Fall Update - E66 Error with some modified Toshiba-Samsung drives *Upd Options

[Xbox-Scene]

Fall Update - E66 Error with some modified Toshiba-Samsung drives *Updated* Posted by XanTium | October 31 12:16 EST

It looks like some people get an E66 (hardware failure) when trying to reboot their console after the Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard Update. It only happens with some specific configurations, they do NOT ban the console/gamertag from LIVE and it's easy to solve. It's probably a compatibility issue or check between the new Xbox360 OS/kernel build and some combinations of DVD drives and modified firmwares. From our data (see this thread and this thread) it looks like it only happens on some Xbox360 consoles with a combination of a Toshiba-Samsung TS-H943 DVD drive (mostly MS28, but we get reports of problems with some MS25 aswell) and some hacked firmwares (below v4.1 on MS28?, MS25 seems to work with older 3.x FWs and manually patched (key) v4.x). Interesting note: TS Xtreme FW v4.0 and above is based on the MS28 FW and Xtreme v3.3 and below is based on the MS25 FW. As far as we know consoles with Hitachi-LG drives seem totally unaffected (any version, any FW) and all work fine after the update. So this is easy to solve, just reflash your Toshiba-Samsung drive with the original FW (100% working solution - we suggest you this until we get all details) or upgrade to C4E's latest TS FW (v4.2 (manual key patch might be required for MS25 ... some MS25 users reported that downgrading to v3.3 or lower helped for them)). Microsoft is NOT banning your gamertag/console on LIVE for this (afaik), but of course ... going on LIVE with a modified FW is always at your own risk (it's against the LIVE terms&conds). Someday MS could start banning consoles/gamertags with modified FWs and if they're smart they first collect info for 1month or 2 and then ban everyone at once ;) Also note that this story is NOT related with that news about Xbox LIVE banning that was published by xboxic.com (and re-posted on many other blogs incl. slashdot) 2-3 days ago. We didn't post about that news here on x-scene, simply because it's not true. heh. MS is banning if you don't behave on LIVE, they might ban on some modified content (like super cars in PGR3) ... but they are not mass banning for modified firmwares (yet). Of course, like I said above, they could start doing this at anytime (and they might be logging stuff already, who knows) ... even if stealth firmwares and (partially) stealth media could make it harder for them. Here's what Team Xecuter wrote about the E66-issue: [QUOTE] There have been many reports of peoples Xbox 360's dying after the fall update when they have a flashed drive. One of our friends had this problem so he brought his Xbox to us for analysis. Here are some facts. 1. Samsung MS28 Drive 2. Flashed with Xtreme v3.3 3. E66 error after Fall Update 4. Red lights / No boot to dash We dumped his firmware and compared to his original X33.bin flash - MD5 was the same and of course that meant his drivekey was correct too. We then simply converted his X33.bin to the new X42a.bin (Xtreme v4.2 Fast Boot Mode as Default) and reflashed (and for those that may ask using a VIA 6421L card and Xecuter Connectivity Kit v2 with a seperate Molex PSU (wouldnt work with PC power - had to power up the drive first before PC - of course you could use power from the 360 itself too if you wish) The Xbox 360 now boots just fine - both offline and on live with originals and backups. Conclusion? That there was no evidence of the drive being reflashed by the fall update & the live account / MAC address was NOT banned. Also that there was some kind of incompatibility with the new update and the older hacked firmware. Maybe this was accidental or part of the master plan. Who knows? If others could give input on their own experiences then that would help a lot of people. We are not yet sure if this causes any problems with MS25 or Hitachi drives - time will tell. For now enough of the scaremongering. You can rescue your drive, although I feel sorry for those people who don't learn from sites like ours on how to do it yourself, as no doubt you'll have to go pay $80 or whatever to the local Joe Schmo who originally flashed your drive. And of course, as always, use Xbox Live at your own risk if you are using a hacked console. If you ever kill your box or you get banned your cries will unfortunatley fall on deaf ears. [/QUOTE] Help find the source of the problem: Database For E66 News-Source: team-xecuter.com, forum thread1 and forum thread2

[liteon6x]

man i was just about to post this

[antz1970]

so the people who claimed unplugging the dvd drive b4 update was the way to go , were just "lucky" even if they had left the dvd drive connected they woulda been ok too , altho im sure ive read comments about people who have the 4.2 version firmware and still getting the error66 syndrome , maybe isnt as cut and dried as it seems!

[adamscybot]

I saw someone on 4.2 having to go back to 3.3...

[Mol10]

Surely this must be it- Microsoft cannot stop the firmware hacks.

