Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 6:20 pm Post subject: X-BIT Modchip - REALLY NEED HELP with flashing software.
I bought an X-BIT modchip and have been having a lot of trouble trying to flash it. I used the flashing software for it - XBit v1.0. I've tried to use the program on 3 different computers, 2 amds both running xp, and i pentium running win98. Every time I start up the program and connect to the chip it is fine. When I try to flash a bios onto the chip, the program freezes, and I have had no success flashing the chip.
Has anybody else had similar problems with the XBIT software? Has anybody actually been able to successfully flash the chip?
forahobby Administrator
Joined: May 22, 2003 Posts: 23944 Location: NSW, Australia
Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 11:41 pm Post subject:
hi achiarelli and welcome to xbox-hq.com,
I havent heard of that problem before mate.. Just double check all your cables etc and re-install the flashing software on your pc again..
Let us know if you get it sorted.. Maddogtime our FTP ADMIN has a XBIT and has had no problems at all.
Heres some more info you may want to read about your XBIT in our tutorials section here:
Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 12:19 am Post subject: XBIT Software Trouble
Hi There,
Thanks for pointing me to that great tutorial! I tried starting from the beginnig again, trying the flash the chip with a new downloaded exe file of the software. Unfortunately, the same thing occured. The program just crashed. I let it stand for an hour, and when there was no progress, I had to restart my comp.
I've tried it on 3 pcs now - specs below:
1 - AMD Athalon 64 (3200+), WinXP Home SP1
2 - AMD Athalon 1800+, WinXP Home
3. Intel P2 - 333Mhz - Win98 First Edition.
On the third PC, I was able to format the chip, but the program crashed on writing the BIOS. I thought maybe although it had crashed, it still wrote the BIOS. I turned on the chip installed in my XBOX, and the xbox restarted twice before blinking red and green on the led. When the chip is off, it works like normal. I'm guessing this is because it could not find a BIOS. I have been reading that there are some compatibility issues with this software in WinXP, but my Win98PC hasn't worked either.
Maddogtime had no problems with it? Do you know the specs of the comp./CPU/Operating system he ran it on? The program itself is connecting to the chip fine, and partially formating/writing, but crashes immediately or half-way through. I am almost positive this is a software problem - cause the chip is accessed fine, and the led on the chip programmer is lit. Do you think this may possibly be a hardware problem rather than software?
Thanks for your help.
forahobby Administrator
Joined: May 22, 2003 Posts: 23944 Location: NSW, Australia
Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 1:02 am Post subject:
hi,
are you sure you are using the right sized bios for your modchip? Ill email maddogtime now and hopefully he will reply ASAP..
I'm trying to write the bios in config 5 bios 2 (256Kb). My bios file is 256Kb. I even tried using XBTOOL to make it 512KB and 1024Kb, and use those appropriate BIOS spaces on the x-bit before but no luck. Also, it took me about 15 tries to acutaly get the chip to format in the first place, let alone the BIOS writing problem. I've also read that the program is not really compatible with some USB chipsets, and some other x-bit owners have been having these kind of problems. I read an article recommending to keep trying different computers, as you may get different results.
Thanks for your continued help!
achiarelli Guest
Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 1:38 am Post subject: xbit software help
Sorry, I forgot to write my username in the above post. It's from me, achiarelli
maddogtime V.I.P. Lifetime
Joined: Nov 07, 2003 Posts: 142 Location: Finland
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 7:52 pm Post subject:
Hi man!
Sorry bout the late response but thats the way it goes: busy, busy, busy
This at least gives you an explanation from the creators themselves..
Another thing to do (cant remember if they mention it in the link) is to use XPs Compatibility option (right click the Xbit file and choose Properties) and then set the file it to Windows 95, 98 or 2000.
The other hitch is that sometimes the prog will hang EVEN if everything went the right way. In those situations just wait or simply shut down your Xbit prog after a while.
Also try the forums at xbox-scene.com - they are very good too.
Thirdly, you may not have the chip positioned correctly - on a pogo-pin install the pins need to be absolutely perfectly inserted into the tiny holes in the mainboard. Again, the official DMS tut or xbos-scene can help you.
DONT PANIC! I'll do my best to help you fix this.
Cheers!
MDT
maddogtime V.I.P. Lifetime
Joined: Nov 07, 2003 Posts: 142 Location: Finland
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 8:01 pm Post subject:
LOL! Tried to dig up some help - I just read your post on xbox-scene.com - guess you already thought of that eh?
