*Tutorial* Restore any hitachi/ Flash with iXtreme 1.4

This is an update of my last post about flashing to ixtreme 1.2rev2.
NOTE: this tutorial was written assuming your have your setting in Windows so that you can see file extentions. If not, simply open up a folder, any folder will do, then click tools>folder options>view then un-check the box that says “hide extensions for known file types.” Moderators, please sticky this if you believe that it's helpful.

Things you'll need:
1.) Either Firmware Toolbox 4.6 or ixtreme_hitachi1.4.rar (both available on xbins, use search bar to find how to use xbins)
2.)This SATA PCI adapter (SYBA SY-VIA-150 PCI SATA / IDE Combo Controller Card, Non Raid - Retail. In case of bad link.).
3.) The latest version of Slax, burned to disc.
4.) Team Xecuter x79 chip (for the 79 versions only) available
here(www.mrmodchips.co.uk)


Preparation:
1.) Unzip ixtreme 1.4 to a folder on the desktop.
2.) Install Windows Command Here tool (does not apply to 78 or 79). Link
3.) If you own a hitachi 79, solder on the chip specified above.
4.) Obviously, install the SATA card into your PC.

Step 1 Mode B for all drives:
A.)Obviously after you've disassembled your 360, attach the SATA cable from your PC to your Hitachi. Then plug in the xbox 360's power AND AV cable.
B.)Now, assuming you've followed the preparations and burned SLAX to disc, put the slax disc into your PC DRIVE, not your 360 drive. Go ahead and let that run the slax disc until you reach the slax login screen. Then press the power button on your PC tower. As soon as it shuts down, power it up again.
C.)By this point, your drive should be in Mode B. To make sure, once you've logged into Windows, go into My Computer. There should be another DVD drive listed. To make sure that's your 360 drive, right click it and click eject. The drive on your 360 should open. Make note of the drive letter. NOTE: in order to flash the drive, using either method, you should have your drive shut. to keep your drive shut, simply hit eject twice, then while the drive's closing, hit eject again OR hit eject once and push the drive in manually. May not apply to you, situations vary.) Open and close the drive a few times at the Windows loading screen, to ensure windows finds it, then hit eject 3 times and close it.

NOTE:All hitachi's, except for the 78 and 79, have another option to get into mode b. It's called the two wire trick. I would only recommend using it when slax doesn't work though. I'm not familiar with it, but if you use google, you can find some good tuts.

Step 2 Restoring Hitachi 32-59 ONLY (only applies if you're upgrading a previously modified system): Open up iXtreme1.4_Hitachi.rar and double click the RESTORE.bat file, type in your drive letter, then hit enter. Congrats, you've successfully restored you hitachi! Now you're ready to upgrade from 1.2 to 1.4. There is no need to repeat the mode b process, if you choose to upgrade your firmware. Simply go to the correct Flash Your Hitachi section of this thread.

Step 2 Restoring Your Hitachi 78 or 79 (again, only applies if you've hacked your drive previously):
A.)First off, you're going to have to locate your original firmware (probably called original.bin if you followed the previous tutorial).
B.)After you've done that, put an original dvd or xbox 360 game into your hitachi, then again hit the eject button 3 times to keep it closed (again, may not apply. situations vary).
C.)Open Firmware Toolbox 4.6. In the Firmware File section, click the button the the right (with the three dots on it), and navigate to your original.bin file, then double click it. At this point, your drive information (drive key, firmware version) should appear on the screen. Make sure that your ROM version indicates that you have an original firmware file, not ixtreme, xtreme, or spoofed.
D.)Now, click on the tools menu, then Direct Drive Flash, then click on Differential Drive (PATCH). Make sure your hitachi is selected, then click Read and Detect Differences.
Important:If asked about whether or not you want to keep the rives already on the drive CHOOSE YES.
Now click Start Flashing. The blue bar at the bottom should fill up, and within a few seconds, you're done. You're now ready to upgrade to ixtreme 1.4. There is no need to repeat the mode b process again. Simple stay logged into windows, and close out all windows and resume the process from the Flash Your Hitachi 78/79 section of this thread.

Step 3 Flashing your hitachi 32-59:
Once you have logged into Windows, and your drive is in mode b, right click your ixtreme 1.4 folder, and select "open command window here." With that command window open, enter "flashix.bat e 1969" (minus the quotes) where "e" is the drive letter and "1969" is a random four digit number. This will dump your original firmware in a folder called (in this case) "X16S-1969" (the X16S should always be there). "Was.bin" is your original firmware, and "now.bin" is the hacked firmware. I would highly recommend that you make a hard copy of your firmware and store a few digital copies also. Your hitachi is now flashed, congrats! HITACHI 78's and 79's, READ ON!

