Xbox - new hard drive - now what?

[wtp]

I bought this xbox for my boy. I got it from a friend of a friend. It is the older one, not the 360. I was told it needed a hard drive between 40 and 60gb and I could download games from the net. I picked up a 40gb and ready to install it BUT I'm sure theres more to it then that. Is there a read me or something to give me alittle direction of if theres a certain format needed for the hard drive? Is there a certain way or place to download games? Need alittle push in the right direction please.

[Hack@d]

Read all you can at xbox-scene dot com. I have one with a 500GB HD and use XBMC...awesome.

[wtp]

how can I tell if my xbox has been modded or not? I need some how to's

[cmd82]

it will be have to be modded to install another hd

[old school]

There's alot to learn...read post #2

[wtp]

Which chip would you recommend? I see theres a few to choose from.

[ruciz]

Get a duoX2. downlaod slayers autoEVOX 2.7 (at the usual places)
burn slayers to DVD-R, take xbox apart and remove mainboard.
install using guide at duomodchip dot com
power up to flashbios 3.0.whatever. if you get cromwell, power down and flip switch. Use original video cable, HD will NOT work.
connect network cable
flip switch to select the cromwell bank to write to
write 512kb bios to xbox, availabe at the usual places (irc Xbins on efnet)
I suggest X2 5035, or 4981. Make sure you write for right version box.. theres a V1.0 to V1.5, and a V1.6. you will know when you go to install which version you have.
After its flashed, pop disc in xbox, install new hard drive, and follow slayers guide to install.

all in all, you are looking at 2 hr to get it going if you never done it before.

[wtp]

Get a duoX2. downlaod slayers autoEVOX 2.7 (at the usual places)
burn slayers to DVD-R, take xbox apart and remove mainboard.
install using guide at duomodchip dot com
power up to flashbios 3.0.whatever. if you get cromwell, power down and flip switch. Use original video cable, HD will NOT work.
connect network cable
flip switch to select the cromwell bank to write to
write 512kb bios to xbox, availabe at the usual places (irc Xbins on efnet)
I suggest X2 5035, or 4981. Make sure you write for right version box.. theres a V1.0 to V1.5, and a V1.6. you will know when you go to install which version you have.
After its flashed, pop disc in xbox, install new hard drive, and follow slayers guide to install.

all in all, you are looking at 2 hr to get it going if you never done it before.


Thank You

[Hack@d]

I prefer the softmod approach.

[wtp]

ok, now is the softmod? Alls I wanna do is install a new hdd and beable to download games from the net.

[empulse]

mIRC Efnet is where you will find XBINS channel. Pay attention to the text when you connect to that channel (#xbins) it will tell you how to get FTP access. All the files you need are there, and you can get info on how to connect to XBMC FTP.

You need a modchip. start there. install it and make sure it works. Once uyou have done that you should be able to just replace the HD, unlockers are not needed anymore ( i think).

Back up you Xbox (original HD) to your PC. It is very important. When you install the new HD on your modded xbox, you then can FTP to the xbox via the Ethernet port, use a router. Connecting to your PC with a cross over is a bitch.

Once you have gotten this far PM me and i can walk you through the rest. I have modded many an xbox. Its the BEST DAMN piece of hardware you could ever own, in you r living room, because once you install Xbox Media Center (XBMC) everything else on the planet can suck it.

[Hack@d]

Softmod is the easiest way to mod your xbox period. Use XBOXHDM (linux tool to format your new Xbox HD).

[tv2k]

Softmod is the easiest way to mod your xbox period. Use XBOXHDM (linux tool to format your new Xbox HD).


I vote for softmod as well, you need action reply and an exploited game. No solder at all. Much easier and i like the dashboard better too.

[wtp]

I vote for softmod as well, you need action reply and an exploited game. No solder at all. Much easier and i like the dashboard better too.


Once a softmod is done, can I put any game in and save it to the hard drive or is there something else need to play these games?

[wtp]

I'm not real sure on how to softmod a xbox so is there a place to buy one modded already?

[wtp]

I now have all the hardware needed to soft mod. I'm using mechassualt but can not get it to work. Can anybody give me a hand?

[ruciz]

you guys all missed the original post. This guy needs a hard drive for the xbox.. I presume it don't have one thats functional so softmodding is OUT of the question as the xbox will NOT boot without a hard drive, making it impossible to softmod without use of a hardware chip to lock the drive first.

Anyway, its quite possible your mech assault copy is too new.. if its a greatest hits, it is for sure. If you want to softmod, go to the local bbv or gamestop and get a copy of Splinter Cell. AFAIK they NEVER patched this game for softmod installs. 007 and mech both were.

Basic steps to softmod:
-get hacked save on the console (get the 4d530017 folder to the E:/UDATA folder)
-boot game
-load save from the console

Heres the how-to from the SID 2.0 pack using Mech Assault.. Should be the same basic principal



How do I do it? - Mechassault Install
-------------------------------------

1. Copy the contents of SID.007.MechAssault.v2.0.Xbox-Hq to your memory device. The best
ways are to use a modded Xbox to do it (by unzipping the file and copying the contents
to E:\) and then transfering to your memory card, or use a Mega X-Key or
Action Replay to dump the ZIP files on to.

