft tested the update with all the legal firmware versions, and it worked fine. (Looks like the missed one, but oh well.)

This wasn't deliberate, or it wouldn't be so easy to defeat. It was simply chance that the update broke with certain non-standard firmwares.

MS now has valuable info on how to detect it, though ;)

# ... — clouducla 2006-10-31 07:52

by " we dont want another psp" do u mean a console that sells well in all areas of the world? or maybe a portable tv that you can stream anything on ur home network all over the world? or is it a console that ACTUALLY stepped up and raised the level to which systems of its type are compared? OH I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN...you dont want a next gen system! which is why u have a lamebox 1.5....

# Cool — Guest 2006-10-31 07:59

Good way to strike down hackers. (laughs)

# just fine — Guest 2006-10-31 08:04

I've a modded hitachi drive with old firmware. The update workst fine over here.

# crack makes clouducla angry — Guest 2006-10-31 08:28

Must be some good sh*t because last time I checked sales were way behind the DS all over the world. UMD movies failed, the firmware update system failed repetedley. I'm sure that highly touted video streaming ability is very useful to you too. Equipment costs and setup time must not matter because you need to prove how cool it is. Also, PSP is less advanced than the PS2 released in 2000 but it's still "next gen" acording to you. Do you even read what you write?

# No problem for me — Guest 2006-10-31 08:29

I've a modded samsung with old FW and I've seen no problems. ~I download all my games and it costs me around $1 for the discs.

Screw you m$, thanks for the weak hardware to run my free games. Nice.

# Firmware — Guest 2006-10-31 09:02

Actually the people who are getting the error, are using the NEWEST 4.2 firmware. Every instance I've seen pretty much stated that going back to firmware 3.3 and everything is good.

I updated, I have a sammy with 3.3 firmware and it works fine. The error is prob some side effect of somehting with the 4.2 firmware.

I've also been reading that it is happening more to PAL users that NTSC.

# Who's doing the fearmongering? We don't see any fearmongering... — Guest 2006-10-31 09:03

The writer is exploring one possible avenue - and the writer is not *saying* that Microsoft is doing the bricking on purpose - he's REPORTING the RUMOR that is ALREADY circulating that MS might be doing this on purpose. Because this is an *interesting* bit of news (and for those of us who didn't get bricked Xboxes, it is an *amusing* bit of news).

# "Turn" into news? It IS news. :) — Guest 2006-10-31 09:14

Read the article. News item #1: "Forums far and wide over teh intarwebz are reporting that the Fall update from Microsoft is causing their modded 360s to get bricked." This is news because this issue *is* a real issue for many forum-goers. News item #2: "There's no official statement on this; no cold, hard facts to support any (positive or negative) assumption and nothing is yet confirmed." This is news because I am always critical when a company drags its heels when it comes to customer support or explanations. Then again, MS probably only tested this on "official" FW and didn't test it on hacked FW, so maybe that's why MS isn't releasing a statement. Or maybe MS only belatedly found out that this "punishes" hacked FW, so they're happy at this bonus. See? The article gets ideas and discussion going, and that is *exactly* the reason why we read QJ articles. :)

# Yeah — Lupin 2006-10-31 09:21

I haven't heard a single report myself of a ban. But I do know a lot of people who got a brick with 4.2. And these where not like noobs if you will these where people who had been flashing since the beginning. And yeah I download pretty much every game I want. The last title I bought was Metal Gear Solid 2 Subsistence and it was that Limited Edition one. That is the only reason I picked it up.

# lol — Guest 2006-10-31 09:43

LOL stfu jacob, i so know you ya little pirate,

# bricked — Guest 2006-10-31 09:46

I have never modded/hacked/altered in any way my 360. The update has bricked my system. Worked perfectly before the update. TRied to restart after dling; red lights. Going to cost $140 to fix. Bastards.

# NO — Guest 2006-10-31 10:37

omg this was made by a sony fanboy

# ? — Guest 2006-10-31 10:46

How so? The guy is just reporting the damn news, there is nothing fanboyish about it

# Hitachi drive — Guest 2006-10-31 10:52

Just wondering which flash you have on your 360 and which drive u have

# No problem — Guest 2006-10-31 10:57

No problem here, i like th added GUI touches though like the pics and such. Arcade game list does load alot faster which is nice too. Agree the poster above is a sony fan boy. $140 to fix it from a bricked updates. Give me a break, they would fix it for free if that was the case, which i doubt it is.

# It worked for me — Guest 2006-10-31 11:09

Suckers modded xbox.

Worked for me....

# PSP+PS+better than x360 — Guest 2006-10-31 11:32

heyy PSP's are awesome! the video is high-def, the games have awesome graphics, and if you know what you're doing then you can play free games as well. the DS is ok but is based mostly around little kids. and the PS3 is gonna blow the 360 out of the water. so us "sony fans" know what were talking about.

