How Do I Decipher If My XBox Is Refurbished?

XBox wireless controller

The XBox 360 and the XBox are manufactured by Microsoft. Like many new products on the market, the XBox and the XBox 360 have had their problems. Because of this, many consoles were exchanged for replacement consoles. The consoles that were returned were refurbished and put back in the stores to be sold. Other consoles were refurbished and returned back to customers. Knowing your original console serial number and the console ID number will help determine if your replacement console is refurbished.

Things You'll Need

• XBox or XBox 360 console
• Serial number of original console
• Console ID number of original console
• Television connected to XBox or XBox 360
• Pen
• 1 piece of paper

Instructions

1. Look on the back of the console to the right of the audio-visual (AV) port for a sticker.

2. Locate the unique 12-digit serial number for the console and write it down.

3. Turn on the gaming console; the first screen to come up will be the XBox Dashboard. Stay on this screen.

4. Locate the "System Information" option on the Dashboard screen and open it.

5. Locate the console ID number on the "System Information" screen and write it down.

6. Compare the serial number and console ID number to the numbers from your original console. If they are the same, then the console has been refurbished. If the numbers are different, then the console may or may not have been refurbished.

Tips & Warnings

• Another way to determine if your XBox or XBox 360 has been refurbished to look at the sticker with the serial number on the back of the console. If it appears to have been moved or tampered with, then it is more than likely a refurbished console.

• Just because a console has been refurbished does not mean it isn't as good as a console that has not been refurbished. Refurbished consoles are checked for quality and performance before being released back to the consumers or the store for resale.

• Stores such as Game Stop and Blockbuster carry refurbished consoles at discounted prices. You have the right to know if your console is refurbished, however, not every store will know if the console you are purchasing is refurbished. These stores, such as Wal-Mart and Target, receive the consoles from other warehouses and therefore have little information specific to that console.

References

• XBox: Hardware Support
• Buy.com: Product Info Certified Microsoft Refurbished XBox