X3 CE Won't Flash BIOS by ANY method

[binaryjunky]

Ok, I'm about to pull my hair out!

I just installed an soderless X3 CE with the Xapt3r, I installed the chip everything went fine, booted it up to flashBIOS 3.0.1 (this is NOT a 1.6 btw) went to install 1394.bin so I tried doing it over HTTP open the local webpage browse to the .bin and hit upload.

and it just sits there.........does NOTHING.

So, I tried burning to a DVD, renamed the files uppercase and added the dummy.bin; loaded from disc and it does......

NOTHING!

just sits there and eventually just ejects the disc.

I have my switches to on, on, off, off, off,; the modchip also has the write protect switch disabled. I also tried it for sh*ts in giggles with it enabled and yeah that didn't work either.

HELPPPP........

 

[Martin C]

What's 1394.bin? I'm not understanding what you're trying to do here.

If you set your switches to off, on, off, off off, you should be able to boot to banks 5678 and get back to flashbios. Should this work, immediately change the 1st switch back to 'on' (so it's on, on, off, off, off) - banks 1234, or you'll overwrite the good copy of FlashBIOS.

Download the latest version of X3 BIOS from xbins and flash the version for your xbox version.

 

[binaryjunky]

Sorry I wasn't very clear I'm cranky and tired, and I also made a mistake so what I'm trying to do is load the X3 3294 bios. Everything seems to be working just fine up until I try to actually flash the bios.

Basically where I'm at is at the home screen of FlashBIOS 3.0.1 but every method I try to load ANY bios it doesn't give me a failure message or anything it just plains sits there it does nothing, and it never flashes.

If I try to load a BIOS through HTTP, after I hit upload and flash, it's like it times out......nothing changes on TV screen and the browser just sits there.

DVD loading of any bios also has failed. I've followed all the directions but nothing seems to be working.

 

[Martin C]

I'm wondering if it's a browser issue causing the problem, or more seriously, an installation issue. Because you're going solderless, it's possible that a LAD line isn't making enough contact and although you can fire up FlashBIOS (which is a minimal BIOS anyway), it may not be enough to perform the flash itself.

Try this (in this order):

1. To eliminate your browser: download another. Either firefox, opera or safari. Basically anything else which is different from what you're currently using. Even better - try another computer if you have one.

2. To eliminate the bank select switch: unplug it for the time being. It'll boot to banks 1234 by default.

3. To eliminate the install: remove the solderless adaptor. Get a stiff pencil eraser and rub over the LPC holes to remove any oxidation or dirt etc. You're trying to get the best possible connection from the spring pins to your motherboard.

Let me know how you get on.

 

[binaryjunky]

Ok,

I tried on IE, firefox and just for the hell of it safari. same results.

I unplugged the switch wire and tried it and that didn't, same results.

Lastly, I removed the adapter cleaned the leads inspected the adapter itself, then carefully replaced it screwed it down, powered on, got all blue LEDS and the RED for the D0. Flashbios 3.0.1 comes up and still the same result. I load from HTTP and it never flashes...

Could it be that the adapter is working correctly but a few of the connections are not solid so the FlashBIOS 3.0.1 comes up but the leads that are responsible for the flashing are failing?

 

[binaryjunky]

Here's something interesting, Just for fun I wondered what would happen if I just hit upload without specifiing a bin, and it comes back as you would expect with a "this isn't a file size of XXXX" but onscreen it flashed "Illegal size, NOT flashing" so it looks like there is a connection going on between my computer and the xbox if the xbox is registering a wrong file type error.

I got these bins from #xbins, but do you think there might be something wrong with them, or perhaps I'm using the wrong one? Like I said I'm trying to load the X3 3294, I've also tried the X3 1959

I really appreicate your help, this is supposed to be a christmas present so i'm kinda stressing right now. But it's really nice of you to help me out so quickly.

 

[Martin C]

The fact you're getting blue LEDs should be enough to prove the LAD lines are ok. If the FlashBIOS screen isn't changing, then I'd go with the fact that the PC isn't pushing the BIOS file through to it. It would at least do something if it's received it. Let's eliminate the PC and do it via a DVD-R :

http://team-xecuter.com/flashbios/dvd.htm

Follow this guide and see what happens when you choose the disc option.

 

[binaryjunky]

Ok, so check this out...

So, I went to try the DVD thing but then I realized I was plum out of DVD-R's so....I decided to boot up one more time and try the HTTP flash, because I'm a sucker for failure.

And sure enough it doesn't work, so I'm sitting there watching the bar do nothing, and I'm bathing in the soothing waters of defeat when.

The thing ****ing flashed, just all of a sudden...

It was like the thing decided I had been punished enough and just decided to go head and work.

So, anyway I'm booting into 3294 now. Thank you for all your help man, I REALLY appreciate it and I'll remember this.

 

[Martin C]

I have no idea why it just decided to do it, but I'm glad it finally did

Glad to help and have a great Xmas.

 

[jm_460]

Just a quick note. I also installed an X3 solderless about 3 weeks ago. When I attempted to flash via http, it took about 8-10 minutes to actually begin flashing. At first, all there was was the hourglass cursor, but nothing changed. A couple of minutes later, it started the flash process. So, if you don't see your xbox flashing immediately, please be patient and give it a couple of minutes.