Xbox One – E203 E101 XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX

So my Son's Xbox One decided that it would throw an E203 xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx error today, much to his alarm.

Reading scare mongering stories led to a panic about returning the console, however digging a little bit deaper, we found a wealth of knowledge, coupled with my own firmware flashing experience, we were able to get things on the road.

Lets add some factors here - firstly, we had no idea what the last update on the console was, and no access to the system menu to find that information.

Microsoft offer an update troubleshooting page which allows you to use a wizard to find the best result for your issue:

https://support.xbox.com/en-GB/xbox-one/console/system-updates-solution

Our steps:

  1. I am getting an error message or an error code
  2. I am getting an error code
  3. E203

Which told us to try the offline system update diagnostic tool:

https://support.xbox.com/en-GB/xbox-one/console/offline-system-update-diagnostic-tool

For this to work, you will need a USB drive (4gig or more) which is formatted to NTFS, I sacrificed my system restore USB... ouch.

Now, the information on the page is pretty good - but we followed it to the letter, for each of the update files with no success.

So here's the approach that worked - I probably don't have to tell you this, but the steps worked for us, they may not work for you YMMV!

  1. Download all 4 image files (OSUDT1 / OSUDT2 / OSUDT3 / RESTORE FACTORY DEFAULTS)
  2. Extract OSUDT1 to USB.
  3. Place in console, hold wireless sync button, eject button and press the power button.  It should make the "Turned On" tone, keep the eject and sync button pressed until you hear that tone again
  4. Watch the update apply - or error message appear.
  5. If your console is alive, wait for updates and praise the sun gods.Otherwise: Quick format USB in your PC, turn off the console and unplug it from the mains.
  6. Extract the Factory Defaults image on to the USB
  7. Place in console, plug it back in, repeat the 3 fingered salute (step 3)
  8. Wait for the reboot, if it works, praise the moon gods and stop reading!  Else continue.
  9. Quick format your USB
  10. Extract OSUDT2 to USB
  11. Place in console, hold wireless sync button, eject button and press the power button.  It should make the "Turned On" tone, keep the eject and sync button pressed until you hear that tone again
  12. Extract the Factory Defaults image on to the USB
  13. Place in console, plug it back in, repeat the 3 fingered salute (step 3)
  14. Wait for the reboot, if it works, praise the moon gods and stop reading!  Else continue.
  15. Extract OSUDT3 to USB
  16. Place in console, hold wireless sync button, eject button and press the power button.  It should make the "Turned On" tone, keep the eject and sync button pressed until you hear that tone again
  17. Extract the Factory Defaults image on to the USB
  18. Place in console, plug it back in, repeat the 3 fingered salute (step 3)
  19. Wait for the reboot, if it works, praise the moon gods and stop reading!  Else continue.

If you're still not working (and we weren't! We now had error 101) then go back to step 10 at this point!  Suddenly, the console coughed, sneezed and jumped back to life!

Hope that helps!

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10 thoughts on “Xbox One – E203 E101 XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX”

  3. neeko

    mine crashes on osu1 at around 58% and gets E100 Error, OSU2 dosnt event get to a percent before giving me a E101 Error same as the factory reset, am now gonna try OSU3 fingers crossed ay.

    Reply
  4. Riviello

    Hi, i have a question, does the OSU files get updated? I’ll try OSU 2 and OSU 3 because with OSU 1 my xbox don’t pass more than 1% and then i get error, the factory Reset installs the rebooting guide but when it’s time for online updating, it gets error at checking the update, i’m using my smartphone as modem because right now i don’t have internet connection at home, i’ll be trying using a ethernet cable on a home network next days.

    Reply
    1. Curt

      Hi Riviello -sorry about the late reply. Using a 3g/4g connection is going to be troublesome, in theory it should work but a lot of phone companies limit the file types you can download, or use proxies etc – too techie for me but they do mobile phone company magic and things go wrong.

      Let me know how it worked out for you?

      Reply
  5. Scott Mele

    Hello, Today is the end of day one for me. I have tried OSU1 both in a new HD and in a External hd/usb. Tried OSU2 both in HD and in External/USB. Tried leaving the OSU2 and using the OSU3 with it but the problem I keep having and maybe im doing it wrong.

    No matter what one I use. as soon as it starts to update it errors out at like 1%. goes to a screen that says Something went wrong error E1o1 with only continue as an option.

    If I goto Reset then it goes to 6% then immediately goes to somethings wrong system error E106.

    I tried the factory reset image. which seems to be only the updater in the $System folder…
    im really lost at what to do next.

    I also cant get the synch button to work at all no matter how i try it. clicking it with my finger, moving the black plate, touching the two prongs on the harness that make it click….i get the sound coming from it but the light will not pulse no matter what i do.

    I can plug it in with usb to get temp use of the controller but i could never play with it because its so flakey and barely stays connected that way.

    Thanks for any advice.
    scott

    Reply

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