WTF! Microsoft allowed to ban Xbox 360 consoles which have fan modifications...

[A7MAD]

According to one source, it is perfectly fine for Microsoft to ban you if you have a fan mod on your X360. A user of '360patches' was reportedly told directly from MS reps that his fan modification on the Xbox 360 is in violation of the terms of agreement so therefore MS can legally ban users from live for that very reason. His 12v fan mod wouldn't be too hard to detect as voltage metering is something which should be easily detectable though bios settings (take it for what it's worth).

Quote from Microsoft Xbox Live TOS "The Service may only be accessed with an original Xbox or Xbox 360 console or by logging into your account via Xbox.com.? If you are accessing the Service via an original Xbox or Xbox 360 console, you agree that? you are using authorized software and hardware, and that your software and hardware have not been modified in any unauthorized way"

You may be thinking well why is he quoting this?? Well because Microsoft have started banning xbox 360's with modded cooling. So if you've done the 12v mod your in risk of being banned for it.... How do I know this?? Because a friend of mine just had a nice chat with Microsoft About why he was banned and they explained it was because he had non-stock/modded fans.

Yes Microsoft Seem's to be going ban bad, Merry Xmas to you to Microsoft.

Source

[jakncoke]

Trying to prolong the life of your 360 can get you banned...lmao, that's messed up.

[Jabjabs]

That's just low, banning because of mod chips and modded games I agree with completely but banning because you changed the hardware slightly for cooling! How low can they go?

Why is it that every time I consider upgrading to a Gold account stuff like this keeps on happening to put me off it for another few months? *sigh*

[GameSpawn]

According to one source, it is perfectly fine for Microsoft to ban you if you have a fan mod on your X360. A user of '360patches' was reportedly told directly from MS reps that his fan modification on the Xbox 360 is in violation of the terms of agreement so therefore MS can legally ban users from live for that very reason. His 12v fan mod wouldn't be too hard to detect as voltage metering is something which should be easily detectable though bios settings (take it for what it's worth).



Source

And on top of that, the 50 buck-a-roos for Live is non-refundable. This is just more reason for Microsoft to not be in ANY industry. They are the biggest corporate Nazis there can be. I'm not saying Nintendo and Sony wouldn't do the same thing, but they would go after it in a different manner.

Does a fan mod equal someone also altering software to get an advantage online or for piracy reasons? No. It means there is a possibility they could have done other things that could lead to TOS violation, but this means Microsoft is banning people on a possibility and not an assurance; now THAT'S F'ED UP!

Thanks A7MAD...you have given me reason #3 for refusing to EVER purchase a 360.

[XxScarfacexX]

MS is completely stupid for doing this. I understand banning people for modded games, but more adding in a stronger fan to cool the Xbox 360 that has absolutely NO effect on Live gameplay? That is just wrong.

[Grinchy]

On one hand, it's great that they can easily see who is modding a system. The fact that they are ready to ban people who cheat is good to know. On the other hand, banning a person for fixing their horrible hardware doesn't look good.

[Tyrien]

I'm going to agree with Microsoft because no one actually reads the ToS.

Those who do, don't have this problem. Because they read the Terms and Service agreement Microsoft, as a company has laid out for their customers to abide by to use their service.

Is it fair? No. Is it within their power? Yes.

Moral of the story is, read the ToS, and don't violate it if you like using a service. It's not a hard concept to follow.

[A7MAD]

I still plan on adding in a fan near the power button with my returned RROD X360 (even with the extra sink I want a fan).

[Battlepope190]

I can understand why they'd do it, but it does kinda suck for 360 owners looking to keep the RROD at bay...

[PXG S3]

And on top of that, the 50 buck-a-roos for Live is non-refundable. This is just more reason for Microsoft to not be in ANY industry. They are the biggest corporate Nazis there can be. I'm not saying Nintendo and Sony wouldn't do the same thing, but they would go after it in a different manner.

Does a fan mod equal someone also altering software to get an advantage online or for piracy reasons? No. It means there is a possibility they could have done other things that could lead to TOS violation, but this means Microsoft is banning people on a possibility and not an assurance; now THAT'S F'ED UP!

Thanks A7MAD...you have given me reason #3 for refusing to EVER purchase a 360.

As ****ed up as it is, they are every one of their rights to do it. They just don't want to be liable if ANYTHING happens. I've always known that ANY sort of mod is prohibited. Believe it or not, the government gives MS a lot ****, about what they can and cannot allow to have on XBL. So, that is why they are so strict with Live users. Again, they just don't want to be liable, just in case some wise guy decides to do "something".

I have friends who are admins, and they've told me ****, that you guys would never EVER hear about. People hacking servers, getting personal information, unmentioned down times, monitoring...all sorts of stuff. But, they don't tell anyone anything, because they don't want to freak people out. They are such hard asses when it comes to the rules because they don't want anything bad happening at all. They don't want to take any risks.

[Husker86]

I can understand why they'd do it, but it does kinda suck for 360 owners looking to keep the RROD at bay...

Why do you understand why they would do it? I understand why the CAN do it, but the reason why escapes me.

MS is completely stupid for doing this. I understand banning people for modded games, but more adding in a stronger fan to cool the Xbox 360 that has absolutely NO effect on Live gameplay? That is just wrong.

That's not true, fan modders are lowering their chances of RRODing and disconnecting from an online match! Cheaters!


Actively pursuing cheaters, good; banning people fixing your own mistake, bad.

[Tyrien]

Why do you understand why they would do it? I understand why the CAN do it, but the reason why escapes me.



That's not true, fan modders are lowering their chances of RRODing and disconnecting from an online match! Cheaters!


Actively pursuing cheaters, good; banning people fixing your own mistake, bad.

It's horribly amusing the combination of bias and ignorance you project.

