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Flashing an Xecuter 2.2 or 2.3 with FlashBios and installing Evolution X |
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Flashing an Xecuter 2.2 or 2.3 with FlashBios and installing Evolution XPublished by  Jeff McCloy on 2004-05-08
Category: Xecuter | Page Views: 16,974
Introduction
I had to troubleshoot many issues when I was done installing my mod chip, so I thought I'd share what worked best for me. This does not cover the actual hardware install, just everything after that. Just so you know, I have a v1.0 4034 Xbox with a standard Thompson DVD Drive. The Memorex CD-RW, 650mb, 4x CD's worked every time for me everytime on every type of drive.
Disclaimer
Read this all the way through at least once before performing the flash. I am in no way responsible for what you do to your Xbox. If you mess it up, it's not my fault. This is exactly what worked for me and should also work for you, if you do it right. If you can't find a file you need... Uh, try xbins.org
Please note
Make sure your Xbox is not fragging. If it is, then seek help elsewhere. If you can't get your FlashBIOS (Cromwell) to display video, it could be for a few reasons. Either you have a 1.4-1.5 version motherboard with a Focus chip or you have an older version of Cromwell that is known to have issues with displaying video. If the screen is blank and the DVD tray is ejected, you have the first scenario, which is fine and you can continue. If nothing happens then you have the second scenario; in this case you need to keep powering on and off the Xbox until video is displayed.
Xbox Live 2.0 note
You need to disable the Auto Sign-In feature of Xbox Live 2.0 before you continue. It will prevent you from being banned from Live. You may enable it after you have the EvolutionX dashboard installed properly, if you like. Read how here.
Questions
If you still have questions when you are done reading, they can be answered here in this tutorial or by asking for support in our xbox-hq forums.
Preparation
- You should have the BIOS of your choice already downloaded. I would recommend the newest X2 BIOS (4981.06 repack or
newer). One with modified colors, fan speeds, and/or the LBA48 patch will work just fine if you follow the guide step-by-step.
- Acquire the following: Nero 5.5 http://www.nero.com/us/index.html (or greater, Compatible CD-RW Media, Xecuter2 BIOS Manager (in our download section) , SimpleX ISO (also in our download section), the latest version of the
EvolutionX dashboard and EvolutionX for Dummies (in our download section as a text file). If you are having troubles burning and you're not using Nero, don't
cry to anyone about it. Nero works best for what you are about to do.
- Create a dummy file 50mb or larger. A dummy file can be anyfile simply renamed to ABC.DAT or 1.DAT.
- You need to have some way to transfer files via FTP to your box.
- Create a dummy file 50mb or larger. Simply rename the file of choice ABC.DAT.
- You need to have some way to transfer files via FTP to your box. EvolutionX for Dummies describes how to do this.
Setup
- Your Xbox must be hooked up via RCA cables. This is the most reliable way since FlashBIOS wont output video any other way
reliably. I've heard about people having problems getting a good video output with FlashBIOS but my experiences have always shown this is because they are using some aftermarket video kit. Every time I booted the Xbox there was a clean signal (I
booted it many times).
Phase 1 - Creating the BIOS Update CD
- Open the Xecuter2 Bios Manager and fill the first two banks with the EXACT same BIOS byselecting the bank and the choosing
Open under "Selected Bank Options". Select the first two banks you've just imported the BIOS into and choose Save under the
"Selected Bank Options". Save the file as BIOS.BIN.
Xecuter2 BIOS Manager image
- Open up Nero (don't use the wizard). Select "CD-ROM (ISO)" and click New. Move ABC.DAT and BIOS.BIN over into the ISO
compilation. Click -File->Write CD. If you can go lower than 4x, then do it. It's always best to burn at the slowest speed possible.
If for some reason Disc at Once doesn't work for you then try Track At Once.
