2008-10 Falcon with 2006-04 Hitachi-LG?

[pelago]

Hi. I recently obtained a Falcon manufactured in October 2008, which contains a Hitachi-LG GDR-3120L Rom Ver 0059DJ DVD drive manufactured in April 2006.

I don't know the history of the console, but it has been opened previously, as has the DVD drive. The DVD drive doesn't seem to work at all - it doesn't eject (and doesn't make any noise like it's trying to eject) and the console power light flashes continuously when the console is switched on. There are also a few bits of broken plastic in the drive, like someone has tried to force it open or closed.

My question is: Is this likely to be the original DVD drive that came with this console? Or do you think this is an older drive that someone has tried to install to fix a broken one? The age of the DVD drive seems much older than the console so I have a feeling it might not be the original drive.

The reason I ask is to know whether it is worth me trying to obtain another Hitachi-LG GDR-3120L and swap the circuit boards (although I don't know that the circuit board I currently have works) to get the console back working and Live-safe. If this is likely not the original DVD drive and was a botched attempt to swap it, then I won't bother looking specifically for a Hitachi-LG GDR-3120L and will RGH it and not worry about Live.

 

[Utmad]

No it is not the correct drive, falcons were not around in 2006 as they were not made until the end of 2007 onwards. It would be a BenQ or a Liteon.

 

[Antalpromille]

No it is not the correct drive, falcons were not around in 2006 as they were not made until the end of 2007 onwards. It would be a BenQ or a Liteon.

could be a late refurb. i remeber seing a falcon with MS28 once and those was paired during refurb

OP: sounds like the hitachi-drive may be bricked. go for a key retrieval using RGH if you wanna get it back up running.

 

[pelago]

Thanks. Looking at http://www.360drives.com/list it seems it is possible for that drive model to come with a Falcon, but it is very rare - and even if it did come with that drive model it likely wouldn't be one that was made 2.5 years earlier, so I doubt it is the original drive.

I'll look into key retrieval using RGH/RJTAG.

 

[Antalpromille]

Ler us know when you have retriever Its key and know what drive is right, om curious about this

 

[pelago]

The console has dash 2.0.12611.0. I gather that is sufficiently early that I could, if I wanted, use RGH1 rather than RGH2 or RJTAG, and RGH1 is said to give quicker glitches. I understand that the CR4 XL only does RGH2+ or RTAG+, not RGH1. Would a chip that does the RGH1 exploit be best for this console, or would a CR4 XL give just as good glitch speeds etc.?

 

[Antalpromille]

The console has dash 2.0.12611.0. I gather that is sufficiently early that I could, if I wanted, use RGH1 rather than RGH2 or RJTAG, and RGH1 is said to give quicker glitches. I understand that the CR4 XL only does RGH2+ or RTAG+, not RGH1. Would a chip that does the RGH1 exploit be best for this console, or would a CR4 XL give just as good glitch speeds etc.?

Yes, any glitcher will do but a CR rev C is my recommendation.

 

[pelago]

Thanks. I have some more thoughts on how to proceed that I would appreciate anyone's opinion on.

If I ever get this console working, I was thinking of adding a DemoN to it, so that I could switch between an Xbox Live and a glitched NAND. Presumably if I do that, I would need to update the retail NAND and thus wouldn't be able to do RGH1, and so I might as well go for a CR4 XL and do RJTAG+ anyway. Is that right?

But, what do you think the chances are that this console will be banned from Live already? It's already had at least one drive swap, has been booted with no drive, and who knows what else.

Maybe I should just connect it to Live in its current state and update the dashboard and see if it is already banned or is quickly banned, so I know how to proceed. Of course, I'll lose my ability to do RGH1, but if CR4 XL RJTAG+ is just as good as RGH1 (is it?) maybe that's OK. And at least I would know whether it was worth investing in a DemoN or not.

 

[Utmad]

If I were you I would get hold a Rev C coolrunner and do RGH 1 to get the key etc. Once put back to stock with the correct drive you can test the xbox live connection to see if you get a message saying it is banned. If all ok then time to update and get a CR4 and Demon.

 

[pelago]

Thanks. So if I attempt to connect it to Live after RGHing and replacing the drive with the correct key it will tell me if the console is banned straight away? It won't get me to update the dashboard to the latest (thus kill my RGH1) first, before telling me whether the console is banned or not?

If that's the case, could I not just try to connect it to Live in its current state to see if the console is banned or not (and thus know whether to go for a cheaper or more expensive glitching option), or is that a bad idea while having a non-working DVD drive?

 

[Utmad]

Thanks. So if I attempt to connect it to Live after RGHing and replacing the drive with the correct key it will tell me if the console is banned straight away? It won't get me to update the dashboard to the latest (thus kill my RGH1) first, before telling me whether the console is banned or not?

If that's the case, could I not just try to connect it to Live in its current state to see if the console is banned or not (and thus know whether to go for a cheaper or more expensive glitching option), or is that a bad idea while having a non-working DVD drive?

Before you do the xbox live test you must go back to stock..

When it does the live test at the end if the console is not banned it will say you need to to an update, if this is what it says then the console is not banned. Just cancel and dont do the update if you want to go back to RGH 1.

 

[pelago]

Thanks, I understand.

Regarding the DVD drive replacement, once I RGH the console and find out the DVD drive key and model that should be installed (that is, was originally installed), I need to obtain a drive of the same type and write the key onto the drive, yes? In other words, in addition to obtaining a drive I need all the kit that people use for flashing drive firmware too, yes, even if I don't want to flash the drive firmware? If so, this is turning out to be a bit more of a complicated (and expensive) project than I hoped!

