HDShadow

If it was JSRF that messed it up it would have been trying to update the dash. It depends what softmod was being used but, as said, the orange LED suggests that the softmod could still be functioning. Therefore sweetdarkdestiny's question/suggestion is very relevant because whether the softmod dash has gone and/or it now has a part broken MS dash it should still be able to cold boot either a rescue/installer disc and/or an original Xbox game disc. If you know what game was used to softmod it that's the one to try if a rescue/installer disc doesn't boot. Are you sure 007 AUF was the one used because if it was not the same game the installed saves used for softmodding will not work? BTW HeXEn, AID or whatever you have available should have been burned on DVD-R preferably using ImgBurn at default settings for writing image files to disc. BTW both HeXEn an AID are slow booters typically taking 20+ secs and 40+ secs respectively.

That section above should read:- "It should be be fixable but first backup your eeprom - you say you don't have the "HDD key" but that E:\Eep-bak folder looks like you do. FTP that to your PC as a priority and if you have an "eeprom.bin" inside it that is the important thing."

You still seem to have FTP access. That means the softmod is still working. The orange LED is also probable additional confirmation of that. What this means is the dashboard is damaged, possibly JSRF or another game tried to update it, or you accidentally deleted an important file or folder. It should be be fixable but first backup your eeprom - you say you don't have the "HDD key" but that E:\Eep-bak folder looks like you. FTP that to your PC as a priority and if you have an "eeprom.bin" inside it that is the important thing. Do you know what softmod was used? What dashboard were you using? It would also help to see just the main contents of both C:\ and E:\ so we can work out where your dashboard should be. If you have a Dash or Dashboard folder on either drive then the contents of that would be useful too. All that may be necessary is to FTP in a replacement dashboard XBE but it must be named correctly and installed in the correct location. That varies with the softmod so the information about exactly what is on your C:\ and E:\ drive is vital

That error is typical of any incompatible or corrupted XBMC skin or, just as it says, no skin found. With vanilla XBMC you'd usually have at least Project Mayhem III and the HD PM3 skins as default. But whether XBMC4Gamers, which is basically a dedicated XBMC version and skin, will work with other XBMC skins I have no idea. I suspect not.

When I get around to test my copy of MA I'll post the result - probably try SID, HeXEn and Rocky5's XBSMT just for thoroughness. Many things to do ATM so likely won't be doing that any time soon.

Interesting, I have looked and my PAL disc clearly has a the "Live" logo but (I've just rechecked) it does also have the MS02301L ID. I think you may have made a typo in last post: MS02310L? But if that is the correct disc ID you have it might be that there are at least three MechAssault disc ID versions. Anyway its something for me to test when I have a spare HDD to softmod. I'll be disappointed if you're right but even at this stage I'm pretty sure my MechAssault disc loads the (SID) installer dash. There's some mismatch in the information that is certain. What I meant about the softmod was what flavour you used ie. HeXEn , Rocky5's XBSMT or SID? I do not know why it might make a difference as they're all using the same game exploit but I thought it might be relevant.

At what point does it fail? Does the 'Live' disc shown have the same etched ID: MS02301L on the inner disc area? Who tested this? What softmod installer was used?

Thanks for the additional info. I've not read that before; I'll add it to my softmod info data base for future reference. I have the MechAssault PAL MS02301L one. I asked the seller (Ebay) to check the number before I bought it and helpfully he obliged. I've just checked that and both the case and the disc show Xbox Live enabled. I've not used my copy of MechAssault for a full softmod yet but I've tested it and it certainly launches the installer dash without issue. It was the first thing tested when I received it. So maybe that Xbox Live issue is an NTSC version thing. Its on my to do list to get a copy of TH4 as well sometime.

I'd check also that there are no other previous SC, 007 or TH4 game saves on the Xbox in question. In short: wipe all the existing relevant game exploit/installer saves. Shutdown and restart then copy in a new game save set for one exploitable game only. Shutdown and restart after that too. This sort of problem seems to be most connected with using SC previously so I'd suggest starting with 007 AUF making sure of course that that the disc is the correct version. If that doesn't work then wipe those game 007 AUF saves and try with TH4 or MechAssault instead. 007 Agent Under Fire:- Any version of the original release (PAL/NTSC) works. Platinum Hits (NTSC) version must be 1448517 (found in the printing on the front of the disc itself). If there is an equivalent PAL version of the Platinum Hits/Classic version no infomation is provided about that but I'd assume if it has that same ID it would also work. Mechassault:- For MechAssault you have to look at the number etched on the silvered side of the disc, adjacent to the spindle. If it says MS02301L then it will work, if it says MS02308L (or indeed any other number) then it won't. Tony Hawks 4:- Unknown if version ID matters but Rocky5's Xbox Softmodding Tools include installer files for PAL, NTSC and Region Free versions so, like SC, you must use the appropriate region disc, Xbox region setting and the specific exploit/installer for that region.

That's worrying news about Resctoox. I extracted the version I used from an older HeXEn version (2017? I think). It was used with a Winbond TSOP and I'm pretty sure I reflashed it a second time to customise the logo and Xbox logo colours. No problems in that regard. The other TSOP I did was a ST done with EvoX. Could it be Resctoox or a particular version of it does not work with the ST TSOP?

