Topic: Is Installing The Xenium Ice Easy For A Noob? (Read 112 times)

xbox_Man181 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 19, 2004, 08:54:00 PM »

thank you! my questions for the chip are answered. Sounds like a perfect chip for me! THANK U ALL SO MUCH FOR UR HELP!

and with those bios will it automically block xbox live for me? how would i disable these?

Gumba · « **Reply #16 on:** September 20, 2004, 02:32:00 AM »

cybrpunk · « **Reply #17 on:** September 20, 2004, 09:46:00 AM »

To answer your question about screwing up your XBox by installing a Xenium -

I'd say that your chances of messing up your XBox are equal with any modchip you choose. Most modchip manufacturers have designed solderless adapters ... however I've found that the Xenium blue solderless adapter is probably the worst of them all. Having to use the "paper trick" to get the solderless adapter to sit properly makes it one of the lesser quality solderless adapters I've seen. I've used the Chameleon solderless, the XBIT solderless and this one. Keep in mind that this is only the solderless adapter - the modchip itself is definitely top notch and works very well.

I had become very comfortable installing a different brand of modchip using their solderless adapter and never ran into any problems. The very first Xenium solderless I went to do for a friend became a huge project. I had learned to install a solderless mod in under 20 minutes. In this instance I spent hours playing with the blue solderless adapter when I decided to scrap it and solder the pin header. It was my first attempt at soldering contact points this small and took extra precautions - but finally got the pin header installed and working properly. Now I don't even bother telling people to get the solderless adapter - and am a strong beleiver in soldering.

The jist of this is to say that you can screw up your XBox with any modchip that you choose if you install it improperly. Picking the Xenium ICE is a good first step. Now just take your time when installing it and you should be fine.

As far as your XBox Live question - all you need to do is a few simple button presses on the controller to add the TSOP launch item. This is the default MS BIOS and what you should use to login to XBox Live - otherwise you'll end up banned from the service. I'd definitely recommend using the X2 4981 or 4983 BIOSes for the XBox Live blocking functions.

Hope this helps.

xbox_Man181 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 20, 2004, 10:05:00 AM »

thank you!

Now, I might be considering a TSOP flash, because my mom wont supply the money! I think I'm going to go get someone in my area to do this for me. I would rather spend the 25$ on a nice, good HD though! I think I can do the TSOP myself (maybe with a TAD bit of help w/ the soldering) but I have no friends with a modded xbox. Is there any way to flash the TSOP without a modded xbox? Also, when soldering the 2 points in a TSOP, do you have to connect them or just fill in the holes? Is it hard to install an "on/off switch" for xbox live? Any guides for : this? Thanks alot for the replies!

jester:

Gumba · « **Reply #19 on:** September 20, 2004, 04:49:00 PM »

xbox_Man181 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 20, 2004, 04:58:00 PM »

ya, but someone i know may be able to install a switch for me. Would that work?

cybrpunk · « **Reply #21 on:** September 20, 2004, 06:49:00 PM »

Nope that won't work. The BIOS is a file that exists in a flashable chip on your motherboard - it tells the system how to access the "Basic Input Output System" devices such as the hard disk, dvd drive, memory etc. When you flash the TSOP, you are essentially removing MS's BIOS file and replacing it with a hacked one that will bypass the security checks in place. You can not install a switch to bypass anything as you have no alternative BIOS file to load.

Perhaps you should look into using some of the save game exploits if you need a temporary solution until you can afford a modchip. If you want to use XBox Live and be able to easily switch back and forth between different BIOS files (This means being able to boot either the stock MS BIOS or a hacked one such as X2 or Evox M8) then a modchip such as the Xenium ICE is the best option for you.

