So I decided to start a new thread about this topic. Mostly to help keep the forum nice and tidy. Got a few questions, so here they come... 1. How do I flash a bios to the DuoX2 chip? 2. Is it true that one bank is for v1.0-1.5? (I flipped the switch and the Xbox boots just fine on both banks). 3. Is there any bios that won't work on it? 4. Which bios would be the most advanced (read feature packed) for it?
There are several options: Hexen 2017 installer disc, Evolution-X Dashboard +3935 or XBlastOS v0.56 XBE version from the release archive would be the simpliest to use. For the last two, create a subdirectory named bios where either is installed, upload the BIOS .bin files into that directory so you can select from a menu list the one you want to flash to the DuoX2. No bank is not reserved for a specific Xbox version. I think from the factory one bank is flashed with a v1.0-1.5 compatible BIOS and the other is flashed with a v1.6 BIOS. V1.6 consoles require a different BIOS than v1.0-1.5s. A 1.6 BIOS can run on a 1.0-1.5 console but is not recommended for long-term use. A BIOS that's larger than the bank size - 512KB - won't work. iND-BiOS 5003 (256KB) or 5004 (aka Beta Feb-11-05) (256KB) or X2 5035 (512KB). The iND-BiOS only works on v1.0-1.5 consoles while X2 5035 has two versions, one for v1.0-1.5 and another for v1.6 Xboxes. Which BIOS to flash, depends more on the version Xbox than the modchip. Other than some modchips only support a 256KB BIOS - the Aladdin XT plus 2. There's also EvoX M8plus that has a v1.0-1.5 and a v1.6 version (256KB).
Really appreciate the input. Now I have one final question. If I flash different a different bios on each bank, can I config them to boot different dashboards, ie bank 1 = evox and bank 2 = xbmc?
Yes, how to do so depends on the way the BIOS obtains it's boot order info. iND-BiOSes read a file from the HDD so you'd have to edit the file to change the dashboard that starts when powered on. (Two banks flashed with this BIOS wouldn't change anything) X2 5035 is the same way it reads the configuration from a file on the hard drive. (Two banks flashed with this BIOS wouldn't change anything) Other tools to modify BIOSes that do not read configuration data from the HDD, reflash required after making changes: EVTool v1.0.9 to edit only M8+ and meetoo M8 BFMs settings such as boot order xbe list, IGR, logo colors, LBA48 settings, and other miscellaneous settings. XBTool 1.0.23a to edit X2 4981, X2 4979, X2 4978.03, X2 4977, X2 4976.02, Evox M7, EvoX D.6. Note: X2 4983 is not supported by XBTool. Cannot modify built-in defaults. BIOSes that read Configuration File from HDD iND-BiOS 5003/5004 and X2 5035 use different locations and filenames for there configuration info. Edit one to load UnleashX or Evoxdash and the other to load XBMC4Xbox. iND-BiOS 5003 or 5004 use C:\ind-bios.cfg and X2 5035 first tries F:\x2config.ini and if not found E:\x2config.ini and if that's not found the built-in bios defaults. You could also install X-Select and set it as the first XBE (Xbox Executable) in the boot order then this application prompts the user which dashboard to load. (Edit: I've not used this app much so not sure how to properly configure it. ) However, if you used EvoX M8plus in one bank and either of the other two in another you could do so. Setup Evox m8plus boot order by editing it with EVTool v1.0.9 to load one. But, all BIOS's have a list of files it tries to start on power on if the first doesn't exist it tries the next and so on until the final dashboard generally setup to xboxdash.xbe (MS Dashboard) runs. Edit: there are many ways to accomplish what you asked.
That's proper information, I swear. All this kind of information should really be documented and archived somewhere for future generations.
Guess it is now, right here! Edit: Not limited to the DuoX2 modchip, any modchip should work much the same. Not all have multiple banks and some limited to 256KB BIOS size. Others support more than two banks of various sizes: 256KB, 512KB or 1MB. It all depends upon the modchip's design and the version Xbox it's installed in which BIOS(s) will work 4 you. There are some modchips that required their own specialized PC application to program them: easybuy2000.com's X-Chip/X-Chip Lite and Team Xecuter's X2 Pro modchips are a few that come to mind. I'm sure there are more.
This, and way more information than words can describe, used to be archived at xbox-scene. Until they went up and disappeared one day.
Wait, there was a website dump uploaded, and some people were working on bringing a backup of the site alive. It was on reddit
