One red light on an original Xbox 360 console

You see one light flash red around the power button on your original Xbox 360 console:

You might also see the following error message on your television screen or monitor:

System Error. Contact Xbox Customer Support.

An error code follows the message in the format of Exx, where xx is a two-digit number.

Note If you see error code "E74" on your screen, see E74 error message.

To resolve this problem, try the following solutions. If a solution doesn’t work, go to the next one.

Solution 1: Disconnect and reconnect cables

Here’s how:

1. Turn off your Xbox 360 console.
2. Unplug all memory units, controllers, and accessories from your console.
3. Unplug everything from the back of your console, including power and video cables.

Don’t remove the hard drive.

4. Reconnect your console’s power supply.
5. Reconnect each accessory one at a time, starting with a controller.
6. After you’ve reconnected every accessory, turn the console on.

Solution 2: Remove the hard drive

To see whether the problem involves the original Xbox 360 Hard Drive, temporarily remove the hard disk drive. Here’s how.

Note Not all Xbox 360 consoles include a hard drive. If your Xbox 360 console doesn’t have a hard drive, to go Solution 3.

1. Turn off the console.
2. Locate the hard drive on the top of the console (or on the left side, depending on how the console is oriented).

3. Press the release button on the hard drive.

4. Lift the hard drive away from the console.

If these steps resolve the issue, reattach the hard drive to verify that the error occurs only when your Xbox 360 Hard Drive is connected.

Solution 3: Disconnect memory units or USB flash drives

Here’s how:

1. Turn off your Xbox 360 console.
2. Unplug any memory units or USB flash drives attached to your console.
3. Turn on the console.

If these steps resolve the problem, reattach the memory unit or USB flash drive to make sure the error occurs only when it’s connected. If this is true, order a replacement memory unit or use another USB flash drive.

Solution 4: Request a repair

If the previous steps don’t resolve the single flashing red light issue, there are no additional troubleshooting steps. Your original Xbox 360 console must be repaired at our service center. Start the repair process online.