Microsoft US has announced how Xbox 360 owners who don’t yet own a Hard Drive can install the upcoming New Xbox Experience update.

It is being billed (by Microsoft) as the first hardware re-launch in history done using software. The New Xbox Experience is essentially a mammoth dashboard overhaul for Xbox 360, to be delivered free of charge via Microsoft’s proprietary online service Xbox LIVE from 19 November.

You might run into a couple of problems here of course: Perhaps you bought Xbox 360 Arcade, which does not have a hard drive to accommodate the 128MB install. You may not have broadband at home so you’re not connected to Xbox LIVE. Well, Stateside at least, here is what Microsoft is proposing:

Owners of Xbox 360 ‘Arcade’ and ‘Core’ consoles can apply via Xbox.com to receive a memory upgrade. US customers can input their Xbox 360 serial code to find out whether they’re eligible for a free 512MB memory card, or a refurbished 20GB hard drive at the marked down price of $19.99. In addition Arcade owners are being offered a three month subscription to Xbox LIVE for $29.99.

You can read all about how the Americans are solving storage issues for NXE here: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/hardware/memoryupdate/default.htm

Actually this doesn't mention how to receive the update for anyone not connected to Xbox LIVE. Perhaps the memory cards come pre-loaded? Or if you’re not connected to Xbox LIVE you’re not invited to the NXE party?

We’ve contacted Microsoft in the UK to find out what’s going on over here, if anything at all. Watch this space.