Ok, so, I got the Demon, I hooked it up to the pc, it connected and looked good. I didn't burn an image to it though. I installed the demon, quadruple checked my solder points, everything looked good. Blue light comes on USB EXT. I flash rom to either xbox or demon, it looks like it works. I read 2 times, do a compare, and it gets a mismatch with a list of about 20 differences. I did this several times, same thing every time. Then I unplugged the 360, switched it over to pc, tried to flash the demon (not 360), and same thing. It looks like it writes ok, but then when I do 2 reads and compare the dumps the compare fails and I get a list of about 20 bad blocks. The blocks themselves seem to change. I am using J-Runner. I've also tried 2 different usb cables to the usb ext and then the micro usb to the pc port. I'm not sure, but it doesn't seem like this could be soldering. My next step would be to completely remove the board and try again flashing it from the pc port. After that, it seems like it may be defective?
I think I have a problem
- Thread starter Techrev
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BL4K3Y
VIP Member
Post some images of you soldering.
A pre-install test means using the Micro-USB port to write something to the DemoN, read it back and then compare what you wrote against what you read back to ensure you get a match - this confirms that the DemoN is 100% functional and any errors from this point onwards are PEBKAC.
At NO POINT WHATSOEVER should you switch the DemoN to PC when it is installed - this can cause damage to you DemoN and/or your console!
A pre-install test means using the Micro-USB port to write something to the DemoN, read it back and then compare what you wrote against what you read back to ensure you get a match - this confirms that the DemoN is 100% functional and any errors from this point onwards are PEBKAC.
At NO POINT WHATSOEVER should you switch the DemoN to PC when it is installed - this can cause damage to you DemoN and/or your console!
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Then, I did that, and it failed the compare. I just did it after. I should have done it before, but I figured I'd be fine since it seemed to function. Unless there is something about my solder job that could affect reading and writing to the demon through the micro usb port?
BL4K3Y
VIP Member
Once the DemoN is installed, you should be using the external USB module to read and write.
We cannot help you further until you post some clear images of your soldering.
We cannot help you further until you post some clear images of your soldering.
Ahh, shoot, ok, well, I did switch it to pc after it was installed. I did a write and two reads to it :/. I got the same behavior though as I got through the ext-usb.
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This is frustrating, but I'll take photos. If it was the soldering though, I would assume that I would only have problems reading and writing to the XBox nand, and not the demon itself as well. If it was the cable going to the ext usb then switching it to pc and connecting the micro usb cable would give different results instead of identical :/. Still, I'll take pictures.
---------- Post added at 22:00 ---------- Previous post was at 21:57 ----------
This is frustrating, but I'll take photos. If it was the soldering though, I would assume that I would only have problems reading and writing to the XBox nand, and not the demon itself as well. If it was the cable going to the ext usb then switching it to pc and connecting the micro usb cable would give different results instead of identical :/. Still, I'll take pictures.
Taking pictures now. How would bad solder connections affect writing to the Demon nand? Still, yeah, I don't have a problem with taking pictures and touching them up.
BL4K3Y
VIP Member
Have you done a continuity test on the external module and the header on the DemoN?
This will tell you whether or not the ribbon cable is correctly inserted (this has caused some issues in the past).
Yes, this is also why I tested it using the micro usb port.
---------- Post added at 22:14 ---------- Previous post was at 22:13 ----------
I reseated the cable and did continuity tests on it twice.
---------- Post added at 22:14 ---------- Previous post was at 22:13 ----------
I reseated the cable and did continuity tests on it twice.
I know the one side the qs points look a bit messy, but I continuity tested them and there is no bridging and contacts appear to be solid.
Mack702
VIP Member
The quick solder points on the right look messy, but I continuity checked them and there is no bridging, and the contacts are solid.
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I will reflow the quick solder points though, and get back to you. After that I will pull the board off completely and do a pre test. See if it's the board, as I suspect right now.
---------- Post added at 22:43 ---------- Previous post was at 22:39 ----------
I will reflow the quick solder points though, and get back to you. After that I will pull the board off completely and do a pre test. See if it's the board, as I suspect right now.
Ok, so, throw all my troubleshooting out in the bin. I reflowed the quick solder points, and now I get 2 bad blocks - consistently, though different blocks. I'll touch them up some more, see if it continues to improve. Weird that it would affect flashing the demon rom, but it seems to. I don't know, but it does seem encouraging.
Ok, I'll stop with the minute by minute posts. I monkeyed with it again, the solder job looks perfect from here on every point, and I'm back to 20 errors in the compares again. I think it's just random. I'll pull it out and do a pre test, post back with the results.
Ok, I'll stop with the minute by minute posts. I monkeyed with it again, the solder job looks perfect from here on every point, and I'm back to 20 errors in the compares again. I think it's just random. I'll pull it out and do a pre test, post back with the results.
Ok, I removed the Demon board from the 360, connected it by micro usb to the pc, did a nand read in J-Runner, it read 2 nands and the compare failed with a random number of about 15 bad compare blocks. Essentially failing the pre test :/.
I guess the question is, what do I do? Am I covered under warrantee? If so, who do I talk to, how do I go about getting a replacement? On the front page I see that there is a warrantee, I just can't find how to use it >.<. Still looking.
no . as soon as you solder to it you are out of warranty . this is why you are told to check the board BEFORE you install it . my guess is you bridged one if the quick solder points and screwed the board or you didnt flip the switch before putting power into the console . If you didnt flip the switch it will screw the demon you dont need to turn it on to mess it up , just put power into it .
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No, and no. The only thing I did wrong was to not do a compare on the reads before I put it in. I did a write and a read, but not a compare. There were no bridges, the switch was in the right position, I didn't fry the board. You guys sent me a defective one - there is something wrong with the USB controller most likely. I've taken the board out, its still got the same problem, I reflashed the 360 using the normal connector and its back up and running and glitching again. You guys obviously didn't test the read and compare thing before sending it out either, and now you're trying to cover your ass on a lousy $70 part - when I've spent a ton more buying crap from you. That's pretty sad. Is your company that weak? Do you make so little profit that you have to protect yourself that much? How much do these things cost you to make? $20? Less? It's nothing for you guys to send out a replacement part, and on top of it you can most likely fix the old board and resell it. Again, it's sad.