Xecuter X3 XBOX Modchip BIOS User's Manual

X3 Modchip and BIOS Installation Instructions

This installation section covers installing the X3 Modchip, where the X3 BIOS can be found, flashing the BIOS, and other installation related issues.

Index << X3 BIOS User Interface Concepts Main X3 BIOS Screen>>

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Contents:

X3 ModChip Installation Requirements

X3 BIOS Installation Requirements

X3 ModChip Installation Resources

1. Finding the ModChip

2. Soldering Information

3. XBOX Version

4. Installation Guides

5. Installation Troubleshooting

 

X3 BIOS Installation Instructions

1. Obtaining the X3 BIOS

2. Installing a BIOS

Updating an Existing X3 BIOS (HTTP)

New/First Time X3 Install (FTP Flash Method)

 

3. Upgrading Cromwell FlashBIOS Backup BIOS

4. Flashing Multiple Banks (Multi-BIOS Installation)

 

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Physical Modchip Installation Requirements:

Microsoft XBOX

Xecuter X3 ModChip Kit

Soldering Tools: Soldering Iron, Solder (Rosin Core, Fine Gauge ~0.032"), Wick or Gun, Torx T10 & T20, Hair Dryer or Heat Gun & Craft Knife (Sticker Removal), and a little Wax Paper (Removed Sticker Protection)

For those of you that will be installing a lot of chips over time, I recommend a good quality variable temperature soldering iron. The best one I found, for the money, was a "Signature SGS-1000", for about $60-$90 with a fine-tip point. If you don't plan on soldering much, then get a cheap 15Watt Soldering Iron instead.

Patience, Installation Instructions, CAREFUL READING OF INSTRUCTIONS

 

Modchip BIOS Installation Requirements:

FTP Program

IRC or BitTorrent Clients - BIOS Retreival

WinRAR. Team Xecuter has a great Tutorial available on How To Use WinRAR.

 

Physical Installation of X3 Modchip:

The actual installtion of the modchip is not covered directly in this document, but don't worry. I will not leave you hanging. Here is everything you need to know to physically install the modchip. The biggest problem people have seems to be getting the solder to make a good connect. I have never had a cold solder joint by using a very fine gauge (thin) solder and using as much solder as I can without risking crossing connections.

1. Did you find a X3 modchip yet?

   I'm assuming you already have the Microsoft XBOX. Use the vendors on http://www.teamxecuter.com or search Google for the X3 Modchip Retailers. You should be able to find one for less than $65 including shipping. Watch out for those shipping charges some dealers pile on for all 6 ounces of components in the X3 kit.

2. For the Soldering Novice:

   Here are a couple good soldering guides: http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/solder.htm or http://www.epemag.com/solderfaq/pictures.htm
   Read these a few times and practice once or twice on a $2 board from radioshack.

3. Find Out What XBOX Version You Have:

   Idealy, you should have done this before ordering the modchip, but you have to know which directions to follow. http://www.xbox-scene.com/versions.php

4. Download, Save, and/or Print the Installation Guide:

   Team Xecuter has gone to great lengths to provide a complete installation guide. v1.0-v1.5 XBOX or v1.6 XBOX. Read these guides very carefully two or three times before doing it. Take your time: Installing the chip isn't a race. If you are patient, careful, follow all direction carefully and correctly, then your very first install will work just fine. Remember that your XBOX is sensitive to static. Follow good anti-static procedures.

   Tips:

   A Hair Dryer or Heat Gun will help you warm up the stickers to lift them with a craft knife or other blade.
   
   Wax Paper can be placed against the sticky part of the lifted stickers to keep the glue fresh and to keep the stickers from reattaching themselves in a bad spot.
   
   Also use Wax Paper to go under the sticky pads that have to be lifted up too.
   
   Touch a grounded metal structure (E.g. Lamp) often or use a grounding strap.
   
   Add solder to the tips of the 3 wires first. Add a little drop of solder to the 3 tiny ass points on the XBOX motherboard second. Then solder the wires to the points.
   
   Use electrical tape to hold the pin header or wires in place while soldering.
   
   Use electrical tape to mask off nearby places on the motherboard to avoid soldering to the wrong spot.
   