Depends where you got the BIOS from. It is is easily edited and the logo/colour and other things changed using the EVTool. Whoever prepared the BIOS just changed the colour - its not important at all if that's what you're worried about. If you don't like the blue logo then you can use that tool yourself to revert it or even use another logo of your own design. I would suggest you do not simply because flashing a BIOS, particularly a TSOP, is potentially risky. If its working as it should why risk changing it just for aesthetic reasons?

I'm interested in the already filled LPC hole problem mentioned here and how others have dealt with it. Solder braid just didn't work for me and a solder sucker likewise. In the end I use a Dremel like mini-power tool with a VERY fine awl head. Even then I need to 'drill' through each side as the awl was flared and if I'd tried going through the solder plug just from one side it would have chewed up the hole and LPC contacts too.

I'd argue for a v1.2/v1.3 - younger than v1.0/v1.1 but still with the Conexant video chip, TSOP-able and often fitted with the better Samsung 605B DVD drive. The younger and less used the better, particularly in relation to capacitors but the v1.6 lets itself down with Xcalibur video chip problem, less easy to chip and no TSOP. The v1.4 I'd go for if it wasn't for the fact the Focus video chip in mine clearly needs very different TV picture settings from any of the other Xboxes I've owned. Could be a one off thing but when that's all you have to judge it by you have to go with that. Now I'd go with any Xbox version with a well treated Hitachi DVD drive. That's simply because the DVD drive is the Xbox hardware weak point and the Hitachi, if not perfect, is proving to be the most mechanically reliable of the lot.

How did you make and transfer the "digital copy" to the HDD?

Its very difficult to do that without there being some evidence, particularly the metallic coated sticker. I have a Translucent Green LE PAL Xbox, BTW all v1.2, which actually wasn't sold as a LE at the time. It was offered at a price effectively less than some standard black Xbox bundles as it came with two matching controllers (Controller S) which meant the extra £10 it cost on Amazon at the time was well worth it. Some sources say it was the 15,000 unsold of the 20,000 UK/EU ones manufactured the Canadians received, just region swapped. No idea if that is true. Anyway my one has never been opened but it has been softmodded. Not had any problems with it but it is easily my least used, bought new, Xbox. Probably why its the only one of the nine working Xboxes I've owned I've not had any problem with the Samsung disc drive.

Assuming the very important PSU supply issue KaosEngineer covered is understood:- The first question to ask should surely be: is the Xbox modded (soft/hard)? You can not region change the Xbox otherwise. What I'm not sure about is whether either of the other two exploitable games which do not need region specific softmod game saves, 007: AUF and MechAssault are region locked games. There are specific release ID versions required but if the NTSC versions play on a PAL Xbox ie. are not region locked, it may be possible to use them to softmod a PAL Xbox. Never tried that myself as I do not have NTSC versions of either game but even though this is now a fairly niche problem there must be information available about if this is possible. What I do know is that both 007: AUF and MechAssault PAL versions play on a region changed to NTSC previously PAL Xbox but whether the reverse is case and the game save exploits work for softmodding I've never experimented to find out. But it would be worth xealous trying with the NTSC versions on his PAL Xbox if importing PAL version original game discs is too expensive. On that subject: I have found one Splinter Cell PAL seller on UK Ebay (just disc no box) who ships worldwide for under £3/$4 and the game itself likewise so total, likely, under $10. That's as cheap or cheaper than importing an Aladdin chip from China/HK. The £25+ shipping to the US from the UK in a lot of SC Ebay UK listings is a grotesque, seller benefiting inflated price. In the UK the Royal Mail will ship to the US (Region 3) using their International Standard 'Large Letter' service which specifically mentions CD/DVDs. Cost £4.20/£4 online and Royal Mail prices are at the high end so the £3/$4 cost quoted by that seller is believable as other carriers are often very much cheaper.

The Evox logo on the start up screen just means the BIOS you're using is most probably one of the Evox M8+ series. It could be an earlier version and, although highly unlikely, the Evox logo could have been applied to a non-Evox BIOS using a BIOS editing tool. The EvoX dashboard has little or nothing to do with the BIOS except that the name used by the dashboard XBE and its path will likely be C:\evoxdash.xbe by default. That does not mean it is an EvoX dash just that is the what it must be named. Again that can be changed by a BIOS editing tool. You can install any dash eg. UnleashX, XBMC4Xbox, Avalaunch or Evox; it does not matter what the BIOS is but its launching XBE will, probably, need to be named evoxdash.xbe. Many softmods dashboards are set up in the same way but use E:\ rather a C:\ location. So even if you have an UnleashX main dash the, typical, although not universal, path used will be E:\evoxdash.xbe. Any installer disc will have the stock and dashboard files (UnleashX, XBMC, EvoX etc) necessary so you do not need to use it from a disc they can be extracted from an ISO download using Qwix or the C-Xbox Tool and installed using FATXplorer. But you do need to know what goes where so ask before doing anything if you can't find that out for yourself.

