X3 Ver 1.6 install major issues.

[adagre92talontsi]

Well I am no newbie when it comes to soldering electronics. But i have had a hell of a time with this machine.

I installed the LPC header, pcb rebuild, and the lan and hdd wires.

I then proceeded to clip on the chip and run the machine. Inititally I got absolutely nothing and it booted to the MS dashboard.

So I did some reading on here and noted people say the connections on the LPC are sometimes crap and to wiggle it. I did this and I got the front panel switch to finally light up. So I shut her down and rebooted and it worked!

So this not being a reliable connection I soldered independant wires from the pin legs of the LPC header to the top of the modchip itself (corresponding pins --> corresponding contacts on top). Hoping this would fix the pins not seating correctly it did not fix it and now my XBOX is fragging. I even unsoldered everything so that it is back to stock. It's still fragging (boots - shutsdown, boots - shuts down, boots - flashes red/green). This is not cool because it is actually a friends xbox, I mod PS2's all the time and they are alot more difficult soldering wise. I don't know what I did.

Any suggestions, at this point I'd like to just get it working again without the chip and go from there.

Thanks

 

[jonrees69]

First of all for anyone posting like this - READ THE INFO ON THIS SITE. I did this and didnt have to ask any questions at ALL.

Second of all ... GOLDEN rule when installing ANY X3 is:

It MUST have TWO BLUE LED's lit on it to work.
The front X panel must be BLUE to work.

Ok, now did you do the LPC Rebuild as per the Team Xecuter instructions? In other words, you needed to leave soldering the pins that touch the rebuild PCB, so that it sits absolutely FLUSH and level with the underside of the motherboard. From there, especially if you have soldered before, it's a piece of cake.

The second problem 1.6 ver mobo's (Which I assume you have bacause you used the LPC rebuild!) is the alternate 5v connection to the top of the mobo. This can be a tricky little bugger so make sure this is connected and has a rock solid connection. Make sure the chip is snug on the pins, and the pins are level. Make sure you removed the extra pin from the header before installing otherwise you will eithe damage your chip or not b able to disarm it.

Finally, having done all that, put the switches in the off,on,off,off position, this way if you have a 1.6B box, it SHOULD have Flash BIOS 3.0.3 on it which should come up. If it's NOT a 1.6B try on,on,off,off.

Check for any solder splash, shorting solder points, check,check and check again the integrity of the d0 connection - if the front X is RED this is most likely not working.

Use the original A/V cables for the TV ....
Use an original M$ Controller in PORT 1 ....
Use BIOS 1959_1.6PLUS.BIN (1024kb) ....

I think that covers it ....

 

[adagre92talontsi]

Well I have read over 25 posts on this site and none hepled me out... All the posts seem to just end with no solutions or feedback from the posters.. What good is that?

I've checked my solder point a gazillion times with a magnifying glass, this isn't a ps2 you have to really suck at soldering to bridge anything. I've also checked everything with a multimeter to make sure there are no solder bridges.

Currently the xbox does nothing but frag, this happens even with everything returned to stock. Like I said I did get the modchip bios screen once when I was moving the chip around on the LPC pin header, I could tell because the 2nd LED would come on and the front panel would turn red, so I then rebooted while holding the chip in the location that made enough contact and it worked. So I confirmed at this point it was that damn piece of crap connection with those pins. Thats when I put in some jumper wires from the lpc pins to the chip itself, then this is also when it stopped working.. so thinking I hooked something up wrong I checked all those wires (I used kynar wire), but all is fine. SO i take everything out including the rebuild and it still DOES NOT WORK.

I also read something about a ground screw on the mobo, if I didn't have the mobo secured with at least this would it cause it to frag like this? I can't see why, computer motherboards do not need to be grounded to the chasis other than through their atx connector.

I hope all this information helps someone find me the solution.. I think I will call it quits with modding after this, I just don't want the responsibility anymore. It will really suck if I have to replace this xbox for the guy.

Thanks to all.

 

[kowrip]

Well I have read over 25 posts on this site and none hepled me out... All the posts seem to just end with no solutions or feedback from the posters.. What good is that?

I've checked my solder point a gazillion times with a magnifying glass, this isn't a ps2 you have to really suck at soldering to bridge anything. I've also checked everything with a multimeter to make sure there are no solder bridges.

Don't be so sure that there are no solder bridges. I just modded my 7th and 8th Xboxes this past weekend and had some problems. Everything APPEARED to be fine, but the units were fragging. I dropped some desoldering braid flush with the MB at various spots around the pinheader and heated it for a split second. That picked up any unintended solder from the traces around the pin header area. Afterwards, the boxes worked fine. Solder splashes can be hard to see, so be sure to clean up your pin header area with a desoldering braid just to be certain.

