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[MacLeod]

Hello people. I have made this topic to try and pull all resources out there to clear up the issue of Error 21 on the XBOX.  

Recently I was having problems with my DVD drive, it has been spitting out my CD's and DVD's and I have no reason why - I am going to try cleaning it, and possible re-align tray (due to the little  information I have found regarding this occurance) - I have heard that the DVD drive just gives up after a while in the xbox but that answer doesn't cut it for me.

At this point I thought I would try out Star Wars Demo disc, with playable demo of Battlefront to see if it would spit that out too - it did in the end (after varying times). The disc updated my XBOX with live, which I previously did not have. For a laugh I tried placing a DVD back into my drive to see if the modification of dashboard helped the DVD drive read the disc.

Now I recieve an Error 21 message  - I have read various pieces of information suggesting issues with DVD drive causing this error as well as the Live uppdate creating this issue . One solution which I saw suggested installing XBOX Live another way http://www.xbox-scen...ve-xboxdash.php seems a lil fiddly but will give it a go probably.

My question to the scene is does anyone know what the deal is with DVD drives failing and any stable explanation for the Error 21 issue?

[corpsejockey]

Error code 21 - I see this a lot form softmodders.  Some of the exploits require m$dash 4920, and if the dash is not downgraded, you get error 21.  It can also give this error when trying to use 3rd party memory cards to transfer a game save hack to softmod.  In your case, I would first need to know how you modded your xbox.  If you have a softmod, the trilogy dvd probably updated your dash.  I think that the newer dash versions look for the .xtf files in the c: root instead of the font folder (or maybe both - I don't remember).  You will have to gain ftp access and restore c:

Edit:  Forgot about the dvd drive.  What brand dvd drive do you have?  Thomsons seem to fail the most, but are easy to fix.  Burned media seems to shorten the laser life of all the drives.  That is why I only use the drive to backup my games to the hdd.
BTW- it could have updated your hacked dash if you had renamed it to replace the original dash.  

This post has been edited by corpsejockey: Oct 11 2004, 05:22 PM

[MacLeod]

I am not a softmodder. I have no third-party memorycards in use when I am trying this out. I use the ALX+R2 mod chip, a cheap one but has always worked fine with me! I don't want to back-up from my old xbox information. Basically because I dont feel this is a solution, raather a dont know, give up response. I thank you for your information but I would prefer to find the real cause of this problem. I believe it is in fact xbe related due to the update - but what did it do??? I read some small piece of information relating to possible file location issues, but no extensive investigation was conducted. Any information or tests anyone would like me to try out to help solve this issue are more than welcome.

[corpsejockey]

The dash update is pretty self explainitory - it updated the M$dash to the latest version dash.  The reason softmodders have problems with this is because the newer dashes have been fixed to prevent these exploits from working.  The only reason this could have affected you is if you renamed your choice dash to xboxdash.xbe (which you should not have needed to do because x2 4983 bios does not require this).  Using your C: backup to restore the dash IS a viable solution.  In fact, it may be the only way to recover the hdd.  If you do not like this solution (yes, it is a solution to your problem), you should search the forums for more info before telling me that what I offered is not a solution to your problem.

Edit:  You can also find the M$dash on a slayers auto-installer.

This post has been edited by corpsejockey: Oct 11 2004, 06:09 PM

[MacLeod]

Hmmm corpsejockey, don't take i to heart, what you said is a solution of sorts but one path that I don't/didn't want to take. I however made a big boob of myself   as I have worked out why I was getting the Error 21 code, so I appologise for wasting your time - and again thank you for sparing it.

The reason I was getting the Error 21 code was because I had a patched original dashboard (for region free) and when I went to 'Launch DVD' in my dash it booted that region free xbe, which now referred to wrong file locations (regarding updates from Battlefront demo).

To summarise I was a fool for bothering ppl about Error 21, but I still have an issue with my DVD drive. I have just finished cleaning my xbox drive and that did not seem to make much difference , I did not adjust pot or re-align tray as I wanna research more before tearing DVD drive apart. So if anyone has any sweet ideas - bring em on!   Thanks for the help corpsejockey!

[corpsejockey]

I did sound like a dick, didn't I?  I work in customer service and people bitch at me all day.  I guess today was worse than others.  Sorry I was not much help - I did not know you patched the original .xbe.

[CrystalXBOX]

HI.  Hope this is ok in the post.  I got error 21 with a softmod and I do think it had an updated dash from Xbox live.  Question is... I have no backup of C.. how can I FTP into the xbox?  I planned to run the Slayer disc and backup after using the MA exploit.  So basically I guess I need to know precisely what I am I to do now that I've tried to run the exploit on an updated dash  Just be brutally honest and let me know what I have to do.  This box is for my younger cousins and i'm going to have to eat anything if it has to do with $$$.. that's why I was doing softmod and not a chip because it's free  anyways.. I'd appreciate any advice.

OH... like to ad that I do have access to my XBOX with Aladdin chip, so if I have to use my box to get into the other drive, etc.. please do let me know.  Sooner the better so that I don't fock nothing else up

SNAP!! I just turned off and put MA back in and the original disc booter.  I know I can run the exploit now.  How can I downgrade the dash and do this properly?  I feel a tiny bit better at the moment....

AND.... before I started, M$ dash info is K: 5101 and D: 5960

[CrystalXBOX]

Ok.. i'm going to stick to this forum for right now as opposed to the "exploits".  I have done the exploit more than once before, so now I feel this is a hardware issue now.  To recap.. I tried running the exploit on an xbox live updated dash and now get error 21.  

What I can do...

Can still boot an original disc from DVD
Have access to my chipped xbox in case it helps




What I can't do...

Run the MA save anymore (says run linux, but will no longer work)
Access the hard drive in any kind of way




Is it because the hard drive is locked?  I did write down the HD key when I was messing with the exploit before the crash.  Should I try to unlock it from my PC and then be able to reinstall to the drive?  I can comprehend really well.. please someone lay it on me.  I have both boxes open, the one i'm trying to softmod and my chipped box.  Also have whatever PC access I might need, if any!  If you have any ideas, please let me know.  You won't be wasting your time.  I need to know what I have to do to restore this drive to a usable condition?  WHat are my options?

EDIT:  I've gotten the drive to boot back to M$ dash and have reinstalled the Mech Assualt exploit and everything working as it should now.  I guess it can't be stressed enough how important hard drive keys are.  I had wrote it down from when it ran the exploit thank god.  I put the drive in the PC and unlocked it.  I then booted the drive with my chipped XBOX and restored back to factory.  Then I had to lock it back with the original HD key (had to put back in pc to lock).  

This post has been edited by CrystalXBOX: Oct 16 2004, 07:03 AM

[Sinful]

I Need Help Wit This...

[JrracinFan8]

Most I can tell all of you is to resort to a Hotswap xboxhdm rebuild of the c partition if you dont have an eeprom backup. If you do have eeprom backup you can unlock the drive with xboxhdm and rebuild the c partition that way. Sorry to break it to you tho, but both of these ways you will have to softmod the drive all over again. But i do know that they will get your xbox performing like new again.

[schultzy27]

i am having the same problem! i have just recently updated my dash and now im getting error 21. i've tried both of my hdds and they both get the error 21 now when they worked fine before the update! is the update installed on something other than the HD!? please help!