I've tried looking for error 8 explanations, but it only says that I need to check the ide cable.
I'm pretty sure that isnt the problem, so does anyone else know if there is another reason.

I was trying to mod my xbox using the guide "How to Mod your XBOX without modchip (proven)"

I managed the hotswap ok and hdd_driver found my drive.

The guide says that I should copy ernie.xtf &bert.xtf to /System/Fonts.
My hdd had a system folder but no /system/fonts folder.
I couldnt find a way of creating a directory with hdd_driver - So I gave up.
Plugged the hdd back into the xbox - no problems at this stage.
Also I couldnt get hdd_driver to backup my drive (it stayed at 1% for about 5mins then rebooted the pc!)

I repeated the hotswap with the intention of using HD fatXbox Explorer.
Noob that i am I didnt have Visual basic runtime on my pc and it crashed.
downloaded vb runtime but before I tried it again I thought I would reconnect the hdd to my xbox.
Error 8.

Now I cant seem to hotswap.

I've read a fair bit (probably not nearly everything).

Before I do any more and make a paperweight out of my hdd, I wondered if anyone would like to help a noob.

Is it allready a paperweight?

Ive read up about xbox_hdm, but just now I dont have my eeprom, the xbox is currently not exploited.


Thanks in advance

If your IDE cables are plugged in correctly and the hdd has power then It looks like you may have a paperweight, Hotswapping can fry your drive and error 8 means the xbox cannot find a drive. With no eeprom backup you will need a chip and new hdd to get the box working again.

Thanks, for the reply.

I'll get a bigger hard drive and a mod chip.

One thing I didnt mention that still puzzles me tho:
The drive still gets found in my pc device manager, but hdd_driver doesnt find it.
Cheers anyway.

yeah, kindof a "lights are on but no ones home" situation, the firmware chip and other solid state parts function, but its likely the mechanical parts got shorted out

Just hope its the hdd thats damaged and not the xbox IDE controller, you could try plugging in any ide drive to test it, you should get a different error to 8 when you boot.

Phew Error 9.
I tried it with an old 1GB hard drive I had lying about

Thats good, it looks like only your HDD is damaged,

Thanks for all your help.

If I was to mod another from scratch, needless to say I wouldnt use this method.

All because I wanted to save the cost of a modchip (a whole £10).

Cheers

Mmm, still worried.
Will try with a newer HD.

The one I used was out of an really old pentium pc. It was a western digital caviar 21000

According to llamma.com

Error 9:
HDD parameters (PIO/DMA/or size {debug}, certain size minimum is required for debug)


Error 8-9

Your Xbox motherboard is having trouble communicating with the Hard Drive. Check cables, this is probably due to an ATA controller on the motherboard and not due to the hard drive itself. (my personal experience, try replacing the hard drive and see how it goes) My recommendation for most is to replace the Motherboard and Hard drive as a pair.

WooHoo.
New HD : Error 16
Just gota wait for the modchip