I finally got my drive detected and made a copy of the firmware but my next problem is that i was using this guide
http://sickmods.net/shared-directories/dea.../firmware-flash
and it says in hex edit copy from 4000-4200, but on my backup.bin file there is no 4000 coloum or 4200 like in this tutorial, there is 4010 and i tried it again with a differant floppy disk and the nearest to 4000 i got was 4018, these floppys were not new as i dont have any new ones a the moment so is this a problem with the floppys , that i got 2 differant results?

What is the filesize?? If it is not 256K then you are getting an incomeplete read and shoulod not continue until you do so...

Are you sure you are going to $4000 in HEX and not decimal??

I would copy the range $4000-$4400 as it is safer and causes less problems..

You can also use XSAMv0.4 utility which reportedly works well..

both file sizes are 256k but are differant in hex editor?
is it possible to boot from an ipod if i transfer all the data required from the boot floppy to the ipod and write the firmware to it will this work?

edit: i have uploaded a pic of what i'm talking about where there is no 4000 in the side coloum
http://homepage.eircom.net/~deverydsl/hex%20editor.bmp
there is a 4018 and in another backup.bin file i got off the drive the nearest to 4000 is 4010
dose this mean there is an error when getting the firmware?

and this is what xtreme3.3 looks like when i open it with hex editor
http://homepage.eircom.net/~deverydsl/hex%20xtreme.bmp
as you can see by the arrow this is where it brings me when i type 4000 in crtl+g and select hex
there is also no 4000 there so whats the deal?

please excuse my stupidity i figured it out if i drag the side thing i can make the values in the coloum even please excuse me while i sit in the corner with my dunce hat on,
now to flash this mofo

Why don't you get your key with 360 firmware toolbox? it's so easy