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[HMAWL411]

instead of starting another thread since this is about bios banks and flashing ill just ask it here, unless someone wants me to make a new thread.

1. bank 0 is for 1.0-1.5 xboxs and has cromwell on it correct.

2. bank 1 is for 1.6 xboxs and has flashbios on it correct.

3. so if i wanted to flash bank 1 since i have a 1.0 xbox i would bootup with it on bank 0 go through all the steps up until flash bios then switch it to bank 1 and choose flash so that i would then have cromwell on bank 0 and whatever bios i use on bank 1.

am i correct in all of this, also what would the best bios be for a 1.0 xbox on a duo x2 white.

[novakpower]

Your steps for flashing are sound. Make sure to use the flashbios bank, its the easiest, then switch to the other bank just before you flash to save it.  Use the X2_4981.06 bios for your 1.0 box, and make sure you size it to 512k.

[gjm]

QUOTE(HMAWL411 @ Jan 10 2006, 03:03 AM)

1. bank 0 is for 1.0-1.5 xboxs and has cromwell on it correct.

2. bank 1 is for 1.6 xboxs and has flashbios on it correct.

3. so if i wanted to flash bank 1 since i have a 1.0 xbox i would bootup with it on bank 0 go through all the steps up until flash bios then switch it to bank 1 and choose flash so that i would then have cromwell on bank 0 and whatever bios i use on bank 1.

am i correct in all of this, also what would the best bios be for a 1.0 xbox on a duo x2 white.

This isn't quite correct. With respect to the DuoX2 whites, in general, it is easier to always use Flashbios (bank 1) as it supports network flashing etc. On version 1.6 xbox's sometimes Flashbios can have trouble booting, this is why Cromwell is supplied on bank 0.

- Bank 0 = Cromwell: works on all Xbox versions but slightly less convenient
- Bank 1 = Flashbios: works on all Xbox versions but has occasional problems on v1.6.

So i would boot up with bank 1 (flashbios), and overwrite the contents of bank 0. Then you always have access to Flashbios in future. I would only ever boot with bank 0 (cromwell) if i had trouble booting bank 1 (should only ever happen with some 1.6's).

Common bios reccommendations:
Xbox V1.0 - V1.5 use X2 4981.06 bios (512k)
Xbox V1.6 - V1.6b use Evox M8 Plus V1.6 bios (512k)

[HMAWL411]

so i basically had it backwards, in regard to the flashing process i had the version stuff all screwed up. so i should bootup on bank 1 and choost http flash or whatever type in the ip and look for the bios, then before i hit flash i should move the switch to bank 0 then hit flash so that it flash's bank 0 and i still have http flashing with bank 1 and flashbios should bank 0 ever become corrupted

[gjm]

Yep boot up Flashbios, then flick the switch and overwrite the other bank. Use something non-metal to flick the switch and keep your hands away from the power supply!

[HMAWL411]

cool, well i already have the lpc holes desoldered, my chip should be here around friday, hopefully i wont screw something up trying to solder in the pin header or the d0

[HMAWL411]

well i started flashing the bios at 7:30 and its still loading and its just showing the flashbios screen on the xbox. i  shouldnt close the tab should i, how long does it usually take?

also, the led on the chip is flashing red, i didnt pay too much attention to it since it loaded up the cromwell and the flashbios screens but is it supposed to be flashing red?

it just finished, does it usually take an hour and a half, im gonna check in a couple of minutes to see if it worked, the tv its on is in the livingroom and im gonna have to wait until a commercial is on, since my parents are watching some show

[Chancer]

QUOTE

 t just finished, does it usually take an hour and a half

It should only take a few minutes.

[gjm]

cd /path/to/your/bios/file
cat bios_256k.bin bios_256k.bin > bios_512k.bin

This will leave you with a 512k BIOS image. I have tested this process on a linux box and byte-for-byte the file seems fine when compared with a 512k BIOS i created using other methods. I would definitely recommend that you boot up from one bank, and then before you flash - flick the switch (with something non-metal) to the OTHER bank and flash over that, so you can have another go if the resize above doesn't work. Let us know how you get on.

[appleguru]

QUOTE(gjm @ Jan 22 2006, 07:01 AM)

Well i dont know OSX but i'm sure it has a UNIX style command shell.. And i'll be amazed it you don't have the 'cat' command installed. That command concatenates (joins) files. So that will resize your BIOS for you..

Go to your command shell, you'll need to know the directory which your bios file is in (i will asume it's called bios_256k.bin) and type the following commands:

cd /path/to/your/bios/file
cat bios_256k.bin bios_256k.bin > bios_512k.bin

This will leave you with a 512k BIOS image. I have tested this process on a linux box and byte-for-byte the file seems fine when compared with a 512k BIOS i created using other methods. I would definitely recommend that you boot up from one bank, and then before you flash - flick the switch (with something non-metal) to the OTHER bank and flash over that, so you can have another go if the resize above doesn't work. Let us know how you get on.

BTW, yes, that works just fine on OS X (How I resize bioses actually.. heh)

[Distrt]

Awesome, I'll definitly try that out and post what happens.

After this is all said and done, I'm definitly making a tutorial for Mac users on how to get this cheapmod to work.