Xbox modchip problems and flashing bios

SonGohan · Jun 4, 2005

To anybody who's savvy when it comes to the whole modded Xbox scene: I have a few problems and questions. I currently have a modded Xbox that just stopped working for no reason. I have the Executer 2 chip in it with the mod switch installed to go from the chip to the regular Xbox settings to play on live (which now doesn't matter because my box was banned quite some time ago). What could cause the chip to just stop working? I'll turn it on with the mod switched on and it'll blink for a second and make a startup fan noise, then stop, then do it again, then stop, and then just blink red and green. Sometimes it'll boot with no problem and work, and the other 95% of the time it just flat out refuses to boot properly. I take care of my stuff, so I'm guessing it's a problem with the chip.

Are there any fixing remedies for this? I want to be able to do this without buying another chip. Would it be possible to flash the original bios with an X2? I'd assume this would be more reliable, but would it cause any problems with the now-defunct modchip installed (as long as I'd not toggle to it with the switch)?

I'm asking these things here because this is one of the few places I frequent regularly and I'd like to ask further questions in this thread, should anybody be kind enough to help me. Thanks to any who reply.

The Legendary LoneWolf · Jun 4, 2005

Register here

http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?

and someone will def help u

SonGohan · Jun 4, 2005

The Legendary LoneWolf said:
Register here

http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?

and someone will def help u

I've already read some of their tutorials, but none of them answered my questions (at least I didn't see any answers). I know people here are just as knowledgeable, and I frequent here, so that's why I added that last bit in my initial post.

Amano Jacu · Jun 4, 2005

I think your chip is not correctly placed and makes bad contact, you should try to install it again. This is exactly what happens to me when my Matrix no-solder chip is not correctly placed (2 resets and then green/red flashing). I think is the error message when it can't properly load a bios, caused by not reading it from the chip.

SonGohan · Jun 4, 2005

Amano Jacu said:
I think your chip is not correctly placed and makes bad contact, you should try to install it again. This is exactly what happens to me when my Matrix no-solder chip is not correctly placed (2 resets and then green/red flashing). I think is the error message when it can't properly load a bios, caused by not reading it from the chip.

Is this a simple procedure? I didn't actually do the install, so I'm not sure how it was done. Would it be obvious to do if I opened it up and poked around?

Amano Jacu · Jun 4, 2005

Wes said:
Is this a simple procedure? I didn't actually do the install, so I'm not sure how it was done. Would it be obvious to do if I opened it up and poked around?

Sorry but I have no idea, I wouldn't touch it if I didn't install it myself. I installed my matrix chip and know how it works, but yours might be different, and I guess it is soldered. I guess you could try to look for an installation guide of your chip and see if you could deal with it. If you have to solder to a point called "d0" then it is a total bitch.

SonGohan · Jun 4, 2005

Amano Jacu said:
Sorry but I have no idea, I wouldn't touch it if I didn't install it myself. I installed my matrix chip and know how it works, but yours might be different, and I guess it is soldered. I guess you could try to look for an installation guide of your chip and see if you could deal with it. If you have to solder to a point called "d0" then it is a total bitch.

Then, to bypass all of this modchip stuff, would it be possible to just flash the original bios that came with the Xbox?

Amano Jacu · Jun 4, 2005

Wes said:
Then, to bypass all of this modchip stuff, would it be possible to just flash the original bios that came with the Xbox?

I really stopped caring about the xbox scene when I got mine working, so again sorry but no idea. I heard there are ways to do so through, via flashing, exploits, etc, look for info in www.xbox-scene.com as it was suggested.

TonK · Jun 4, 2005

I'd send it back to whoever did the mod and make them fix it for free...

Sorry to hear about that Wes...

I heard that Stankrat is having problems with his unit too...

Yodd · Jun 4, 2005

Wes said:
To anybody who's savvy when it comes to the whole modded Xbox scene: I have a few problems and questions. I currently have a modded Xbox that just stopped working for no reason. I have the Executer 2 chip in it with the mod switch installed to go from the chip to the regular Xbox settings to play on live (which now doesn't matter because my box was banned quite some time ago). What could cause the chip to just stop working? I'll turn it on with the mod switched on and it'll blink for a second and make a startup fan noise, then stop, then do it again, then stop, and then just blink red and green. Sometimes it'll boot with no problem and work, and the other 95% of the time it just flat out refuses to boot properly. I take care of my stuff, so I'm guessing it's a problem with the chip.

