What Can I Use To Flash My Tsop With Cromwell? Options

[hackernoob2011]

Hi I would like to flash my tsop with cromwell to install linux, Ive softmodded my V1.1 xbox using the splinter cell exploit and soldered the two places on the motherboard, all that I assume is left is to flash the tsop, I tried using heXEn but cromwell wasnt an option in the list of bios's (I did confirm that I could flash the tsop though).

My question is, is there something like heXEn which will have cromwell as an option or can I add it to the list in heXEn (I have downloaded cromwell 2.40(I think))

[xboxmods2977]

It is quite easy really. Just run an xbox linux installer dvd, such as Gentoox Stardust. During the install steps, it asks you if you would like to flash your TSOP. Just type yes and answer the other questions that follow.

[hackernoob2011]

Cheers xboxmods2977,

That worked in as much as it went through the install process and said it was flashing my tsop but I now have an issue of no video coming from the xbox, I assume I chose a wrong option somewhere.

it wouldn't be worth doing if it wasn't a challenge

[xboxmods2977]

When you first turn on the xbox do you get no video? What about the front light? Is it normal green?

[hackernoob2011]

yeah there is no video at all, front lights are flashing green and red, also when first turning on it turns itself straight off a few times before actually staying on and the DVD tray doesn't always open/close propperly.

[Heimdall]

I suspect that you might need to do the 3 wire trick to get your Xbox to boot. The problem with the Gentoox flasher is that it only flashes the first 256kB - the option to fill the TSOP with multiple copies of the BIOS hasn't been enabled (essentially it seems to use Raincoat 0.5 in its default mode instead of Raincoat 0.7, where auutofill is enabled by default).

Here is a picture of the 3-wire trick wiring points, but I can't find a post about it, so you'll have to do a bit of searching. The short version is that you ground A18 and A19 to make the Xbox boot, then remove the ground from A18 and 19 and reflash the TSOP with a 1MB BIOS, or using a tool that has the auto-fill option enabled.

[xboxmods2977]

Yep. 3-wire trick.
If I recall correctly, the gentoox installer asks what size your flash is before flashing. It has been awhile since I played with xbox linux tho, so I could be remembering wrong, but if you select the wrong size on a 1.0/1.1, this is the result.

[shambles1980]

I suspect that you might need to do the 3 wire trick to get your Xbox to boot. The problem with the Gentoox flasher is that it only flashes the first 256kB - the option to fill the TSOP with multiple copies of the BIOS hasn't been enabled (essentially it seems to use Raincoat 0.5 in its default mode instead of Raincoat 0.7, where auutofill is enabled by default).

Here is a picture of the 3-wire trick wiring points, but I can't find a post about it, so you'll have to do a bit of searching. The short version is that you ground A18 and A19 to make the Xbox boot, then remove the ground from A18 and 19 and reflash the TSOP with a 1MB BIOS, or using a tool that has the auto-fill option enabled.

http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=131986

[hackernoob2011]

Cheers Guys,

If I remember correctly when I was flashing the TSOP with the gentoox flasher it only had 256K or 512K options, could this be just the version of gentoox I used?

Reading that link for the 3-wire mod, my understanding is that it allows the xbox to boot off the 1st 256K, if this is correct could I not just short these points out and just use the first 256K permanently?

[Heimdall]

No.

Yes, but you'd be better off doing it properly - there was some discussion I recall about needing to use a pull-down resistor if you want to permanently ground those address lines, to limit the amount of current drawn.

This post has been edited by Heimdall: Sep 20 2011, 07:58 PM

[hackernoob2011]

Cheers guys,

I finally got round to trying this and the 3 wire trick fixed it, I now have a working xbox with a 1mb bios running Gentoox OS.

thanks again guys,
now I should have a bit of an easier time with my second one