Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 10:07 pm Post subject: Need help Fixing error 21
To start off by saying hi to everybody. New to the forum and was looking for some help on my xbox. I hope I am putting this in the right section, If not I'm sorry for that. Ok, Here's my problem. Bought a used xbox last week and they said it worked. I guess the price should have gave it away. But anyways. I turned it on and it comes up with a error 21 code in the top left of the screen. Been reading and it said that somebody had tried to s**tm*d this and something with the dashboard is not right. or something like that. Like I said at the start new to this and really never owned an xbox until now. So I don't have much xbox knowledge or games and so forth. If, somebody could help me out in fixing this and the best way to go about this that would be great. Just seen where people are reading the eeprom, and other stuff. Just like to best and easiest way for a newbie.
Thanks In Advance
halofan102 Moderator
Joined: Jan 17, 2013 Posts: 451 Location: Murica
Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 2:41 am Post subject:
Hi there, thanks for posting.
You'll find one of the best in the business at softmodding here, SPPV. He should be able to lend a hand.
First off based on the small amount of knowledge I have it sounds like this error isn't too hard to fix.
The first thing you should try is putting an xbox game into the disk drive, closing the drive, shutting off the console and then starting it up with the game already in the drive. If it boots to the game, then you will be able to re softmod it. All you would need is an xbox memory card or USB stick with softmod files on them.
Can your xbox at least play disks if the console is powered on with a game in the drive?
needhelp2 Xbox-HQ Enthusiast Xbox Version: xbox V1.6&V1.0 Modded:
Joined: Jul 30, 2013 Posts: 31
Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 2:54 am Post subject:
I just tried it. Its a no go on booting up from a game. It did look like it tried though. Went black for like a half a second and then when to the error 21 screen. Is this a bad thing. Is it still fixable?
Thanks
SPPV V.I.P. Lifetime
Joined: Sep 13, 2010 Posts: 2644 Location: Kamloops BC Canada
Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 8:19 am Post subject:
E21 is a "BULLSHIT" error. Pretty much what it means is an executeable file has ran when you booted the XBOX and its saying tell this guy his XBOX is broken. You cant discern rhyme or reason from E21. If a cold boot of a legit XBOX game fails you only have one option. HDD rebuild. You will require either your eeprom.bin or yo hot swap the HDD to a PC that has IDE ports and either Babylon, AutoBuilder or Kingroach3.1
needhelp2 Xbox-HQ Enthusiast Xbox Version: V1.6b Modded: Babylon3 GS
Joined: Jul 30, 2013 Posts: 31
Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 7:22 pm Post subject:
what would be the best way for a newbie to do. Where do I get the files I need to do either one. This is my first xbox so just want to make sure Im doing it right is all.
I found autobuilder here http://www.xbox-hq.com/html/postt26317.html
when I ran it through my virus scanner it came up with like 8 viruses. why is that. I also noticed their was more than one autobuilder. which one should I use for this application.
Thanks
halofan102 Moderator
Joined: Jan 17, 2013 Posts: 451 Location: Murica
Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 6:09 pm Post subject:
Your AV program is just detecting false positives.
SPPV made autobuilder himself. As far as I am aware he didn't put any sneaky malware on it
It all seriousness I've ran the autobuilder exe many times for my xboxs. You could try temporarily deactivating your AV or tell it not to scan the contents of autobuilder's folder
needhelp2 Xbox-HQ Enthusiast Xbox Version: xbox V1.6&V1.0 Modded:
Joined: Jul 30, 2013 Posts: 31
Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 12:39 am Post subject:
SPPV wrote:
E21 is a "BULLSHIT" error. Pretty much what it means is an executeable file has ran when you booted the XBOX and its saying tell this guy his XBOX is broken. You cant discern rhyme or reason from E21. If a cold boot of a legit XBOX game fails you only have one option. HDD rebuild. You will require either your eeprom.bin or yo hot swap the HDD to a PC that has IDE ports and either Babylon, AutoBuilder or Kingroach3.1
Im new to all of this. So. please don't shoot me if I ask a dumb question. Learning and trying to understand all of this. Do I need to use one of the files mentioned above, or all of them in tandem with each other. Can I just use Pimped Final V2,
And is it possible to use a non-broken xbox that hasn't been moded and build the hard drive that way. Or is every xbox have a distinct serial number so you cant do that.
Thanks in advance
SPPV V.I.P. Lifetime
Joined: Sep 13, 2010 Posts: 2644 Location: Kamloops BC Canada
Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 6:44 am Post subject:
To do an XBOX hotswap requires an XBOX with Chip/TSOP, softmod wont work. As for the AV hits, its because its a CMD32 compiler. Instead of takling the time to actualy check what calls it makes they just say nope it might be a virus too bad. AutoBuilder5.1 is BitDefender certified, theyve checked the src and released an exclusion update specificaly for it (still got the emails from em too) And if you do even a cursory dig on BitDefender you'll see its the best AV 3 years running and only AV to ever get perfect scores from AVTest.org and AVcomparatives/West Coast Labs.