Phase 2 - Flashing
- Power up the Xbox with the mod chip on, unprotected with bank2 selected. Your drive tray should eject. Put the CD in the tray and close it. FlashBIOS should tell you the CD "BIOS" has been found and begin to load your new BIOS. It will automatically shutdown when done.
- If your CD isn't recognized (doesn't tell you the name of the CD), then go back into Nero and try the Track at Once burning method. If that still doesn't work then go to our forums and find out what media works best for your DVD Drive.
- If you CD is recognized and it tells you "No BIOS Found... Halting!" then go back and recheck the names of your files and make
sure bank2 is selected along with the BIOS being unprotected. If all that is correct then try a larger dummy file. If all else fails, you are still doing something wrong... probably something very simple you are overlooking.
- After the flash, you should have the latest X2 BIOS on bank1 and the original FlashBIOS on bank2.
Phase 3 - Loading EvolutionX (Dashboard)
- Read EvolutionX For Dummies and configure everything as described, especially the networking portion. Make sure you rename EVOXDASH.XBE to DEFAULT.XBE.
- Check your skins directory for any folders that begin with a number instead of a letter. If so, rename ABC.DAT to 1.DAT. This makes sure that the dummy file is written before all the other files.
- Gather the SKIN directory, your dummy file (either ABC.DAT or 1.DAT), DEFAULT.XBE, and EVOX.INI into a new folder. Open SimpleX ISO, click "Make an ISO" and point it to the new folder you just created. Save the ISO you are creating to the desktop as EVOX.ISO and close the program when it finishes. Open Nero and click -File-> Burn Image and select EVOX.ISO from thedesktop. (if Disk At Once doesn't work, try Track At Once).
- Use the switch settings of on, protect, and bank1. If your Xbox frags or the BIOS still says "Microsoft", go back to Phase 2 and reflash the BIOS.
- Power up the Xbox and place the dashboard cd in the DVD tray. The EvolutionX dashboard should load. If it doesn't, check to make sure the mod chip is on and the Xecuter2 logo comes up on boot in the place of the old Microsoft logo. If the dashboard doesn't boot then you proabably burned it wrong.
- Once the EvolutionX dashboard comes up, load your favorite FTP program on your computer (SmartFTP, LeechFTP, FlashFXP). Login using xbox as your user and pass. BACK UP YOUR C DRIVE. DO NOT FORGET TO DO THIS. After you've done that, you can upload evoxdash.xbe, evox.ini and the skins directory to the C drive.
- Close the FTP, eject the CD and choose the reboot option from the dashboard.
Phase 4 - Final Phase
- The EvolutionX dashboard will now load. You're done! Congratulations on a successful install!
Note - Playing on Xbox Live!
- You must boot your Xbox with the mod chip OFF to play Xbox Live. Microsoft looks for modified BIOS' and will ban you as soon as they recognize a foreign BIOS. You could flash the original Xbox BIOS into one of the banks and still play on Live as long as you boot from that bank but that is pointless. Use the led that the Xecuter Team gave you so you are sure you don't ever get on Xbox Live with a foreign BIOS running.
- If you plan on replacing the hard drive, remember that you have to have it locked in order to play Live. True, you can theoretically try play Live with it unlocked but in order to do this you would have to have your mod chip on. Obviously, this wouldn't work out well in the long run.
Note - Flashing the BIOS Again (after you've flashed your first good bios)
- It is recommended that you flash two different versions of your BIOS instead of using only one. Reasons primarily being incase something happens to one of the banks, you have an alternate working BIOS that it a different build. I personally choose to have the X2 4977 BIOS in bank1 and the original FlashBIOS (Cromwell) in bank2. >
- There is an argument to have it flashed another way too. If you have two different versions of the X2 BIOS and one craps out, you still have the other in another bank to boot into your dashboard or even flash from a cd. It's your choice, I've done it both ways.
Related URL: http://www.xbox-hq.com/html/modules.php?name=VIP_S |
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