Bios Flashing Stops Half Way.

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headchange4u

Junior Member
Jul 5, 2004
20
0
This is my 6th install of an X3 mod chip. I have had no problems installing any of the others but I am getting a weird problem.

I have a version 1.0-1.1 Xbox. Chip installation went fine as usual. Works just like it should. I am trying to flash the bios on the chip and it's not working. It stops half way through the flash and just sits there.

I first tried flashing to via HTTP, the method I've used every time before this. My switched are set to on-on-off-off, just like my modded XBox. It kept locking up.

Next I made a DVD to flash from. Detects the disc fine erases and the starts flashing and then stops half way through just like HTTP method. I have tried different banks and I am getting the same problem.

Can anyone help?
 
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headchange4u

Junior Member
Jul 5, 2004
20
0
UPDATE:

I tried a couple of other things.

I made a DVD with the FlashBIOS 3.03. I booted into the backup, and flashed 3.03 bios from the DVD. The flash went fine and the XBox turned off. These are the same banks that would not take the X3 BIOS. Now when I try and reboot to the FlashBios I just flashed the XBox turns itself on and off twice and then stays on and I get a black screen with FRAG. WTF?
 
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islander223

VIP Member
Sep 13, 2005
304
0
Somewhere in Indian Ocean
You're getting a frag after flashing 3.03 flashbios because that's a 256k bios and you flashed it on a 1mb bank settings.

Try to download a new copy of X3_3294 and re-flash with it, the one that you're trying to flash and keeps on stopping halfway might be a corrupt bios.
 
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islander223

VIP Member
Sep 13, 2005
304
0
Somewhere in Indian Ocean
Is flash protect off on the chip as well as switchers on on off off off
Click to expand...
Haven't you read his first post? Erasing was succesful and it just stops half way while flashing so obviously flash protect is off. One more thing, he posted also that the switch is set to "on on off off" so you're asking a nonsense question...
 
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headchange4u

Junior Member
Jul 5, 2004
20
0
I've already tried redownloading the BIOS and I also tried to flash with 3293 BIOS (older version) and it did the same thing no matter which bank I try to flash it to.
 
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headchange4u

Junior Member
Jul 5, 2004
20
0
DJBOOBY said:
see if it will flash the chip without switch it will flash 1 bank without it connected
Click to expand...
So just disconnect the dip switch panel? Is bank 1 big enough for the X3 BIOS by itself?
 
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headchange4u

Junior Member
Jul 5, 2004
20
0
DJBOOBY said:
have you tryed to http the bios
and try a cd-rw (rewitable)
Click to expand...

Yes and yes.

If you read my original post I described the methods that I used for flashing. I tried HTTP and from a DVD. I got the same symptoms from both methods. That's why I am starting to think that it is a bad chip.
 
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rockclimber

VIP Member
Nov 7, 2004
346
0
Glossop England
If you have another modded xbox there then you could try to flash the chip in that one instead. This eliminates any soldering issues as you know the first xbox works, so if it still fails it's a bad bios or chip. I have done around 40 of these and have had no bad chips so far.
 
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fixedsys

Full Member
Oct 23, 2003
57
0
Make sure your switch settings are correct. I have found several ppl that mirror the switches thus having them totally backwards from what they should be.
I have also had issues with software firewalls and cisco vpn client ecrypting all FTP traffic. If you have a software firewall, disable it. If you have VPN software, uninstall it.
 
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headchange4u

Junior Member
Jul 5, 2004
20
0
fixedsys said:
Make sure your switch settings are correct. I have found several ppl that mirror the switches thus having them totally backwards from what they should be.
I have also had issues with software firewalls and cisco vpn client ecrypting all FTP traffic. If you have a software firewall, disable it. If you have VPN software, uninstall it.
Click to expand...
The switch settings are correct. I have said this several times already.

I have also tried flashing via DVD as well as HTTP (again already stated many times in this thread) so that I might eliminate any problem that my network may have been causing.

rockclimber said:
If you have another modded xbox there then you could try to flash the chip in that one instead. This eliminates any soldering issues as you know the first xbox works, so if it still fails it's a bad bios or chip. I have done around 40 of these and have had no bad chips so far.
Click to expand...
I think I may try this, but I am wrong in thinking that if it was a bad install due to soldering or something similar that I would not be able to start with the chip activated? Wouldn't I get a FRAG or blank screen or something like that if
I had a bad solder joint? Remeber I can flash the FLASHBios and it will work. It just seems to hang on the 1024 X3 bios.
 
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rockclimber

VIP Member
Nov 7, 2004
346
0
Glossop England
I have read several posts where they can get into flashbios and then after flashing it frags, this has been due to poor solder joints on pins 13 and 14. These pins are not used by flashbios but are used after flashing. So getting flashbios is not proof that there isn't a soldering problem.
I know yours is different because it stops flashing halfway through, which is why I suggested trying the chip in another box to eliminate the soldering if you can.
Also have you tried the other 1mb bank: off.on.off.off.off

Another thing you could try is set the switches for a 256k bank and flash it with an x2 bios. I think the x2 bios's, like flashbios, don't use all the pins.
 
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headchange4u

Junior Member
Jul 5, 2004
20
0
It's been a long journey.....


After everything I went through I still could not get things to work. I went back in and removed the pin header and did a wire install and was still getting the same problem. Next the chip died. It just stopped working and would not get any power. I then took it out and put it into my personal Xbox and the chip would not power on in it also. Dead chip. Great.

I got another chip, installed it and it started working again, but would still stop half way through flashing. I was like WTF and started pulling out my hair....

When I ordered the replacement chip I also picked up a pro switch because the guy I am installing this for wanted one. As a last ditch effort I unplugged the dip switch panel and hooked up the pro switch and I was then able to flash the chip.

It was a bad dip switch that had been giving fits for 2 weeks now. I know the switches were set right and I tried every combination of banks I could with the dip switch. As soon as I switched to the pro switch problem solved.

I just thought I would let you guys know what happened so other ppl that may have this problem will know. Thanks for the help.
 
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