View Full Version : Broken Xbox and Sega CD
Joe Redifer
04-20-2011, 01:58 AM
My Xbox (O.G. XBox, not the 360 which AMAZINGLY works), worked just fine when I powered it up to turn off the 480p visual output. I did this because I was going to take it into another room to record some video from Panzer Dragoon Saga (and my capture card does not like 480p for whatever reason). It booted up fine, but the hacker crap that is installed on it for media server purposes complained that my skin made it freeze and that I should take care of that nonsense as soon as I can. But it still worked. The tray opened and closed.
So I disconnect the Xbox and take it into the other room. The trip is uneventful, no turbulence or any of that kind of stuff. I hook it up via component video and turn it on, but now it will not output a video signal AT ALL! Nor will the tray open. I can hear the hard drive access as it powers up, but the video chip makes no attempt to output anything. Another Xbox in the house outputs fine, but then it comes up with a screen saying I need to contact customer service, so I can't use that. But i'd like to get the first Xbox working since it has my save files. But nothing happened! It worked OK just a few minutes before. WTF?? Any clue on what to do with this?
Now on to the Sega CD. This one isn't mine, it belongs to my friend. He says it won't read discs. I confirmed this. I hooked it up and the tray opened and closed fine, so I removed the disc that was already in there. I came back later and the tray refuses to open. You can hear it kind of trying, but it just won't do it. I refuse to believe that a motor that was perfectly fine 20 minutes before has suddenly become too weak to open a tray.
I'm pretty good with hands-on stuff, I just need to be pointed in the right direction. Help me out if you can. If you do, I'll respond to say "thanks". What could be a better reward?
Joe Redifer
04-21-2011, 11:23 PM
No one has fixed my problem? You people are useless! Useless I say!!!
http://www.joeredifer.com/crap/cry-baby.jpg
cynicalhat
04-21-2011, 11:39 PM
Open up said products. Clean all the gears and drive rails. Re-lubricate said parts using molybdnum grease preferrably or lithium grease in a pinch. Start there
Joe Redifer
04-22-2011, 12:22 AM
Nah, the gears and rails are fine. I fixed the tray on the Sega CD. It has become misaligned with the blank spot in the big gear that moves the assembly down and pushes the tray out and in, so there were no teeth to eject the tray. I also slightly adjusted the focus and laser intensity pots (very minor adjustments) so that now it recognizes a disc and loads it. It still makes the odd noise here and there that I need to figure out.
http://www.joeredifer.com/crap/segacd1.jpg
The Sega-CD successfully running Demolition Man, a game that doesn't matter if it gets scratched in the process.
The Xbox is going to be another story, I feel. I refuses to even turn on the video signal.
What does the xbox do? Does the button light up at all (green, blink red/green, orange, etc)? I assume you're using the same cable as in the other rooom? Did you try it back in the other room on the original TV? Have you popped it open and verified that nothing related to the mod came loose?
Regarding your other xbox, what's the error number displayed on the contact customer service screen?
DogP
Joe Redifer
04-22-2011, 09:31 PM
With the Xbox, it powers up with the solid green light. I hear the hard drive access like normal, but no video output. Yes, same cables and power supply. It flashes orange when I disconnect the video cable and blinks green when it tries to open the tray. Other Xbox powers up and displays video with same power and component cables. Goes through the whole Xbox intro and everything, then hangs. No error code. Instead it displays this as the red circle flashes:
http://www.joeredifer.com/crap/HNI_0026.JPG
I did indeed try the old Xbox in the other room just in case there was some magical evil force in this room, but still no go.
I haven't opened any of them up because I'm pretty sure they take a special screwdriver. If not, then I'll open them up, but in the mean time I haven't bothered to peel back the rubber feet to find out.
APE992
04-23-2011, 01:36 AM
With the Xbox, it powers up with the solid green light. I hear the hard drive access like normal, but no video output. Yes, same cables and power supply. It flashes orange when I disconnect the video cable and blinks green when it tries to open the tray. Other Xbox powers up and displays video with same power and component cables. Goes through the whole Xbox intro and everything, then hangs. No error code. Instead it displays this as the red circle flashes:
http://www.joeredifer.com/crap/HNI_0026.JPG
I did indeed try the old Xbox in the other room just in case there was some magical evil force in this room, but still no go.
I haven't opened any of them up because I'm pretty sure they take a special screwdriver. If not, then I'll open them up, but in the mean time I haven't bothered to peel back the rubber feet to find out.
The XBox case screws take a Torx 20 and the internal screws all use Torx 10 if I'm not mistaken. I'd pick up a Torx 15 as well just to be safe or hell, an entire Torx bit set since the drivers are usually pretty costly individually.
If you've got a modchip in there I'd check that out as a possible culprit.
Joe Redifer
04-23-2011, 02:34 AM
Oh Torx, I believe I have some of those.
It's a soft mod, no chip. But if the video is failing to output, something's gotta be up. I'll crackin' her open. I'll report what I find.
You may want to check out the enigmah video switcher... I've never tried it, but seen similar complaints, and using that brings it back to life. Apparently, somehow the video mode changes, and everything looks like it's running normally, but just has no video.
The other xbox is weird... all of mine have had error codes, but apparently some early systems didn't show the error code. Here's a list: http://www.llamma.com/xbox/Repairs/explanation_of_error_codes.htm ... IMO, the most common problem is HDD related. Maybe you can still call the number and they'll tell you how to reformat the drive.
DogP
Joe Redifer
04-23-2011, 03:40 AM
Thanks for those links, I'll check 'em out.
I made little to no progress. I switched trays, but it is the Xbox at fault, not the tray. Neither tray will open with the no-video Xbox and both will open with the "send me back to get repaired" Xbox. I am guessing that the custom firmware might need to be reflashed or something.
EDIT: Yeah, I think the other Xbox's issue is HD related, I can't hear it at all. Of course it didn't like my other HD with has hacker crap on it so it gave me the error screen right away.