Xbox Project-Work in Progress

I tried to upgrade my 1.2 board with new chips and it failed. I used the solder iron and flux method. Chips are the same model number as what was on it already. Everything lined up perfectly but it still flashes orange and red so I don't know. I have an upgraded 1.4 coming in the mail sometime in the next 3 weeks or so from Germany.

I may mess with the dead board and try to fix it or sell it. I don't know...

 

that's neat turfster, props to you if you can pull it off. I'm gonna try to do that RAM upgrade eventually.

 

Finally did a ram upgrade and it was a bitch....still have to install a modchip....I used a spare 1.0v motherboard I had for this purpose..I'll do a better video after I install the smart xx v2 se in this....

http://youtu.be/oL_V0dZ2OaI

 

You could have TSOP flashed it with the IND-BIOS for temporary use until you get the Smart xx v2 in there. It supports 128MB and would have allowed the console to boot to the dash instead of hanging there since the retail doesn't support it.

Nice that you got it working. Haven't messed around with my dead 1.2 since I have my 128MB 1.4 in and going. been playing Virtua Cop 3 too much.

 

I think I will TSOP it...I may pm you for help. I have never actually done a TSOP mod. I always used modchip's.

However, I need to use a smart xx v2 so i can add a lcd screen to it too..

 

Sure thing. It's actually very easy. If you were able to solder the RAM on then you will be able to bridge the points on the board for write enable to allow flashing of the chip.

 

So after I bridge the point's do i softmod it and flash it with slayer's or Aid's?

 

Here's the method I use since it also serves another purpose. You will need the Xbox softmodded first so you can FTP into it. Use whatever dash you want. I suggest UnleashX since it is simple to navigate.

Search for something called "Gentoox Loader version 6.07" It's a bootloader for Linux on the Xbox and it has a built in flash tool for flashing out whatever TSOP or modchip bank is currently running on the Xbox. Install it wherever. I have mine in my apps folder on UnleashX since I use it to also boot XDSL for a true Linux PC setup on my machine.

Then create a folder in the C drive of the Xbox titled BIOS and put the bin format of whatever BIOS you want to flash in it. You can have several in there if you want to try different ones out. Use FTP to get into the C drive to put the BIOS files from your PC. Best to have a router to make the FTP easier. You may have to have the Xbox network settings set to DHCP for the FTP client on the PC to find it. I have to on my machine.

Once you have the BIOS you want in the BIOS folder on the C drive and Gentoox loader 6.07 installed on a softmod dash you are ready to go. I suggest having a composite video cable for the next part if you use component like me. My CRT set doesn't support progressive scan and Gentoox uses that if a component cable is being used for video.

To flash make sure the points on the board are bridged, load Gentoox loader 6.07, navigate all the way to the right where you will see an option labeled "Advanced", select it, select "flash menu" from the new screen, select your BIOS file from the list, and flash away.

Setting it all up can take some work but once done it makes flashing stupid simple if you want to change the BIOS in the future and has the option to install Linux.

Another alternative is to make an AID disk, softmod, install linux, and that loader will be there in the apps folder under "Linux". That's how it is on my machine. You will still need to make the BIOS folder on the C drive and get the BIOS files in there somehow. FTP is your friend yet again. All else is still the same for the flashing process.

EDIT: Almost forgot. You won't be able to do much right now until you get the modchip on it with a 128MB supported BIOS since the stocker won't boot at all. Not even from a CD or DVD. It doesn't have the code needed to support the 128MB of RAM so it just hangs after the boot animation. Should have done this before installing the RAM but hindsight is 20/20...

 

You can also softmod before you TSOP but if you don't want to. Just use a softmod guide either mine or another option and use EVOX to flash a 256k BIOS of your choice. Remember, bridging the points on the board is the hardest part

So far, so good. I like the screen location too

 

Finished this this morning..it actually didnt work after I installed the smart xx v2 se..I had to reflow the ram chips with flux and hot air one more time...it is working solid now..

I flashed indi bios 256k tothe 1st bank.

Overall it seem's to work faster or it's my imagination maybe.

