I might be wrong but I think you'll need to go with two discs...
No, you are correct...I did read that too, but naturally as you might have noticed, I don't take anything at face value. So the question "why?" will always come up in cases like this. The reason I ask why is once the flash software is loaded, how come it can't access the Bios file on the SAME disc?
Edit: I added a comment below on flashing bios, but while doing that I think I came to answer my own question in regards to WHY having two discs. IF the Cromwell Bios is looking for a Bios.bin file then more then likely you have to have it in the main directory. The thought did occur to me that if other stuff was on the disc, you probably couldn't access it because every time Cromwell sees a Bios.bin file, it is going to attempt a flash. Would that assumption be correct?
Like anyone in these economic times, I DO like to save a disc, especially since I have learned that Xbox's don't read CD-R's very well and thus I must resort to burning a DVD-R instead.
One with the BIOS and the "dummy file" and one with the "auto-installer." Once you've used the "auto-installer" you will have FTP access to the XBOX and will never have to burn another disc.
Ok, so then the Auto-Installer IS also the program needed to flash the Bios? They mentioned using Eurasia as a program to induce a flash. Is Eurasia also a program of the "auto installing" variety?
Edit: Looking over the flash directions again (duomodchip.com)...it looks to be contradictory. The first part mentions the recommendation of using a flashing utility such as Eurasia, BUT then further down they say to put the bios disc in when the Xbox opens the DVD drawer.
I guess it can't hurt to try stuffing a disc with the bios on there right? Then if that is the case then I wouldn't need the installer.
Just connect your XBOX to your computer via a router or crossover cable and use your favorite FTP program.
I like FileZilla myself since it's free (legitimately) and works well with the XBOX. FYI, there are FTP programs that don't work well with the XBOX since it's filesystem has different limitation than a PC including file name length and rejected special characters. Some FTP programs choke in various ways. YMMV.
Ok, I don't have a favorite FTP program. So I guess what works for you should be good enough for me. Is Filezilla a program or is that the FTP access. So yeah, I am going to need to know that too.
While we are on the subject, at what point can I use the Xbox for doing downloads (so I don't have to burn too many discs. AND while we are on the topic of burning disc, are there programs I can group together. Obviously once I get the Xbox running I AM going to archive those discs and save them for future use.
BTW, I had noticed that EVTool was under the "PC applications" listings within Xbins. Do you use EVTool within the PC or the Xbox? I figured it would be used in the Xbox right?
I managed to download:
1) EvoX M8 Plus Bios
2) EVTool_1.0.9
3) Slayers_Evox_Auto-Installer 2.6
4) UnleashX_0_39_0528A
5) MAMEoX_v0.84.b3
6) XBMC 2-18-2009
That's a great selection of stuff to have downloaded, especially 1, 2 & 3![/quote]
LOL! Well, the first three were your recommendations. The next two were Mame applications that I have seen outside of CoinOPS Ignite (or Reignite). And of course the last one we have been discussing. I have all of the above programs except for the Evox Auto-Installer. Xbins didn't have the full program and only provided a link to the torrent.
they say say that the bios is only around 256k and that you have to "double up" on it to get 512k. WTH?
When you edit the EVOX M8+ BIOS file with EVTool, there's an option in there to specify the output size of the BIOS file.
Ok, so how does that work when you have a 256k file (well EVOX M8+ is really 252k, but I get the point)? Do you just specify 512k and then you are good to go?
What is the deal with "Bank0 and Bank1"? Apparently that is what I came across when I wanted to look up the function of that switch on the DuoX mod chip.
The screen you see when you boot your XBOX should have a flashing utility built in. There should be some sort of option like "install bios from disc" or something like that.
Nope! I just checked. I have the Cromwell Linux Bios on my Duo X. What happens is that I get a system check and there is some information listed about the Xbox. Then there are two options that come up on the bottom, one is a Disc icon that is highlighted and it says "Please Insert Disc (hdb)". The other option is a grayed out computer icon that looks like it is connecting to a network.
The Xbox then opens up the disc drawer on it's own. Simply put the thing is asking for a disc that is plain and simple. But it doesn't explicitly say it is looking for a Bios disc.
Could it be some kind of auto-installer?
The flashing utility should be looking for a file called "bios.bin" if I recall correctly. If someone else could confirm that I'm sure it would ease jukinego's mind...
Don't have to, I KNOW the file is called Bios.bin. I have the EvoX M8+ bios already (as I mentioned above). However I have not burned it to a disc yet because I would like to put other files on the disc too.
The BIOS file is so tiny that if it's the only file on the disc, the XBOX might not see it. You can put any file on the disc as a "dummy". Just pick some random large file and place in onto your compilation before the BIOS file so that the BIOS file is located a little ways from the inside of the disc.
Ahhhh, so if I put my folder on the disc that contains all my roms and screen shots for Mame on the disc that folder would be large enough to trigger the Xbox to read the disc. That is weird...I wonder why they didn't say that in the first place! Just make sure to burn a disc with other files on it. Heh!
Oh! I wanted to ask you about the hard drive in the X-Box. There was some crap on it from the prior owner, I would like to erase that before I start loading the new programs on it. Once the EVOX-M8+ Bios is installed, it will allow access to the hard drive, right?
Thanx,
Geo