Xbox v1.0 bios flashing problems

[Latnem]

Ok first off my problem is that I can't flash any 1mb bios to my X3.
Everytime I try it locks up about a quarter way through the flashing process.
Heres everything I've done to try to figure out what the problem was, First when I tried to flash the bios I used the disk method it all when just fine as far as eraseing the banks but when it started to flash it got stuck a quarter way through. So i figured no problem just redo the DVD (i got sh*tty DVDs and figured that was the problem) did the same thing the second time through also. So i decided I would flash via network. Still the same problem, so i figured ok the bios are corrupted no problem i'll just redownload and try again. Still the same thing so i thought its probably the file that I'm downloading. So after getting on xbins and getting the bios I figured that would fix the problem for me, no luck. Now by this time I'm getting a little worried that my chip is ****ed up. So just as a test I tried to flash with the X2 bios and that worked like a charm. so i figured maybe the banks are corrupted so i flashed the X2 bios to every bank and they all flashed just fine. I'm sure i'm probably the only one that has had this problem so I thought maybe its my install method so I reinstalled the chip with the solderless adapter, wire install, and the pin header (not at the same time mind you) everything comes up with the same result with all of the 1mb bios. I've done everything that i can think of to fix this problem but nothing seems to be helping and I would hate to have an X3 chip and have to use the X2 bios to get it to work. So if anyone has any ideas on what this might be please let me know.

Thanks

 

[nartac]

hey, I appreciate you giving lots more info than most people but what switches setting are you using? on on off off off? If yes, have you tried off on off off off (these settings are for regular control panel and not the pro). If you have tried all of that, try disconnecting the control panel cable from the chip and try flashing.

 

[Latnem]

i've tried on on off off off and off on off off off
also disconnected the switch from the chip and still the same problem
guess i'll check on my solder points
thats got to be about the only thing let to try

 

[nartac]

i've tried on on off off off and off on off off off
also disconnected the switch from the chip and still the same problem
guess i'll check on my solder points
thats got to be about the only thing let to try

that would be the next step I would do.

 

[sb122606]

wow that sucks...looks like u have read and tried everything
you've not quite tried it all though...get 1959 with the default.xbe...flash n boot with an evox (256K bios) and install evox dash...run the xbe in the evox file browser/explorer and erase your x3 then boot backup (press pwr& eject) then reflash with the 1M bios..

 

[spurdy]

I have found that sometimes you will need to rename the bios file 2914_v16plus or what ever version you need to use, too just Bios.bin

I don't know why, but this has worked for me in the past.
Hope this helps
SP

Ok first off my problem is that I can't flash any 1mb bios to my X3.
Everytime I try it locks up about a quarter way through the flashing process.
Heres everything I've done to try to figure out what the problem was, First when I tried to flash the bios I used the disk method it all when just fine as far as eraseing the banks but when it started to flash it got stuck a quarter way through. So i figured no problem just redo the DVD (i got sh*tty DVDs and figured that was the problem) did the same thing the second time through also. So i decided I would flash via network. Still the same problem, so i figured ok the bios are corrupted no problem i'll just redownload and try again. Still the same thing so i thought its probably the file that I'm downloading. So after getting on xbins and getting the bios I figured that would fix the problem for me, no luck. Now by this time I'm getting a little worried that my chip is ****ed up. So just as a test I tried to flash with the X2 bios and that worked like a charm. so i figured maybe the banks are corrupted so i flashed the X2 bios to every bank and they all flashed just fine. I'm sure i'm probably the only one that has had this problem so I thought maybe its my install method so I reinstalled the chip with the solderless adapter, wire install, and the pin header (not at the same time mind you) everything comes up with the same result with all of the 1mb bios. I've done everything that i can think of to fix this problem but nothing seems to be helping and I would hate to have an X3 chip and have to use the X2 bios to get it to work. So if anyone has any ideas on what this might be please let me know.

Thanks

 

[Latnem]

Ok I've got to be missing something
just cant figure out what it could be
I resoldered my headerpins, ran the default.xbe to erase everthing on the chip, renamed the bios to Bios.bin, and still the same problem
but one thing that I think is odd is that when I ran the default.xbe and it rebooted it was still useing the evox bios I flashed, I dont know if its supposed to do that or if its supposed to get rid of that bios as well, I would think that it is, but I've never used it before so I really dont know. but oh well I think I will probably take the chip back out and try to do the solderless install again, hell I paid 30 dollars for it so I might as well try to use it again. only reason I stoped using it before was because it kept kicking off to the side when I would screw it down, but now that i have removed the solder from the headerpin holes it should work just fine, and it wouldnt take but a second to install it, after I remove the headerpin, AARGH, I'm rambling, sorry about that

 

[Latnem]

Another quick question.
if I fried my motherboard when I was removing the solder from the headerpins would the box still boot, or would could that be why I'm unable to flash the X3 bios?

 

[Latnem]

Yet another update.
I decided to drive the 20 miles to the store to get a multimeter
and all of the pinheaders are getting power execpt for number 2 and 12
and as far as I can figure those two are both grounds
dont know if this is of anyuse to anyone in helping me
but i figured it couldnt hurt to mention it

 

[Latnem]

Ok i finally got the idea to try to install the chip on a friend of mine's xbox (he left it here for me to repair), did the solderless install was just gonna flash the bios and put it back into my xbox, but its doing the same thing on that xbox as well, i used a multimeter to see if all of the pinheaders were getting power, and they all tested right, so I believe that the chip was installed right in both Xboxs but it still doesnt want to let me flash the right bios. so now i'm starting to think that somehow the chip is messed up.
I was going to try to do a hotswap but i couldnt find the files that I needed to do it on xbins
but I did take the evox.ini and edit it like the hotswap tutorial said and tried doing it like that just incase it might somehow work. but no luck
i'll probably try doing the hotswap again later on.
but now its time for bed

 

[Latnem]

could this be a bad eeprom on the chip?

 

[sb122606]

could this be a bad eeprom on the chip?

I think so ...thats why i asked you to try an eeprom erase..i thought it may have been the contents that were corrupt...
but this looks like one of them rare hardware issues with your chip..
i suggest u send it back..

 

[Latnem]

If i were to get another X3 chip it should work though right?
If thats the case I would just order a new chip then after I get that one I'd send the other one back and either try to get my money back or get another X3 and mod another box and try to make a little bit of money while i'm at it.
Or would it be a hardware issue with my Xbox and the chip conflicting?
Thanks for the reply and everyone's help
just too bad we couldnt get it working

 

[sb122606]

IMHO Yes a new chip should work..everything u posted says u have the solder good...no FRAGS just unable to complete the flash.
You've tried other bios's (what is the plural for bios ??)and erased your prom..you've even tried it in another xbox!
Unless u have been extremely unlucky and introduced the same fault twice then i think u have a problem with the x3 chip

BTW there is no such thing as a hardware conflict between xbox and x3's...it works with all versions...so thats not your problem either
There are two bios (damn what is the plural??) for the different hardware releases. That, however ,would not stop the flash if u had the wrong ver...it just would simply not work once flashed and booted!!

Don't get your money back..get another one in replacement, once you have a working x3 its worth every cent.

 

[Latnem]

the plural for bios is bioses
pretty sure it is anyway
but thanks for the help