   Do *NOT* hold the soldering iron against a soldering point too long or you will burn your motherboard.
   
   I, by far, prefer the "LPC Header" install. Soldering the least number of shitty wires is better.
   
   Take your time and follow directions carefully. Those guides are very well written compared to many I have seen.

5. Installation Troubleshooting: So it didn't go well? Your XBOX isn't booting and/or you are getting the "Flashing Red And Green" (FRAG) Lights. Not to worry, there have been many articles and tutorials published along these lines.

   http://home.comcast.net/~x3guide/InstallationTroubleshootingFAQ.htm - Installation Troubleshooting FAQ from Unofficial X3 Guide & FAQ
   
   http://www.xbox-scene.com/articles/leds.php - LED Color Meanings
   
   http://www.xbox-scene.com/articles/lpc-diag.ph - LPC Diagnostics using a Digital Multi-Meter to test the board.
   
   http://www.xbox-scene.com/articles/errorcodes.php - Error Codes Explained
   
   http://www.xbox-scene.com/articles/red-orange.php - Fixing the FRAG Problems
   
   Post 1 and Post 5 on http://www.teamxecuter.com/forums/showpost.php?p=32785

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X3 BIOS Installation: So you have the X3 ModChip installed, but now you need to install a BIOS.

1. Obtaining BIOS (X3 Main BIOS or Cromwell "Backup" BIOS) Archives:

   The XBINS group has a website for release information and an IRC channel / FTP server for getting the files. First read the XBINS FAQ.

   Then if you are new to IRC, read the Using #XBins Tutorial.

   Finally, once you have connected to the IRC channel and issued the trigger keep the IRC channel open and open an FTP program. I personally recommend FileZilla or LeechFTP as they are both free. The guides use a shareware program instead. The settings you need are the same for any standard FTP program: FTP Server, Username, Password. From there it is all about dragging and dropping files to transfer them to your computer. If you need to read the guide on FTPing at the end of the "Using #XBins Tutorial".
   
   Tips:

   The Xecuter BIOS and Cromwell BIOS files are located in /XBOX/bios/Xecuter/Xecuter3 and /XBOX/bios/Xecuter/flashbios_cromwell respectively.
   
   While you are logged in, go ahead and download a dashboard. I strongly recommend Avalaunch found in /XBOX/apps/dashboards/avalaunch/ as this dashboard is very full-featured.

Alternative: Instead of downloading mIRC or some other IRC client you can go to the following website: http://www.macsat.com/xbins/ and wait for it to connect. It should take about a minute or so before you see names on the right hand side. Some of the names will have "@" next to them. This is a good sign that you are connected properly. In the long box next to the "Send" button type: /msg xbins !list and read the information it gives you carefully. Write down the username, password, and ftp site. Put that information into an FTP program like FileZilla and connect to it. You must put that '/msg xbins !list' command in each time before you connect to the ftp site that xbins gives you. Once you have connected to the FTP site you can download files.
2. Installing a BIOS: Now that you have downloaded the BIOS images you need to install them on the X3 modchip. There are two ways to do this. If this is the first time you are installing BIOS on this modchip then follow one of the FlashBIOS Tutorials on Team Xecuter's website. Personally, I like the HTTP one if you have your XBOX "Networked" already, otherwise choose from:

   FlashBIOS Tutorials: - Main Page Contains Some Basic Info

   Flash Via HTTP - This method uses a network cable or wireless adapter to directly upload the BIOS to the XBOX. (Preferred)

   Flash Via Hard Drive - This method requires that you already have the BIOS .bin file on your XBOX harddrive. Not a good choice for brand new X3 installs.

   Flash Via Disc - This method has you create a CD or DVD with the BIOS on it. This can be tricky, but might be worth a try if networking is not an option.

   Additional Information:

   How To Create a Dummy File for a FlashBIOS Compliant CD or DVD

   How To Create a FlashBIOS Compliant CD

   How To Create a FlashBIOS Compliant DVD

Updating an Existing X3 BIOS: If you have already installed the X3 BIOS, then simply use these instructions to update it with a new version.

Via Network: FTP or HTTP. The X3 BIOS has a basic FTP (File Transfer) and HTTP (Webpage) Server installed in it. Either of these can be utilized to update your BIOS. Both methods require that the XBOX be Networked first.

