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HDShadow

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Everything posted by HDShadow

  1. HDShadow
    Does the orb feature rotate and glow as you select the menu options? As I said in that almost 2 years old post there are several similar looking UX skins like TrueMSdash and that is the main thing that they don't or can't recreate. The graphics of the orb feature certainly look more authentically "MS-dashy" than any others I've seen. Likewise fonts looks correct too. Good work. Personally I'd shift time and date to top right, move the IP address to bottom right, add F:\ and G:\ free space entries under E:\ free space bottom left and do away with free memory info. Maybe add temperature info somewhere too. But that's my choice for layout and content. There's nothing wrong as it is and, of course, the skin.xml could be easily edited to add those Sources and re-position the other elements if other users wanted to do that.
  2. HDShadow
    Not seen that screen - I think you need advice from somebody who knows the Xecuter 2.0 chip and the Cromwell BIOS version that it appears to be using. My thought is that the chip might have two BIOS banks (selected by the switches mentioned) and whatever BIOS is being used is looking for the main dash in the wrong location. What should happen is that eventually the BIOS default action will be to try to launch the xboxdash.xbe and as Bowlsnapper suggests the C:\ drive is messed up in some way. Typically that would be due to a previous softmod but with the likely age of the installation there could be several other explanations. One thing you should not do is attempt to reflash the BIOS at least not until you get some expert, knowledgeable advice first.
  3. HDShadow
    Not sure why you used a "shortcut .xbe within its own folder". Surely if you add a new Source you might just as well use the primary CoinOps boot XBE. If I understand correctly what you're trying to do is create a Source XBE on the main menu rather than a Source folder with the CoinOps boot XBE inside. Yes? I'm not sure if that is possible, at least not without messing around with one of the, many, XML files that make up XBMC and its variants. All you should need for the folder icon is to put a "Folder.jpg" inside the folder concerned. This can actually be a PNG but I think this is one of XBMC's quirks that in just this case it must have the .JPG extension even if it is a PNG. For an XBE icon itself you'll probably need to use "Default.tbn" ie. thumbnail extension or 'same name as the XBE'.tbn in the same location as the XBE. Again it can be JPG or PNG and, I think BMP too. Be aware that with TBNs there is a TBN permanent cache which will hold precedence even if you replace the icon. You have to find the old thumbnail in the UserData folder and delete it manually before the new TBN will be used. https://www.ogxbox.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8464-preferred-artwork-size-and-resolution/&do=findComment&comment=45367
  4. HDShadow
    I'm late to this discussion but I noticed one thing earlier on and that is the settings when talking about the region settings (PAL/NTSC) seemed to just involve the UnleashX dashboard video settings. The only way to swap the console region is to use the Enigmah Region Changer app. Usually, depending on the TV's NTSC support, it shouldn't make a difference when using RGB SCART whether that is set to to PAL or NTSC. If the console is set to PAL and the TV is PAL and the TV SCART socket is RGB it should be displaying correctly. Even if it was not an RGB compliant SCART socket you should still be seeing video output. The only possible exception I've come across is what used to happen with an old Grundig 20" 4:3 CRT I had. It supported NTSC but not when using RGB SCART. All you'd get was a blank screen. If you used exactly the same RGB SCART cable ie. fully wired and plugged it into the non-RGB AV Composite/S-Video TV SCART socket it worked fine under NTSC. I always used it in PAL60 mode which worked perfectly with RGB SCART. It was just a quirk of the NTSC support with that particular TV. Something similar possible in this case too? One thing I'm not clear on from the OP's earlier posts: is the problem described specific to this v1.6 Xbox ie. do other Xboxes used with the same cable have the same problem or not?
  5. HDShadow
    I don't trust the UnleashX Game Save Manager; UX v584 in particular has an issue with game saves on memory cards or other storage media in that it does not display the actual games saves, just the parent one. So what I do to be 100% sure I've cleaned both UDATA and TDATA for any particular game or app is use the UX File Manager instead. Identify the save folder ID, in this case DVD2Xbox, from the Game Saves Manager then use that in the File Manager to find it in E:\UDATA and its sister E:\TDATA folders. Deleting those in the File Manager ensures that both have been erased.
