How to flash Alpha XDK?

[deep3r]

Hi,

I am looking to buy an Alpha XDK from somebody but they say they had to install their own HDD. They said it boots the Xbox bios, then runs windows (he installed windows to it), If I got the correct firmware, could I reflash it? How? And is running windows on it possible? Or is he lying? Sorry if this thread doenst make a lot of sense but its 4AM, I will try and clean it up tommorrow.

Thanks.

[shuma]

that unit might be SOL iirc once you put windows on it that was it.

[gelberhase]

why don't you post the Link :P
http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=732342

B2t,
yeah I rmember reading something about a problem with restoring the Kit after Windows got installed, but Iam fairly sure that you can restore the Kit with a Recovery and maybe the Graphic card Bios, as it's even possible to build you own Alpha if you find the parts

[CodeAsm]

I have no experiance of a Alpha XDK but as far as I examined the boot proces in a VM I think you must hope they left all the BIOS files on the hardware.

PC bios and Video Card (This one was changed to enable XBox specific codes i believe) must be unchanged or change back to XBox Alpha kit. (are they stored on an earlier recovery ?)
When I looked at some prereleased dashes, they booted with an MBR, or try to format it like an normal FatX drive. but I think they where still moslty based on NT and/or 2000 kernel.

Again, I dont own or every owned a alpha, cant say if this work.

[gelberhase]

well, the Biso for the Video card has been dumped once, I think it was by a memeber of AG, I still have it, if needed I will upload it + the two leaked Alpha recoveries

[Borman]

I thought only one Alpha recovery leaked?

Regardless, if the BIOS and firmware files are fine, just pop in the disk and go.

[oldengineer]

You can recover the Alpha just like any other Xbox, just pop in a recovery disc and bam! its recovered.

...It doesn't matter about having Windows already on it, the early (May 2000, for instance) Xbox O.S was Win2k, so its fully compatible.

The crucial bit about recovery is to make sure you have a 20gb HDD installed, or a HDD that has a 20gb partition on it, not a byte more, or less.

[Borman]

Ive used the PS2 40gb HDD with no problems on an older SDK. Didn't have to do anything fancy.

[oldengineer]

Yep and if you study the bootloader of the later recoveries u will see the need for 20gb hdd

[Borman]

Okay :P I haven't gotten any recoveries other than the old one (plus the version already installed on my kit).

[Jackhead]

I still try to get my alphaI working. For using recovery discs you have to deplug the J7B1 jumper, or? After that the tower boots in recovery mode over dvd.
But i try 2 discs without any luck. Also in normal mode with switching the boot order.
I check the hardware anything looks authentic...
I have the original 20GB HDD inside, and also try 2x 64MB ram. Anytime the unit boots the nvidia bios, than in the uper left "starting" written. And nothing happens after this state.
I also try different bios setting. :shrug::shrug::shrug:
I really like to know whats wrong...

edit: ok i know now my hdd is faulty, shit...