DAMN
Urrrm....then I dont know what else to do..
Could you please explain step by step what exactly you've done from installation to now - know its stupid but im just trying to get an overall view of the situation here.
Cheers!
PS: did you find that REALLY good installation guide that exists on the xbox-scene forum - that one helped me immensely - its probly been sticky'ed by now as a lot of people found it useful...
maddogtime V.I.P. Lifetime
Joined: Nov 07, 2003 Posts: 142 Location: Finland
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 8:08 pm Post subject:
Here are some more links that may or may not be helpful:
Remember again, if you dont have the chip aligned just right with infamous D0 point (see the pictures in the tuts) your xbox led will flash red and green or the xbox will just start in normal mode and not accept copies etc..
What I recommend is that you get EVOX (D6?) which displays a purple logo in the corner of your start-up screen - that way YOU KNOW that the chip is in the right way and everything else works!
Cheers,
MDT
achiarelli Guest
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 10:01 pm Post subject: Thanks for the Great Help
Thanks a lot for the great help maddogtime, I really appreciate it. Actually, I haven't tried the winxp compatibility option on my pcs. This may prove to be successfull. I have double checked my installation and it SEEMS to be O.K., however with the D0 port I know it can be very difficult. I'm currently trying to write the evoxm7_ef (ejectfix) bios (which hasn't been completely successful). The links you gave me really were a great help in learning about the problem. I also use xbox-scene as well as it's a great resource and have taken a look at their guides (especially for opening the xbox- since I'm a newbie to this modding stuff).
Here is what I did step-by-step with the XBIT:
1. I opened my XBOX, took out HD, DVD drive
2. I unscrewed the screw on the motherboard near the LPC and D0 ports
(following the XBIT PogoPin Install Guide from XBIT Site)
3. I placed the washer over the open hole where the screw was.
4. Position the XBIT accordingly (following the install guide).
5. Used the screw with XBIT Kit to secure the XBIT.
6. The Pogopin over the D0 port was JUST TOUCHING, and not fully inside the D0 port.
7. Connected yellow and black wires to xbit and to external board (outside of xbox)
8. I put back the HD and DVD, closed the XBOX
9. Set the dip switches to bios I was going to write to.
10. Ran XBIT software on XP Machine (AMD 64 3200+) - No Success formating
11. Ran XBIT software on XP Machine2 (AMD 1800+) - No Success formating
12. Ran XBIT software on Win98 machine (Pentium 333mhz) - Formatting (to format 5) successful.
13. Writing BIOS - Not successful - would click write and the program would say Erasing 1,2,3, etc. and froze before I could even select a bios to write.
I will try to change the compatibility options in WinXP, and try to run the software. I will post a reply when I've done that to tell you if I had any success. If this doesn't work, I'm also going to try the program on some friend's and family's computers, maybe they would be better compatible.
Again, thanks for your great help,
Achiarelli
achiarelli Guest
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 10:34 pm Post subject: XBIT Software Help
Hi maddogtime.
Well, unfortunately, no luck. I ran the program on my AMD XP PC with win 2000 Compatibility mode, and it still crashed. I then tried it on my AMD XP Laptop in win 2000 and win 98 compatibility mode. In win98 mode, When I connected the USB cable to the external board and my laptop, the green led on the external board lit. I was able to connect to this chip, and chose BIOS 5 (format 5) to write to. I click write, the program was still working, and said, erasing block 26,27,28.... until it said. DONE. Then a windows common diaglog box came up and asked me to select a BIOS. I thought this was almost working. I selected my evox7_ef bios, and pressed O.K. The status on the top just kept saying DONE, and led on the external board went off, and the program crashed. I waited 5 min, and then undid the USB cable from my PC. At this point, the computer started responding again, and the program gave a "get_status" error, and "write unsuccessful" error. Thinking that the BIOS may still have been written, I hooked up my XBOX with the chip enabled. When I pressed power on my xbox, the led on the chip came on! However, the xbox restarted twice (each time led coming back on), and then started to frag. During this time the led on the chip was still on. Is this a sign that the chip itself could be functioning properly? I then turned off the XBOX, and went back to my laptop to try some more times, with no success.
I am going over to a relative's house tomorrow to try their PC. If you don't mind me asking, what are the specs on the PC you flashed your X-Bit with?
