Robin Hoods Playground

Trying to flash a MS25 that I bought on ebay that looks used.
I have.....
on board sata via VT8237
latest via drivers ver 5.1.6000.562
VIA raid controller 3149
tried xtreme 5.1 and 5.3 with extreme bookmaker
also tried iprep 101 and ixtreme v1.4 (12x)
usb flash boot drive
Im getting only partial dumps, best I can get is 3rd bank at 75% using 10 sec method, trying everything from 2 secs to 15 secs and everywhere in between but cant get a full dump.

since I know you dont have to use 10 sec rule for a MS25 but I only get like a 50% dump on first bank at most trying the usual method and seem to get better results with the 10 sec rule but again not 100% success. so Im guessing that this MS25 drive I bought on ebay has been previously flashed! So I have tried at least 30 attempts at different time intervals and gave up. Im guessing drives that are pre-flashed become a royal pain in the ass?

So my questions are...
1. could it be my on board via VT8237 chipset?
2. should I try the firmguard unlock 0800 DVD?
3. is this previous hack flash giving me the problem?

thanks in advance....

if you are getting in the drive that fine.
with it hanging up it your sata card or your flash.
try a floppy see what happens
then a different card

okay thanks I will try that, but I had a question about why this drive wants to me to use the 10 sec (bad flash) method considering its a MS25 and not a MS28?

that would be right but it dont matter if you are getting in the drive it dont have anything to do when it locks up.
it may look like it does but it dont

the ten sec trick is just a way to get the drive in debug mode.
the v25 you did not have to do that till after you flashed them one time.

from what you said you can get in the drive ether way.so your in.you just need to find out way its locking up.

DO NOT FLASH
till you know you have a good dump and a backup of your orig firmware.

well I found out I had a defective usb flash drive (I guess) I tried with a floppy and got success at first attempt, that was a BRAND NEW USB drive that I bought specifically for this project! thanks for your help and prompt replies

there are some flash drives that will not work for this kind of thing

okay so reading from your posts you recommend a 512 flash drive 9.00 usd from Office Max....which brand is it?So I will say to the forum crowd "dont use a Memorex 128mb USB 2.0 flash drive." I bought the new version of xbox 360 yesterday and it had the dreaded 0079FL Hitachi drive so I returned it, but I will say I liked the way they have added the liquid cooling system to the CPU as well as the GPU. wish I could find the new version with a sammy drive in it. So my on board VIA chip VT8237 set is working fine FOR FLASHING....so again I ask which brand of flash drive do you recommend???

I use the 8237, never had a problem....

Flash drives are down to trial and error, one will boot, one won't...

lilrevuk

ilrevuk is right.
i was just saying office max hes them cheap

once you get one that works stick with it.
i use a kingston 1GB flash
for my flashing