Having problems with XBoxHDM 1.9 - need suggestions

After wrecking several hard drives with 'bad passwords' for locking, I finally got the hang of using XBoxHDM 1.9.

I set up the disk and used my eeprom.bin file in the right place. Copied the C and E drives from a working XBox and then (using the Linux choice of #3) correctly locked the hard disk.

However, when I boot I get the XBox 'X' screen and the word Microsoft at the bottom, but the machine doesn't move forward in the boot. I don't get errors or flashing lights, just a seemingly hung machine.

I can replace my C drive with a 'stock' version downloaded from 'somewhere' if that is the assumed problem, but I'm lost on what I'm doing wrong.

Any suggestions - given I have a bunch of locked drives that don't seem to want to unlock <g>.


Thoughts on what I might be doing wrong?

Andrew

 

OK, so I'm responding to myself - at least I don't hear voices (yet).

I recreated the XBoxHDM 1.9 boot cd using the e:\backup files from one of my other softmodded Xbox machines. In theory this should be a virgin set of files as opposed to the files on the current, but not hacked quite correctly, machine. The present machine's softmod (onto a 250GB drive) went somewhat astray which is why I'm trying to recreate the machine on a new HD and then mod again.

I'm using a 160GB WD drive for the 'new' install/softmod.

I've set up my C drive with the 'virgin' MS files, the E drive with what is presently on the E Drive and left the F drive blank.

The install seems to run correctly and then seems to lock correctly (in theory) using the eeprom.bin file. When I boot the Xbox it seems to go into a 'boot loop'. The Xbox startup animation will run and then the screen will show the big X logo and the word 'Microsoft' underneath; it will then flicker and show the logo/Microsoft screen.

A Halo disk inserted into the DVD will not boot (same outcome as above); if the machine is started with the DVD open, the drawer will close and I end up at the same point as above.

My goal is simply to end up at a virgin starting point and then softmod - if I can start with a new HD and end up softmodded in one step that's good too. The original disk and my replacement 250 GB both seem 'broken' in how they operate (the 250 complains that it has no free blocks, for example).


Any thoughts?