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OG Xbox Forums => Hardware Forums => Xbox Audio/Video Technical => Topic started by: newb_E_modder on November 09, 2007, 07:40:00 PM

Title: Minor Little Problem With Boot-up Screen
Post by: newb_E_modder on November 09, 2007, 07:40:00 PM
I have a little problem with my soft-modded xbox.  i woke up one mornin and decided to turn on my xbox to allow my children to watch 1 of my LEGALLY backed up .avi movies.  when i did i immediately noticed that after i pushed the power button i could hear the splash screen audio, i.e, that cute lil boom boom boom sound right as the bright green blob turns into the signature green X for the xbox logo, but i could not see anything.  it was as if my t.v. was not receiving the video signal at all.  It still had the letters AUX1 in the top right corner.  normally when i turned on somethin in the aux channel that would disappear immediately.  im relatively new to the xbox hardware and such, so i would like it if someone could give some idea of what might have happened to my box.  cuz with its passing i feel as if someone has shot my puppy. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/muhaha.gif)

This post has been edited by newb_E_modder: Nov 10 2007, 03:43 AM
Title: Minor Little Problem With Boot-up Screen
Post by: fattymc on November 18, 2007, 10:03:00 AM
QUOTE(newb_E_modder @ Nov 9 2007, 09:40 PM) View Post

I have a little problem with my soft-modded xbox.  i woke up one mornin and decided to turn on my xbox to allow my children to watch 1 of my LEGALLY backed up .avi movies.  when i did i immediately noticed that after i pushed the power button i could hear the splash screen audio, i.e, that cute lil boom boom boom sound right as the bright green blob turns into the signature green X for the xbox logo, but i could not see anything.  it was as if my t.v. was not receiving the video signal at all.  It still had the letters AUX1 in the top right corner.  normally when i turned on somethin in the aux channel that would disappear immediately.  im relatively new to the xbox hardware and such, so i would like it if someone could give some idea of what might have happened to my box.  cuz with its passing i feel as if someone has shot my puppy. muhaha.gif


first off make sure everything is plugged in right. i know this sounds dumb but even i have done something like this without realizing. i'd maybe try using another video input if possible just to be sure it is the box. if it does the same thing on the other input, try this: unplug the power cord and the a/v cable from the back of the box. then hit the power button. it should come on for a split second, then shut off. this is releasing all stored power in the power supply. plug everything back in and try again. also, if u can get another a/v cable just to test and make sure ur cable is not the issue, do that. it could also be something is corrupted in the boot up files. also, do u have ur box on a surge protector, because u should. u'd be surprised how easily they can get zapped. let me know how my suggestions work.
Title: Minor Little Problem With Boot-up Screen
Post by: newb_E_modder on November 19, 2007, 04:22:00 PM
thank you, fattymc, for replying.  i just tried all the options u said, unfotrunately they did not work.  i tried the 2nd a/v cable and still got the same results, and tried the other thing u said about unplugging everything and emptying the power supply, also no good.  if it is corrupted boot files how would i know and, further, how could i fix this, if it is.  i am however wondering if it is my video card in the box itself.  could that be fried?  if it is im prolly S.O.L.  any ideas would be appreciated.
Title: Minor Little Problem With Boot-up Screen
Post by: DarkMatter on November 19, 2007, 05:10:00 PM
There is a slight chance that the inductor L4A1 has gone open circuit. See picture below.
Your going to need the aid of a digital multimeter set to read low ohms to confirm that the inductor is at fault.
If you have a meter and your not sure on how to use it, then let us know and I'll explain what you need to do.
Regards,
DarkMatter

P.S. Your motherboard may look slightly different, but the inductor is essentially the same.

(IMG:http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j99/Riggon/No_Video_L4A1.jpg)
Title: Minor Little Problem With Boot-up Screen
Post by: newb_E_modder on November 28, 2007, 11:34:00 PM
Ok now, this stuff is a lil bit over my head, but i think what you r saying DarkMatter, is that i might need to solder a small wire bridge between the + and - points on the L4A1 inductor.  now as for a digital multi-meter i dont have one of those however i do have a really old style multi-meter called GB Instruments GMT-18A, though not sure how to use this or if it CAN be used.  do not wanna attempt soldering on board if not needed so would really  like to check this inductor to see if it is faulty.  The characteristics of my problem does seem to point at a tiny problem like maybe something on the board had fried.  Because i was playing Halo 2 on it about 4 hrs. before G-friend turned it back on and it was broken.  And i had never had a problem with this before it had worked beautifully, it just one day decided not to work.
Title: Minor Little Problem With Boot-up Screen
Post by: DarkMatter on November 29, 2007, 03:31:00 PM
QUOTE
now as for a digital multi-meter i dont have one of those however i do have a really old style multi-meter called GB Instruments GMT-18A, though not sure how to use this or if it CAN be used.

You need to check to see if the meter will work.
First up, you need to open the meter up and check the condition of the battery/s. Replace them if your not sure.
Set the meter to read low ohms. (Ohms is usually signified with the Omega symbol).
Touch the two probes together and watch the needle. If it flicks to the right all the way (full scale deflection), then that part of the meter is working. If the needle remains static, then there's a good chance that the meter is damaged or the battery/s are flat.
If you are getting full scale deflection, then place one probe on one end of the inductor, and the other probe on the other side of the inductor. Doesn't matter which color probe goes where.
If the inductor is ok, then you should get full scale deflection the condition you got when you shorted the probes together.
Please let us know what results you get.
Regards,
DarkMatter
Title: Minor Little Problem With Boot-up Screen
Post by: newb_E_modder on November 30, 2007, 07:54:00 PM
ok i touched the probes of my multi-meter to about the same area of the ends of the red line over the inductor in the diagram.  my meter did peg all the way to the right.  was wondering if that is because i touched the silver border around the outside of the inductor.  do i need to take my board out of the box and test the inductor from the bottom on the small poles at the very bottom of the inductor or did i do it right.

It is the exact same board by-the-way from the looks of it.
Thank You DarkMatter
Title: Minor Little Problem With Boot-up Screen
Post by: DarkMatter on December 01, 2007, 06:24:00 PM
QUOTE
Thank You DarkMatter

Your welcome.  wink.gif

QUOTE
do i need to take my board out of the box and test the inductor from the bottom on the small poles at the very bottom of the inductor or did i do it right.

No, no need to remove the motherboard from the case. I'm fairly certain you've done the measurement correctly.

QUOTE
my meter did peg all the way to the right.

I'd say the inductor is ok.
It seems that the inductor is not your problem. There's a good chance the Video Encoder IC is damaged in some way. It can also be the GPU that's playing up. Would be impossible to be certain without replacing the IC/s. But unfortunately that's beyond the scope of most technicians, including myself.
Would it be possible that you could borrow a set of component cables from a friend??? There's a slight chance that your composite section (A/V) is only damaged and not the component side. But the component cabling can be a tad too expensive just to prove a theory.
Unfortunately at this stage I'm out of ideas. Sorry about that.  sad.gif
Regards,
DarkMatter