Tutorial written by : Jesse M. ( jesistehsux [NOSP@M] yahoo.com )
Last edited: March 29, 2004

Disclaimer:
I cannot be held responsible if you damage your console, nor if this technique does not work for you. Hopefully we can try these techniques and erase our mistakes.

Introduction:
Perhaps we’ve all been here once before. A TSOP flash renders our black box useless and we end up purchasing a chip. However there are alternate methods to make your box useful once again for less than $10.

Chapter I:

1. What is the TSOP?
For all of you newcomers, to old fogies the TSOP is what is known as the XBOX onboard flash ram. This flash ram is like a PC Bios in comparison. To get into more detail we need to identify our consoles.

2. Types of TSOP & Sizes.
Xbox consoles come with a variety of different flash ram vendor id’s and sizes, yet they all work the same way. Perhaps batches created at a certain region of the world determine which combinations of parts are put into each console.

3. Why?
Well if I’ve gone off the subject, we’ll get back to why we are here and get to the point. Mistakes happen; the thought of hacking your console without the need of a chip is the ultimate perk. Most exploits combined with the conventional TSOP flash will save you money. That’s what this guide is here for to help you in flashing/repairing with applied methods and techniques.

Chapter II:

Console version.

1. Identifying your Xbox console.
Is not too hard to spot your console version; simply by checking the serial number and date, However, it is a lot better to open it up and find the specific points seen in a few TSOP solder point pictures. The ones found at Xbox-Scene.com are very helpful and organized. In my opinion
you should use these as your reference.

(http://www.xbox-scene.com/versions.php).

2. TSOP vendor & sizes.
Sizes range from 256KB to 1MB.

Version 1.0/1.1 = 1MB
Version 1.2/1.3/1.4/1.5 = 256KB

This information is important because if you flash your board with a bios that is the wrong size It will misflash. Also if you apply older bios/flash releases on newer Xbox consoles you will render your console useless.

Chapter III:

1. Worst case scenario.

You have rendered your Xbox useless. What do you do?

Solution for 1.0/1.1 ( w/ 1.MB )

Open your Xbox console. If you flashed it with a 256KB size bios you can add a switch on the A18/19 & ground and get it to boot up from the bank seen here.

(http://www.xbox-scene.com/articles/multibios-tsop.php)

Solution for 1.2/1.3/1.4/1.5 ( w/ 256KB )

Although this may be the most costly of the solutions you may need to get a Chameleon Solderless modchip or use a 29 wire homebrew.

If we are using a Chameleon Solderless modchip we can simply plug it into the pogo pins and lift it up, then reflash the TSOP using the right bios file.

29 Wire modchip requires an SPST switch as seen here.

(http://www.xbox-scene.com/articles/endisable.php)

Closing statement.

I hope this tutorial helps you restore your Xbox and makes it fully operational as it was my best intent, however if mistakes happen I cannot be held responsible for any mistakes applied using these techniques. I have tested and applied these techniques and I wanted to provide this guide to the public and contribute. Thank you for your time, and continue the ongoing effort to challenge or reverse engineer technology. J

Thank you all that have contributed to the Xbox community, especially Xbins (http://www.xbins.org) and Xbox-Scene (http://www.xbox-scene.com).

Tutorial written by : Jesse M. ( jesistehsux [NOSP@M] yahoo.com )