Ok So I just got back my 14 month old Xbox from the "repair shop" here in China. I bought it here in China last November (2007) and it worked flawlessly for 13 months until one day it came down with E74. Took it back to the guy I bought it from - he has a little shop sells Xbox, WII, Ps2/3, PSP, Ds and games etc.

He told me it's a problem with the gpu. But he doesn't fix them he just sells them and some geeky looking kid on an electric motor scooter is the guy who takes the broken boxes back to fix.

So with the most recent E74 he told me I need to buy a new Box because them more times they fix it the less chance of success. Now, I don't believe him really. So his fix- it guy does something to make it work again but it seems whatever he does is only holding for a month give or take. he only gives me a 7 day warranty on this repair - for $14 I don't argue much. He did say that if I give him about $100 he will do a better repair and give me a 90 warranty.

So here is the question... Obviously whatever he is doing works, but wears down after a short duration. What can I do to repair this Box? I really doubt it is the gpu itself and I am guessing that it is a soldiered joint or something that needs a higher quality repair.

In China a new MODDED box from Japan cost about $300 for the arcade version (no hd) and a 60 gb box cost about $350 or so. But I don't need a new hd as the 20gb one from the current Box seems ok. Last time  I looked MS doesn't sell / support Xbox in China - unless something has changed recently.

So what should I look at if I open the Box to try and locate the E74 error chain? I did look around this site for better info but so far at a loss.