Are there any fixing remedies for this? I want to be able to do this without buying another chip. Would it be possible to flash the original bios with an X2? I'd assume this would be more reliable, but would it cause any problems with the now-defunct modchip installed (as long as I'd not toggle to it with the switch)?

I'm asking these things here because this is one of the few places I frequent regularly and I'd like to ask further questions in this thread, should anybody be kind enough to help me. Thanks to any who reply.

Sounds like either a loose solder joint or a loose solderless pin header adaptor.

I also suggest asking who ever did the install for you to take a look at it. Providing the chip isn't going bad (which I kinda doubt), it should be trivial to fix, at worst.

Wes said:
Then, to bypass all of this modchip stuff, would it be possible to just flash the original bios that came with the Xbox?

This depends on the revision/age of the XBox.

If its from around mid 94 or later, its most likely a revision 1.6 and those have TSOPs (bios chip) that are NOT flashable. Those have to be chipped.

Ifs its any earlier version than they can be flashed. Only thing is that the XBox still has to be opened and a couple solder joints have to be bridged to allow the TSOP to be flashed. Which ones depends on the revision of the XBox.

I would just suggest going back to either the person who did the work for you, or maybe contact one of the board members who does mod chip installs and ask them if they would help a brotha out.

SonGohan · Jun 4, 2005

GiLL said:
If its from around mid 94 or later, its most likely a revision 1.6 and those have TSOPs (bios chip) that are NOT flashable. Those have to be chipped.

Mid 94? What's this?

dannywhac · Jun 4, 2005

I think GiLL meant 'mid 2004'. I also agree that contacting the original modder would be the first step to take, or if you're good at soldering attempting a repair yourself isn't a bad idea

xbox-scene.com has decent tuts on opening your xbox, and on the top nav bar, a decent xbox model id'er. For the chip itself, check teamxecuter.com for the details on what it should look like and how to mod an xbox.
The first box i modded behaved exactly like this one, and it was due to my crap soldering, some of the solders had dry joints, so i don't think it would be a bios problem......
hope this helps......

Magnaflux · Jun 4, 2005

It's not uncommon for shitty solder joints to be prevelent in Xbox mods. Most people have the grace of a deranged monkey when it comes to weilding a soldering iron.

The traces to be soldered are small, and 30 guage wire is needed for the mod (assuming a mod chip is used, V1.6 in reference). If the modder didn't use hot glue/electrical tape to secure the soldered joints, it is quite possible that the soldered wires have come loose. It doesn't take much vibration to loosed an incorrectly soldered joint, especially with the 1.6 mod.

If you'd like to investigate yourself, you'll need a #10 and a #20 torx bit to remove the screws holding the Xbox together and to remove the motherboard from the case. Check for loose joints, loose wires ect..

Hope this helps.

If you'll be in town for a day or so around OVGE, I'll take a look at it for you.

SonGohan · Jun 4, 2005

Magnaflux said:
If you'll be in town for a day or so around OVGE, I'll take a look at it for you.

Hooooooooo... I just may take you up on that offer. sonofx51 is the one that modded this system, however I didn't buy it from him (I bought it from BIG), so I doubt I could just send it back to have him fix it without some sort of dumb fee.

Magnaflux · Jun 4, 2005

I do all the solder work and a friend of mine flashes the bioses (I don't know if there is a plural noun for bios).

This definately sounds like a loose solder connection.

Oddly enough, I don't even own an Xbox and don't really have any inclination to buy one. :spock:

Xbox modchip problems and flashing bios

SonGohan

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The Legendary LoneWolf

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SonGohan

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Amano Jacu

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SonGohan

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Amano Jacu

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SonGohan

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Amano Jacu

Charles Barkley

TonK

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Yodd

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SonGohan

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dannywhac

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Magnaflux

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SonGohan

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