Just Flashed Xbox&Lost Everything Apart From MS Dash

[famitsu1]

Hi,
bit of an update:
well thanks to the help and generousity of a couple of forum members(huge thanks)I attempted running a couple of installer disc's to see if I could get past the MS dash to my Evo-X dash but absolutely no joy at all.The console just wouldn't accept the discs.What do I do now?
Would it be possible just to get another 2.3b lite chip which has a couple of bios's already installed and simply swap this with my knackered one?Would this work,I ask as I'am not sure if the actual bios flash/info is held on the actual chip or on the harddrive.If the bad flash is held on the harddrive would it simply be a case of installing a new HDD?
I don't suppose the new Xecuter chips like the 2.6 and 3 are wired up exactly the same to the MB,in which case I could simply swap mine with one of these?
Thanks again famitsu1

[g-funk]

So your still getting the MS dash? and the chip is definitely switched on? Can you remember exactly what bios you flashed it with? Some of the new ones are for version 1.6 consoles only.

You might need to send it to me.

[famitsu1]

Hi mate,
yeah I flashed it with the Evo-X M8 plus multi bios,was this the wrong bios to use?I'am guessing it must have been a bad flash,but it did not tell me this.
I'll try and be more sepecific to hopefully let you know exactly whats happening:
With the switch/chip disabled the console loads to the MS dash and works no problems as an upchipped pal machine.
With the switch/chip enabled the console acts really funny.You press power and it attempts to boot up,the green light comes on for a second and then it turns off,its does this again and then it boots up,except all you get is a black screen and you can hear the HDD trying to be acessed but nothing.I've then tried switching to bank 2 and the same thing happens again.Any ideas?
With the auto installer discs and the chip enabled I can't get past the black screen.And obviously with the chip disabled the Xbox refuses to reconise the disc as an Xbox disc.
Following someone else's advice I've now gone and ordered an X2 programmer,I figure for ?15 its worth a try,do you reckon this is the right way to go?
Huge thanks famitsu1

[g-funk]

Yeah, you defo need a programmer to reflash the chip. The only downside is getting it to work well with windows, don't know if the newer ones are better but the first ones were a pain to get working. I'd start looking at guides just now.

To be honest I'd stick with the Xecutor 4983 bios, you dont need the Evox M8 one, thats mainly to solve problems with the new machines, it also doesnt have the protection of not letting you accidently access Live with the chip enabled like the 4983.

Let me know how the Programmer goes.

[famitsu1]

Hi,
cheers for the info.Had no idea there were possible hassles with getting the X2 programmer to work with Windows.Had a brief look at one tutorial and it makes no mention of this.Wouldn't mind providing a few links would you?
Is it the actual X2 bios manager v2.2 app you use with the programmer that has the conflict with Windows or the actual hardware?
Yeah just picked up the most recent Xecuter 2 4983 bios which I think was installed previous to my cockup.
Just ordered the programmer from :

https://www.kanection.co.uk

Well its an adventure and learning experience to say the least.Only a few days ago I has never considered opening up my Xbox,fearing that I would never be able to put it back together again but its actually all very simple,so thats one positive thing to come out of this.
I'll let you now how I get on with the programmer.
Cheers famitsu1

[g-funk]

Its just that you need to hook the programmer up to a printer port on your PC, windows sometimes doesnt see it right (thats the easy explanation)

the newer ones might be better though

[smouty]

On the programmer I always remove the two bolts that hold the metal connector shroud on and plug the programmer directly into the PC parallel port. Only way I was able to get it working reliably.

[famitsu1]

Hi,
thanks for the continuing help fella's.
I've actually got 2 pc's here,1 running Windows 98,the other XP so hopefully I should be able to get this running OK on 1 machine.
Stupid question but do I need to keep the external switch pcb attached to the main 2.3b board whist I'am using the programmer?
Cheers famitsu1

[g-funk]

No, not as far as I remember. Also, I think you will have better luck with the Win 98 machine

[g-funk]

How did this go? did your programmer work out ok?

[famitsu1]

Hi fella,
talk about timing.
Well the programmer arrived early last week and what with night shifts and other stuff I only got around to attempting this today.
At this precise moment nothing would give me greater pleasure than to take a large hammer to the chip and programmer unit,its really aggivating.
The programmer does seem to initially work as the appropriate lights come on both it and the chip when plugged into the LPT port.
Thing is the bios manager program refuses to reconise the chip on both my PC's(98 and XP).Looking at the read me file for the app it doesn't mention that it is compatible with 98,just 2000 and XP.So i concentrated on getting it working on my XP machine.As soon as I run the manager program the blue lights on the chip and programmer just go out and an orange led is the only led left on.
The settings on my pc for the LPT port don't seem to exactly match up thoe.The manager asks for port 378,my pc as this down as being 0378(same with the others,my pc always sticks a 0 infront of the port number)I've gone into settings and fiddled about but still no luck.I really don't know how to change the port numbers on my PC,I have tried but what with not exactly knowing what I'am doing I've got no where.
Do i have to connect the switch bank unit as well,I read somewhere that you do have to do this with the 2.6 chip.
Help!!!!!!!!!
Ta Simon