Microsoft Proofs associated with Windows LIVE ID

[WHAT!?]

Alright so I felt like this should get it's own topic because I think this is information that could prove valuable to some and it may save you from having to contact Xbox Support.

 

 

The Story

Today I was able to swing by the house for lunch. I got to see the wife off and make a sandwich. I thought I might settle in for 30 min or so and get a quick game in before I headed back to work. When I turned on my console I was prompted to enter my e-mail and password to verify my account info. I thought this was odd since I am the only one in the house with a LIVE profile and I have my console set to remember me. So, I enter the information anyway and I am told that it is incorrect. Scratching my head I jump on my computer and head over to xbox.com to try logging in there. Sure enough my e-mail and password get me in. So now I know my console is f*cking with me. I try several more times anyway just to be sure I am not entering something incorrectly... The best I can get is a log in that gives me a 10 minute countdown. After 10 minutes I am completely booted out. This sucks. I decided to contact Xbox Support to ask what the f*ck?

 

Xbox Support Chat

This was surprisingly a fairly pleasant experience. I'm going to post the chat for the sake of spreading the information and to show where it came from, but the basic bit you need to know is this...

 

Log into your Windows LIVE ID account and go to account security. Any phone numbers or alternate e-mail addresses you may have are known as "Proofs" if any of this information needs to be verified (you will know by a "verify" link that appears under an item) or if it doesn't exist in the first place you might get this console error. You should also have a security question setup and a password with at least 8 characters containing letters and numbers. Once you have this verified you need to get back on your Xbox and go to Settings, select System, select Storage, highlight your hard drive, press the Y button on the controller, and select the option to Clear the System Cache. We will need to clear the system cache three times in a row. Once complete follow the list...

 

1.Go to Settings, and then select System.

2.Select Storage.

3.Select All Devices.

4.Select Gamer Profiles.

5.Select the gamertag that you want to delete.

6.Select Delete.

7.Select Delete Profile Only. This deletes the profile but leaves saved games

8.Restart the console and press your guide (middle) button on the controller to redownload the profile.

 

- Once your profile is downloaded you will be good to go. You might have to reset the theme on your console, but that should be it. I haven't had a chance to completely test drive this yet, but I went to the last game I played and my save and current progress was still there.

 

 

 

“If your request concerns current problems connecting to Xbox LIVE, please close your chat session for now, as our agents don't have any more information. We are aware of the issue and will provide status updates at http://xbox.com/status. Thank you.”Privacy StatementYou are now chatting with 'A'.E: HelloA: E Hello   Thank you for contacting Xbox customer support. I hope you are having a lovely day thus far. My name is A, and I will be helping you today. Do you mind if I take a minute to look over your issue. I will get right back to youA:A:E: Sure.A: How are you today? :)E: Well frustrated at the moment. I was going to try and sneak in a quick game during lunch, but it looks like that isn't happening.E: How are you? :pA: I understand how you feel and know you will like tog et back to gaming on the console instead troubleshooting this issue. So lets' see what we can find out for you todya.A: I'm doing good and thanks for asking. :)A: I see that you set the console to remember password and email, but when you try to enter the credentials it doesn't work. Do you receive any error messages and status codes?E: I would have to re-enter the info again to pull a status code for you. I have recieved two different messages. The first I have recieved is that the e-mail or pass is incorrect (it still signs me in but puts me on a 10min countdown) The second message is pretty vauge. It just tells me "There was a problem" and I get the same thing. signed in with a 10min countdown.E: If you don't mind waiting for me to go in the other room and get through the menu's I can get the status code if that will help you.A: That is okay.  Do you remember if the status code may have been 8015D003?E: Honestly I didn't pay much attention to it. It was in that format but I don't remember the specifics.A: It's okay. Sometimes this issue typically means there's an issue with some of your account proofs. Don't worry, it's easy to fix! First, can I have you sign in at http://accounts.live.com (if you're signed in on Xbox.com already, please open a new tab or window and sign in on http://accounts.live.com ). Once you get there, can you click the small blue link that says 'edit security info' and let me know that you're there, please?E: Hmm... I just tried to go and it asked me for a code. I asked it to e-mail the code but it hasnt turned up yet.E: Ah I just got it.A: Ok, great.E: alright I'm in.A: Can you make sure there's a valid alternate email, phone number, and security question on file? Once you have all three, can you also make sure there are no links that say 'confirm' next to any of that information?E: I have an alternate e-mail (there is a verify link under it) I also have a security question. My phone number is valid, though I don't have my phone at the moment.A: Ok. Delete the invalid phone number and please verify the alternate email on file.E: Well I'm saying the phone number is valid, as soon as I get the phone back it will work. It's just busted  I'll verify the e-mail.E: Alright the e-mail is verified. so I can't verify the phone number at the moment is it better to just remove it then?A: Yes, go ahead and remove it as it can cause the temporary proof error on the console.E: alright doneA: Is your password up to 8 characters or more long and includes capitals/numbers?E: yesE: symbols as wellA: vExcellent, thanks for checking all of that for me! Now we just need to get the outdated files for your profile off your console. All right, Edwin  I'd like to try now is deleting the profile, clearing the system cache twice, and redownloading the profile. This will clear any outdated or corrupted files and will allow us to pull a fresh copy of your profile from the servers. Are you familiar with this process? If not, don't worry, I can walk you through all of it.E: No I'm not and I haven't uploaded/used the cloud for anything. This won't affect my saved games will it?A: It will not impact it and it will only help refresh the console. Here's how:A: Please go to Settings, select System, select Storage, highlight your hard drive, press the Y button on the controller, and select the option to Clear the System Cache. We will need to clear the system cache three times in a row.A: 1.Go to Settings, and then select System.A: 2.Select Storage.A: 3.Select All Devices.A: 4.Select Gamer Profiles.A: 5.Select the gamertag that you want to delete.A: 6.Select Delete.A: 7.Select one of the following:A: ?Select Delete Profile Only. This deletes the profile but leaves saved gamesA: Restart the console and press your guide (middle) button on the controller to redownload profile please.E: alright it is downloading the profile nowA: Ok, great.E: it looks like it worked. Odd that it would just suddenly give me an issue.E: anyway thank you for walking me through it and helping me get it fixed. Appreciated.A: Glad to help and it could have been a temporary error. Your very welcome.A: I wish you the best and thanks for being part of the Xbox Live Family! :)A: Thanks for stopping by to chat! To exit this chat session, please click on the circular "X" button above the avatar photo on the upper right hand corner.

 

 

 

 

Now at the end of all of this... this is pretty bullsh*t, but it seems to be fairly simple to fix and it improves your account security.

 

 

The End.

Edited April 19, 2013 by What!?

[friendly luggage]

Cheers for the advice. I just recently added security to my account as a message popped up when I went to log in. I know a few friends who have made accounts and never remember their password. They're going to be screwed if they want to recover their account.

[WHAT!?]

Cheers for the advice. I just recently added security to my account as a message popped up when I went to log in. I know a few friends who have made accounts and never remember their password. They're going to be screwed if they want to recover their account.

You're welcome, and yeah... This seems like its fairly vital info to have. I wouldn't be surprised if the next console causes some sort of hiccups with old accounts. Since posting this I have gone through my games more thoroughly and I can say for certain that all of my data is still here. So the process is safe to use.

 

I'm glad you found the info useful!