  6. HDShadow
    Last thought - after wiping the existing installation etc don't install DVD2Xbox directly by FTP. FTP it in its zipped folder, disconnecting the network connection afterwards ie. unplug the ethernet cable. Then unpack the folder on the Xbox and install it to your applications folder using the File Manager. UnleashX will unpack Zip and RAR if you use the WHITE button context menu option. XBMC's File Manager will do the same but it does it as part of the copying process; it opens the Zip or RAR folder in the manager and you simply copy the contents to wherever and it unpacks them at the same time. BTW make sure with the install that DVD2Xbox is in a single level folder. It should be, depending on the chosen location/name E:\Apps\DVD2Xbox\content. Not E:\Apps\DVD2Xbox\DVD2Xbox\content. Hope my suggestions work. If not let's hope somebody here has some new ideas about what the problem might be.
  7. HDShadow
    If you cleared the DVD2Xbox UDATA and any TDATA files on the Xbox via the UnleashX or XBMC file manager ie. deleted the whole 'game' save then that would have most likely done the trick if it was a DVD2Xbox settings problem. E:\Cache can just be deleted without any trouble, it will regenerate the next time it is needed. I've never been sure what is stored there but it always seems to reappear after a gaming session or using apps etc. I'd suggest now deleting DVD2Xbox entirely, then wipe its UDATA and TDATA 'game' saves, wipe E:\Cache and any content in X, Y and Z. Shut down the Xbox, restart and then do a fresh install of DVD2Xbox v7.8 or whatever the last version is. If that doesn't work then.....................I'm stumped. You're using FTP to get it to the Xbox, yes? Any chance you're anti-virus or anti-malware is interfering with it and some of its files are not being transferred? Do you have a working Xbox friendly flash drive you could use to transfer it instead?
  8. HDShadow
    Did the OP mess around with the DVD2Xbox skin by any chance? There is at least one skin when selected that crashes DVD2Xbox. I believe some of the other Settings options have 'issues' too so the best thing is not to change anything just always use its default settings. You'll need to delete the DVD2Xbox game save (both E:\UDATA and TDATA probably) and clear E:\Cache if present. That last thing is probably not necessary but I'd do it anyway and also go to X, Y and Z and delete any content of the folders which is DVD2Xbox related. In fact delete everything in those folders. It won't do any harm as they're temporary files but the next time you boot any app, emulator or game that writes to X, Y or Z it will take longer than usual the first time after clearing the content. Reboot the Xbox and DVD2Xbox should launch OK. Just deleting the game save should return DVD2Xbox back to the default skin but if it doesn't then you may also have to delete the whole DVD2Xbox folder and reinstall a fresh copy.
  9. HDShadow
    Is there a guide for doing this mod? I assume it is just a replacement of an existing resistor but where exactly is "R4"?
  10. HDShadow
    I've never used the StarTech brand IDE > SATA adapter. There are three Xboxes I have fitted with SATA HDDs and all are of the same generic design which was recommended on another forum well over a decade ago now. All bought at different times over the years since then too and I've not had any problems with them. https://www.amazon.co.uk/NFHK-Motherboard-Converter-Adapter-Desktop/dp/B09GPGFLWB Important thing are having the jumper pins. some similar designs don't and are, presumably, Cable Select only. Typical price everywhere is £8/$10 or less.
  11. HDShadow
    The 'ideal' temperature is, in theory, as low as possible for any PC or games console. Reported temperatures are a matter of question as I suggested in the previous post too and those can vary with Xbox version too. UnleashX and EvoX dashboard temperatures, particularly with v1.6 Xboxes are suspect but are still good for comparison purposes ie. if your normal temperatures suddenly increase without any obvious environmental cause then it is a matter of concern even if the actual figures are unreliable. With any Xbox dashboard you shouldn't be worried if at default fan speed (20%) it reports CPU/GPU as high as 60°C/140°F as it might well do at the height of summer and a long gaming session in a room at 30°+C. You can always switch the fan speed up and, typically, that will reduce the temperatures by about five degree Centigrade with each 20% step. But a retail Xbox fan at 100% is not a quiet thing. With XBMC I'd suggest you do what I do and that is set it to automatic temperature control with the aim temperature as 50°C/122°F and the lowest speed as 20%. In a temperate climate that will keep the fan speed at 20% for much of the year and, obviously, at or below the aim temperature.
  12. HDShadow
    Most of the time replacing the paste proves totally unnecessary. 68°F/20°C is fine, TBH more than fine, for XBMC which, IMHO, is the only dashboard that gives you consistently accurate temperature information. So I would say don't worry about it even if it doubles or more under load - with a v1.6 and XBMC typically I get average reported temperatures of 45°C - 50°C for most of the year and that is with the fan sets at 10% speed on Auto with an aim temperature of 50°C Currently the ambient temperature is 16°C/60°F in my kitchen where I have a Xbox with XBMC situated; after a quick 10mins gaming session the CPU and GPU temperatures are in the mid-thirties Centigrade with is about ninety-five degrees Fahrenheit.
