A few basic questions

[mrsmr2]

I've spent a while reading through these forums and others, and my head is spinning with the amount of information it's trying to take in (2.6 install instructions, BIOS flashing, dashboard installing, etc).

I have a 1.6 XBOX (I doubt it's a 1.6b but I'll know for sure soon), a 2.6 CE, and a programmer.

I still have a few basic questions that I would like to confirm my understanding:

1) The flashbios included on the 2.6 is simply there so that the XBOX will boot up and allow me to add a new BIOS e.g. via FTP, or DVD?
2) As I have a programmer I can add a BIOS to the 2.6 without having to load the flashbios and then flash a new BIOS via ftp, dvd, etc?
3) In theory I could load two BIOSs to the 2.6 although I appreciate that leaving the flasbios on one bank will make it easier to flash a new BIOS in the future (as it will save me having to take the XBOX apart to get to the 2.6 to put on my programmer)?
4) When the 2.6 is disabled, the XBOX will load the standard MS BIOS?

These are the questions that I'm less sure about:

5) Are dashboards locked to certain BIOSs, or will a BIOS (say EvoX M8) work with any dashboard I wish to use?
6) When a dashboard is installed to the XBOX, does it overwrite the original MS dashboard?
7) If it does overwrite, can I copy the original MS dashboard to my PC and copy back if ever necessary?
8) As I'm modding my XBOX to use as a media player, do I need to buy the infra red controller pack to unlock the MPEG2 playback? I appreciate I will probably need to buy a remote control as the joypad won't be the most convenient way of moving through menus, but is the hardware bit necessary?

Sorry if these have been answered before (I'm sure they have) but I can't find easy answers at the moment.

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

Jason

 

[Martin C]

Jason.

I'll do my best to answer these for you.

1. Yes. It won't do anything other than what you've specified (although you can lock/unlock the HDD with it, but leave that for now).

2. The Programmer is to allow you to flash the X2.6 should you manage to lose FlashBIOS on either bank. You would need to physically remove the chip to do this. In answer, yes you can just flash your chosen BIOS with the programmer - you don't have to flash FlashBIOS to it and then reflash again once in your Xbox.

3. Yes you can flash two BIOSes to the chip, although unless you're looking to do something outwith the standard X2 BIOS, there's no point.

4. Yes, when you disable the 2.6, your Xbox should behave as if no chip is installed.

5. No - you can you ANY dash with ANY hacked BIOS.

6. It doesn't need to overwrite. The BIOS has a list of dashboard it'll look for - the newer X2 CL BIOSes (which will be the one you want for your 1.6) allow you to specify the exact path of your dashboard file(s). Therefore, all your MS Dashboard files stay untouched.

7. See 6, although I would always recommend you backup your existing C (MS Dash files) and E (gamesaves and audio) drives before doing anything to the HDD.

8. You don't need the DVD Movie Playback kit for DVDs etc once the Xbox is modded. There are programs which will use the Standard Controller for DVD functions. However, for the cost of the playback kit it's worth owning as you won't find anything easier to use.

Martin

 

[mrsmr2]

Martin

Thanks very much for the detailed response. I'm a lot clearer with things now.

The only thing that is puzzling me now is you say I need the X2 CL BIOS. In your tutorial on flashing the 2.6, you mention that EvoX M8 is needed for the 1.6.

Is the X2 more recent than when you posted the tutorial?

Thanks

Jason

 

[Martin C]

Yes - the new X2 BIOS caters for all Xbox versions. I've even updated my troubleshooting guide with this information too.

Check the link in my sig

Martin

 

[mrsmr2]

Thanks Martin.

Excellent web site btw.

Jason