I am getting virtual cop 3 to test now

 

Congratulations man. Since XBMC initializes all the RAM at startup VC3 should load up with no problem. UnleashX doesn't and that's why I have to fire MAMEoX128 Plus up first then return to dash. I don't know how XBMC lists the games but on my setup with UnleashX I have a game folder. VC3 didn't show up when I first installed it. I just simply renamed the VC3.xbe file to default.xbe and it shows up in the list now. I even made a title image to show up in the preview window it has. If you've seen any of my recent videos in my worklog thread then you might see that. not the update with the image but with it showing up in the games folder.

Don't know if you'll have to do that in XBMC or not. Also, VC3_test.xbe is useless so I deleted it. It's just a small test for the Chihiro hardware that you can launch before going to the game. Doesn't impact the game at all.

 

On the Chihiro it would launch the test menu, which is where all the settings are for the arcade games (or at least any that aren't necessarily controlled by dip switches )

 

Well transfer virtual cop 3 but started having issue's with the xbox. It freeze's after a couple minute's and was powering on/off by itself...guess I should of checked this xbox out. It will work again if i leave it alone for a 5 -10 minutes but alway's freeze's after a few minutes..probably a ram issue but everything looks good as far as I can tell.

Things I tried so far to fix it:

--reflow ram and it boots again fine then freezes scrolling around unleash x, but was able to play a game from disc for a while.

---reflowed gpu/cpu...added new thermal paste to gpu and cpu...boots fine..same freezing afer a few minutes

---fixed power off/on with trace/jump wire repair

---thinking 1 or 2 of the ram is messed up...so may try replacing 1 on top that may be at fault

---also may try tsop because the smart xx v2 se might be at fault too...

---start over with a better xbox.

 

That's too bad. I'm at a loss for what could be happening without looking over the board in person. I have a 1.2 board that I tried to do the RAM upgrade to. It does the 3 try power cycle before staying on with flashing red and orange lights and no video. You can have it if interested for cost of cheapest shipping method. The RAM chips in it are new Samsung units. It also has IND-BIOS TSOP flashed so any unlocked HDD will work.

 

I just fixed it. I replaced 1 ram chip and reflowed the rest..it boots consistently so far..I am starting virtual cop 3 and it sits on the warning screen forever. Is that normal? Ill take your mobo...maybe I can get it working?

 

Are you using XBMC or UnleashX? If booting to UnleashX it doesn't initialize all the RAM. It just gets the first 64MB like default. You could try my trick. Install MAMEoX128 Plus. Start that one then return to the dash from the menu in it. Once you do that it will have all 128MB available and working. I had that problem too when I first installed it. It finally did go to the game but was cold molasses slow since I only had 64MB of RAM going then. Also try repeatedly hitting the start button when you get to the warning screen. Some people have to do that to make it load. I don't have to do that. Once I get all the RAM working via MAMEoX128 Plus it boots up just fine. Takes me all of 8 to 10 seconds at the warning screen before finally launching. See this video of mine for how I get it running.



Even though I say I have to repeatedly hit the start button around the 2 minute mark I found I don't have too after I already uploaded the video. LOL

As for my failed 1.2 board, send me a PM with your address and I'll get shipping figured out. If you can't get it working then you will at least have 8 good Samsung RAM chips that are all the same part number. The 4 I bought for it are brand new and HOPEFULLY good chips. Might could use it for parts or else remove the extra RAM and have a working TSOP flashed 64MB board.

 

well that explains why it wasnt booting....all the way..I'm gonna try that now. Ill pm you my address to for that mobo...thanks again for your help.

 

Hopefully that trick works. If it doesn't then you have bigger problems with the RAM.

 

Its working good. Here's a short video of virtual cop 3. Also tried outrun 2 and that works as well.


http://youtu.be/yoAjmaiGmqg

 

You're welcome for the help dude. Glad to do so. I like sharing what I know to help others when possible.

Now I need to download Outrun 2 beta and play it too.

And I'll be going to town tomorrow. Today was a holiday it turns out. I'll get your board off then.

EDIT: One more thing. I know I said this earlier but I'll say it again. To make finding the games easier just put the folder with the game files into the game folder wherever it is. It's on the F drive in my machine. Make sure the folder is named whatever you want. I see you already have the folder named "Virtua Cop 3" so that's the name that will show up in the list of games. Then find the .xbe you use to launch the game and rename it to "default.xbe" (without quote marks). Restart the console and it will show up in the games folder list like it does on my machine.