They've known about this for too long now to still be working on a solution.

[bucko]

Well it's nice to see whats happening (and I don't have a 360 yet, I'm skint).

Team Xecuter really needs to get that device out so that you only open your 360 once then you can flash your drive easily after without opening.

[twistedsymphony]

Surely this must be it- Microsoft cannot stop the firmware hacks.

They've known about this for too long now to still be working on a solution.

You don't think it could be *GASP* maybe they care more about adding features and fixing bugs then they do about pirates?

If they haven't done anything, and haven't said anything about then the reason could be ANYTHING... for all you know they're simply ignoring it because they don't care, maybe there's a larger plot and they're luring you into a false sense of security so once word gets out that the fall update is safe everyone logs on and is banned a month down the road... or maybe you're right and they can't do anything...

Any scenario is possible, I don't understand why people get so paranoia about this stuff. It would seem to me that you'd be better off taking alternative measures to protect your discs (or do like I do and just rent them).

I would consider the added stress and paranoia you people express is far far far worse then spending some extra time protecting your discs, maybe having to buy a new one every so often or just renting most of your games.

Honestly I think that even if MS does know how to stop it they wont do anything until the PS3 and Wii have been released. Banning Live accounts or Bricking consoles creates ill will among your customers even if they're pirating. MS doesn't need ill will right now, they need new features and strong customer support to outsell PS3 and Wii by as large a margin as possible.

If anything I would imagine it's a spring update (if any) that would bring the bannings, considering holiday time is NOT the time you want word spreading about how your console stopped working, or that those with modded firmwares have to go out and buy new consoles reducing the number available on the market for holiday shoppers.

Spring makes a whole lot more sense simply because it's a dead time in the market, a good time to get people who might be pirating to start paying for games (to boost the market) and the least competitive time between the console makers meaning any bad blood there is long forgotten by the next holiday.

[wildlele]

great here comes the flood of 'my friend heard' or 'i know this guy that' posts with conflicting and erroneous information which will lead to more posts of pure nonsense

[toratora]

Surely this must be it- Microsoft cannot stop the firmware hacks.

They've known about this for too long now to still be working on a solution.

Maybe you are right- their responce to the origional box was much faster- at least for the live bans. Maybe they are playing it smart: The core security is in tack, they make money on live transactions, and it is a very small amount of people doing this.

I think what they fear the most is the security of live. Let's face it, all of the billions they spent on servers goes out the door when people can cheat. Look at Halo 2- I won't even play that on live anymore. I make backups, but still buy games and almost every new arcade game. What will locking hackers out do? Stir up the nest and make the scene go after the main security of the system.

My advice to msoft (we know you are reading these boards harder than us): Lock down the future machines firmware and move on. The very small amount of people opening things up and rigging a SATA set up is small. Look at the big picture and worry more about the threats that Sony's new service creates.

Wishful thinking I am sure. I am sure that this will happen: Live bans within 30 days, followed by a new firmware, followed by a new game lock down, followed by a new firmware, followed by a new game lock down.....repeat about 10 times. It will be a cat and mouse game. The firmware is comprimised, and the hacker will utimetly find a way to play backups. Always have, always will...

I am not upgrading anything till a game requires the update.

This post has been edited by toratora: Oct 31 2006, 06:33 PM

[Tommydukes]

2 things.


1. I have the ms25 and updated with no problem


2. Its great to see they aren't bricking drives

[gaming fanboy]

so do you guys think its safe to go online and update with a 4.2B on ms25? i think i will just give it a shot

[richiecaf]

I wonder... if you flash back to OEM firmware, then do the update, will you be able to flash a modified firmware?

[digitalman42]

I wonder... if you flash back to OEM firmware, then do the update, will you be able to flash a modified firmware?

Im guessing you might get the error 66, I dont see how that would help.

[NoVA iS SiCK]

Toshiba-Samsung TS-H943 flashed with c4e's 2.0 via hex...no issues so far.

[snowball1976]

well i have read most of peoples replys etc etc on this fall update and tbh its complete rubbish m$ can not do a low scan of your firmware if they could everyone would have this so called E66 or just plain banned !!

being a hardware/software engineer the way i see it basically they have added a new update for the dvd drive regarding 1080p and the so call hd drive , and its conflicted with the flash update on the dvd drives you all have been using on your drives , microsoft is a serious contender in the hardware/software market and if there was a FW ban everyone would be affected.

your 360 is basically a pc with a dell case , so software updates are always on the cards and this fall update is simply a software conflict with your FW flashes. if m$ could kill this FW mod it would have been done before now

Snowman