If I didn't care about Live and RGHed the console, am I able to replace the DVD drive with any other Xbox 360 drive, without having to change anything on the DVD drive? That is, is there a way to get the RGHed console able to accept any Xbox 360 DVD drive?

 

[GeekHeat]

rgh xboxs will accept any xbox 360 drive aslong as it has a matching key.

 

[Utmad]

Thanks, I understand.

Regarding the DVD drive replacement, once I RGH the console and find out the DVD drive key and model that should be installed (that is, was originally installed), I need to obtain a drive of the same type and write the key onto the drive, yes? In other words, in addition to obtaining a drive I need all the kit that people use for flashing drive firmware too, yes, even if I don't want to flash the drive firmware? If so, this is turning out to be a bit more of a complicated (and expensive) project than I hoped!

If I didn't care about Live and RGHed the console, am I able to replace the DVD drive with any other Xbox 360 drive, without having to change anything on the DVD drive? That is, is there a way to get the RGHed console able to accept any Xbox 360 DVD drive?

Yes if you want a permanent RGH console then you could fit another drive but you would need the key from the drive to patch the nand so you will still need to be able to get the firmware of the dvd drive. Where abouts are you in the world as I think it would be cheaper to do it for you than you buy all the kit for one console.

 

[pelago]

Where abouts are you in the world as I think it would be cheaper to do it for you than you buy all the kit for one console.

Thanks, I'm in UK.

 

[Utmad]

Thanks, I'm in UK.

I can help you out with it then, where in the UK

 

[pelago]

About 70 miles north of Southampton, if that's where you are, so it would have to be posted.

So can you tell me what you can do for me, and what you would charge? Ultimately (so via whatever route you might want to take with temporary glitch chips to get keys etc.) I would like, if possible, the console working both with Live and glitched NANDs, with a DemoN/CR4 XL combo, with a working DVD drive for retail discs. I'm not interested in an ODE, and don't really want to flash the DVD drive as the whole thing about burning discs correctly looks too complicated to me.

If it is banned from Live then I would like it just with a glitched NAND using whatever glitch chip you think would be most suitable (i.e. with fastest glitch times and good reliability), with a working DVD drive for retail discs, again not bothered with ODE or flashed DVD drive.

Alternatively or in addition, I have another Falcon which you might want to work on too. This one is currently fully retail, up-to-date dashboard, not banned from Live, and has a working DVD drive (Lite-On). However, it has a partially damaged power socket (a bit of plastic inside has been broken off) and one of the front two USB sockets is completely broken. The power socket isn't a major problem if you use the correct power supply but it does mean that someone could plug in a 150W power supply when it actually requires 175W, which I guess could damage the power supply and/or console. The dead front USB socket is more annoying in practice.

This one I know could be straightforward to get working with a DemoN/CR4 XL combo, but the broken sockets are not ideal. I was thinking of unsoldering the working power and USB sockets from the first Falcon and using them on the second, but that just devalues the first Falcon even more. Maybe I should just give up on the first Falcon and sell it, e.g. to yourself, for parts?

 

[Utmad]

About 70 miles north of Southampton, if that's where you are, so it would have to be posted.

So can you tell me what you can do for me, and what you would charge? Ultimately (so via whatever route you might want to take with temporary glitch chips to get keys etc.) I would like, if possible, the console working both with Live and glitched NANDs, with a DemoN/CR4 XL combo, with a working DVD drive for retail discs. I'm not interested in an ODE, and don't really want to flash the DVD drive as the whole thing about burning discs correctly looks too complicated to me.

If it is banned from Live then I would like it just with a glitched NAND using whatever glitch chip you think would be most suitable (i.e. with fastest glitch times and good reliability), with a working DVD drive for retail discs, again not bothered with ODE or flashed DVD drive.

Alternatively or in addition, I have another Falcon which you might want to work on too. This one is currently fully retail, up-to-date dashboard, not banned from Live, and has a working DVD drive (Lite-On). However, it has a partially damaged power socket (a bit of plastic inside has been broken off) and one of the front two USB sockets is completely broken. The power socket isn't a major problem if you use the correct power supply but it does mean that someone could plug in a 150W power supply when it actually requires 175W, which I guess could damage the power supply and/or console. The dead front USB socket is more annoying in practice.

This one I know could be straightforward to get working with a DemoN/CR4 XL combo, but the broken sockets are not ideal. I was thinking of unsoldering the working power and USB sockets from the first Falcon and using them on the second, but that just devalues the first Falcon even more. Maybe I should just give up on the first Falcon and sell it, e.g. to yourself, for parts?

What bits do you have now, do you have a CR4 ? or any other chip?

I have CR4's and Demons.

I can also repair the USB ports, can be taken from old boards and replaced, not worth breaking a working board. So it is up to you what you want have a think and let me know. I travel all over the UK with work so can sometimes pick up and drop off etc.

 

[pelago]

I don't have any chips right now. I was thinking of buying a CR4 and DemoN and having a go at soldering myself (on Falcon number 2 - the one with the working DVD but broken other sockets), but am not confident I can solder the small points. I did solder an Xecuter 2 into an original Xbox back in the day but I think the points were bigger back then. I'm happy to buy chips myself if it helps lower the cost, but I imagine you could get them for a little cheaper in bulk. What I don't really want to buy are things that turn out to only be needed temporarily, like drive flashing (key reading/writing) kit, or a CR3 Rev C.

I agree it would be a shame to break a working mobo. I suppose ultimately it would be nice to have two consoles working at their best, but it would depend on the cost.

Shall we take this to PM?

 

[Utmad]

Yes no problem PM me.