  13. HDShadow
    Always check with XBPartitioner v1.3 after cloning stuff and formatting with Chimp. Chimp can sometimes be a bit quirky so it pays to check with XBPartitioner as a safety net. If you see an 'ER' (meaning error) against a partition you know there is a problem that needs to be fixed before you do anything else.
  14. HDShadow
    So you're saying the MS dash does work when using UnleashX, using the main menu "MS Dash" menu option, yes? Well the simple thing to do is go to UnleashX's config.xml (do that when using UnleashX because of its built in text reader/editor) and see what path that uses to launch the MS dash. Copy the path then use it in XBMC4Gamers as the "Dashboard". TBH I do not know the menu structure of XBMC4Gamers, I'm a ordinary XBMC4Xbox user, but I assume Rocky5 left it in the main Shutdown menu option: "Dashboard". Once done you can then use it to launch the MS dash whenever you want. You may not be aware that if you click R3 (the right stick down) with XBMC and, AFAIK, any variant it will bring up the Shutdown menu automatically.
  15. HDShadow
    This is interesting as I was made aware, by someone on Reddit, that you need the full MS dash content, on C:\, to get an MS dash to work from anywhere else too. I'd always assumed that you could just install a copy of the 5960 MS dash anywhere or as little as just its main xboxdash.xbe, typically as an app (E:\Apps\xboxdash.xbe) and it would work but, apparently not. Could that be the issue here? What I'm thinking is that because it is a TSOP we're talking about a C:\drive that would be set up as for a softmod and that is what is causing the problem. Depending on the softmod you could even have a MS dash XBE somewhere on C:\ already but it would undoubtedly be named differently from the original xboxdash.xbe as that is, usually reassigned in a softmod to launch Xbox Live or other redundant service. If it is a hardmod you certainly do not need to lock the HDD to be able to use the MS dash, that is 100% certain.
  16. HDShadow
    Rocky5 has just pointed out that there is a built in tool for that, something which I did not know. But otherwise it is easily done anyway. I don't know about XBMC4Gamers but when you find an old version of vanilla XBMC its main XBMC/media folder usually contains a whole back history of old icons that can be used to replace whatever Splash.png (or.jpg?) is currently default. It is not too difficult to replace the XBMC game save (E:\UDATA\0face008) icon either if you can find the XBX image file converter tool.
  17. HDShadow
    I've dozen dozens of 'homebrew' Doom WADs on the Xbox of one sort or another and not really had any serious performance problem, at least nothing that you would not expect. But if you're just wanting to play Doom I/Doom II and their various iterations (Ultimate Doom and the Doom II Master Levels) on the original Xbox at its best then get Doom: Resurrection Of Evil which includes them as bonuses. It is a fantastic package if you buy Doom III and Doom ROE, you'll be all Doomed out if you play through everything they contain. If you have a Xbox360 then the remastered Doom III BFG edition has all that and an additional set of Doom III missions too.
  18. HDShadow
    My suggestion would be to get a new HDD, install it, then use an installer disc to put in a clean hardmod dash. My personal preference would still be to use an AID (Auto-Installer Deluxe) disc but then I'm old school and like things nice and simple. The OGXbox or TruHeXEn ones probably have all the bells and whistles of a more up to date installer but what you use is up to you. They'll all work. Doing this will give you a virgin set up you can play around with if you must. BIOS rule No.1 (Xbox or PC): don't flash a new BIOS unless you know what you're doing and you really need a feature of the new BIOS. Just updating it because there is a new version is pointless because every time you do it you're risking bricking your machine. If you've flashed CerBIOS you're probably wanting to use a larger HDD than you are already so it makes no sense trying to fix whatever mess you've made by softmodding the existing HDD. Chances are that it is unlocked and you can get everything important off it and transfer it to the new HDD one way or another.
  19. HDShadow
    Interesting question. Indeed with XBMC4Xbox you can add the Screenshot and/or other picture folders as Sources under the main Pictures menu. In fact you don't even need to do that because the sub-menu > Slideshow option will display using your designated Screenshot folder content However if the Pictures main menu option was removed does XBMC4Gamers include a Favourites option? If so that might work if you add your picture containing folder(s) to that. There used to be a number of gallery plugins you could use (no experience of doing this myself) but they were installed under Pictures from the main menu too. Rather than mess around with XBMC4Gamers wouldn't the simplest solution just be to install XBMC4Xbox as an app for when you want to manage/view pictures?