If you do decide to flash the TSOP, the easiest way to join the solder points is using a conductive pencil or a window defogger repair kit. Using a soldering iron to do this without a lot of experience you run a high risk of splashing solder and ruining your Xbox forever.

xbox_Man181 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 20, 2004, 06:58:00 PM »

damnit! That means i gatta spend 60 bucks on an xenium ice?

cybrpunk · « **Reply #23 on:** September 20, 2004, 08:40:00 PM »

You could always spend 50 and solder it instead of getting the adapter. It's a waste of $10 no matter what, in my opinion. The damned solderless adapter never sits right and needs constant re-adjustment, even if you use the "paper trick". I have a few of them here that never got installed and I have no idea why I kept them as they're useless.

But basically yeah... it's either get a modchip, use software exploits or flash the TSOP. I'd opt for the modchip but if money is a huge obstacle then you might want to check out the software exploits available to you. You could still run with an upgraded hard disk and hacked dashboard without purchasing a modchip but would require reversing the process in order to acces Xbox Live. It's more manual work, but saves you the money.

Take a look at the 007AUF, Splinter Cell and MechAssault save game exploits. They will allow you to load evox and apply a variety of software mods, the most popular probably being UDE (Ultimate Dash Exploit). See HERE for a list of tutorials on software mods. I'd recommend the first article for absolute beginners for starters. Then read the next one titled "Checklists For Fonts/audio Exploits And Pbl, Check this before asking questions". Take the advice of the title.

xbox_Man181 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 20, 2004, 09:06:00 PM »

If the Xenium Ice adapter is that bad, what modchip would you recomend for me that can play off xbox live, and on a Xbox V1.1/1.2?

Thanks for the replies, I think I am going to go check out taht turoial.

cybrpunk · « **Reply #25 on:** September 21, 2004, 05:31:00 AM »

First, let me correct your interpretation. I never said the Xenium ICE is a bad modchip - in fact I feel the exact opposite. I BELEIVE THAT THE XENIUM ICE IS THE BEST MODCHIP ON THE MARKET TODAY. The only reason I haven't replaced my XBIT with one is that I have no need for the additional features of that particular modchip right now. I can switch between my ind-BIOS and MS BIOS easily enough that I don't want to spend $50 just for an OS that boots before the BIOS. That's also why you see me, a guy with an XBIT in his xbox, here on the Xenium forums. This is the modchip I now support and recommend to every single one of my customers.

The Xenium blue solderless adapter is absolutely the worst of all the different solderless adapters I've used. I've installed 3 different ones - and only the Xenium ICE blue adapter has difficulty in sitting right on the LPC points. With the rivets, without the rivets, with and without solder in the LPC the thing just won't lay flat unless you use the "paper trick". Having to do anything like that is unacceptable to me. QA testing should have caught that before they made thousands of them but it didn't and now we the public are stuck buying solderless adapters that come loose or won't sit right at all. I've never had to do this for the Chameleon adapter or the XBIT adapter. Both sit perfectly and have never come loose on any box I've done. I've had to reseat the Xenium adapters enough that I no longer recommend buying them and instead have people just buy the chip and pin header so I can solder it in. If you haven't figured it out yet, I mod boxes for others and have quite a bit of experience.

You just installed the solderless adapter a few days ago? Take your xbox with you to a friends house a few times and get back to me - let me know if the solderless adapter is still sitting right. I'm willing to bet you'll need to open up your xbox in the near future to fix it - but I would be just as happy if you could prove me wrong. Unfortunately I doubt it - the adapter really is that bad.

xbox_Man181 · « **Reply #26 on:** September 21, 2004, 09:52:00 AM »

solgae, ya, but I'm going to be moving my xbox around and and I don't wanna have to open it up everytime.

xbox_Man181 · « **Reply #27 on:** September 21, 2004, 12:57:00 PM »

wait, cann you please give me the full name for the X2 bio?

xbox_Man181 · « **Reply #28 on:** September 21, 2004, 04:03:00 PM »

How do you work these blocking functions?

Gumba · « **Reply #29 on:** September 21, 2004, 06:32:00 PM »

Author Topic: Is Installing The Xenium Ice Easy For A Noob? (Read 112 times)