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[FrostyTheSnowman]

So here's my question, the 3944 motherboard and the 4034 motherboard are physically identical, so what I was wondering was, can I flash an original 4034 BIOS onto my 3944 motherboard, and will it work?

So basically, I want to upgrade my 3944 BIOS to a version 4034 BIOS.

Is this possible? I'm nervous to try, because if it fails I will need to buy a modchip, and I would prefer not to. (I prefer softmods...)

[lordvader129]

yes it will work, although i dont see any reason to do it, theres not really anything "updated" in it

[FrostyTheSnowman]

Well, you see, the VGA code in the newest NKPatcher v10-vga10 is incompatible with BIOS 3944, it causes it to reset upon executing anything else within the dashboard. The 4034 BIOS does not have this problem.

But, you are POSITIVE this is safe? And that the 4034 BIOS would be compatible?

[FrostyTheSnowman]

Oh, sorry, two more questions.

1. I dumped my 4034 BIOS from my other XBOX in EvoX, it is 1MB in size. Is it safe to use this copy?

2. If I use raincoat, can I just flash the file in it's full 1MB size, or do I have to resize it down to 256k first?

So, what I plan to do is use raincoat to flash my Hynix TSOP on my 3944 motherboard with the 4034 BIOS file I dumped with EvoX from my other XBOX...

Can anyone else backup lordvader129 and tell me this plan is safe?

EDIT: BTW, I actually noticed that the motherboards are still physically the same in every way EXCEPT for the actual TSOP chips. The 3944 uses a HYNIX chip, and the 4034 does not have a name on the actual TSOP. Is this STILL safe?

[FrostyTheSnowman]

QUOTE(caster420 @ Sep 11 2006, 07:02 AM)

Yes, it is safe to use.  Raincoat 0.7 should have no problems flashing a 1meg image to a 256kb tsop.

 

Caster.

Well, err, the 1.0 XBOX has a 1MB TSOP already. My question was, can I simply flash the 1MB 4034 BIOS onto my 1MB 3944 TSOP without resizing, or needing any extra commands for raincoat?

In theory this SHOULD be completely safe, I just want to double-check, because a bad TSOP flash is fatal, and requires a modchip to fix it.

[FrostyTheSnowman]

Ok, cool. And, as a last reassurance... In your opinion, the 4034 BIOS will work with a 3944 motherboard?

(Sorry for all the questions, TSOP flashes just make me VERY nervous.)

[Textbook]

Yes Frosty - stop worrying so much and flash already.  Vader and caster know their shit.

[FrostyTheSnowman]

QUOTE(Textbook @ Sep 11 2006, 08:57 AM)

Yes Frosty - stop worrying so much and flash already.  Vader and caster know their shit.

LOL, ok, then wish me luck.

[FrostyTheSnowman]

QUOTE(caster420 @ Sep 11 2006, 09:33 AM)

If you are so worried about it, solder in a switch or a wire to make it boot off of half of the tsop.  That way if the flash goes wrong on half of it, you can still boot off of the original half of the image.  I always do this on v1.0 and 1.1 box's anyways, that way you can use an original bios on one half and then a hacked bios (like xecuter) on the other.  It makes it live compatible and just like a chip in that sense.

 

Caster.

Okay, tell me if this plan will work:

1. Solder the write points

2. Solder the correct wires to boot off the FIRST 256k of the TSOP

3. XBOX boots off the first 256k, and I start the Splinter Cell Raincoat app

4. I flash a 1MB 4034 BIOS file to the 256k portion of the TSOP (I assume Raincoat will resize the 4034 BIOS down to 256k for me automatically)

5. Once flashed, restart XBOX

6. Hopefully be running the 4034 BIOS...


So, if it fails, I still have my 3944 BIOS on banks 2, 3, & 4 incase it's not compatible.

Mostly, I just need to know that Raincoat will shrink my 1MB 4034 BIOS down to 256k when it flashes the first bank...

[r_one_oh_seven]

If you're really worried, just use a pc bios tool to resize it to 256k. The 4 256k segments are all identical, so that should work.

[FrostyTheSnowman]

Update: Success!

I have successfully flashed the 4034 BIOS from my other XBOX onto my second XBOX with a 3944 motherboard. Now NKPatcher v10-vga10 works PERFECT with my VGA cable.

So, if anyone out there is having a similar problem with NKPatcher v10-vga10 and the 3944 BIOS resetting upon loading any XBE other than the dashboard, just flash your TSOP with the 4034 BIOS and it will fix the problem.

MUCH THANKS to lordvader129, and especially caster420 for helping me with this process. This was my first TSOP flash, and I was very nervous, if you couldn't already tell...  

P.S. I think it's pretty funny that I actually TSOP'd my XBOX with an updated original BIOS just to gain compatibility with VGA mode in my softmod... seeing as how most people TSOP flash their XBOX with a hacked BIOS instead of an original to avoid using a softmod. I'm just a bigger fan of using NKPatcher over any modchip available, personally.  

Once again, thanks caster420 and lordvader129 for all your help.