So there I was in the middle of a game of Rock Band 2 when it happened. The red ring of death struck my Xbox 360 and I was frozen solid. I sat there with my drumsticks in my hand and my jaw hit the floor. I knew it had happened to my buddies Xbox 360s, but I had been lucky so far. Not anymore. And this is why I want to give you a few tips on avoiding the Xbox 360 red ring of death. I hope this helps you avoid the total hassle that I went through.

The first thing I would recommend is to check the heat around your console. The Xbox 360 produces a good deal of heat and this is what can lead to the RROD. If your 360 is inside an entertainment center make sure that it has adequate ventilation around the console itself. Try not to stack other appliances such as DVD players or units that can generate heat on top or underneath the console.

If your unit does the red ring of death dance, then try these things before you send it in. Power your Xbox 360 off and let it sit and cool for awhile. Again, heat is usually the issue. Unplug any peripherals you may have attached to your console. Wait a bit and then plug the bare minimum peripherals you need in to get the unit functional. Turn it back and see if you still have the RROD problem.

I hope these quick tips can help you avoid sending your unit back for repair as it usually takes around a month to get your system back.

If you don't want to ship your Xbox 360 back, try fixing it yourself with this handy guide:

Check out the Xbox360 Repair Guide

AP - The nation's stores are pulling all-nighters and deepening discounts in the final hours before Christmas, trying to draw in all the shoppers they can as they face dismal sales in what will likely end up as the worst holiday season in decades.