Post by: frankfooter26 on September 20, 2006, 08:40:00 AM
I am a total noob to this scene and have been doing a lot of reading on this site the past few weeks. Let me first start by saying that its really cool to see a forum that really tries to help its members. For that, I thank you. I apologize for even asking these, but I need some clarification. Now on to my questions.
I just purchased a Xbox 360 and its being shipped to me as I type, so I am uncertain whether I have a Sammy or a Hitachi as of yet. I know that I must flash the drive with the latest firmware for the respective drive, and if you dont load the proper file it will brick it. Other than loading the wrong file, what are the other common ways to brick the drive or toast it? Is it very common for that to happen?
I had read that using a SATA to USB transfer cable has worked for some to flash their drive, can anyone confirm this and link me to the one they used? If it worked, then how did you load MTKFLASH?
Also I read about changing the DVD burner booklet to DVD-Rom, isnt that only for reading the content off the original game and extracting it? Or is that true if are just burning an iso image? (I hope that was ok and didnt break any rules, if so I apologize and will edit). I have always used DVD Decrypter to burn PS2, and they always work, but I read to use CloneCD only for 360. Is that the case?
Last question, if I get too nervous about bricking this drive, which mod chip would you recommend to me? Globe 360 or Fractal 360? I know that is the chicken shit way out of it, and I probably will do it as I flash my TV receiver all the time and shouldnt be much different I wouldnt think.
Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thank you to everyone
Frankfooter26
Post by: Textbook on September 20, 2006, 10:44:00 AM
Samsungs can only be flashed from DOS with MTKFlash. Check the latest tutorial (first link in my signature) to see if your SATA chipset is compatible with MTKFlash. Generally, nearly all will be compatible, but will probably need MTKFlash to be hex-edited for it to recognize the SATA ports. SIL-based chipsets are not compatible and if you have that and a Samsung, I would suggest purchasing the VIA VT 6421L PCI Sata card.
Hitachis are flashed from within Windows. The only difficult problem with Hitachis is getting the drive into ModeB. There are a number of ways to do this. First, you can try booting your PC with the edited Slax Live CD. With the Hitachi connected, the Slax CD may or may not put the drive into ModeB. It works with very few chipsets. You will probably have good luck with the Slax CD if you have a SIL chipset or onboard VIA 8237. Beyond that, you will have to find more difficult ways to get the Hitachi into ModeB. You can do the 2-wire trick which will work 100% if you do it correctly, but may be risky if you don't know what you're doing or don't know how to follow directions. You could "brick" your drive by doing it. If Slax didn't work, and you don't want to use 2-wire trick, you can use the last resort and purchase an Xecuter or Xeno Connectivity Kit. These adaptors power the Hitachi drive as well as getting it into ModeB.
Once the Hitachi is in ModeB, you can flash it in Windows rather easily. This is where people can use either their SATA ports or a USB-to-SATA converter.
The USB-to-SATA converter only works with flashing Hitachi drives. MTKFlash is only used in DOS on Samsung drives.
My personal opinion on modchips may be biased. I think everybody is just trying to make money off of what the firmware hackers accomplished. They are also way too expensive, difficult to install, provide absolutely no benefits over a firmware flash, and are just as, if not more, a drive bricker. (because of the installation difficulty)
EDIT: Forgot to mention booktype/bitsetting. Some DVD drives have problems reading DVD+R or DVD+R DL media. It isn't the media itself, but a block on the disc itself. DVD drives use this booktype information to know how to treat the media it is reading. Sometimes we can trick the drive by changing a DVD+R DL booktype to a better recognized DVD-ROM. It's kind of hard to explain, but just think of it as we're faking out the DVD drive to read the media better.
I just know jesterrace is going to come in here and correct me. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
This post has been edited by Textbook: Sep 20 2006, 05:48 PM
Post by: frankfooter26 on September 20, 2006, 11:12:00 AM
Thanks again
frankfooter26
Post by: Textbook on September 20, 2006, 11:47:00 AM
Post by: frankfooter26 on September 20, 2006, 12:40:00 PM
Post by: seerk on September 20, 2006, 02:22:00 PM
Post by: Textbook on September 20, 2006, 03:01:00 PM
QUOTE(seerk @ Sep 20 2006, 03:53 PM) 
I think what textbook said was no where near a bitchslap and was actually very good advice. All he said was read through lots of posts and get a better understanding of what your doing so when you do come to doing it you won't "brick" your drive. When I first joined here I had no idea what I was doing and there was no way I was touching my new 360 without being clear on everything, so I read lots and lots and after a couple of days I was pretty clued up and flashed my drive easily. Surely doing a bit of research is easier than buying an expensive modchip that's gonna do the same thing and probably be more risky.
Amen.
I wasn't trying to say that you can't do it and you shouldn't even try. I was urging you to learn more about it. Even with the modchip, you will still have to know about security sectors, dmis, pfis, bitsetting, and compatiblity with burners and media. Anybody can flash the firmware, but you REALLY need to learn it first. If I was one-on-one with somebody in person, I could explain everything for them and make sure they understand. The 360 firmware hack isn't necessarily more difficult than Xbox 1 mods, but it definitely has more steps and things to consider and check for compatibility. People are making more noob-proof programs all the time, the process is getting a lot easier. But there will always be stuff that can't be switched out. You will always have to have a compatible chipset, you will always have to open your 360, you will always have to use DOS for Samsungs and get in ModeB with Hitachis. Stuff that can be made easier has already happened. You don't even need to touch a hex editor any more thanks to Exobex and Klutsh. Of course a firmware flash is more difficult than a modchip. Installing a modchip is one step - solder. Flashing the firmware is a lot more. But really it is a lot safer than soldering wires to your TSOP.