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[opjose]

I've noted a real RASH of problems with the Matrix that don't really seem to be user related.

The most troublesome is the "disk doesn't boot" problem.

While people report that the mod chip itself is working, users are looking the ability to boot from mounted DVD media. This simply should NOT happen with known good media.

Yeah there are instances of bad burns etc. which are to blame, but there do seem to be a large number of people reporting problems with disks that have previously booted fine.

The initial assumption is that the Matrix was knocked out of alignment, causing the boot failure. Yet in most cases the Xbox boots with the colored logos just fine, indicating a sucessful BIOS read.

Then there are the "removed Matrix, Xbox f@#Ked up" posts, etc.

Something seems seriously amiss.

Comments, observations? Bueller?

[vwadam]

well opjose this isnt 100% what your talking about, but just wanted to add the the whole matrix problems thing for everyones knowledge.

there was a bad batch of programmers with missing components.  long story short: my programmer was missing a diode on it, and all these people were saying the whole time i must be an idiot not to get it working, anyway i soldered a new diode onto it where it had to go and it flashed first time.  another guy emailed me about having the same problem because i posted this and he told me easybuy told him it was normal not to have a diode there. what a load of crap. (it was the actual exodus support team that told me of the defect) anyways they are supposed to send me a new programmer, but i got mine working now anyway.

opjose could these problems be manufacturing related do you think also?  just seemed if they could mess up such a simple thing, not even looking at the products let alone testing them they could have messed up the chip somehow.

now guys add what have you heard of these other matrix problem as stated by opjose

[opjose]

I dunno.

I find that there are simply too many posts about not being able to read DVD's, etc. that simply should not happen.

E.G. if the mod chip works the disk MUST boot, etc.

And this is only one of the problems I'm focused on.

Something is very wrong.

[vwadam]

im thinking that if these dvd related problems are happening after time it is maybe to do with the connections of th pogo pins not being good enough and if this happens to me i will just take it out and solder it completely to the board.

[Scan-C]

a possibility is that the matrix gets unaligned because the dvd-rom is spinning.the box is vibrating a bit and this could intercept the matrix connection only for a hundred of seconds but its enough to stop a cd/dvd from booting.
and maybe this is the cause with all the fu**ed up boxes after the matrix is removed.only a possibility but i think it sounds logical.

[opjose]

QUOTE (Scan-C @ Nov 4 2002, 05:53 PM)

a possibility is that the matrix gets unaligned because the dvd-rom is spinning.the box is vibrating a bit and this could intercept the matrix connection only for a hundred of seconds but its enough to stop a cd/dvd from booting. and maybe this is the cause with all the fu**ed up boxes after the matrix is removed.only a possibility but i think it sounds logical.

                                    Fasat: No!

Scan-C: Wow! This is grasping at straws, isn't it?

It's HIGHLY unlikely, effectively once the Xbox gets to the "load default.xbe" code the ROM is in cache memory and should not be needed anymore.

It also does nothing to explain the rash of "removed Matrix" now Xbox doesn't even show flubber animation posts.

[sofam]

All I know is that I haven't had one problem with the matrix yet, it programmed fine, it installed fine, nothing big yet, but a couple of hours after I installed it it got misaligned thus I had to open the box up, align it right again and viola, it worked fine again.

So I'm happy with it.

[wiseblood]

Haven't had a problem with mine either.
In fact, I just installed 2 external switches to the Matrix to enable flashing without having to open up the 'Box.
If you think about it, most people wouldn't take the time to post their good experiences with the Matrix.
You see more posts about people having problems with them, because that's what people predominantly post on these forums for; to have their questions answered and problems solved.
Not many people come to these forums to just air their happy thoughts about a modchip.
Thus, you would see more posts about problems than not.
That's my theory anyways, shoot it down if you would like........

[Dark Schneider]

Opjose just chalk it up to this..morons with a mod.

Now don't go off on me saying I'm lambasting newbs again!

Just lets say most of the posts seem to be from people with little or no technical skill. Yes yes..I know, soldering does not make you leet...but it scares the shit out of you to make sure you know what you are doing..and doing it right!

Now I also know people that know what they are doing use the Matrix...not bashing the chip at all.

But let's get back to the basics. People with little or no skill getting their hands on a very nice mod. We must assume that these people also have little or no computer skills. Or just enough to get them into trouble..and they are indeed.

Sure they say they know what they are doing..but who really knows!

[wiseblood]

QUOTE (Dark Schneider @ Nov 4 2002, 07:12 PM)

..People with little or no skill getting their hands on a very nice mod. We must assume that these people also have little or no computer skills. Or just enough to get them into trouble..and they are indeed......

Very well said, and I quite agree.

[knowledgeiv]

Just a thought...

The new matrix install guide says to use tape to hold the lock washer in place, but the switches of the matrix look to go to ground where the screw attaches.  Wouldn't the tape act as an insulator preventing the connection to ground?  Or does this matter at all?

I was having a lot of problems with my matrix, so I did several things all at once.  I didn't want to have to open that bastard up again.

this is what I did...
-reflashed with different bios
-didn't use tape
-used longer screw

I haven't had a problem since.  I can't say that the tape was the problem, since I made several changes at once, but I wonder if this could be causing problems.  I don't really understand why the matrix team would say to use tape.  Maybe they think that the people that buy it are morons and wouldn't realize that washer slipped out and was shorting out connections on the mobo.

Dark Schneider, I'm a newbie, so give me everything you got.  I can take it.  

[Cornholio]

This makes me wonder - perhaps the MS dash does a few retries before giving up, and perhaps EvoX does not ? Could this be related to the people who can't get their CD-RWs to boot anymore ?

[Cornholio]

QUOTE (vwadam @ Nov 4 2002, 01:16 AM)

(it was the actual exodus support team that told me of the defect) anyways they are supposed to send me a new programmer, but i got mine working now anyway.

                                    Any chance you could post a pic of your modded programmer, so we can all see what you're talking about ?

[knowledgeiv]

Does anyone know the mechanism that is used to determine alignment of the matrix?  Does it check every connection or just the one bitch of a pogo pin?

[s_lipowitz]

QUOTE (knowledgeiv @ Nov 6 2002, 08:16 AM)

Does anyone know the mechanism that is used to determine alignment of the matrix?  Does it check every connection or just the one bitch of a pogo pin?

                                    Ya know, I've been wondering the same thing. I don't have one, so I can't figure it out myself.

Detailed pictures of both sides would help, but it's still a pain to follow the traces without them being in the same position on the same picture.