Very strange erratic behavior - no video / no dash

[andyman32]

I have been happily using the X3 and the 1957/9 BIOS w/ default dash for some time now. Suddenly, and randomly (no changes - not opening the box, not jarring it, no physical change) it stopped showing the 1959 dashboard and instead it only showed the default MS dashboard. After this happened, it did still play ripped games A-OK, and flubber was off, which indicates that the 1959 BIOS was still running beneath all of this.

Now, suddenly (again, with no abnormal use or physical changes), the xbox lost all video output. The default MS BIOS still works correctly, but the modchip simply does not. I checked the 13-14 pin soldering points and they were perfect; I re-did them ANYHOW. Re-started it; still nothing. The audio works. I can hear the MS dashboard audio, and I can hear the games when they start up. But there is absolutely no video output. Soldering points were done perfectly right the first time; then re-checked; then re-checked; then re-checked. It's (unfortunately) not the soldering.

Has anyone had this particular problem? I can't over-emphasize the fact that the xbox was not in any way jostled or jarred or pressed or jammed or jumbled. I was playing games as usual; between one shut-down and the next start-up, with no unusual event in between, first the 1959 dashboard disappeared, then the video disappeared altogether. Is there a ghost in the machine?

 

[andyman32]

Update on my own problem:

I flashed flashBIOS 3.0.3 to bank 5, then used THAT (rather than 3.0.0 in the backup) to flash 1959 to bank 1-2-3-4. I now have video back. Bigger problem solved.

However, it still (for no good reason) shows the default MS dashboard upon bootup. I swear to goodness I had nothing to do with this! Any ideas about:

1) why this happened, so as to avoid repeating the mistake? and

2) how do I get the 1959 dashboard back onto the xbox, since the FTP server isn't starting up?

Thanks again.

 

[Shibz]

When you say "1959 dashboard" I assume that you mean the x3 live config menu that lets you set up all of the BIOS features and stuff. To get it back, hold down the white button when the xbox is starting up.

 

[andyman32]

Spectacular, that worked like a charm. I did mean the Config Live menu, yes. Apologies for not being clear. I've now fixed the dashboard weirdness.

Thanks shibz.

 

[cubanboy10]

Hitachi 78 flash, Something like the "Open Tray" e

I used jungle flasher v0.1.75 Beta to flash a Hitachi 78 to iXtreme 1.51, and a spare xbox I had laying around. The drive was operational before the flash, and had no problems. Now, when the xbox is powering on, the tray will often open, as if the xbox thinks it is closed. The xbox will display "Close Tray" as an option when the drive is closed and when I press it, it quickly says reading and then says open tray. When I tricked the system into actually sync with the drives state (open or closed), when it goes into the system, it says reading very fast and immediately opens again. This also happens when I power the system down, the tray opens as if the system thinks it was already open.

I do have a log of the flash, and the original firmware if someone more experienced would like to take a look and tell me what I did wrong. I think I know what I did, but I want a second opinion before I go and brick the drive. Thanks in advance, Nick.

 

[cubanboy10]

Re: Hitachi 78 flash, Something like the "Open Tray&quo

bump

 

[ReMix]

Re: Hitachi 78 flash, Something like the "Open Tray&quo

try restoring the drive and reflashing with ixtreme firmware

then make sure you take the drive out of mode b by powering down while closing the drive

 

[cubanboy10]

Re: Hitachi 78 flash, Something like the "Open Tray&quo

I can say that restoring the drive to the dumped stock firmware led to the same problem, and I'm likely not taking the drive out of mode b. I'll try this in a few hours and let you know.

By powering down, you mean turning off the xbox after the firmware has been tested? Should I eject the disc tray from the drive after the flashing is finished, close the tray, and power down while it's closing?

 

[ReMix]

Re: Hitachi 78 flash, Something like the "Open Tray&quo

pull the power cord from the back of the dvd drive while the drive is in the process of closing

 

[cubanboy10]

Re: Hitachi 78 flash, Something like the "Open Tray&quo

The drive is still having the same issue. Any other ideas?

 

[ReMix]

Re: Hitachi 78 flash, Something like the "Open Tray&quo

try restoring the drive and reflashing with ixtreme firmware

then make sure you take the drive out of mode b by powering down while closing the drive

 

[strucdown]

Re: Hitachi 78 flash, Something like the "Open Tray&quo

if thew drive is taking 2 presses of the eject button to open/close then its stuck in mode b.
if not then something has gone wrong with either the power or sata cable so check them make sure there not loose

 

[cubanboy10]

Re: Hitachi 78 flash, Something like the "Open Tray&quo

Well, I tried what you mentioned joe, I was saying that I was still having the same problems. And Andy, I've tried that too, no cigar.

I finally got frustrated and slammed the tray closed when it said open, and continually pressed the open and close button until it read with the disc in the tray, turns out the drive still works, granted, i think it's safe to say this is a mechanical problem. Drive made a ton of noise spinning the disc up, and even more trying to read further from boot up. Wouldn't make it past the boot screen of the said game, but, it's better than a read error.

Yep, flashing my other 360, it's got a benq drive, so, hopefully this one goes more smoothly.