Don't mod your console, simple.

If you RROD MS will pay for it.

Oh no.

[Dark Octave]

My 360 has a heatsink and X brace that actually works, because I had a shop do what MS couldn't do: Fix my 360.

I wish MS would try and ban me from Live for protecting my own investment when they failed to do so repeatedly.

[Zetsumei]

Wow... welcome to the M$ rip off ****... I would be so ****ing pissed if I were one of those kids who got an water cooled or custom fans with the case and everything... all that money into trash...

[Tyrien]

My 360 has a heatsink and X brace that actually works, because I had a shop do what MS couldn't do: Fix my 360.

I wish MS would try and ban me from Live for protecting my own investment when they failed to do so repeatedly.

Again, with the arrogance and ignorance to par.

They can, and will if they found out. They can do so because it's in their terms and service agreement that you agreed to when you created your XBL account.

[A7MAD]

I'll be honest here if I was banned for a fan mod, I'd get involved in the patching scene, at the moment hackers can already get a banned console back on Live (they change the consoles serial #) and I am dead serious in saying I'd do it if they banned me for the fan.

If I had the firmware mod however I'd understand and accept my fate as I am guilty here, but for the fan I'd not allow any of my morals to get the better of me, might be the wrong way to go about this but it's the truth.

[Bitbydeath]

They just don't want to be liable if ANYTHING happens.

Got it in one, they don't want to be responsible for lil timmy burning down his house because he added untested hardware to his box, honestly though who would? Sure people may do it and know what they're doing but they have to cover all areas so they don't get the deaths of people on their hands

[TheSkeptik]

I don't believe it. I know people with fan modded consoles and they have not been banned. None of them. And this is the first I have even heard of this, no source, and no one directly stating they have had this happen. If people would believe everything they read on these forums MS and Sony would be bankrupt in their console divisions. Lately there has been more FUD than actual facts.

[Dark Octave]

Again, with the arrogance and ignorance to par.

They can, and will if they found out. They can do so because it's in their terms and service agreement that you agreed to when you created your XBL account.

Arrogance? Ignorance? You must not understand what those words mean because your throwing them around where they make no sense.

Arrogant because I want a system that actually works? A system that I paid for time and time again with each failed attempt to fix my system when left in the hands of MS?

Ignorant about what? The fact that MS has had three chances to fix my 360 and have failed miserably, each time? Ignorant about being fed up and taking my money to someone who will actually fix my system once and for all?

You must be crazy if you think I'll give them a fourth chance to give me a launch refurbished system, or have me send it back for a fifth time. Let MS ban my Live account. I don't believe in it, but I'll guarantee you that two days later I'll have every game on the system and every single game after that.

It's not about Arrogance, it's about sticking up for what is right as a consumer.

[arfi-gorgona-O]

Dark octave?I think Tyrien wasn't talking about you,the arrogance comments were from MS,and he might meant that even if we are right.They have the right to do it if they want.And he is right about it.But since we are the buyers and we don't care abit from what they want or not,our wallets and our actions will talk right?

I don't even care if they ban me or not if i feel like putting an extra fan or another box (with that cool color looking fans) to fix it i will.For now i like the halo 3 box that i have...and i hope it wont RROD me since i have a falcon.But we'll see..

[Aquanox]

If this is true, Microsoft needs to revise their banning policy. Banning for modified cooling is unacceptable.

[Origin]

I think it's more for the cheaters on Live and in halo...........

[MrG]

HA! Now there's customer care for you. "Console over-heating? Tough, deal with it"

(I should mention that that wasn't an official quote, I made it up)

[Carsonal]

If anyone did that to me I'd be all like Hey! dont do that and I'ma kick you in the head.

[Richmond]

I'm going to agree with Microsoft because no one actually reads the ToS.

Those who do, don't have this problem. Because they read the Terms and Service agreement Microsoft, as a company has laid out for their customers to abide by to use their service.

Is it fair? No. Is it within their power? Yes.

Moral of the story is, read the ToS, and don't violate it if you like using a service. It's not a hard concept to follow.

By that logic, that also means Sony customers shouldn't be making multiple accounts to get demos from other PSN stores, or upgrading their hard drives to bigger-sized ones. Technically, those things are not allowed. Do people do it? Yes. And more specifically with the PSN accounts, does Sony ban said multiple accounts (which they probably could quite easily)? No. Why is this? Because they know they bungled up the way they set up their online store, and while they haven't specifically fixed it as such, they've done the next best thing, and have been lenient about this issue. Hell, when the Uncharted demo came out, and it was US-only playable, they even notified Naughty Dog, and got them to fix it within a day or so, so everyone else could play it too. Same thing with the hard drives, they made the system so the hard drives could be easily exchanged, and although this kind of thing would usually mean voiding the warranty, they turn a blind eye to it, because they know that's what alot of people will want to do with their PS3's.

Now with Microsoft, like Sony with the bungled up PSN stores, their mistake was releasing absolutely shocking hardware. People want to recitify it by doing slight modifications to their system, to save themselves time and/or money, while still being able to go onto Live. Does the official ToS say that modded consoles will be banned? Yes of course, it's standard procedure. Are Microsoft lenient, and in touch with their consumer base enough to realize that it's a neccessity in some cases, and willing to turn a blind eye to the systems with cooling modifications? No.

This is why people are, and have a right to be, angry. Yeah, technically it's not allowed, and it is within MS's right to disallow it, but people want a company that is in touch with their consumers realistic wants and needs, and is user-friendly. And "user-friendly" doesn't mean extending the warranty on their faulty hardware, because the build and layout of their system is still crap whether they do that or not. It should mean allowing people to make slight modifications, and keep the systems running longer.

Protip to Microsoft: Nekst tiem, maek sistems werk betar!!1