HTTP Flash Method: (Recommended) - Use a Web Browser to transfer the BIOS .bin file.


1. Boot up the existing X3 bios on your XBOX.

Type the IP address of your XBOX into the address bar of your web browser (E.g. FireFox or Internet Explorer).
Click "Browse" and locate the .bin BIOS file you already downloaded in Step 1 or type the location of that file including the filename into the textfield. Click the "Upload BIOS!" button.

2. Select the Bank to flash the BIOS to. Generally the default bank is fine. Click "Flash It!".


3. Wait for the Flash process to complete. If you were flashing the Main ROM (E.g. First time X3 installs.) then you can give the BIOS a specific name by pressing "X", or you can accept the default name by pressing "B" to go back to the menus.
4. Power off your XBOX, wait 10 seconds, and power it back on. (If the XBOX goes right to a game or dashboard, hold down the white button and reboot the XBOX again.)


If this is a new modchip, for instance, the following method *must* be used. If you messed up your main BIOS you can follow these directions by pressing and holding for a second or two both the "Power" and the "Eject" buttons on the xbox. This will start FlashBIOS v3.0x manually.

FTP Flash Method: Use an FTP program to transfer the BIOS .bin file to the C: drive of the XBOX. Then from the existing X3 BIOS main screen:


1. Click on "Bios Tools".
2. Click on "Flash Main ROM".
3. Click on "Load BIOS from C:".
4. Browse for the .bin (X3 ####.bin) file you uploaded and click it.
5. Choose which bank to save the BIOS to. (Usually select the first choice.) Click "Yes" when asked "Are you sure you want to flash?"
6. Wait for the Flash process to complete. If you were flashing the Main ROM (E.g. First time X3 installs.) then you can give the BIOS a specific name by pressing "X", or you can accept the default name by pressing "B" to go back to the menus.
7. Power off your XBOX, wait 10 seconds, and power it back on. (If the XBOX goes right to a game or dashboard, hold down the white button and reboot the XBOX again.)

3. Upgrading the Backup BIOS: You can update the backup BIOS, however it is recommended that you leave it alone unless you have a reason to upgrade the backup BIOS. If you use the wrong version of the Cromwell FlashBIOS for your version of XBOX, you may run into problems.

   v1.0-v1.5 XBOX can use FlashBIOS 3.03
   v1.6b XBOX can use FlashBIOS 3.03
   v1.6 XBOX should use FlashBIOS 3.01
   
   If you still must update the "Backup BIOS" then:

   FTP Flash Method: Use an FTP program to transfer the Cromwell BIOS .bin file to the C: drive of the XBOX. Make sure you are using the right version of the BIOS for your XBOX!!! Then from the existing X3 BIOS main screen:

   
   1. Click on "Bios Tools".
   2. Click on "Flash Backup ROM". ("Flash Main ROM" is pictured here, but be sure to select "Flash Backup ROM" instead.)
   3. Click on "Load 256k BIOS from C:" (or which ever drive you uploaded the new Cromwell FlashBIOS .bin to.)
   4. Browse for the .bin (X3 ####.bin) file you uploaded and click it.
   5. Click "Yes" when asked "Really flash the Backup Flash Rom?"
   6. Wait for the Flash process to complete. You can press "B" to return to the main BIOS you had booted earlier.

4. Flashing Multiple Banks: The Xecuter X3 modchip has a software based internal or external physical switch that can be used to control which BIOS is currently active. The X3 BIOS uses 1024KiloBytes of space on the modchip which leaves another 1024KB of space for other BIOSes if you need them. I have tried 3 other BIOSes and found them lacking the features I was spoiled with in the X3. Simply flash a different bank or set of banks when the X3 asks you which bank you want to flash. The X3 has 8 banks of 256KB each. It takes banks 1-4 to yield enough memory to hold the X3 BIOS. Other BIOSes might be smaller or larger.
   I recommend that you read: http://home.comcast.net/~x3guide/SwitchInfo.htm on the X3 Switch from the Unofficial X3 Guide for further information.

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Index << X3 BIOS User Interface Concepts Main X3 BIOS Screen>>

Copyright ©2005 Tor Nichols.  All Rights Reserved.