How to Flash the XBox BIOS

Download a Xbox modification tool to the computer̵7;s desktop; for example, the freely distributed XBTool (see Resources). Double-click on the icon of the Xbox modification tool once it has downloaded. Follow the menu commands to install the program onto the computer̵7;s desktop.

Download a Xbox BIOS file; for example, the Xbox Linux BIOS file from a Xbox modification website to the computer̵7;s desktop (see Resources). Restart the computer once the download is completed.

Double-click on the icon of the Xbox modification program to launch it. Drag the Xbox BIOS file into the main screen of the Xbox modification program. Wait as the Xbox BIOS file loads into the Xbox modification program.

Click on ̶0;Save As̶1; next to ̶0;Output file̶1; on the Xbox modification program̵7;s main screen. Name the file ̶0;Xbox̶1; in the text field next to ̶0;Name̶1; in the window that appears.

Click on ̶0;Save̶1; to close the window and save the ̶0;Xbox̶1; file to the same location as the Xbox BIOS file, which is to say the desktop.

Turn on the Xbox. Go to the ̶0;Network̶1; icon and select ̶0;FTP.̶1; Press ̶0;X̶1; on the Xbox controller to activate the FTP program.

Click on the computer̵7;s hard drive that is listed in the left column of the FTP program. Click on the ̶0;C̶1; folder that is listed in the right column of the FTP program to display its contents in a column to the right of the ̶0;C̶1; folder.

Click on the Xbox hard drive that is listed in the left column of the FTP program. Click on the ̶0;C̶1; folder that is listed in the right column of the FTP program to display its contents in a column to the right of the ̶0;C̶1; folder.

Drag the ̶0;Xbox̶1; file from the third column to the right of the ̵6;C̶1; folder of the computer̵7;s hard drive and into the ̶0;BIOS̶1; folder that is in the third column to the right of the ̶0;C̶1; folder of the Xbox hard drive.

Wait as the FTP server connecting program transfers the ̶0;Xbox̶1; file to the ̶0;C̶1; drive of the Xbox. Turn off the Xbox when the file has been transferred.

Unplug all of the cords from the Xbox. Put the Xbox down on a table upside down. Scratch off the stickers and pull off the rubber feet with the flat-edged screwdriver. Remove the screws now revealed from under the rubber feet and the stickers with the Torx screwdriver.

Turn the Xbox back right-side up on the table. Grab ahold of the sides of the Xbox and lift the outer case up and off the bottom case.

Remove the screw beneath the cable to the right of the DVD drive with the Phillips jeweler̵7;s screwdriver. Remove the two screws from each side of the front of the DVD drive using the Phillips jeweler̵7;s screwdriver.

Remove the two screws from the left side of the hard drive, which is right next to the DVD drive.

Lift up on the DVD drive. Pull out the two cables attached to the back with your fingers.

Lift up on the hard drive. Pull out the two cables attached to the back with your fingers.

Release the tabs from around the metal grill that houses the main computer chips using your fingers. Lift the metal grill up and off.

Flip both of the tiny switches (called ̶0;dip̶1; switches) on the side of the modification chip, which is under the metal grill, with the flat-edged jeweler̵7;s screwdriver so that they are now resting against the ̶0;Off̶1; text on the side of the chip.

Reverse the disassembly to reassemble the Xbox. Plug all of the cables back into the Xbox.

Turn on the Xbox. Wait for the BIOS menu to appear on the screen. Select ̶0;Flash BIOS̶1; from the menu and press the ̶0;X̶1; button on the Xbox controller. Select ̶0;Yes̶1; when prompted and press the the ̶0;X̶1; button on the Xbox controller.

Wait as the Xbox installs the BIOS and then powers itself off. Turn the Xbox on to use it again without difficulties now that you have flashed the BIOS.