jtag about to die methinks :( Anyone know of someone who can do a proper reflow?

[Midnight Tboy]

Heya,

ok so I've been having a bit of a gaming session on my jtag box with the son.

About a year or so ago it rrod'd for the first time on me, and Dibbers sorted it for me with a hot air gun fix.

Since then I've been running it with no case on (case is butchered - tho still have it), fans at 100% permanenty by the 100% fan xex speed patch, and a usb laptop cooler under it...though admittedly it doesnt get played all too often.

After a longer than normal 6hr gaming session with my son (lego indiana jones - fookin sick to the back teeth of lego games)....I went back to play an XBLA game I'd played and completed a few days previous, called Aqua.

After a few minutes the screen turned green and froze. I always brick chipolatas every time it locks up in case its the dreaded rrod.

It powered back on fine, tried out what I thought may be an cpu/gpu intensive game for about 30mins or so (Enslaved) and all was fine)

I then went back to the XBLA game Aqua though, and within seconds of the game starting.......another crash.

Powered off....then it rrod'd :'(

I waited about 5 minutes however and powered it back on, and it worked....and then played about another hour of a few disc based games...and its running ok.

Also, generally after playing games, the GPU temps (xenon board), tend to be around 57c, but on checking not long before switching it off it was around 62. I then left it idle on FSD where it usually would drop a few degrees over half hour or so - but it didnt really budge.

So looking like bad times ahead.

Anyone know of anyone here (or a recommended store elsewhere), that I could send my jtag box to that has one of them proper reflow/reball stations to do a solid repair on? Couldn't bear to be without the jtag....and the hot air gun method is always a risky one (I blew the caps when I tried on another nonjtag box )

FWIW also...the console has been looked after...always well vented, single owner - but the box got butchered because of so many times opening and reflashing with latest firmwares on the drive (did the jtag myself - bad soldering - but it holds on )

Oh and of course I'd be expected to pay for a profession reflow/reball. If it wasn't a precious jtag I'd be temped to retry myself...but I dont want to take any chances losing the jtag (with all the games that are dl'd and extracted to hdd!!)

---------------

realised how much shite I waffled on there...so summary for those that can't be arsed to read everything ^

Jtagged Xbox crashed twice, then RROD'd (but so far only when load 1 specific xbla game up, Aqua), but currently working again....but fear the worst is round the corner.
Anyone recommend and tried any particular repair service - or any fella here have a proper reballing station to do a perm fix for it when it does keel over?

Local would be better (live in Teesside area) though obv would post (tho would rather give what I've spent on postage to the repairer than shitty royal mail)

 

[Oggy]

Try contacting gadgetrepairs.co.uk

I'm not sure if he started doing them through his site yet, though.

 

[Midnight Tboy]

well looks like its finally gone properly now.

Had a couple of hours gaming session on Call Of Duty MW to give it a try out. It crashed once after being blown up by a bomb....rebooted and all was ok.

Then, while had my tea, left it running idle on the FSD Dash, and switched back to the screen and it was locked up. Powered off and now its consistently giving rrod with a 0102 standard error.

So......time to get someone to do a proper reball for me

Anyone used consolewizard.co.uk before?

I see they charge £29.99 for repairs (but say £10 more if you've attempted the repair yourself - which I haven't - but obv it has had xclamp fix a year or so ago - so may be chargable)

But I also see they do a jtagging service......I have 2 backup 360s......however not sure if they are indeed taggable or not....The dash is the correct version, but they are only just past the cut off date I'd heard ages ago for being taggable cos of the CB. But I wonder if the dates are different for UK 360s.

One was a warranty refurb from MS with a refurb date of 22nd July 09.
The other is a still-in-box Elite bought from store, dated 7th July 09.

Reckon theres a chance these may be taggable?

Though I did my old xenon myself, I'd much rather pay (if they can be done), than go through the time and hassle of relearning how to do it again.....and be better also for myself, as the Elite is an hdmi model.


Oh and I'll contact gadgetrepairs thanks Oggy.....hopefully he'll be able to sort something.

I've emailed the other site asking if they think the 2 boxes would likely be taggable also, but looks like their mail order side of things now is shut until the 12th Nov

 

[Midnight Tboy]

contacted the fella at gadgetrepairs. Hopefully he can sort it out for me. Awaiting reply

Also asked on offchance if he offers a jtagging service....would be nice to get these other 2 backup consoles jtagged too (especially the hdmi black one) if possible.

 

[dibbers]

ah it's finally went eh? dayu'm - the jtag that i got back from console wizards had the bolts threw the bottom of the chassis and looked if i honestly admit butchered...so maybe stay clear of them.....good luck bud

and for jtaging you could allways contact bad_ad....

 

[Midnight Tboy]

'ey up fella.

Yup gutted it finally died!!

Did you ever manage to sort anything with them 2 foobar'd 360s ya got off me (the rrod crap that I got off ebay back then? - mosfets on one goosed if remember correctly)

I've searched and read other bad reports on consolewizards so will prob try to avoid them. I'm not sure if them 2 boxes will be taggable though, the deadline reported I think was something like 18th June for jtag boxes....but people back then said there may still be a chance....but not sure if anyone here has ever had a box just a few days past this date (especially with us brits being behind as normal) that might be ok (and one being a 'refurb date' rather than a manufacture date.

