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[uradodah]

QUOTE(stormz @ Mar 14 2009, 02:56 PM)

hi. ive read a few guides saying that i need to solder a switch onto the drive and ive read another guide saying i can flash it using iprep. so can i just use iprep and plug it straight into my sata port?

Hmm...

I have a Hitachi drive (47) right now but ordered a BenQ (VAD6038) a few days ago.  I'm switching because my Hitachi drive is *way* too loud at the new 'default' 12x drive speed built into the new f/w's going forward.

With that said, I've been doing *a lot* of research on how to spoof/flash the BenQ once I get it - since I have no previous experience with that brand of drive.  I have to tell you - not once - have I seen *any* mention of soldering the drive.  I'm not sure where you're getting that info.

I PM'd a senior member of the board just yesterday to try and gain a bit more info on the flashing process once I get the drive.  Here's a copy, word-for-word, of his response:

QUOTE

Jungle flasher is a peice of s**t (my edit).
All you need is the original.bin from your hitachi. You put that in a folder with hacked ben q firmware and use the command prompt tool firmtool to make the hacked firmware spoofed and with your key. Now you have a perfect hacked and spoofed firmware ready to flash in dosflash32

Then, I followed with another question and received this response:

QUOTE

Firmtool will spoof and copy your key. Your ready to flash after using firmtool.

all you do is open a command prompt and type
FIRMTOOL YOURORIG.BIN HACKEDFIRM.BIN

The hacked firmbin file is injected with everything and ready to write with dosflash

Finally, I asked if he knew if my new BenQ (ordered from eBay) would already have the stock f/w on it - or - if I would have to put a new, spoofed, stock f/w on it *prior* to flashing the new 1.51 hacked f/w.  Here was his response to that question:

QUOTE

It doesn't matter what firmware is on the drive you get, it can be original, hacked, corrupted or blank.

You are just erasing it anyhow.

You either need a dump of your hitachi, orginal or hacked doesnt matter. Or you just need the 32 digit key and you can open the benq ix151 in firmware toolbox paste your key in save it and then manually spoof your hitachi. you would need firmtool if you did it that way.

I would just redump the hitachi if i where you and use firmtool. Less chance for mistakes.

So - as you can see - *no* mention of any soldering.  Again, I don't know where you got that information.

If you omit the parts about my Hitachi f/w, the flashing process should be the exact same for you - ie - using Firmtool and Dosflash.  Dosflash32 can access BenQ drives through Dos - which is a good thing because you essentially can't brick a BenQ drive.  You'll always be able to access the drive through Dos!  That is, of course, unless you physically fry the drive.

I hope this info helps.  It helped me a lot!

Best of luck!

[stormz]

cheers man. it was right here in the tutorials section-

 http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=619356

also im just flashing the drive that was originally in the console so i dont need to bother with getting the key do i??

it was in textbooks tutorial that said its possible using iprep

[caster420]

QUOTE(stormz @ Mar 14 2009, 06:05 PM)

cheers man. it was right here in the tutorials section-

 http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=619356

also im just flashing the drive that was originally in the console so i dont need to bother with getting the key do i??

it was in textbooks tutorial that said its possible using iprep

Heh, stop reading old news and look for something current. You do not need to solder anymore and of course you need to read your key.  If you flash over your firmware without first reading it, your console will never boot games again.  

Try reading this or this.

Caster.

[uradodah]

QUOTE(caster420 @ Mar 14 2009, 05:37 PM)

Heh, stop reading old news and look for something current. You do not need to solder anymore and of course you need to read your key.  If you flash over your firmware without first reading it, your console will never boot games again.  

Try reading this or this.

Caster.

+1

@stormz-

Caster makes a good point - make sure you're reading current info.    You have 2 fairly solid choices to at least get you started: Firmtool/Dosflash or Jungle Flasher.

Again, I haven't *yet* flashed a BenQ with J.Flasher but the tutorial is pretty good.  Some people are having issues with J. Flasher - seems like primarily connectivity issues with their drives - but if you SAVE YOUR KEY before doing anything, you'll be alright in the long run.

Throughout my research, if I'm remembering this correctly, I saw a tutorial for flashing that involved the use of Dosflash on Team Xecuter's website.  They sell the connectivity kits so their tutorials are built around that type of connection to your PC - but the actual flashing portion of the tutorial is the same - regardless of what connection you use.  You might want to do a Google search and check it out.

I'm sure you'll be fine!