(WIP) New modchip coming in

I would buy and beta test this thing

 

The OS can potentially control which HDD is booted in a multi-drive setup... can you figure a way that allows this functionality?

I will be happy to help test prototypes. Especially considering it is USB flashable.

 

Yes it could, if there's already a manual mechanism to toggle which drive is activated, it can be controlled by an IO pin of the CPLD controlled by software and a couple of transistors.
The reality is that I don't think much people uses multiple HDDs on a single Xbox. It's way less hassle to simply have to separate Xbox consoles IMO.
If there's enough interest, it could be something worth checking out.

I'm currently working on the "OS" and I can now boot from different banks or motherboard's TSOP via this "OS". Right now, flash partitionning is fixed (not many combination possible on 1MB of flash). Bank0 is 512KB, Bank1 is 256KB and Bank2 is 256KB reserved for OS. Still having some issue for flashing new BIOS/OS to banks but that'll be fixed soon.

Gentoox Loader is a great piece of code to start. EEProm modification, HDD lock/unlock, video mode changes, Web server for flashing are already coded! I'll release the sources for the OS real soon.

 

I managed to fix the issues I had for toggling banks on flashing operations.

And since someof you were really generous recently, I decided to make this small video to show you.



So there's 1 512KB bank and 2 256KB banks. The last bank is reserved for the OS.
I did not try to boot from onBoard BIOS in this video because the LFRAME trace going to the Xyclops chip is cut so no BIOS would load.

Quickboot feature is not yet coded but will be.

EDIT: I just watched the video and colors are a little off, I'm sorry but you get the idea anyway. Also, the squeaking sound is my dog murdering his toys.

 

Nice progress Benny! Can't wait for when you are ready to put these on the market

 

Hello,

I've set up the code repository over at bitbucket.
https://bitbucket.org/psyko_chewbacca/lpcmod_os

You're welcome to take a look or even ask to contribute.

 

Benny

This looks gorgeous - thank you for all the hours I know you must be putting into this project - much appreciated mate.

Cheers, Mark

 

i dont know how i missed this but i want one for sure

 

I really like the fact that you are installing the Gentoox version of your OS. I knew after enough people kept telling you that it would be cool to have a OS that it would wear you down at some point. I guess you dropped the idea of the X-changer OS?

 

I wanted the X-Changer OS source code just to give me ideas on how to proceed. After a quick look at it, I realized I did not need it much. Gentoox Loader's source code was a better place to start in my opinion.

Right now, it looks alot like Gentoox Loader. I prefer to spend my time on improving functionnality and adding features rather than working on UI look and feel.

 

Function over form. I totally understand! Thanks for the awesome work!

 

Hello,

I've been working a little on the OS while I'm still waiting for the PCBs...

Lots of features are working. I'll be putting some warning messages and confirm dialog steps for sensible settings like eeprom content you're not supposed to touch.

I also got LCD support in OS:


This was just a fixed message for initial testing. Next step is to print out menu strings interactively as you navigate the OS.


So far I got these features working fine:

• Booting from either 2 modchip banks or onboard TSOP
• Set timeout delay before autobooting default BIOS bank. 0 is for no timeout.
• Reset modchip settings(factory reset).
• Change front LED's color when in OS (Green, Red, Orange, cycling or OFF)
• Change fan speed (won't go under 10% for security reason)
• Change video display standard (NTSC-U, PAL, NTSC-J)
• Change video format (Full screen, Widescreen or Letterbox)
• Change DVD region lock
• Change game region lock (NTSC-U, NTSC-J or PAL)
• Toggle LCD ON/OFF
• Change LCD type(Currently only supporting HD44780)
• Change Backlight
• Change Contrast
• Backup a copy of your Xbox EEProm to the flash of the modchip
• Restore the backup copy of you Xbox EEProm from modchip's flash
• Reset user modifiable EEProm settings. (This is wipes all configuration you normally do in the MS dashboard, it's safe).
• Flash BIOS to banks (512KB, 256KB or OS) via HDD (C:\Bios\ only for now), CD (D:\image.bin), HTTP server (inconsistent, will look into it). Eventually, it could be possible to update OS from a central server on the internet.
• Show HDD password
• Lock/Unlock HDD. Sets master password to TEAMASSEMBLY.
• Open/Close DVD drive
• Show information like temperature, video cable and eeprom content
• Reset or shutdown the console.

Some features were already present in Gentoox Loader and Cromwell. I reorgazined and tweaked some of them to better suit my usage. I thank Shallax and everyone who worked on the Cromwell project! Once you get Cromwell to build, developing using this "framework" is really pleasant. Thank you to whom it may concern!

So for me, I'm not done yet. Here are the features I plan on working next. Suggestions are also very welcome:

• Quickboot and OS access using Eject button (à la SmartXX). Already have the front LED turning RED for a short period of time. I like this way of accessing the OS better than holding a button on the controller. Some third party controllers are not detected. It is also compatible with IR mods like XERC.
• Select default BIOS bank to boot(goes with Quickboot feature).
• Onscreen keyboard. Will be useful for the following features:
  • Custom BIOS bank naming
  • Display custom text strings on LCD
  • Display booting custom BIOS name on LCD
• 128MB RAM tester. Code logic is done. I just need to properly display results on screen.
• FATX explorer(browse your HDD)
• FATX partition create and format. These 2 last features will be done last. It's going to be the big chunk of work.

Again, I'm open to suggestions. There's probably something I haven't thought of!
Also, I would like to rename the modchip and consequently the OS to a name a little more punched than "LPCMod"... If anyone has suggestion I'd gladly consider them!

 

Is there a way to set the boot .xbe?

 

Wow Benny, with all those features this chip is going to be freakin awesome! I don't think I can even think of a feature that your haven't already included. Again, great work! I suck at coming up with names so I can`t be of much help there. Maybe La puce québecoise? lol

 

This Chip is going to be absolutely badass when you're finished with it! I can't wait till you release it for purchase, I am definitely going to grab me a few of these. Great work my friend!!!

 

Bad PCBs

I received my PCB yesterday. Bad news... Solder mask on one of the side misaligned; and badly enough so that parts or the ground plane is left non isolated near solder pads.

See for yourself:
IMAG1054

IMAG1055

I tried ordering from DirtyPCBs and I knew quality wouldn't be great. I just didn't expect it to be that bad!

Anyway, I still have a prototype assembled on one of these, I corrected all shorts but it's giving me strange issues... At least I have another working device from an earlier PCB design I can test my "OS" on for now.

I'll be revising my design and send a new batch to another fab house. I don't know if they are the same but SeeedStudio Fusion PCB service never failed me before.

 

Benny - that feature list looks pretty darn impressive but man - you must have been so pissed when those PCBs arrived. How the hell can they misalign the mask so badly? Oh well - that seems a good reason to not use them any more in the future.

So far as naming the thing - DiamondX ??

Thanks again for your hard work buddy.

 

dfrobot are priced pretty much the same as dirtypcbs, but they dont suck. ($9.50 + $6 shipping for 10)

OSH park, you get less for your money - but the quality is really good and as you are prototyping, you dont really need 10 anyway.

 

That sucks..

the work looks great though (minis the Pcb mask)

when you go into production are you going to choose a different Pcb mask color?

what mask colors are there to choose from?

 

I'd like to design the BIOS/OS Screen for that, if he names it DaimondX