I have the one from dealextreme and I installed it and when I boot it goes straight to the M$ dashboard. I was wondering what to look for when it boots, to see if it's working. The light on the chip doesn't blink on and off like my DuoX2GS from litspliff.

I did just go ahead an install a softmod so I could boot HeXEn to see if it could flash the chip and it said it couldn't detect anything.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

You could try booting hexen without a softmod. If it boots, the chip is working. If the softmod is working, the chip probably isn't, or has a stock bios on it (seems unlikely).

If you haven't install a dashboard, your chip will still boot ms-dash.

I did try to cold boot both AID and hexen before I installed the softmod. The xbox wouldn't read the Disk. I used a multitude of drives and I burned to HP dvd-r at 4.0X using imageburn.

I don't know anything specific about that chip.. Make sure your d0 is connected, and any other lines are connected as they should be (Doux chips have a button point that you have to connect, either to eject or ground). [EDIT: For the sake of correctness I think doux2 BT point goes to +3v actually for always on..]

I think D0 is good because it doesn't FRAG when it boots but I did just ground Bt, it might need to be attached to the correct point to enable writing to the chip or something. I didn't connect the hdd activity line though.

I was reading that you could just hotswap the chip into another chipped box and flash a Bois to it. Is there anything special needed to know before doing that?

I would still think it is d0 if it is booting stock. If d0 is good and the chip is installed wrong you'll get a frag. If the d0 is not connected, the chip will do nothing. (Which it seems is what is happening.)

If there is a button equivalent, the chip will not ground the d0 unless that is active. You could connect the d0 directly to a ground point and the chip will always be active.

I'll re check the d0 when I get home tonight and post back here.

You just hotswap the chip, no special instructions necessary.

Out of interest, what version Xbox is it, and when you try to flash with HeXEn from the softmod which error message do you get? I'm expecting you to say "0x9000,"Chip not writeable"", or something very similar, but it would be useful to know.

It is a 1.0, it says something like not writeable and device id unknown. I'll pop hexen back in when I get home to verify.

You can use a continuity tester to test your D0 connection by placing one lead of the meter on the D0 point of your modchip, and place the other lead of the meter on the alternate D0 point on the back of your motherboard.

Checked d0 with my multimeter and I have continuity. ( I used the bottom point so I checked the top one )

When I try the hexen flashing, the specific error I get is
Manufacturers ID 09 Device ID 00 !! Flash Not Write-able !!

Your chip isn't holding d0 to ground then. You need to find out why. Is it supposed to be connected to the eject button like the Doux2 or something else to enable it? Or it is defective.

I used this diagram:
http://www.aladdin-chip.com/download/AladdinXT+.jpg

It could be the chip. I did order two if the same sku so I could wire up the other one and give it a spin

Pictures of the install
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10418828/IMG_20120127_225744.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10418828/IMG_20120127_225811.jpg

And you've connected BT as well?

Bt is grounded

I am trying this with a duox2gs that I have and I think it is a problem with d0. Because when I connect it to any ground it frags. I have tried both top and bottom side points and it still frags. I also tested the gs in a 1.6 and it booted to the flashbios side just fine

I tried a topside d0 here is a close up:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10418828/IMG_20120201_000625.jpg

Here is a few of the top:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10418828/IMG_20120201_000616.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10418828/IMG_20120201_000542.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10418828/IMG_20120201_000512.jpg

A grounded d0 forces the xbox to boot from the LPC port (modchip). If it frags, it means something is wrong with the chip install. Double check your soldering.

why not just flash the tsop if it's a 1.0 you could even install a switch to dual boot?

Eh just want to get the chip to work cuz 5 bucks is a good deal. It isn't crucial for this chip to work. Just doing it for the deal and for the fun.

I'm having trouble with this chip as well (also from DealExtreme).

One thing I noticed is that they shipped the chip with 12 pins in the pinheader, yet the install instructions show only 11 pins being soldered in...

I'm not using a pinheader (attempting quicksolder) and I noticed that this pic: http://www.llamma.com/xbox/Mods/images/aladdin/v1.jpg shows 8 quicksolder points, yet the chip I was sent has 9 points, so I'm very confused as to what to do.

I tried soldering all 9 points first (I used wires) + d0 which ended with the chip's LED lighting up, but the Xbox FRAG'd. Next I snipped the wire going to the solder point not seen in the other install image I linked to --- now it just frags, the LED on the chip is off.

Personally, I think that the chip wasn't shipped flashed. If it's not that, it's the fact that I can't find proper install instructions (Even if I do use the pinheader, will I need to pull one of the pins out? )

edit: by the way I'm doing the "always enabled" mode like this: http://www.llamma.com/xbox/Mods/images/aladdin/detailXT.jpg

Aladdins from Deal Extreme aren't pre-flashed.
You have to flash BIOS on another chip, or use hotflash method.

Well that would explain a lot! Someone left a review on one of them saying that it does come flashed:



It doesn't say that it's flashed anywhere in the product description, so after what you said, I'm going to assume that it isn't flashed. I looked over my job and everything looks properly soldered.

I have a chip installed by pinheader on another Xbox --- once that Xbox is booted w/ it's chip, the d0 doesn't have to be connected to the Aladdin to do a hotswap flash, right?

I appreciate your help.

No.

im deleting all this till i read the whole thread.
seems a very old thread.

ok..

i have some chips from deal extreme, they all came with some ancient version of m8+ bios. it boots ok on all systems, but needs re flashing as it dosent have LBA support.

You dont mention what version xbox you have..

im assuming its a 1.6, if it is a 1.6 are you using the lpc rebuild.
if not which diagram are you using for the wire rebuild (i prefer wire rebuild to the lpc rebuild boards)
some of those diagrams are basically wrong. and are usually missing a wire.

i dont like the quick solder method when it comes to chips simply because its not quick.
its also a good idea to check over the quik solder area on the chips as some of them come bridge and need a bit of cleaning up 1st.

My advice with quick solder is.
add a little solder to the pin holes you will be using.
then add a little solder to the quick solder pads on the chip.
line it up and use a thin soldering iron tip to heat up the pin hole solder and the pad solder at the same time so they flow together. after you have done that.
indvidualy heat up the pin hole solder and then dab a TINY amount of solder in there so it makes a better connection. "you really dont need much"

AFTER you have quick solderd the chip in place. flip the board over and do the wire rebuild. Do it 1 wire at a time and make sue you put them in the right place. you can thread the do wire through a free lpc hole and solder that in place. on the board.
cut it short so you can connect it to the chip but dont have yards of lose wire.

Solder BT to ground. or pin 2 like the diagram shows. and the chip is always on.

Then it really should boot.
if you still get a frag when the chip is on, you could have a soler bridge from the quick solder. or sne of the pads arent connecting properly.
If you diod a wire rebuild then check that.
and if your using a lpc rebuild board. ditch it. It makes it dificult to verify each of the points are solderd properly.