Boot w/o DVD drive *RESOLVED

[spinnersp]

Ok, so I just finished(almost) building my first slim, using a v 1.2 TSOP flashed with a custom(no flubber or logos and no DVD drive check,boot to XBMC) M8+, on a winbond chip. Problem is it doesnt want to load(with DVD disconnected), when I push power button, but if I use the eject button(a press to turn on then wait a second then press and hold for a second or two) it will sometimes load. When I do get it to load I can go to videos(even play them),etc..but it I try to go to file manager,it tries to go but then locks up before it gets there. I hook DVD drive up and it boots right up,any thoughts to whats going on. By the way I used "EVtool_1.0.9" to edit Bios. I'll try to get log file posted asap if I can get her to load again without DVD.

[professor_jonny]

how have you got you boot paths setup in bios?

if you set up 2 fake boot paths then boot your shortcut from e drive it shuld fix it.

also are you using the xbmc shortcut tool ? if so change your shortcut to the team uix one it will fix it i dont know why but it does.

[spinnersp]

I've tried multiple boot paths,1- E:\evoxdash.xbe,2-E;\apps\xbmc\default.xbe,3-C:\evoxdash.xbe. where evoxdash.xbe is shortcut made with Xbe Shortcut Maker 1.0.I've tried these in different order. You say setup 2fake boot paths? should these be boot 1 and 2? 3 being the shorcut? I could not find a copy of team uix shortcut(got a link?). Also I noticed if I power on with power button, after a couple mins it will boot to XBMC but the file manager problem persists,

[Nextelhalo]

What hard drive are you using? It wouldnt happen to be a WD Blue Caviar 320GB would it? If so, scrap it and get a new one, then see what happens. I've run into this same thing many times and it was that dang old hard drive.

[spinnersp]

Ya I was thinking it maybe the HDD, it is a WD Blue Caviar 500GB, unfortunately its all loaded and ready to go, been using it for awhile now. Ill have to get that 1 or 2 tb for it,that I've been holding off on. I've already ordered a sata adapter knowing I was going to upgrade. But for now I have just taken the board outta the DVD and mounted in the slim. Thanks for your guys help.

[professor_jonny]

i have that exzact same drive in one of mine a wd blue 500.

i used the team uix's xbe shortcut maker as it fixed the same problems you have that happened on mine.

team uix's xbe shortcut maker available here:
http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep ... wjNkiE.php

[spinnersp]

thanks , I'll try it. Although I believe I used same shortcut maker, I just got it from another source.

[bigkidoz]

i always get a small hang when i go to file manager on my slims regardless of HDD, only a second or 2 so its no big deal.

[spinnersp]

Guess it must be the drive. I've tried new shortcut,lock/unlock drive,disabled auto launch (everything) in XBMC,HDD jumpers(cable select,slave,etc,tried flashing to ind-bios,with no dvd config. Is always the same,DVD hooked up(pcb board),boots to my dash(XBMC) in 8-10secs. No DVD boots to dash in 2mins or so and locks up on launching file manager(doesnt matter if I set bios to boot to UnleashX), but I have FTP access.Would it matter that this drive came outta a softmod(softmod is removed though)

[professor_jonny]

if that is the case you may have to fake the drive closed on the yellow plug by shorting the wires or by the micro switches on the dvd circuit board its self and see if thaat fixes it? or try change the dvd board.
i have had a few dvd drives that lock up when reading dvd's and going into file manager i find thompson drives play up like this some times.

that delay going into file manager is normal as it tries to dead the dvd / close the drive is normal on slims where you dont fake the drive as being closed. but you hare having it hang and lock up, id try

[spinnersp]

i just mounted the pcb board from DVD in the slim, works good was just hoping to not have to go that route. Tried to short DVD plug wires, didnt seem to work(obviously didnt do it right) but was getting frustrated so decided to rip DVD apart and mount board inside. I'll try again when I upgrade HDD,may also try with stock HDD(which I shouldve already)to see if it is the drive or user error.

[spinnersp]

So,I hook up stock drive,(NO DVD) and wham,bam thank you ma'am! Boot right up. So it is the HDD. thanks for everyone help and suggestions.

[Nextelhalo]

Man i'm glad that worked but at the same time..................



@WD drives

[spinnersp]

lol, ya and I have 3 of the blue 500gbs, in 3 xboxs all recently converted from softmod to TSOP. Guess for now Ill only be doing the one slim.

[xman]

I actually believe the "No DVD Drive" option in the bios editors has a limit to the size of HDD it will work with. I found most 500GB HDD don't work with this setting however the same settings work fine on 200GB HDD fitted. When you try a sata adapter with sata HDD, that definitely won't work. On the 1 and 2TB satas, it will boot but lockup everytime you use filemanager. Easiest solution I found was the Thomson DVD board installed. The Thomson because you can pull it apart and just use the plug end of it with 2 links inserted to fake the drive switches. The other DVD brand boards are just to big to make a discrete install.

[spinnersp]

Huh?! Well that sucks! Thanks for the info though.You just saved me all kinds of frustration,when I get bigger hdd. Ya it sucked trying to find room to mount the board outta the Samsung.only just acquired a couple xboxs with thompsons today,will have to check out size of board. Also with the jumper mod on DVD pwr cable,couldn't seem to get that to work either( grounding 5&6 and 3v to 7)