 

[jonrees69]

I cannot agree MORE with Kowrip ....

As for the LPC pin header, this is not a piece of crap and even when I did it - I had every single pin out of it and had even melted the plastic slightly but with a bit of care I got it all in perfectly. I even soldered it in twice as it wasnt 100% flush - but I'm a perfectionist.

If everything is removed and it STILL frags chances are there is a damaged track or something.

If you're in the UK maybe I could fit it in for you.

Good luck whatever you decide.

J

 

[nospmohtkcin]

I would check for broken traces

 

[adagre92talontsi]

I will clean anywhere I soldered totally with the desoldering braid, and check the D0 spot for broken trace.. I had initially soldered directly to this not realizing there was a pcb rebuild to use. But I had no trouble soldering to it at all. I have lots of experience with this type of connection with ps2's.

If none of this works then say good bye to an xbox. It doesn't make sense to me but anyways. The last xbox I did had no LCP connection issues (I am talking about the plastic pin header on the chip itself, not making a tight connection). Also I was done the last one in 30 minutes.. This is crazy to have these problems.

I will let you all know how I make out.

Thanks

Edit: at this point my concern is to get the xbox working without the chip.

 

[kowrip]

I will clean anywhere I soldered totally with the desoldering braid, and check the D0 spot for broken trace.. I had initially soldered directly to this not realizing there was a pcb rebuild to use. But I had no trouble soldering to it at all. I have lots of experience with this type of connection with ps2's.

If none of this works then say good bye to an xbox. It doesn't make sense to me but anyways. The last xbox I did had no LCP connection issues (I am talking about the plastic pin header on the chip itself, not making a tight connection). Also I was done the last one in 30 minutes.. This is crazy to have these problems.

I will let you all know how I make out.

Thanks

Edit: at this point my concern is to get the xbox working without the chip.

Don't get frustrated. After doing 6 mods, I was quite surprised to have problems on the 7th and 8th one. You'll figure it out. The fact that it frags without the chip indicates to me that there IS a solder bridge somewhere. Otherwise, it would boot fine if everything was removed. Keep at it and you'll figure it out. Believe me, I was NOT happy to have to desolder and remove the LPC rebuild board just to cleanup the pin header. In the end, it was worth it. The box is working now.

 

[shagga]

I personally always have a hard copy of the tutorial at my side when modding and just flick through each page as I go, this ensures I don't rush or miss anything vital. Modding isn't a race you should take your time and then you're less likely to have problems. Lets us know how you get on with cleaning up the LPC.

 

[adagre92talontsi]

You guys f'in rock... Fixed it in 10 minutes.


I did find a MINUTE solder bridge (most likely I didn't find it last night because I was tired and pissed off). It was pin 15 I think on the bottom of the board, there is a board trace about .5 mm away from this solder point that must have got scratched and solder stuck to it.

Anyways I hope this post further proves how sensitive these xboxs are to solder bridges.

Now time to wire up that modchip and get er done!

Thanks all for the input, you know what you are talking about for sure.

Note to Newbies: These guys don't beat around the bush listen to them!

 

[jonrees69]

Hate to say "I told ya so" ..... but ... I TOLD YA SO !

Glad you got it sorted m8 ... good work.

J

 

[kowrip]

You guys f'in rock... Fixed it in 10 minutes.


I did find a MINUTE solder bridge (most likely I didn't find it last night because I was tired and pissed off). It was pin 15 I think on the bottom of the board, there is a board trace about .5 mm away from this solder point that must have got scratched and solder stuck to it.

Anyways I hope this post further proves how sensitive these xboxs are to solder bridges.

Now time to wire up that modchip and get er done!

Thanks all for the input, you know what you are talking about for sure.

Note to Newbies: These guys don't beat around the bush listen to them!

I'm glad you got it working. In my experience, it takes a LOT to screw up an Xbox MB to the point where you can't get it working with some effort. My first mod was a joint effort with a friend. We did a lousy job on the pin header and the D0 area of the motherboard was in terrible shape. I'm surprised the thing works, but it does. I can't tell you useful that desoldering braid has been to me.

 

[embleau]

I've done 12 mods now with the X3.... ALL of them perfect.... except.... the last one I've done.... it was a biatch!!! I soldered and resoldered, tripe checked,, it was fragging with and without chip... I finally used the solder braid and cleaned up even though I didn't see any splashes.... and then... LO and BEHOLD.... it worked....

Even the people who have done many will still have occasional snafus....
Just calmly work through it!