Step 3 Dumping Your Original Firmware for Hitachis 78/79:
Open up firmware toolbox 4.6 click tools>direct drive dump (gdr only). Your hitachi should be autoselected. Click the "eject" button on the screen, and insert an original DVD, xbox game, or xbox 360 game, then click the "load" button on the screen. Let the disc spin for 20 seconds, then click "RAW Dump Firmware As..." I would recommend saving the firmware into a folder on your desktop, and name the firmware "original.bin". After a few seconds, the firmware will be dumped (the blue bar will be full) and a window will open asking if you'd like to check the checksum, select "Yes". If the checksum doesn't pass, stop the installation and try again. If it does pass, it'll ask you if you want to open the firmware, select "Yes". On screen you will see you firmware details such as your drive key and your firmware location. I recommend saving your drive key in a text file called "key.txt" in the same file as your firmware. Your original firmware is now backed up. I highly recommend making a hard copy of your firmware and storing a few digital copies also.

Step 4 Flashing Your Hitachi 78/79:
With your firmware details on the screen, click tools>smart hack patcher. A warning window will appear, click "OK". Save the output file in the same place as your original firmware as "final.bin", "hacked.bin" or something similar. Click the "Generate File" button on screen, it should be generated instantly. After that, it will ask if you want to open it, select "Yes". Now the hacked firmware details will be on the screen. Click tools>direct drive flash>differential flash (PATCH). Make sure your hitachi is selected, then click "Read Drive and Detect Differences". The white box should start filling up with info. Once that's done, click "Start Flashing" and after a few seconds (or when the blue bar is full), it'll be done and you can shut down. Congratulations! Your hitachi is now flashed with ixtreme 1.4!

Feel free to repost, just please do not take credit for the work of others. Thanks. If you have any questions or any suggestions, feel free to post reply or PM me

Update: PDF download available here.

 

Very nice tutorial.

This should come in handy as I've never done a 78-79 drive and I had no idea they were that much different from the earlier models.

Bookmarked and pdf downloaded for future reference.

 

how or where do i get all this stuff you need to flash the 360

 

Use google, or use the links provided.

 

Got To Last Step In Toolbox And Pressed Start Flashing and i Got a Sector Flashing Error about 5 Seconds In

Any Segustions

 

I'm afraid i've never ran into that problem. a few suggestions would be to make sure that you have the proper sata card, the proper connections, and make sure you're not doing anything else on your PC when you flash it. also, maybe try to upgrade to FW toolbox 4.6, if you're using 4.0

 

hiya
have flashed 78fk drives in the past with xtreme 1.2 but now with firmware toolbox 4.6 i get an error when i try to flash the drive saying not all variables are the same.
i am using the 6421a sata card and slax ,,,,everything is great i can read the firmware the drive is in mode b and detected in windows.
............dave

 

I've heard of this problem, but don't know how to fix it yet. I'll do some research for you!

 

cheers budro once again

 

sorry m8, I wasn't able to find anything on the subject.

 

no worries must be a windows software issue as i don't understand why with a basic install it flashed the drive as apposed to before with windows and all the updates installed it wouldn't.
cheers
..........dave

 

Hey where can I buy the Team Xecuter x79 chip? I can't find it anywhere.

 

http://www.modsupplier.com/catalog/79-pass-key-p-211.html

 

Is it just as easy to do with a Samsung drive? I can get a xbox with that drive because I don't feel like soldering.

 

Sure. Flashing sammy's is pretty easy too. Flashing in general isn't that difficult. Just make sure you read up on it.

 

flashing a sammy is as easy as counting to five, just make an iprep usb, get the via 6421 PCI sata card, and boot from usb, and enter a couple of command lines in and your done. takes me about 5 minutes from beginning to open the case, to putting it back together.

 

I already have SATA ports, so do I still need to get a PCI-SATA card?

 

more than likely you will, but it only costs 13 bucks from newegg.com. i was unable to flash my sammy's and benq's with my onboard sata ports, but had no problems flashing hitachi drives yet. this is the card i have:

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16815124022

if you decide to get it, you might want to hurry up, as its on sale, and who knows for how long.

 

What's the chance of my having the crappy hitachi drive? I don't want to risk opening up my Xbox and then not being able to flash it because I have the version that needs to have stuff soldered on.

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...s&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image&cd=2

which drive is yours?