Guide to flashing your NEW Xecuter 2.2 or 2.3B with FlashBIOS and
Installing EvolutionX
by lookformeb - v2.01 (revised:
01.01.2004, 2:12 am)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 (or greater, Compatible CD-RW Media, Xecuter2 BIOS Manager , SimpleX ISO, the latest version
of the
EvolutionX dashboard and EvolutionX for Dummies. 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 and make all of the settings identical to the following pictures: Multisession Tab , ISO Tab, Label Tab, Burn Tab. 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 and your screen though look like this: FlashBIOS Screen Shot.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 http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?act=ST&f=11&t=12727tand 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
- 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. Make sure you are burning with the settings as
pictured here(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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Props to the Xbox Scene website and forums people. When I had
problems, they were more then willing to help me though it. Without them, I'd
be lost. Know your roots! Great job guys! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revisions -
1.0 - 7/30/03
-
a special thanks goes out to terrorbyte for taking the time to point out things to
add -
added an additional note regarding flashing the bios again.
made an
addition to the playing on xbox live! note
added a comment on cold booting
your xbox for best results
1.0 - 7/29/03
completely
revised the burning section of phase three. the original seemed a bit
flaky
and not very reliable.
0.99 - 7/28/03 -
revised
some of phase 2 & 3
0.99 - 7/27/03
-
completely rewrote the tutorial. i found writing a tutorial at 3am after
working
hard was a terrible idea. i still have to go through proof reading
before i consider
this done. i try not to do anything half-assed A
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