XBOX 360 Hardware Failing

[RobertX]

Hi.

Recently, my XBOX 360 is having problems booting. It would boot to the logo, but after that, it gets stuck.

I pulled out the hard drive and tried it again. It does boot and goes to the default dashboard (the custom one is on the hard drive, so it can't be saved).

Is it at least 90% safe to say that the hard drive is the culprit?

[RodneyYouPlonker]

Is it at least 90% safe to say that the hard drive is the culprit?

Yes, most likely. You should test it on a Windows computer using an external connection device and try running something like HDTune and test for bad blocks. Also try CrystalDiskInfo and test for anything else you can using that program to see if there's any faults maybe some of the blocks can't be written or read from and it's trying to write to different blocks instead because the original ones became corrupt.

[RobertX]

Will do, thanks.

The problem is, Ontario has declared a state of emergency so i can't go out freely and buy a hard drive from the bargain bin just yet.

Once the lockdown is in the clear, I'm going to have to buy two hard drives.

Thanks, RodneyYouPlonker.

[RodneyYouPlonker]

I hope you can sort it out I've had a few hard drive problems these last few months.  Even when bought from new it's always best to get them sorted out, I have a place here where I can return them if they go wrong but during these lockdown times we've had I had to return them by post which was easy enough I usually carry a few spare boxes in case I have to return them just needed a mailing bag to put the box in.

Normally I like to visit the place in person but due to restrictions it's hard really to travel but as far as I understand here there's no restrictions now you can actually travel like normal it's just not very clear when you read the government website.

[RobertX]

Besides the pandemic, travelling isn't a big problem for me considering that I live near a game store.

Thanks for everything, RodneyYouPlonker. Yes, I hope I can sort it out too. It's just that I find it rather odd that the console would boot fine without the hard drive.

OK, I'll exhaust the common solutions first, then take it to repair (even if possible!).

[dueda]

RX, since you live near the store maybe you could just phone them and ask for the bargain item to be left to your door? Since Canada is a safe place maybe you could even leave the money on an envelope by the door, or send them by mail?

[RodneyYouPlonker]

It's just that I find it rather odd that the console would boot fine without the hard drive.

It's just how it works and when it boots like most computers it looks at the hardware and if it can see faults or problems it will behave that way.  I wouldn't worry about it too much just swap the drive if you find you've tested it and there's problems.  I've had it happen with me many times with a PC you switch it on and there's problems which will cause booting issues.  It's all about what you've got plugged into the bios (basic input output system) on a PC, not sure what they call it in an XBox but it's still a Microsoft product and will work in a similar way.  When it switches on it tests out everything that's connected to the bus and will check whether or not these things are malfunctioning or not so there is the reason why your XBox might not come on.

[RobertX]

RX, since you live near the store maybe you could just phone them and ask for the bargain item to be left to your door? Since Canada is a safe place maybe you could even leave the money on an envelope by the door, or send them by mail?

dueda, sorry for asking, but are you trolling?

Anyhow, the game store is within walking distance. And I don't think they would arrange for such a pickup. They do something called "curbside pickup." You book the item and pick it up and pay for it once you receive it in the store. It's like that throughout lockdown times. Under normal circumstance, it's an in-store shopping basis where it's every man for himself; whoever finds it first gets it.

All right, I'll investigate.

Basically the root of all this mess was that I tried to load a plugin in Dashlaunch. After that, that's where things go awry. Perhaps the dynamics of this problem has changed?

---

Just asked around for clues, and I think I have a few.

Supposedly, launch.ini on external storage overrides the one in the internal drive, so it's not the internal drive that's panicking.

I've been told to use that opportunity to copy the backed-up launch.ini over and replace the one inside the XBOX 360.

Now, I am getting somewhere, I hope.

In a weird form of coincidence, my controller isn't working! Well, better to just remove the controller and use another one.

Thanks, RodneyYouPlonker and thanks dueda. I hope you'll be around for more insight should I need more.

[waregim]

Try HDSentinel, its on TPB

It has a Test/Repair (last on the list) which works fairly well at repairing damaged sectors.

It will find the drive, even if unassigned.

If that still doesnt work, try chkdsk /f (i use it as a last resort because it *can* mess up files from time to time).

[RobertX]

waregim, the drive in question is not a regular computer hard drive, rather it is one that can attach itself to the XBOX 360.

And I already established that I don't think the drive has the problem. No offence there.

Right now, what I need is a functional XBOX 360 controller - or a controller that works nicely on an XBoX 360. An aftermarket is acceptable.