Look this is what I would do, my xbox was screwing up awhile ago, (I got one at launch) it wouldnt read discs and things like that so I sent it to microsoft to be fixed (and my warranty had expired also) it took a couple of weeks to get back home but it ran perfect and it saved me alot of money. you could send it in and get it back in time to pick yourself up a copy of Halo 2, but if you cant keep yourself away from a xbox for that long you should get a refurbished (redone used system) for much cheaper that a brand new one.