Posted: Sat May 29, 2010 11:56 pm Post subject: Xapt3r And Smartxx V3 FRAG
I installed a SmartXX V3 in my 1.0 Xbox a few years ago and I mainly use it for XBMC. It has always worked great and hasn't required much maintenance at all, but recently I started getting flashing ring lights on startup. A few restarts would usually fix the issue and it would boot normally, but now when pressing power it starts up 3 times and then FRAGs. The small blue status LED on the SmartXX itself never turns on. If I remove the SmartXX, the 3 blue LEDS on the Xapt3r come on as expected, and the single red LED (for D0) flashes once or twice, and the original Xbox bios loads normally. I've looked at the motherboard, Xapt3r and SmartXX and everything looks fine, with no solder splatter where the Xapt3r pins touch the motherboard.
I've searched for a solution to this and it seems like these solderless solutions are often unreliable, so I'm thinking it's a problem with the Xapt3r even though I've reseated it quite a few times. Is it possible that the Xapt3r or it's installation (I didn't use furrows in the mobo holes by the way) is bad even though the LEDs all come on as expected without the SmartXX? I also have the option of doing a soldered install using the pin header that came with the SmartXX, but I don't want to go through the trouble if it's easy to fix the Xapt3r install or likely that the SmartXX is dead.
Thanks in advance!
wes213 Administrator
Joined: Feb 04, 2007 Posts: 10520 Location: Harrisonburg V.A.
Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 2:05 am Post subject:
If the solder-less is making contact then i would say its a failing chip, if all fails you could just softmod and bypass the chip or grab a new chip.
Hard to say since a full light frag can be most anything.
Try a different harddrive, see if it boots up ok. _________________
skop Xbox-HQ Newbie
Xbox Version: 1.0 - 1.6 Modded: TSOP - Xecuter2.6
Joined: May 29, 2010 Posts: 4
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 2:20 am Post subject:
I don't think the hard drive is the issue as the original BIOS loads fine (albeit with a missing drive error) if I remove the modchip. I've also now removed the Xapt3r from the equation and soldered the pin header to the LPC and have the D0 wire soldered correctly, and it still FRAGs. I can post pictures of my soldering job here if someone can confirm it looks ok.
Is it normal for modchips to just stop working after a while? All the traces and chips on the modchip look in perfect condition and nothing in my Xbox ever smelled like a burnout, but maybe I just need a new chip. If I did get a new chip, would my existing HDD work fine, or would I need to do anything special to it?
wes213 Administrator
Joined: Feb 04, 2007 Posts: 10520 Location: Harrisonburg V.A.
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 6:07 am Post subject:
If it is the chip then you will just need to swap it and your good to go.
I did have one X-2 chip that gave out on me and my reprogramer wouldn't even let me flash it.
skop Xbox-HQ Newbie
Xbox Version: 1.0 - 1.6 Modded: TSOP - Xecuter2.6
Joined: May 29, 2010 Posts: 4
Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 9:39 pm Post subject:
Any recommendations for a new chip? I'm in the US and I'd like to avoid any sites in legal trouble.
Also, would it be possible to softmod my box and use the existing upgraded hard drive that has XBMC and a bunch of other apps installed? Or would I need to start from scratch with a new drive?
wes213 Administrator
Joined: Feb 04, 2007 Posts: 10520 Location: Harrisonburg V.A.
Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:27 am Post subject:
If the xbox boots to the MS dash with out the chip then you should be able to just softmod it with XBMC as your dash then transfer the userdata to the new XBMC and be good to go.
Best chip by far would be the X-3.
skop Xbox-HQ Newbie
Xbox Version: 1.0 - 1.6 Modded: TSOP - Xecuter2.6
Joined: May 29, 2010 Posts: 4
Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:14 am Post subject: Can I use my previously modded hard drive?
I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. I'm probably going to order a new chip, but in the meantime, I'd like to softmod if I can use my existing hard drive - an upgraded hdd I have been using in my chipped box. This drive has XBMC as it's dashboard and has tons of audio/video content on it I'd like to use. Is it possible to do this?
Also, if I get the Xecuter 3 ce, I should just be able to use my existing HDD with XBMC and other apps already installed, correct? Is there any reason to get the X3 vs X2 if I'm happy with my existing XBMC setup?
wes213 Administrator
Joined: Feb 04, 2007 Posts: 10520 Location: Harrisonburg V.A.
Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 2:53 pm Post subject:
As long as you can boot the MS dash on the HDD you can softmod it and there is no need to get the X3 over the X2 except the fact the X3 has way more options.
I am sure if you get the X2 you will be happy.
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