You really are making this up as you go along.
QUOTE(themacmeister @ Jun 28 2012, 02:35 AM)
The chip did not work whatsoever before a fresh TSOP flash. It was just a regular retail XBOX
Completely untrue:
QUOTE(themacmeister @ Jun 17 2012, 08:53 AM)
This one has an EvoX stamp in the top left corner of startup screen (the blob).
Hence the Xbox was already modded, it was simply missing a dashboard.
QUOTE(themacmeister @ Jun 28 2012, 02:35 AM)
Quite a few modchips allow you to break into the modchip BIOS/OS to do chores like swap drives, format, etc.
The Alladin doesn't, and even on the chips that do you aren't "breaking into the modchip BIOS/OS", you are running a chip console app.
QUOTE(themacmeister @ Jun 28 2012, 02:35 AM)
Does the TSOP flash require the modchip?
No, and you didn't flash the TSOP, you simply reflashed the chip.
QUOTE(themacmeister @ Jun 28 2012, 02:35 AM)
I read somewhere you can access the BIOS by holding the power button in on start, but I have tried that already, twice... no go.
Again, I read somewhere that Elvis was alive and living on the moon, that doesn't make it true. Stop flogging this dead horse - just because the X3 and the SmartXX support this doesn't mean that your chip will. The Aladdin (real or clone)
doesn't have a chip console app.
Your chip is a standard, simple container for a 256kB BIOS. It is wired to be on permanently. Nothing more.