New 'can't Turn Off Xbox' Problem..., I've read all the other posts... but, no go...

[ScottieRotten]

OK, here's the deal. I modded a v1.6 xbox with an x3 chip for a friend of mine just before Christmas and the installation/configuration of the Bios/EvoX went very smoothly. When I'd completed the finishing touches on the new *enhancements*... all was well!

He's enjoyed the xbox for a few weeks now, until a few days ago, ...all of the sudden, he can't turn the xbox off! I went through all the 'did you try this', 'did you notice any of this' routine with him... but to no avail. He pushes the power button and nothing.

If he unplugs it, it turns off (thankfully, lol I'd be afraid if it didn't...), but plugging it back in turns the xbox back on instantly. The power button basically does nothing, however, the eject button works like a champ! One side note.. if you plug the xbox in while the power button is depressed, it boots the chip in disabled mode (don't know if this is helpful, but thought I'd mention it... this seems to imply *something* is making some sort of connection in the circuit.)

So, now the xbox is lying on the operating table, guts arranged neatly next to it, and I'm at a loss as to what's going on. I've examined all the wires/solder points and everything appears to be in perfect array. I've tried bypassing the x3 power board (plugging the power connector directly back into the motherboard), and the result is the same. I've tried disconnecting the power button completely... same thing.

So, I started getting desperate. I unplugged the x3 chip... same result. The only things I haven't unplugged yet are the pin block (that's soldered in) the lpc rebuild board (also soldered on), and the 4 wires (reg, green, grey, ...and the alt v5 red wire) that are also soldered on.

Now, I'm 99.999% CERTAIN that the pins are all good. Everything is very clean and the xbox was working *perfectly* for almost a month before this problem occured! Now I'm starting to question other factors but I don't know enough about the inner-workings of the motherboard to be sure. Is it possible a transistor on the motherboard or something went bad, that can be replaced?

If anyone has ANY ideas/suggestions/help, I'd be extremely grateful.

**Please note**: It was working perfectly for 3~4 weeks. This was something that just started happening.

This has me most bewildered!

Thanks for any help in advance.

Scottie R.

 

[Martin C]

Here's a question - what if you remove the power/eject cable (yellow) from the motherboard altogether? Does it still do this?

Martin

 

[silentdarkfalcon]

I agree, I didn't read the other thread, but sounds like the power button is permanantly depressed, could be dust between it and th eplastic.

 

[Hudson]

Is the power/eject board still stuck to the chassis with the sticky pad? Maybe something is poking through the pad and is shorting on the chassis?

EDIT:
Nevermind, after reading your post again I think when you say you by passed the X3 power board you mean the reset/eject adapter?

 

[ScottieRotten]

Sorry if some of my terminology wasn't clear enough...

Thanks for all your comments.

Martin C: Yes, I have tried to disconnect the yellow power cord from the motherboard, and yes, it still auto-turns on.

silentdarkfalcon: I've looked closely at the power switch and it looks fine. Also, becuase of the previous reply, I don't think it's a 'stuck switch' issue since it does the same thing with the switch completely disconnected from the motherboard.

Hudson: Yes. I've looked at the power/reset board and it looks clean... no shortings. Also, as you noticed in your edited remark, yes, I did bypass the board and the auto-on remains. ...this is why it's such a mystery to me.

It's obvious something has happened since the modification was complete. The xbox was acting perfectly for over 3 weeks before this problem arose...

If there was a short in the power/reset board, I can see how it may have taken time for a sharp tip to work its way through the plastic, but I've tried bypassing that, and the problem remains.

The only thing I can think is that somewhere, most likely on the motherboard somewhere (since the problem is the same with all x3 components removed from the board) there is something causing this to happen... what? I have no clue.

 

[ScottieRotten]

...looks like Darkskies and I may have the same problem.

I'm pretty sure it's not his surge protector... and another friend of mine suggested 'The Clapper' lol.

While this would be an easier way than plugging it in each time he wants to play it, I really hope there is another way.

 

[UrBr0k3]

Just don't get excited and hit the floor with your hands, or slap a friend on the back, you might turn your xbox game off!

 

[NeOnRaBbIt]

so have you tried connecting the yellow cable directly to the mobo so that it never meets the reset/eject board. If it doesnt do the auto on thing then it is probably the reset/eject board. If it does do the auto on thing, it is probably something messed with the board connecting to the power/eject buttons.

 

[ScottieRotten]

NeOnRaBiIt, yes, I've connected the yellow cable directly into the motherboard and the auto-on still happens.

I agree that it's probably 'something messed with the board connecting to the power/eject buttons', but what on earth could it be?

It was working perfectly one day, then it wasn't.

I read a post a while ago that mentioned if the power circuit is grounded, then this problem occurs.... but, if it's not the x3 power/reset board... what could it be?

There isn't really any other place that I can think of that would ground out spontaneously.

 

[silentdarkfalcon]

Follow the traces that come out of the motherboard plug for the yellow cable, maybe something along the way is shorted? COuld be a tedious job, but the source has to be on that trace.

 

[Hudson]

You might need to take the motherboard out of the xbox, maybe there's something underneath shorting out the power switch line, bit of loose solder, wire, etc.....dunno, worth a look though.....I'm about out of ideas personally.

Be interested to know what it is if you fix it.

 

[Martin C]

I believe the power and eject lines go through a couple of resistors on the motherboard. It's possible that one/both are blown.

I haven't the exact location, but if you look at any of the IR mods available, they solder to these components.

An Example is here : ftp://ftp.divineo.net/pub/Console/XBOX/IRMOD/irmod_install.jpg

There's no mention of a 1.6, although I would suspect that they're there somewhere!

Martin