The red ring of death refers to the three red lights on your console that indicate a general hardware failure. Perhaps you have a new xbox that works just fine and want to prevent the red ring of death from happening to you.

Perhaps you already experienced the red ring of death and don't want it to ever happen again. Whatever your situation, there are a number of easy to follow prevention steps that you can take.

1.) Know where the cooling vents are and be sure to never block them. If air can't freely flow into these vents, your Xbox will overheat. Make sure there is plenty open space around these vents. Keep them clear of clutter and don't have them pushed up against the wall.

2.) Place your Xbox in a clean dust free environment and make sure that your Xbox is kept clean. The reason for this is that dirt, dust, and pet hair can get sucked into the cooling vents which will interfere with the cooling system. If too much dust gets into the vents, the fans get over worked and won't be able to supply the Xbox with enough cooling air.

3.) The rules that apply to your Xbox console also apply to the power brick. That is, the power brick must be kept cool. Therefore, make sure that air is free to flow around it. Don't place it on soft or shaggy surfaces such as a carpet. Put it on a table or you can hang it off a hook.

4.) The xbox should be kept away from sources of heat. Keep the air conditioner running when you are using your xbox on a hot day.

Keep in mind that your xbox runs hotter the longer you use it. Always limit your gaming to no more than a couple of hours each time.

The main point to remember in all of this is that the red ring of death happens when your xbox gets over heated. The xbox has a weak cooling system and tends to run hot. So ensuring that it runs cool is up to you.