<P> In December 2005 (shortly after the Xbox 360's release in the United States and Canada on November 22, 2005 and around its release in Europe and Asia in early December 2005), reports of unidentifiable noises from the Xbox 360 were appearing on Internet message boards . In response to the problem, Microsoft offered in December 2005 to replace only the Perfect Dark Zero video game "even if it was not the game that was scratched ." The scratched disc problem reportedly affected only a small percentage of Xbox 360 units, however it became apparent in December 2005, through message board reports and growing media coverage . </P> <P> The Xbox 360 scratched disc problem received little media coverage in 2006; however, in February 2007, the Dutch television program Kassa investigated several complaints from Dutch consumers about circular scratches made in their Xbox 360 discs . Some of these consumers claimed that their discs became unreadable . Kassa investigation traced the problem to a design defect in which the Xbox 360 optical lens was not restrained sufficiently . In asserting that Microsoft or at least its chain of suppliers was aware of this problem, Kassa noted that Microsoft's "TSST" versions of the Samsung DVD - drive lack rubber cushions around the optical lens while identical Samsung drives sold for PCs did have these rubber cushions . Kassa also noted that the affected Xbox 360s all seem to have been produced towards the end of 2006 . </P> <P> During the February 2007 investigation report, Kassa stated that either not all Xbox 360s without protective pads would spontaneously scratch discs, or that the complaints were from Xbox 360 users who had moved their Xbox during use, or who used an unstable setup . Kassa's February 2007 investigation left open the question of whether consumers contributed to the rounded scratch problem by moving their Xbox 360 (TSST version) during the playing of a disc . This resulted in Kassa receiving an additional 1,000 complaints over the subsequent two months, with many consumers denying the Xbox had moved when the scratching occurred, or that it had been placed in an unstable position . </P> <P> Prompted by consumer reaction to its February 2007 report, Kassa performed several tests with Xbox 360 units from consumers who claimed their Xbox had the problem . Kassa stabilized these consoles and positioned them at a location remote from contact by anyone . The results of the laboratory conditions test revealed that one of the nine tested Xbox 360 units had spontaneously scratched a disc after five hours of gaming . The consoles were also tested standing upright, and the test revealed that three of the nine tested Xbox 360s significantly scratched discs . The video of the complete investigation, meticulously documenting the methodology, and all the relevant details of the tests, was made ready to be aired on April 14, 2007 . The videos are also distributed with English subtitles, for those that are not Dutch Note that Kassa has produced and uploaded these videos itself, and therefore it is not a copyright violation to reproduce these links here . They can also be found on the Kassa Website together with some press information about the case (in English). The test setup details can be found online, and the complete movie of the Kassa TV program meticulously documenting the methodology used for the test can be found online (in Dutch) Weeks before it aired, however, Kassa solicited input from Microsoft Netherlands . </P>

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