Xbox:TSOP Flashing
 | This process is dangerous and potentially can brick your Xbox to the point of needing a chip programmer. Proceed with caution. |
This guide assumes that your Xbox is already softmodded. If not, you will need to softmod it using the game save exploit or by hotswapping. A list of BIOS MD5 hashes can be found on this page if you want to double check that your BIOS file is not corrupted.
To disable write protection to the TSOP chip, you will need to first bridge connections on the Xbox's motherboard and then use one of the following processes to flash the TSOP with a hacked BIOS. Alternatively, the TSOP chip can be desoldered and programmed with a chip programmer, but this will not be covered here.
- Revision 1.0-1.1 Xbox motherboards have a 1MB TSOP.
- Revision 1.2-1.4 Xbox motherboards have a 256KB TSOP.
- Revision 1.6/1.6b motherboards do not have a TSOP and therefore cannot be TSOP flashed.
- TSOP flashing cannot be done with a modchip installed, as the TSOP will not be available while the modchip is running.
- It is highly recommended*not* to inject config files into the BIOS files, as it has a high chance of bricking your Xbox!
- Installing a BFM BIOS will brick your Xbox. These are only meant to be loaded with PBL off of a CD/DVD/HDD.
A video demonstration of a TSOP flash can be found on MrMario2011's channel.
Disabling Write Protection
- You will need to bridge some connections on your Xbox's motherboard in to disable the write protection to the TSOP chip, allowing you to flash it. This is typically accomplished using soldering although users have also been successful using conductive paint. The latter is recommended for modders who are inexperienced with soldering as mistakes can ruin your Xbox. Follow the below option that corresponds to your Xbox version.
- 1.0 and 1.1:
- Bridge the R7D3 pads together on the top side of the motherboard
- Bridge the R7R3 pads together on the bottom side of the motherboard.
- If you have a chip marked with "SHARP" on it follow the SHARP TSOP set of instructions below.
- 1.0 and 1.1 with SHARP TSOP: You must use Gentoox to flash a SHARP TSOP.
- Solder a wire to each pad on R7D3, connect the other end of the wires to a jumper or switch.
- Bridge the R7R3 pads together on the bottom side of the motherboard. Solder a wire as indicated by the red line. Remove this wire after you are done flashing your TSOP.
- Boot your console with the R7D3 pads disconnected. After booting into a dashboard, connect the two points together with the switch or jumper you connected to the R7D3 pads.
- Flash your BIOS with Gentoox with the instructions provided below. Make sure you resize your BIOS! Gentoox will not resize a BIOS the way XBlast OS does!
- Remove wires soldered to the R7D3 pads, bridge the R7D3 pads as you would for any other TSOP flash.
- 1.2 to 1.4:
- After you have finished creating the bridges, reassemble the Xbox to the point where only your cover is off. Press the power button to test that the Xbox boots normally. You can now flash a new BIOS to your Xbox (while flashing, if you receive a message "TSOP is write protected", double check your connections). The need to attempt this several times is typical particularly if you go the conductive paint route. Patience is key.
Flashing your TSOP
After you have disabled write protection to your TSOP, you can now flash your BIOS with one of the methods below. If you'd like, you can check the MD5 hash of any BIOS against this list of hashes, though most flashers will automatically check against a built in list. If you soldered a wire for a SHARP TSOP, remove this wire after you are done flashing and have successfully booted to your dashboard.
Flashing with XBlast OS (recommended)
You will need:
- The XBlast OS application.
- The BIOS (.bin) file that you want to flash.
- NOTE: XBlast OS can resize a smaller .bin file to fit a larger TSOP, but it cannot resize a larger .bin file to fit a smaller TSOP, so make sure that the size of your .bin file does not exceed the size of your TSOP.
- NOTE: If you have issues launching XBlast OS from the UnleashX dashboard, disable 480p in the video settings and try again.
- 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.
- 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.
- Press RT+LT+Start+White at the same time to flash the BIOS to the TSOP. 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
You will need:
- The EvolutionX dashboard (it doesn't have to be your primary dashboard).
- The BIOS (.bin) file that you want to flash.
- NOTE: EvolutionX can resize a smaller .bin file to fit a larger TSOP, but it cannot resize a larger .bin file to fit a smaller TSOP, so make sure that the size of your .bin file does not exceed the size of your TSOP.
- NOTE: EvolutionX cannot flash a Winbond TSOP.
- 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.
- 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.
- Information about your TSOP chip will be displayed. Press Y to flash the BIOS to the TSOP. 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
You will need:
- The Gentoox application.
- The BIOS (.bin) file that you want to flash.
- NOTE: Gentoox cannot resize a .bin file at all, so make sure that your .bin file exactly matches the size of your TSOP. You can use a tool such as X2 BIOS Manager v2.3 to build a 1MB BIOS with 4 copies of the same 256KB BIOS.
- NOTE: Gentoox does not support all S controllers any many 3rd party controllers. Gentoox does support the Xbox DVD Movie Playback Kit and Xbox Media Center Extender and their remote controls.
- 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.
- 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.