  20. HDShadow
    Did a quick Google on the Xenium matter and from this link I see it can be installed just as an app. Also it appears, its menu has an eeprom backup option too.
  21. HDShadow
    Nothing is out of date, if it works it works. So just replacing a dash or 'updating' the BIOS is a question of personal choice not necessity. Why a "Backup" eeprom option is missing is probably because the evox.ini (the dash's configuration/settings file) has been customised for safety reasons. The Flash BIOS option too I'd guess is also likely missing (DO NOT MESS WITH THAT IF IS STILL THERE). But in any case as yours is a hardmod the eeprom backup is less important than if it was a softmod. It is still a good idea to back it up to PC. Check the HDD lock status, being a hardmod you'd expect it to be unlocked but if it is locked then the eeprom backup becomes a little more important. 1). If your EvoX dash does not have a eeprom "Backup" you can either edit/replace the evox.ini but, safer, to install ConfigMagic, an Xbox app, that will do that for you and also put in a safety net in the form of a master password. There are disc based installer tools that will also backup the eeprom for you. Your choice which you choose. 2). No need to delete XBMC or Avalaunch. They're alternative dashboards installed as apps which can be useful, you might even prefer XBMC to EvoX and decide to replace it as your main dash. Ask here for advice before attempting to do that yourself. 3). Not ever seen Xenium installed as an app - possibly a Xenium chip was previously fitted. That's just a guess, somebody here who knows more about Xenium and chip stuff than I do will know doubt be able to help with that. 4). The BIOS is completely separate thing from the dash. UnleashX and XBMC4Gamers are just other dashboards, they do not need a BIOS update to be able to use either. If the chip is a standard Aladdin type it came with a pre-installed universal EvoX M8+ which is perfectly good enough in most circumstances. The golden rule with BIOS, Xbox or PC, is never update them unless you are a 100% sure it will provide some new benefit or a problem fix you're actually going benefit from. Otherwise don't. You can replace your primary dash with a new dash and I'd suggest any one with a built in file manager is a better choice than EvoX.
  22. HDShadow
    Good to know. I was just wondering what extra wiring I might need. As I understand it the top of MB red wire going to the transistor leg is for a 5v supply to power the chip on LED. I don't know if the Black Ice chip I've just bought (still in transit) even has an LED but I assume it does. So that wire will have to have the plug removed and be re-soldered somewhere. I'm also not certain what to do about the Xecuter 2.6 CE's switch array. It's super-glued in place so it has to stay. The Bank select and Write Protect switches will be redundant (?) but it might be useful to be able to switch the chip On/Off and, although less important, just the chip LED. Both are catered for in the Xecuter's switch array but can it be adapted to make those functions work with the Black Ice? Anyone know how?
  23. HDShadow
    You could test the theory of that being the problem by temporarily removing 25 to 30 of the largest file size icons you've installed and seeing if doing that reduces the effect you're seeing. It is less work than uninstalling them all, reducing their size and reinstalling them and, as said, it could be something else. I remember doing a new softmod a few years ago (UnleashX dash install) and being surprised just how 'zippy' navigating through the UnleashX menus was using this new uncluttered HDD compared to my primary Xbox. That has about sixty games, a couple of dozen apps, and I'd guess a total of at least fifty emulators and homebrew games plus CD music rips installed, most with my own custom (<50KB) icons.
  24. HDShadow
    I'm a little confused now as to what the green and red wires under the MB are there for. Likewise the D0 wire which I thought the LPC rebuild board meant it was not required with a v1.6. The YT videos I've seen show an Aladdin chip installed on a v1.6 with an LPC rebuild board working without any additional wiring that I could see.
  25. HDShadow
    That sort of problem seems to affect UnleashX particularly; it could be something else but the trouble is usually caused by some unwritten maximum total icon file size cache limit. It seems to kick in between 900MB - 100MB total. Roughly about 200 <50KB icons and what happens is not just that icons do not display, the menu items themselves go missing from the menus. So if you have installed a lot of games, emulators and apps and/or they have a lot of large custom sized icons that could be what you're experiencing. This is why I've always kept my custom icon size down to 256x256 and used various other 'tricks' to reduce the icon file size to <50KB. That might mean using JPG rather than PNG but with PNG you can 'optimise' it using graphics programs settings to reduce the file size eg. using 8 bit palette only rather than standard 24 bit R G B sometimes making the file smaller than a JPG.

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