Blaster360 - PLEASE HELP!!!

[PToN]

Hi all,

Firstly my apologies, may be real simple but its driving me nuts!!
My 360 – Hitachi 0047
My PC – Mobo GA-7N400 Pro - My PC – Mobo GA-7N400 Pro - http://www.giga-byte.com/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ClassValue=Motherboard&ProductID=1651&ProductName=GA-7N400V%20Pro
PCI Card – VIA VT6421 (as after reading the forums seems the best card to use)

(I understand the sata will not work from this mobo to the 360 so purchased a VIA VT6421 pci card and updated all drivers, this is connected to the pci slot and powered by IDE 3 from my mobo)

I purchased the blaster 360 (not the NE version), had all the usual bits in the pack including the serial adapter for the 360 ODD that is to be used with the Hitachi 46/47 models (think this is the fix if im right) and some little C shaped bit of circuit board which isn’t mentioned in the installation notes anywhere (not done anything with this). I have followed the diagrams exactly, ran the xbox fine after installation and all in working order with green glow on the blaster. I then sat the 360 next to the pc and used a power cable from the pc for the blaster, then the serial cable from the VT6421 pci card to the 360.

NOW, according to the instructions I should turn on the blaster and the drive will be detected in windows…… well its not!! Its driving me nuts, I don’t understand why this is? I get the blue glow which is correct, pc up and running, no cables in the 360 at all, turn on the blaster and nothing? The eject function on the blaster works fine but the 360 will not power up (obviously no supply to it other than the pc) and windows will not detect. IS there something simple ive missed?
My next option is to throw the blaster away and do it all through the pc like everyone else seems too, I purchased the blaster for ease of use but its not at all so far!

I appreciate this is all a bit lame and I understand most things and have searched loads of places but really am going round in circles, any help is much appreciated.

 

[zerach]

i would not use that blaster on this drive.get the new blaster

 

[PToN]

Thanks for the advice, think tonight im going to rip out the Blaster and flash the drive using the tutorial the old fashioned way, seems to work for everyone else, this blaster seems a waste of money personally.

If im right, the guide states on this Hitachi drive that the chipset of my sata does not matter so seems ive been spending money on equipment I dont need! lol..... get there in the end! Thanks again.

 

[zerach]

you can flash a hit drive out of windowes .i like the blaster myself.im running sam drive and it does great

 

[PToN]

I think the blaster is a good idea in theory (for me at mo) when working, but my experience and hours of searching forums with no real joy I think this time round it has to be done through my pc.

However, you mention a flash outside of windows? Have I missed something? What is that and where can I see how to do it? Not noticed in the tutials anywhere?

 

[zerach]

you cannot flash a sam v25 or v28 in windows.you need to do it in dos

 

[PToN]

Me again! Sorry but im still stuck!

Firstly, my drive is Hitachi 0046HD - not 0047 as I stated at first, although I don’t think this matters?

Last night I removed the blaster and booted up the xbox etc to make sure all working normally and it does.

Decided last night to flash via pc hookup. Followed the textbook tutorial and used the Slax 2 and tried the Slax 2.1 cd to put my drive into mode B, now this is where things went a little weird. The VIA 6421A sata connection and trying with the mobo (sil3112a) both reported back slow port problems and resets and hard resets etc messages coming up, although loads of errors it did put the box into mode b….. however, windows would still not detect the drive? Is this due to the fact mode b did not work properly, or is mode b going to be mode b regardless??

I had the constant flashing green light, the drive 2 presses to open and close, auto open once closed….it was defo mode b.

I haven’t just posted this without researching, I have used different Sata ports on the card and mobo, same issues with Slax and slow port issues etc….even so, it went into Mode b regardless.

Tried booting into Windows = Froze (I left it for a min or so but it would not boot)
Plugged in sata cable after windows had booted = Froze
Tried at windows loading bar to plug in Sata cable etc = Froze
Used the eject button trick at windows bar = Froze
Sata cable plugged in once windows fully loaded = Froze
Moved the 6421A to different port = nothing still
Unplugged other drives in pc etc = nothing still

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, any helpful advice would be great, Im going nuts and it stresses me out how some have done theirs easy and mines a pain in the b/side – im jealous! but more so FRAUSTRATED!

 

[PToN]

Thanks for the help provided cofree, and special thanks to gigabyte (you know who you are)

For anyone who may encounter the problem I had / or similar:
Firstly I put my 360 into mode b by using the onboard sata on my mobo - Sil1112A / NForce 2.
Once in mode b (Leaving the xbox ON of course) I turned off the pc and connected the sata cable to the VT6421A pci card.
Then right from start of the pc power up I kept opening and closing my dvd tray up until the point that desktop had fully loaded, no lock, pausing or freeze issues, flashed perfectly, well happy!!

Thanks again!!