bad switch???

bubulater

Junior Member
Dec 22, 2006
10
0
I installed the 2.6ce with no problems to a 1.0 xbox, pinheader install, everything boots fine. I thought it was odd that the 3.03 cromwell bios loaded off both banks before i flased the bios but i went ahead and flashed anyway. Flashed 5035 via disk to bank 2 and it did everything like it was supposed to, but after i restarted the xbox only cromwell 3.03, no matter which bank i'm set on. Could the switch be bad, I know v. 3.01 is supposed to be on bank 1 if i remember right, i already took the x box apart again and re checked all the plugs and connections. should I try reflashing? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.
 

Edward

Full Member
Oct 14, 2005
56
0
have you checked that flash enable has been switched on, both on the chip and on the switch.

Remember that if you dont build your bios file correct you will ose flashbios as the x2 flashs from bank 1 first regardless of what bank you set it to. You need to d/l X2BM from the usual places and build your bios with flashbios on bank 1 and x2 bios on bank 2, save this file as a bin file then when you select the bios to flash look for the bin file you made, that way you will always have flashbios as a backup if things go wrong.

WizBit
 

bubulater

Junior Member
Dec 22, 2006
10
0
Thanks for the quick reply. Well i guess you got me thinking. The switch for flash protection was in the right place, I don't know what you mean about enabling flashing on the chip cuz i don't think there is a switch or anything on the chip itself. Anyway i did do everything with the xb bios manager, but i did not put flash bios on bank 1 and 2, i left them blank. I guess i will retry it, unless that will totally f things up? If so, a prompt reply would be appreciated. again, thanks in advance
 
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Edward

Full Member
Oct 14, 2005
56
0
No it shouldnt, as long as you put flashbios onto bank 1 and the x2 bios onto bank 2. maybe i got the flash enable bit from the X3 (i have both chips).

WizBit
 

mk1200

Junior Member
Aug 22, 2006
12
0
I did the same thing. I guess my chip is blank now. The xbox just boots to the normal dashboard. Can I reflash my chip w/o a programmer using X2BM on a disc somehow? Or am I screwed?
 

Edward

Full Member
Oct 14, 2005
56
0
No you need flashbios, i think ill have a look around and see what i can find
 

Edward

Full Member
Oct 14, 2005
56
0
Have you tried seeing flashbios is on the other bank?

try both banks you may be lucky!!!

If not then you will need to purchase the programmer, or if you have a mate with an X3 or ".6 with flashbios on it then you could hotswap at the flashbios screen
 

Big_Whoopin

VIP Member
Jan 29, 2004
811
0
SE Pennsylvania, USA
Bubulator, there is no way (via flashbios) to flash directly to bank 2. The only way to do so is to flash a 1mb BIOS. FlashBIOS *always* starts writing on bank 1. If you only flashed a 512KB image it's possible that it is sitting there on bank 1 and your bank select switch is flakey. Make sure you have the plugs for the switch cable completely seated, maybe try excercising the switch as well... move it back and forth rapidly a number of times between the two positions. This could help the contacts. If you're good with electronics and have a multimeter I've got a link in my sig to a switch schematic I made up, you could use it to test if you bank select switch is working correctly.


mk1200, if you are booting with the chip enabled and getting to the MS dash then your mod is working. You won't get to the MS dash with an empty chip, you'll only get a FRAG. What were you trying to flash on there?

-Whoopin'
 

mk1200

Junior Member
Aug 22, 2006
12
0
I'm new obviously, I tried using the EvoX bios first on bank one. It's 256k. That made it frag, so I tried making it a 1MB file with x2bm and flashed to bank 2. It still frags on bank one and boots normally on bank 2. It doesn't act like it's working, but all the lights are greet. I tried playing a burnt DVD movie and it didn't want to play it.

I ordered a programmer yesterday. Do you think I can fix it w/o the programmer?
 

Big_Whoopin

VIP Member
Jan 29, 2004
811
0
SE Pennsylvania, USA
A programmer is great to have around but you can probably still fix this without. First, you do know that there is more to getting a modded Xbox up and running then just putting on a BIOS right? You haven't mentioned anything about installing a dashboard. As far as not playing a burned DVD movie, this probably comes down to it being on media that doesn't jive with your Xbox DVD drive since as far as I am aware there is no media check on movies like there is on games. The drives can be picky and different brands prefer different media. You should be able to find more info on disc compatibility at Xbox Scene, the Xbox Linux site or the Llama's Xbox site.

-Whoopin'
 

mk1200

Junior Member
Aug 22, 2006
12
0
I burnt the EvoX dashboard to disc, but I just get the regular message about not being able to read the disc.


Here are the steps I took when I first got the chip up and running:
Flashed bank one with 256k EvoX bios - fragged
Flashed bank 2 with 1MB file made with x2bm - boots fine, but to ms dash

Do you think I'm good on bank 2? Should I keep trying to install a dash?
 

Big_Whoopin

VIP Member
Jan 29, 2004
811
0
SE Pennsylvania, USA
Schoolin' time... If you flashed via FlashBIOS then your 2nd flash was over banks 1 and 2. FlashBIOS always starts writing at bank 1, regardless of which bank you booted from or what bank is selected. (and if you were flashing a 1MB BIOS you would need to start with bank 1 anyway, it's only a 1MB chip...) With an X2 you should always be flashing a 512KB or 1MB BIOS. Flashing 256KB will *always* FRAG.

Here's the million dollar question... do you see any difference in the splash screen (Xbox logo) between when you boot with your mod disabled and when you boot with the mod enabled? Typically you will see the name "Microsoft" replaced with something else ("X3 rox my box!" if you flashed the X2CL 5035 BIOS) or some other tweak to the screen. I think EvoX puts an image in the top corner. Do you see anything like that? If so your chip is successfully flashed. If not, it doesn't necessarily mean failure, maybe the BIOS chosen doesn't display anything different. I think you have flashed your chip fine, although not with the BIOS I would recommend.

Xbox drives can be picky about media and your disc must be formatted/burned in a certian way for it to boot. Do you know if you are using media that is compatible with your Xbox DVD drive? What tutorials did you follow for burning the disc? Best bet here probably is to download a ready-made boot disc like AutoInstaller Deluxe. (AID) It is the swiss army knife of boot discs and the ISO it provides should boot fine if you are using compatible media for your drive.

-Whoopin'
 

mk1200

Junior Member
Aug 22, 2006
12
0
The chip was flashed!!! It wasn't reading the Sony DVDRs. I tried an OfficeMax CD-R and there are no problems. I'm FTPing and loading games now.
Thanks!