Found Playbackups.com who also do rrod fix. Not much info on them but what there is seems pretty positive.

Not sure though, working out now the diffs between a reflow and a reball (using the same workstation).

If reading it right.....basically.....a reflow using the station is basically a more precise hot air gun fix. A reball, is removing the solder from the gpu completely and replacing it with better quality solder (leaded perhaps). So presumably the reflow they offer, would likely happen again in the future seeing as its the same crap lead-free solder?

 

[dibbers]

na mate the two boxes nearly sent me over the edge like! lololol....phew..!

any way on the other 2 you'll need to check the dashboard.

It is possible to use the hack up to Version 7371, but starting
with Dashboard-Version 8xxx it isn't possible anymore.

 

[Midnight Tboy]

yeah the dashes are 7371 on both....but from (presumably american sources) they also have to have the mfr date of before 18th June (or thereabouts) as they also changed the cb bootloader....so theres a few out there with 7371 on that still aren't taggable.

And typically mine are dated 2 weeks after then.....but the hope is that maybe UK deadline date is later than the american date for getting the bootloader change issued out

On upside though, to cheer myself up just bought some tickets to see blues brothers tribute show . Piled on beef in recent yrs so have to change from being Elwood to Jake now

 

[Oggy]

Chris at gadget repairs can and will jtag them for you (if they can be done), I'm sure you sent them both he'll check the cb either free or cheaply for you.

Really good modder too, if you need anything console wise, give him a shout.

 

[Midnight Tboy]

heya,

well the other day I'd sent, presumably Chris, a message using the Contact Us. Sadly theres been no reply Unless the Contact Us form doesnt work properly

I'll wait until tomorrow in case, then send him a message using the Quote For A Repair option maybe in the hopes

 

[Oggy]

Try contacting him on mp3boy @ gmail . com

 

[Midnight Tboy]

thanks Oggy - will send him an email once The Walking Dead has finished :-D

 

[janobi]

heya,

well the other day I'd sent, presumably Chris, a message using the Contact Us. Sadly theres been no reply Unless the Contact Us form doesnt work properly

I'll wait until tomorrow in case, then send him a message using the Quote For A Repair option maybe in the hopes

Same for me mate

I didnt realise it was mp3boy, as I have dealt with him before on Oggys recommendation. Guy knows his stuff, and would be happy to deal with him again.

 

[Midnight Tboy]

awesome stuff

So long as get the jtag fixed is what matters. If he can take a look at the cb of the 2 other consoles and jtag them if possible then thats a brucey bonus.

Highly recommend The Walking Dead for what its worth

I do wonder if once reflowed properly, if should set fans back to normal automatic speeds instead of 100%. The missus does always whinge about how loud it always is

 

[Midnight Tboy]

email sent - fingers crossed that he's still fixing them

Sons been getting on my back already today about wanting to play another Lego game!! Man I frikkin hate those Lego games now!!

Real typical timing too - my job just ended last week - so finally had some time to play some things myself....and then it breaks!!! (Just as well I never ordered that RB3 Guitar and Keyboard though)

At least I have the ps3 to mess with in meantime....but its not the same(!)

 

[janobi]

I mailed him too mate. lol

And Lego games rule! I have completed a few of them, although I wouldnt say they were kids games, some of the stuff is rock hard. lol

 

[Midnight Tboy]

I used to think that... For the first few times....but now they just get right on my tits.

Its because my son (5yr old) just wants to 100% them all. Theres only so many times I can replay the same levels over and over and over til it grates.

Yet to try the Harry Potter one yet though.

And they seem to jinx me too.

The very first console rrod'd during the first Lego Star Wars game (returned to store under warranty at the time).

The jtag was the next one to go last year, during Lego Star Wars Complete Saga.

And this time round, it happened about 2hours after he finally 100%'d Lego Indy Jones!!

After Dibbers sorted my console too, I was monitoring the temps and the Lego games seemed to run up to about 4-5degrees hotter than playing a 'normal' game like Bioshock too each time - so was thinking perhaps non-optimal programming could be part of reason on some games why they die.

Also, my first console that rrod'd (intermittently), would work perfectly in each game I tried, but guaranteed to RROD during the first couple of minutes of LSW and Guitar Hero II.

 

[janobi]

Man I am jealous now. I cannot 100% them even with the guides. lol.

Indy 1 I need 5 achievements.
Indy 2 I need 5 achievements.
SW TCS I need loads, as it pissed me off.
Harry Potter I need 5 achievements

I cant remember what others I have played, but I always get the guides and follow them, as otherwise I wouldnt get half of it done.

 

[Midnight Tboy]

lol....well if my 5yr old son can do them.....

I think only one he hasn't 100% is some level on LSW2 where have to complete a flying level without dying. Of course I sometimes play them too, until my head is busting from it....but now tend to leave him to it. But granted he has been playing them games for flippin' ages now.

My plasma tends to have the life bars and coins burned into the screen the rest of the evening to remind me of the shit game

 

[Midnight Tboy]

still had no reply from mp3boy both from the website nor from the direct email Had hoped he was just having a long weekend off - unless he's on hols


Did you ever get a reply Janobi? Maybe's he's fed up of fixing boxes now lol

Oh well....guess I'll have to start looking elsewhere

Any alternative recommendations for a reflow?