I saw a video on YouTube not to long ago in which you use the XBOX to spin up the HDD, play a song on the Xbox and pause it, boot up the PC and pause it at the POST screen, plug the IDE HDD into your computer, unpause, boot into windows and use Xplorer360 to softmod it. Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuZ64AMoKsw Tried, tested, works. Easier than messing with USB adaptors and hard to find games.
He wouldn't be able to do that bro. His system won't boot into the MSDASH... That would be a form of softmodding using one of the unlocking methods. He can still unlock his drive by removing the IDE cable as soon as the light flashes red. However any method that requires softmodding he wouldn't be able to do since he doesn't have access to a computer with IDE. So I really do suggest he get another system, TSOP if 1.0/1.1 or install a chip on a later revision and run AID on this current HDD and start again.
flashing is probably a good option even for people who had already softmodded xboxs i think i'll do mine, mod chip is a good idea, as is keeping an old pc handy even if you only break it out for emergencies lol i have one thats taped together almost lol its a franken pc, been saved from the grave so many times. i keep it for the IDE / com ports etc.
Tried to boot Mech Assault retail (disk in system before powering on) and it will not boot, goes right to the xbox needs service screen; I could get another Xbox but the point here is I don't know how to TSOP or anything a long those lines hence looking for someone that can chip it. $20 is not too bad to me if it can get the system up and running again. Also I do not mind starting from scratch as it's not that big of a deal to me really. I do get the red/green flashing btw. Thanks for all the input.
That's not too bad depending on the shipping cost; when do you think you will be getting the chips? Also is this a for sure fix for my issue, as in it will be chipped? I will be able to boot a DVD with the drive in it's current state? Just want to get this back up and running and if this is the best chance, I'm for it.
That's hotswapping, have done that before but can't do it now as the Xbox will not even boot to a dash at all. Also as stated in the OP I do not have any IDE on my PC (newer Mobo) Tried, tested, works. Easier than messing with USB adaptors and hard to find games.
Wish I could pinpoint was it is, I am leaning towards a messed up MSDash but am not certain. Edit added a video of what happens with my Xbox; I will admit that Mech Assault is a bit scratched so I tried a disk in better condition after that. [video=youtube_share;6yc5SoAYeqM]http://youtu.be/6yc5SoAYeqM[/video]
Second video trying Splinter Cell. [video=youtube_share;Qc_Yv0t8zXo]http://youtu.be/Qc_Yv0t8zXo[/video]
You should be able to search through the drive with FAT-X explorer. So when the light turns red pull the cable out, and attach it to a PC. It should still work even through SATA. It's just XBOXHDM that requires IDE. Yes a modchip will fix the current state, because the modchip replaces the original BIOS. Modchip BIOS changes from checking C Drive for msdash.xbe and launches D:/default.xbe Like I'm saying though, buying a modchip for $20, instead of buying another XBOX for $20 seems a little strange... Try FAT-X Explorer that should actually fix things up for you, then you can copy the entire C partition.
I will give that a shot, I'd imagine that it would not work with sata to USB for my laptop but I suppose I can give it a go with my desktop. I can't really find any Xboxes around here for $20 and I would love to get my current one working with that HDD. Either way I'll give it a go either later tonight or tomorrow and report back. Edit: just realized this will be difficult seeing as I'm using a sata to IDE adapter for the Xbox, in theory wouldn't I need to keep power to the drive via the Xbox and hook it up to my PC?
They're coming from Bad_Ad84 who seems to have scooped up the last of what the internet had to offer and they were mailed about this time last week. Hopefully that means sometime by Saturday as I already have one XBox sitting here with a bad TSOP flash care of myself that needs a chip to fix it. Like I said earlier modchips can fix damn near anything you throw at them and if this is a corrupt dash you (or myself for that matter) could fix the problem and remove the chip entirely. Personally I'd strongly advise you to leave it in so that you don't have any headaches resulting from the softmod again and the only worry you'll have is something unavoidable anyway such as capacitor leakage or accidental discharge of a firearm at the XBox. If a modchip can't allow this XBox to work again I'd be very surprised - even if the sucker has a corrupted dash the modchip will allow you to boot something like Slayer's X so you can FTP in and change out the files that are corrupt. As for booting discs nothing changes with a modchip aside from the fact that you can boot burned discs and unsigned code on burned discs that have been properly formatted for the XBox to autoboot. Pretty much the same net result as a softmod.
Just tried that and no go, doesn't skip the flubber and sits on the X until that lovely error comes up.
I know for certain now, it's missing the dash completely. If it was like a missing font file or settings it'd give an error. Was your softmod a dual boot or a single boot?
See here's the issue; that sounds great but what I don't understand is, if I am unable to boot even a retail disk for whatever reason.. how does installing a mod chip change that fact and also both of these "messed up" HDD's are locked so I guess what I'm trying to ask is after this chip is installed what changes and what would I need to do from there to get my 320GB HDD working again? Thanks, and sorry for all the questions just trying to understand it all.
I believe it was set us a dual since I did have shadowC but I'm not 100% sure. Also what options does that leave me with at this point? Edit: It should be noted I have literally tried everything I am able to at this point. Got windows to recognize the original HDD 5gb/8gb? but that's as far as it got (Fat-X Explorer) would not see it. Tried XboxHDM using the IDE on my old VIA 6420 from my Xbox 360 flashing days, seems XboxHDM could not see it at all. Tried what Pikkon recommended to no avail too. Hooked up the 320GB via SATA and windows found it but nothing could really read it, tried out an app called Repair station found on another forum that could apparently unlock the drive but the program is $50. Tried the trial and it sees the drive and tells me it's locked. (lol what good is that?)
Modchips ignore the fact your HDD is locked.... If it was dual booted with ShadowC then this all doesn't make sense. You can't modify the C drive if you had ShadowC. :/ Since you think it's dual booted, start up the console with the disc tray open with the eject button. It SHOULD in theory load up UnleashX or whatever dash you used. Lastly if XBOXHDM doesn't detect your drive, try loading up XBOXHDM without the drive attached, and when the main menu appears, connect the drive and use unlocking tools.