Again, thanks for your help, I'll keep you posted.
maddogtime V.I.P. Lifetime
Joined: Nov 07, 2003 Posts: 142 Location: Finland
Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 9:55 am Post subject:
Hey mate!
Good that you've found my assistance helpful - thats a first - LOL j/k
Seriously, you write that the pogopin was just touching D0...actually when I install the chip (yes, sometimes you need to refit it coz it can pop out of alignment) I make sure that that pogopin is 'pressed' into the hole of D0.
The one xbox-scene tut post I keep raving about actually tells you how to prepare the D0 by taking the tip of a small screwdriver and extremely gently turn one of the sharp tips on either side of the screwdriver around inside the d0 point to widen it for the pogopin - BE CAREFUL this could break the d0 point if youre not!!! The other thing is to make sure to wash all the points with alcohol (PLEASE READ THE DMS XBIT TUT OR THE XBOX SCENE POST BEFORE DOING THIS) to remove any hindrances to the connections of the pogopins.
I forgot to add that the XBIT LED being on DOES NOT mean that the chip is placed correctly! It only means that there is a connection running between the mini-console and the chip itself.
I'll keep digging for that post and get you the specs for my PC as best I can remember as I keep changing configs (mainboard, chip etc)..
CHEERS
achiarelli Guest
Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 12:20 pm Post subject: XBOX Software Help
Hi maddogtime.
When I installed my chip, and screwed it in, it seemed like the pogopin wasn't acutally going to go into the D0 port. Not because it wouldn't fit, but because the chip seemed a little raised with the spacer over the hole where the screw was. When I tried to lightly push the D0 pin into the d0 port, the chip just went back up to its original position when I took my hand away from pressing it down to the d0 port. I guess I'm gonna have to check my installation again too.
However, the XBIT specifications states that even with the XBIT not installed in the XBOX, you should be able to flash it, write a bios, etc. So even if it isn't installed properly, the XBIT should still be able to connect to PC, flash, write BIOS, etc. shouldn't it? I am going to use another computer today at a relative's house to see if it will be able to write the bios. Before I installed it in the XBOX, I actually tried to flash it, write the bios to the XBIT with no success either. If I can actually successfully write a BIOS to the chip, and it still frags, then I can tell for sure if it is not installed properly.
I didn't clean my D0 port with alcohol or use a screwdrive to widen it. If I figure out later it's not installed properly, I'll try that. I am a little hesitant to do that however, because I don't want to ruin the motherboard.
I'll keep you posted.
Thanks again,
achiarelli
maddogtime V.I.P. Lifetime
Joined: Nov 07, 2003 Posts: 142 Location: Finland
Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 3:19 pm Post subject:
Yeah, youre absolutely right that you should be able to flash your BIOS regardless of the positioning/working of the actual chip!
And you can flsh the chip without it being connected to the main board too.
When you connect the Xbit mini-console or whatever its called using the USB did you try replacing either your mouse or keyboard for the XBIT USB, ie. unplug either your keyboard or mouse and plug the xbit into one of those usb ports? That worked for me anyways... unless thats what youve already done of course..
My PC at the time was an ASUS mainboard, AMD Athlon XP chip, 512k of RAM, a NVIDIA 5200 graphics card and so on..
achiarelli Guest
Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 3:00 am Post subject: XBIT Flashing Finally Works!
Hi maddogtime,
IT WORKED! I went over to my relative's house, and connected the chip to the USB port of their computers. At first, I was able to connect, but then when I tried to write the BIOS it flashed. Just as I was about to give up, I restarted the computer and connected again. I did a complete format again and set the chip to "configuration 6". This was successful. Then, I wrote my bios to Bios 3 on the chip. The program said, "writing 256 bytes remaining ... 255,254, all the way to 1 and DONE!!!!! I couldn't believe it! I brought the xbox back home, and turned it on. However, it turned out that bringing it to my relative's house made the chip come loose. So, I opened it up again, re-aligned it, and secured it with the screw. I put the HD, DVD drive in place, placed the top and the XBOX, and bravo, it turned on without fragging. I put in my evox boot disc, was able to connect to the xbox via ftp, back up my xbox hard drive, copy evox to my xbox hard drive, took out the disc, and restarted. When I turned it on, I saw the normal xbox intro and logo, and then, EvolutionX!!!! It worked! The bios seemed to be flashed successfully!
Thank you for all your help and the great links you have provided. Now I just have to learn how to fully use EvolutionX!
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