# rofl — Guest 2006-10-31 12:18

"My PS3 just died y'all. I told you PS3s will die. Gonna cost me $599 to repair. I think I'll go to the store and swap it for a X360." [/SARCASM]

STFU MLS, you are freaking lying. You prolly don't even have a 360.

YOU GUYS ARE PISSING ME OFF SO MUCH RIGHT NOW. I swear to the *****ing god, that I will spam all forums with PS3 crap. Take my word for it. I probably won't need to because it will happen anyways.

# Whateve — nightshade15 2006-10-31 14:13

Whatever script kiddie, gtfo off my internets

# *****in microsoft is crazy — Guest 2006-10-31 14:22

wen pple hackd sonys psp only updates came

dont mess wit microsoft

# Its all bull $ hit — Guest 2006-10-31 15:30

I just updated and everything is Good!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!! got hitachi 47 with firmware 2.3

# *****ers — Guest 2006-10-31 16:27

misco*****ingso ft bricked my *****ty box im im not even some stupif ***** that mods his box for free games. JUST BUY THE GAMES ALREADY! I had to pay 75$ to get it replaced and thats at 50% off. Those 3 red dots made my wanna bomb tehir corporate meating with every1 huddling for money! They should all go emo and cut themselfs.

# HELPPP — Guest 2006-10-31 16:55

i just did the update on my xbox with samsung drive (flashed with firmware 4.2) and got error message

is the solution reflashing teh drive???

please explain ....thanks

# error e71 — zohaer21 2006-10-31 17:27

wtf??? how can i get my xbox working again!!>?>??

# Damn Update!! — Guest 2006-11-01 06:48

I have had two brand new consoles "bricked" by this update.. first one was a replacement for a dying 360 (kept locking on the Xbox 360 logo).. got it home... plugged everything in except the cable modem lead... everything was fine... plugged in cable... updated Live.. rebooted the system POOF!! nice system error screen with an Error 71.. "great" i thought...".. yet another knackered 360".. took bricked 360 back to shop... had it replaced with another brand spanking new machine.. connected everything up.. did EXACTLY the same thing... bricked another console.. took that one back.... now got a replacement and this time i have not connected the internet... upto now works fine.. this is DEFINATELY an update problem on NON modded consoles also!! So no online gaming or marketplace for me for a while it seems

# Error 71 — Guest 2006-11-01 06:53

Hiya Bud, i phoned Microsoft twice about this error 71, the first women said it was a problem with the fall update and are currently trying to rectify it (no mention about bricked 360)... the second person i rang (after getting nowhere fast with first person) didn't know whether it was a problem with the update or not but said for me to send my machine in and they will remove the recently installed update. Luckily i was still in warranty and could take mine back and get it replaced TWICE after the update bricked two brand new (UNMODDED) machines.

# get a life much? — Guest 2006-11-01 13:21

^^^^^^^if it bricked ur 360, go skateboard till the ps3 comes out, im sure it will have waaaaay less defects than the 360 has, everytime i turn mine on, i play for an hour, then oh my god, it sez disc unreadable, i want to throw it out a window...lets just see how many ppl i can piss off today...down with 360, psp is the kick assest ass kickerness of them all, ps3 will blow x360 out of the water, x360 rulz guyz, DS is numero uno, lets go have a fit now, its all childish...now scream kiddies, yell at me :)

# well — Guest 2006-11-02 02:44

my friend has lost his account now. he cant get on xbox live due to this. Its stupid but i had to create an account for him.

sort it out guys

# wow — Guest 2006-11-02 05:35

why dont you just stop masturbating to your psp. and pick up a ds, that stepped up and made gaming fun! unlike the psp that 80% of its games are ports from the ps1 or ps2 (the percentage of ports for the ds is alot less, and all the games that are made for it suck, portable gaming is portable gaming, i dont want to take my ps2 to my apointments, i want to play a game that is fun and fast that if i'm called in 5 mins, i'm good cuz i just pause or shutdown. unlike the psp games that are stripped down console games. (i know that the ds has a few) stop being so blinded by how big and prety or what s**t sony feeds you. games are supposed to entertain you, and the ds does it just the right way. and before you say that im a fanboy you are dead wrong i have a psp. and the only game i like is dbz + loco roco.

so stop shut the hell up + thnk before you type.... people like you are the reason sony is able to get away with over charging and saying that they needed to put in a BD. and im upset with the psp since they sell as a multimedia device instead of a gaming console. i dont need to watch movies on it never have dont need to listen to music i have a 30gig ipod, i want games and something i can pick up and play for 5 mins when waiting for my appt

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