Unflashable BIOS!

[picodegiao]

I have a 1.6 XBOX with the X3CE chip. All the lights on the chip are ON (5V, 3.3V, and protection light which is red).

I tried flashing using a DVD (and yes, my protection is OFF. The light on the chip is red. Both switches are off) and I got the "Unknown Flash? Halted" error. I finally tried the HTTP route and got the same results.

The X3CE will boot disabled by default (on my system). The only way I can get to the FlashBIOS screen is by pressing the eject button right after I press the power button. I assume this is the Backup BIOS. The first screen will always have "Flash Type: Read Only??? manf........" I have never been able to get anything different. My bank switches are set to: on on off off off and I am trying to use a 1mb BIOS.

If my soldering sucks, would I be able to get to the FlashBIOS screen?

I know its rare, but could I be that 0.1% with a bad chip?

 

[Xecuter]

try read the instructions before posting - they tell you what the error screens mean

 

[picodegiao]

I've read many different instructions and have tried many different methods. I've been all over this forum trying to find a solution. I've taken the bank selector off. I've taken the power/eject adapter off (that was giving me problems also, which I have posted about). The ONLY way I can get to FlashBIOS is by the method mentioned above. I've changed the switches to different positions, but the only method of getting to the FlashBIOS is by the power and eject button (and the adapter must be used or it will boot disabled) which puts me into the Backup. No matter what I do, it will always have "Flash Type: Read Only??? manf........" I've even tried turning the protection on and flashing, then turning it off and flashing........."Flash Type: Read Only??? manf........" every time.

I would have liked to figure out this problem without sending the chip back, but nobody seems to have a solution....(and yes, I've checked the soldering and tried flashing, and check it again and tried flashing)

 

[sb122606]

Your first post says unknown flash..this is a bad bios on the disk
u do have 1959 and have un-rar'ed it??
Later u say flash type read only..remove bank switches at the X3 boot backup flash and retry.

Only powering disabled...did u try just tapping the pwr switch and not pressing it..u dont have to hold it for long to boot disabled.

 

[sb122606]

Your first post says unknown flash..this is a bad bios on the disk
u do have 1959 and have un-rar'ed it??

Scrub that my brains not in gear.. this error comes after the cromwell boot where it says that flash is read only..hence the unknown flash.

You have to get flash protect off..if still the same after removing switch bank AT the X3 chip then it needs to go back to suppliers...maybe a dry joint on the chip.

 

[picodegiao]

I have tried 1959_16plus.bin and M8_16.bin on many different banks just to make sure, even if the bios doesn't fit. I even tried to update the FlashBIOS to 3.0.3 even though I have a 1.6 XBOX. It won't let me do anything to the bios.
I did notice that the X3 shows FlashBIOS 3.0.1 on the TV but on the http it shows 3.0.0

Is that normal?

I think I'm just going to send it back. Too many problems with this chip. No solutions. And trust me, I've tried. But I'll be back. I just need a working X3.

 

[Gangstarrr]

have you totally followed the instructions? have you extracted everything? have you renamed the stuff? and if you have a samsung or philips drives use a cd-rw disc. thats what i did and i am soo happy!