Just shut off your AV, extract the archive file again (overwriting the old files) and run it. All good. Theres nothing to worry about, AutoBuilder has been around for years and literaly used by thousands.
needhelp2 Xbox-HQ Enthusiast Xbox Version: V1.6b Modded: Babylon3 GS
Joined: Jul 30, 2013 Posts: 31
Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 1:17 pm Post subject:
SPPV wrote:
To do an XBOX hotswap requires an XBOX with Chip/TSOP, softmod wont work. As for the AV hits, its because its a CMD32 compiler. Instead of takling the time to actualy check what calls it makes they just say nope it might be a virus too bad. AutoBuilder5.1 is BitDefender certified, theyve checked the src and released an exclusion update specificaly for it (still got the emails from em too) And if you do even a cursory dig on BitDefender you'll see its the best AV 3 years running and only AV to ever get perfect scores from AVTest.org and AVcomparatives/West Coast Labs.
Just shut off your AV, extract the archive file again (overwriting the old files) and run it. All good. Theres nothing to worry about, AutoBuilder has been around for years and literaly used by thousands.
I was looking up and watching video on autobuilder 5.1. What if I don't have the eeprom bin file. WIll autobuilder 5.1 still work Or will I have to extract the eeprom file off the main board.
before I hook up the xbox hard drive can I put a bigger hard drive in it and run the iso. And do I need a bigger HD when I s++t M+d later. Will I be able to s++t M+d this later. And what will I need to do so.
Thanks
SPPV V.I.P. Lifetime
Joined: Sep 13, 2010 Posts: 2644 Location: Kamloops BC Canada
Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 6:26 pm Post subject:
You have to hotswap your current HDD, get it modded, backup the eeprom. Then once thats done you can use the eeprom to lock a larger HDD you build.
needhelp2 Xbox-HQ Enthusiast Xbox Version: V1.6b Modded: Babylon3 GS
Joined: Jul 30, 2013 Posts: 31
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 12:56 am Post subject:
the autobuilder 5.1.7 file do I need the update file also. Or can I just run the 5.1 and be ok. Just kinda lost on which file to use. I understand them files needs to be in the c drive. can it be on the desktop or does it really have to go in the c folder of the computer. also do I need to put any files in the xboxhdm_v1.9 folder. before I run the autobuilder. 5.1.7.
Thanks
SPPV V.I.P. Lifetime
Joined: Sep 13, 2010 Posts: 2644 Location: Kamloops BC Canada
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 5:18 am Post subject:
You dont need the update file. Thats to update from 5 to 5.1. The Files and XBOXHDM folder MUST be on the root of C or it wont work. Only file you would copy is the eeprom.bin (if you have it, which you dont). Just let the compiler do its thing and it will make you a Linux ISO that will allow you to hotswap softmod your XBOX.
needhelp2 Xbox-HQ Enthusiast Xbox Version: V1.6b Modded: Babylon3 GS
Joined: Jul 30, 2013 Posts: 31
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 5:19 pm Post subject:
SPPV wrote:
You dont need the update file. Thats to update from 5 to 5.1. The Files and XBOXHDM folder MUST be on the root of C or it wont work. Only file you would copy is the eeprom.bin (if you have it, which you dont). Just let the compiler do its thing and it will make you a Linux ISO that will allow you to hotswap softmod your XBOX.
how do you unlock hard drive. when the computer boots. it says my hard drive is locked. how do I go about unlocking it.
thanks
needhelp2 Xbox-HQ Enthusiast Xbox Version: V1.6b Modded: Babylon3 GS
Joined: Jul 30, 2013 Posts: 31
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 6:32 pm Post subject:
I also can't get computer to recognize hd either. The xbox hd is bigger than what's in it so it always goes to the bigger hd.
Thanks
SPPV V.I.P. Lifetime
Joined: Sep 13, 2010 Posts: 2644 Location: Kamloops BC Canada
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 7:26 pm Post subject:
needhelp2 wrote:
I also can't get computer to recognize hd either. The xbox hd is bigger than what's in it so it always goes to the bigger hd.
Thanks
LMAO this is the one time when size doesnt matter. Its all about procedure.
#1 Unhook any IDE hard drives from the PC
#2 Go into BIOS and set it to boot from CD/DVD, and disable Auto-Detection on Primary IDE Channel (Some BIOS say Manual as opposed to Disable-Same thing)
#3 Put the disc in your PCs CD/DVD drive (The DVD must either be set to SLAVE if hooked to the Primary IDE Channel, If hooked to Secondary Channel the Jumper settings dont matter)
#4 Unhook the DVD drive from the XBOX (power and IDE)
#5 Get the XBOX HDD out of its cradle(leave it hooked up)
#6 Get the XBOX right beside the PC (HDD must be able to stay hooked to XBOX power but reach the PCs IDE cable)
#7 Power on PC and XBOX, soon as you see the E12 screen do the hotswap
#8 HDD should be unlocked and be able to proceed.
Heres a video of me doing a hotswap. Watch it on Youtube so you can see it fullscreen
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