Although it may be useful you don't actually need the eeprom as 'all' that does is lock the HDD to the specific Xbox. With chips/TSOPs that is not necessary; HDDs can be used unlocked. It is only retail state and softmodded Xboxes that need to have locked HDDs. The problem you have is being able to flash a chip with a no DVD check BIOS and doing that without a working DVD drive is a bit of a chicken/egg dilemma. Without the DVD drive being recognised as attached the Xbox will error 11 or 12 whether it is chipped or not. But you say the Thomson DVD drive is recognised so, obviously that's the one to use in either Xbox. The solution to the flashing problem itself is to build the Xbox HDD on your PC using XBHDM USB. With that you should be able to boot it and with any dashboard get FTP access allowing you to install whatever BIOS flashing tool and BIOS files you want. There are probably other ways of doing the same sort of thing just with XBHDM or in combination with FATXplorer. The lack of a fully working DVD drive should not be considered too much of a problem with chipped Xboxes. TSOPing is a different matter - whether it is possible/safe to TSOP BIOS flash by removing/disabling the chip after booting I don't know. Others here may well do or have other solutions.

I'd bet the original Evox M8 1.6 BIOS is just a default M8 type. According to the BIOS features tables I have archived neither Evox M8 or M8+ support LBA48 by default, it has to be "reconfigured" using the EVTool. I think a lot people forget that and other useful/wanted features of the EvoxM8+ BIOS need to be enabled by it in the same way too. Most versions of EvoxM8+ you find on discs etc have been so configured but if this is an old chip install and/or the BIOS version used to flash it likewise then you have the most likely explanation. If you get a message about LBA48 and it not being supported by the BIOS then you should believe it and not assume all sorts of other things are wrong that need fixing. Chances are a simple reflash of the BIOS with any recent EvoxM8+ v1.6 BIOS would solve the problem. But I'm very much with SS_Dave on the importance of correctly identifying the chip type first and confirming the Xbox version too from any pictures that can be provided.

So that's a Xboy Advance emulator 'file manager' or a C:\ drive display available via the emulator. That raises the question: why? It would perhaps have been more helpful to see the UnleashX's file manager C and E drive content screens than use an emulator for whatever reason. The UnleashX file manager (Administrador de archivos?) must surely be available in the main menu below Utilitades.

WTF do you mean by "........awful gameplay"? The first three SC games are amongst the best stealth games ever made and there's nothing much wrong with the original Xbox Double Agent version either except for it not bringing anything new to the table. Say you don't like stealth games but don't slag it off for bad gameplay.

Jeez that's a weird old set up - never seen anything like that. Default UnleashX blue skin home screen but a customised Xboy Adavance file manager - odd. How do you get a customised UnleashX file manager skin with the default UnleashX skin? The whole point of the default skin is that it defaults everything as a safety net for any skin related problems. And what is that ************ under DVD on the System (Utilidades) sub-menu? Grabar means Record in Spanish so I'm guessing that is the Disc Copy utility UnleashX often includes. That also suggests it is just the bottom half of the UnleashX System > Settings menu we're seeing too. In which case the Network settings information is probably there, just higher up the menu, possibly: Configuracion de red. Its that Xboy Advanced file manager screen that has me perplexed; it suggest the Xbox might be hardmodded although it could just be a very old softmod which put everything on C:\. But four XBEs - that's unusual. Evoxdash.xbe likely the UnleashX main dash, xboxdash.xbe should be the original MS dash unless it is a softmod which, if it is, means it is more likely the "original.xbe" would be the MS dash. That leaves the modxboxdash.xbe which I won't even guess at.

I'm not sure what skins can be applied to XBMC4Gamers but this thread may help:- https://www.ogxbox.com/forums/index.php?/topic/1214-looking-for-xbmc-skins-pack/ The updated Xbox-Classic skin may be found by following the links here:- https://www.xbmc4xbox.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3775 https://www.xbmc4xbox.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3039 It is not perfect and I added one 'tweak' of my own to it since but there are also a few other minor things not quite right above my XBMC4Xbox knowledge level to be able to fix.

Simple looking? I assume your experience of it must be when using whatever the default skin is for XBMC4Gamers or the basic XBMC PM3/Project Mayhem III skins which with their grey theme are functional but uninspiring. You need to try a more adventurous, customisable skin with XBMC like Origins or, my favourite, the updated Xbox-Classic skin. Much as I love UnleashX having customised its menus, edited (an ongoing project) and created many skins XBMC is a much more sophisticated dashboard in every respect. As said, I wouldn't be without both on my Xboxes either as main dash or apps (multiple versions). In fact I also have EvoX (principally for BIOS flashing) and Avalaunch too although the latter gets very little use.

I'm not sure in what way you think UnleashX is better than XBMC4Gamers. I've not used XBMC4Gamers but I do use XBMC and as a multi-media tool, particularly as a music player, it is in a different league to UX. The UX music player is seriously flawed. What it does do well is just playing random music whilst you're using the main dash. If that's all you want it is great but as far as organising a music collection goes there's no comparison.