Microsoft to cover ‘E74′ errors on the Xbox 360

Xbox 360 owners who have been hit with an “E74″ hardware error will now be covered under the console’s warranty, says an article on the Xbox Support site.

According to the article, Microsoft will cover any repairs resulting from an error displaying E74 on the television screen. Microsoft will also refund customers who paid for repairs related to the E74 failure. Here’s the full statement from the Xbox Support site
While the majority of Xbox 360 owners continue to have a great experience with their console, we are aware that a very small percentage of our customers have reported receiving an error that displays “E74” on their screen. After investigating the issue, we have determined that the E74 error message can indicate the general hardware failure that is associated with three flashing red lights error on the console. As a result, we have decided to cover repairs related to the E74 error message under our three-year warranty program for certain general hardware failures that was announced in July 2007.

This is not the first time Microsoft has dealt with hardware issues pertaining to the Xbox 360. As many readers will recall, the company extended its warranty coverage for the console in 2007 to three years following numerous reports of a hardware failure known as “The Red Ring of Death,” in which three flashing red lights appear on the front panel.