This is weird.

I bought a Matrix chip right when it was released, and installed it to my Xbox. Had no problems at all during the 6 months that followed, no misalignments, nothing.

Then one day, it died.

I took my Xbox to a friends place by car, and when I came back it stopped working. Weird thing is, that the first time I booted my Xbox back at home, it seemed to work, but turning it off and on again resulted in flashing orange power led. And the way it behaved was strange : it seemed to turn on, then it turned off, on again, and off, and then stayed on with that flashing light, nothing on screen.

I took off the Matrix, switched back the original HD, and my Xbox worked again, although it had forgotten the time and date.

When I tried to flash the Matrix again with the programmer, it returned me with an error. Yes, I did try with a brand new battery, multiple bios-images, everything. Reflashing the chip proved to be impossible.

So, if someone has and idea of what might have caused this, please post...

You sure you didn't just have an alignment problem...
Then you pulled out the chip to reflash and unable to coz you have a typical dodgy programmer...
That is all standard matrix dramas..
What was the error ??
Try to realign the chip probably all that went wrong...
Then fit a pin header mod to it... If that was the drama...

just take off the chip and clean your LPC points with alcohol and re install the chip again.

the chip must have moved during the car trip (recommendation, use a longer screw if you have one)

Definitely an alignment problem. If the D0 point is making a mediocre connection it will do just that. Turn on, then off, then on, then flash because since the D0 point is making a good enough connection to ground the Matrix chip some of the time it can't boot either BIOS (the Matrix light will be green but it really doesn't have a good enough connection to boot the BIOS). If you got 6 months of running without realigning the matrix that's good. I have to mess with mine about once a month.

I double-triple-quadruple tested it for alignment problems. Took it off completely, realigned, etc.

And my programmer used to work just fine, I actually have two so I tested it with the other one as well. Won't flash. Error given is just "Error programming LPC".

I was thinking about hot switching the chip to a friends xbox and programming it with the evox flasher... If done correctly, would this work? And what things in particular should I take into consideration during such operation?

I know that probably the chip misaligned during the car ride, but is sure seems that it somehow also got fried. Haven't quite figured out how yet...

Anyways I ordered a new chip (this time solder) so I guess I'll survive :)
It's just that this new chip happens to be the Chameleon and knowing EB2k it'll probably take a while before I'll get it...

This is strange. I have exactly the same pattern with my matrix when I move the box.
It starts up, then shut down after a few seconds, the whole process repeated three times... Then a red flashing ligth.

Usually I just have to reallign the chip, or in most cases, just ensure that the D0 point makes a correct connexion. It does that almost every time I move the box. Now I dont move the box without the special screw drivers and I can open, allign and close the box in less than 5 minutes.

I also just bought a chameleon and I intend to sold it the day I receive it

Gabriel

your programming problem is easy to fix

go to settings and move the notch up 1 position and laso pinch the programmer while you are programming

Yes, do the PINCH OF DEATH with the programmer. Mine wouldn't program brand new without squeezing it until I thought it would kill me. Squeeze it till you bleed, it should work. Cleaning everything at the contact points is also a good tip.

Ive never had a problem with my matrix and ive had it since about january....
i did however have to pinch it when i flashed it the first time
and clean all points w/ alchol the first time ii installed it.
i used a longer screw with a flatter head and just skrewed taht thing like all the way down.....
i take it in my car and to friend's houses all the time and i have never had a problem....

I used a screw from my NES to hold down my Matrix, after I stripped the screw hole with the original screw. I have knocked into my door with the Xbox and have transported it serveral times. I haven't had any problems since I used that NES screw.

When I get the Red Green flashing light, all I do is turn it off, lift the left side of the XBox half an inch off the table, then drop it. Works for me every time.

Disclaimer: Don't try this at home, if you do, I'm not responsable.