XBOX   Flashing your onboard BIOS
  XBOX
 
Flashing your onboard BIOS

1.) Connect the A/V and power cables and power on your XBOX console. You should see a screen similar to the one shown below:

NOTE: Some of the values may be different, however please observe the sixth line that reads:
 (Load Tries: 1 Bank: 2 Bios: 1 MB)
.
This means the BIOS CD you just created MUST contain a 1 MB BIOS image. If the line reads Bios: 256k, you must use a CD with a 256k image. Flashing an image of the wrong size will destroy your XBOX. Please check the file properties of the BIOS image file named "BIOS.BIN" on your CD to ensure the file size is correct. If not, repeat the steps outlined in the BIOS CD burning tutorial to create a CD with the proper BIOS image.

2.) The DVD-ROM drive should eject and the console will prompt for the BIOS CD. Insert your newly created BIOS CD and press the eject button to close the DVD drive. Your XBOX will wait until the DVD drive is able to read the disc and you should see this screen:

3.) If the XBOX experiences any problems while reading the disc, you will probably see this screen or similar:

In any case, if you receive a read error or the XBOX cannot and find a BIOS image and the flashing procedure does not begin, please check the following:

  • Ensure your blank CD media is readable by your XBOX's DVD-ROM drive. This can be problematic as XBOX consoles vary in which media brands and types they can read. For optimum compatibility, try using Verbatim DataLife Plus CD-RW discs. It is known that XBOX DVD drives read CD-RW or DVD-R discs best.
  • Make sure you have followed the BIOS CD burning tutorial accurately (i.e. the proper burning software settings and the disc file structure, and your BIOS image is named properly. Please re-read the BIOS CD burning tutorial if you unsure about your disc.)
  • Try burning your BIOS CD at a slower speed. Discs burned at slower speeds (like 4X) are much easier for console disc drives to read and provide much less chance for burn errors.

You can try re-burning the BIOS CD and restarting the console and try the flashing procedure again if it does not recognize the CD or the BIOS image file.

4.) If you do not see an error, you will see the BIOS flash procedure begin, pictured below:

The XBOX is now erasing the onboard BIOS chip in preparing to write your new BIOS image on the CD you created. WARNING: It is imperative that you do not touch the XBOX in any manner (i.e. ejecting the DVD drive, powering off, etc.) If the BIOS flashing procedure is disturbed your XBOX may be destroyed.

5.) After the XBOX has erased the BIOS chip, it will begin flashing your BIOS of choice from the CD. This process is shown below:

When the green bar reaches the end, the flashing procedure has finished. Your XBOX should power down automatically. Congratulations! Your XBOX is now successfully flashed. Assuming you have followed the instructions thus far, your XBOX console should now boot successfully from your new BIOS. You may remove the BIOS CD as it is no longer needed.