Xbox:BIOS Update

This process is dangerous and can potentially brick your modchip to the point of needing a chip programmer. Proceed with caution.

This guide assumes that your Xbox has a modchip installed. Following one of these procedures will allow you to update the modchip's BIOS to one with more features or better compatibility with your modchip or Xbox revision. Major features of each BIOS can be found listed here and BIOS MD5 hashes on this page. You can modify your BIOS settings and boot animation by following the guide found here.

Do not inject .cfg files into the iND-BiOS 5004 .bin file, or it will brick your modchip! Also do not flash iND-BiOS 5004.06 because that too will brick your modchip (5004.67 is fine)!

For recovering your modchip from a bad BIOS flash, see the modchip hotswapping page.

Flashing with XBlast OS (recommended)

NOTE: XBlast OS can resize a smaller .bin file to fit a larger modchip, but it cannot resize a larger .bin file to fit a smaller modchip, so make sure that the size of your .bin file does not exceed the size of your modchip.

You will need:

• The XBlast OS application.
• The BIOS (.bin) file that you want to flash.

1. Using FTP or a dashboard's file explorer, navigate to the C:\ partition. Create a directory there called "BIOS" and place the desired BIOS .bin file inside of it.

2. Launch XBlast OS and select Settings → Flash menu → HDD Flash. Your BIOS .bin file should appear (if your BIOS file does not appear, ensure that it has the correct file extension (.bin) and that it is in the correct folder). Press A to select the BIOS.

• NOTE: If you have issues launching XBlast OS from the UnleashX dashboard, disable 480p in the video settings and try again.

3. Press RT+LT+Start+White at the same time to flash the BIOS to the modchip. Do not remove power to your Xbox or touch any buttons on the console itself while it is flashing. When the flash is complete the Xbox will reboot, at which point you can see the results.

• Note: If XBlast OS immediately goes back to the BIOS selection screen, your soldering is not correct.

 

Flashing with EvolutionX

NOTE: EvolutionX can resize a smaller .bin file to fit a larger modchip, but it cannot resize a larger .bin file to fit a smaller modchip, so make sure that the size of your .bin file does not exceed the size of your modchip.

You will need:

• The EvolutionX dashboard (it doesn't have to be your primary dashboard).
• The BIOS (.bin) file that you want to flash.

1. Using FTP or a dashboard's file explorer, navigate to the EvolutionX folder. Create a directory there called "BIOS" and place the desired BIOS .bin file inside of it.

2. Launch EvolutionX and navigate to System Configuration → Flash BIOS. Your BIOS .bin file should appear (if your BIOS file does not appear, ensure that it has the correct file extension (.bin) and that it is in the correct folder). Press A to select the BIOS.

3. Information about your modchip will be displayed. Press Y to flash the BIOS to the modchip. Do not remove power to your Xbox or touch any buttons on the console itself while it is flashing. When the flash is complete the Xbox will reboot, at which point you can see the results.

Flashing with Gentoox

NOTE: Gentoox cannot resize a .bin file at all, so make sure that your .bin file exactly matches the size of your modchip.

You will need:

• The Gentoox application.
• The BIOS (.bin) file that you want to flash.

1. Using FTP or a dashboard's file explorer, navigate to the C:\ partition. Create a directory there called "BIOS" and place the desired BIOS .bin file inside of it.

2. Launch Gentoox and select Advanced → Flash menu → HDD Flash. Your BIOS .bin file should appear (if your BIOS file does not appear, ensure that it has the correct file extension (.bin) and that it is in the correct folder). Press A to flash the BIOS. Do not remove power to your Xbox or touch any buttons on the console itself while it is flashing. When the flash is complete the Xbox will reboot, at which point you can see the results.

Flashing with Utility Discs

NOTE: While this is the easiest method for beginners, it is not recommended. Due to their old age, Xbox DVD drives have high failure rates now, so it is best not to use them unless absolutely necessary, that way you avoid wearing out the aging lasers any further.

Another method of flashing a BIOS is to use a burned utility DVD such as the Xbox Softmodding Tool Extras Disc, or HeXEn. These types of discs will have easy to navigate menus that will copy the necessary files to the correct locations on your HDD for you and then launch an app to perform the flashing. However, these discs have a limited selection of BIOS files to choose from and the included files are preconfigured in specific ways, so it may be best to choose another method, depending on your desired features.