2. Make sure the gamesave is on your unmodded Xbox, then turn it off.

3. Insert MechAssault and turn your Xbox on. When you're at the main menu of the game,
select "Campaign" and then highlight "Run Linux". The information below should be
shown when highlighing this, if so press A to boot the Installer. If not, your version
of MechAssult is too new (the exploit was patched in later releases).

Controls: Normal
Difficulty: Regular
Current Level: Going Down Hard

4. Once the Installer has boot, I strongly suggest to make a backup of your C Drive.
Use the "Create C Backup" option to backup your C drive. To back up the Eeprom you'll
need to use the Evolution X dashboard, which you will have to install yourself after
the softmod is done. The Eeprom backup is stored at C:\Backup (this can't be changed
unfortunately) so please remember this.

5. Install the Softmod. Please note this deletes the MS Dash from C Drive, hence why you
have been told to use the backup feature.

6. Install what dashboard you wish to use. Unfortunately due to lack of space I can only
put Evolution X and UnleashX in this package, I hope that is good enough.

7. Shut down your Xbox, then restart it and remove the disc. If this has worked like it
should, you should see your choice of dashboard (either EvoX or UnleashX). Please note
if you boot your Xbox and leave the DVD Tray open it will take you back to the menu
where you installed your Softmod.

8. If you want to put the MS Dashboard back on your Xbox, you'll need to put MS Dash 5960
on your Xbox. The easiest way to do this (once the box is softmodded) is to use my
Auto-Installer Deluxe to delete the files from C Drive and install the latest MS Dash.
Note: when this is done you'll have to repeat steps 3 to 7.

9. Restart your Xbox with the DVD tray open to bring up the Softmod menu. Run the "Patch
MS 5960" now, and it will put the MS Dash back on C Drive, and patch it so your
Dashboards can now use it. Note, the MS Dashboard will be called msdash.xbe now, since
the Xbox still needs the hacked xboxdash.xbe in order to boot the softmod. Once you've
selected this option, it will run through some tasks, then boot PPF-XBOX to do the rest.
After PPF-XBOX has done it's work it will restart your Xbox.

10. Now is the time to make a backup of your modded C drive. This comes handy just in case
a game tries to update your dashboard. If this ever happens, just use the "Restore
Mod Backup". If you ever want to remove the Softmod (mainly for Xbox Live purposes)
you can restore your backup of C Drive by using the "Restore C Backup" option
in the Softmod menu.

[wtp]

I'm sure this is a dumb question but where do I get this ---> -get hacked save on the console (get the 4d530017 folder to the E:/UDATA folder)

I was also told I needed mechassault with the #'s MS02301L So I should have the right disk for this.

[wtp]

well got it running with unleashx with a few hickups. when you start it up it flickers alittle bit and the other problem I'm having is I copied mechassault with now problems. I tried splinter cell and it gives me a error of unable to copy from d error code 112 or something like that.

[ruciz]

You may wish to try DVD2Xbox program to copy your games to your xbox, or use a mix of avalaunch and Qwix if you want to make backup discs.

you can also use the file manager in unleashX to do a transfer of D drive contents to E:\Games\Gamename folder. As long as theres a default.xbe file in any folder inside E:\Games\ it should detect in the games boot menu on unleashX, Evox, and avalunch dashes.

It could be possible theres a problem with the drives laser, or the disc that it can't read a sector/section and fails.

[wtp]

Well I bought 2 more games and they wont save to the hdd either. Heres how I was told to save a game in unleashx, goto syatems -> misc. -> copy disk. I think I'm gonna try unmodd it and start over. Like I said when you fire up the machine the screen flickers a few times and now some times it will come up with the error that it needs to be serviced.

[empulse]

Which drive are you saving to? You are familar now with the partitions and what goes where?

here is a program that makes life way easier, and in my oipinion is theonly reason to mod an xbox.

XBMC, latest build:

FULL INSTALL
h**p://ftp.endpoint.nu/pub/repository/t3ch/STABLE/XBMC-2.0.1-FINAL-FAT-T3CH/XBMC-2.0.1-FINAL-FAT-T3CH.rar

Then Install this over it, actual most recent monthly build
h**p://ftp.endpoint.nu/pub/repository/t3ch/XBMC-SVN_2007-07-01_rev9489-T3CH.rar

Xbox Media center can do copy/paste function as well, and makes the best dashboard. eva.

[wtp]

Well after a crash with the system I found slayers 2.7 got everything up and running once again. I also found out that error code 112 must be but not sure means the hdd is to small. put a bigger drive it and now its saving games and everything is working good. I have not tried XMBC but I'm enjoying doing and learnig these xbox things that I'm gonna buy another and do it again with XBMC. Thanks everyone for all the help. What is the advantages of using XBMC? 1 other thing, does the xbox 360 and the regular play the same games? I'm gonna try, once I find a site to download a few games and use flashfxp to put them on the xbox.

[wtp]

Need help once again guys. Today the boy was play with the great soft modded xbox that you guys walked me through. Anyways he copied a game to the drive which he has done before with no problems. Later in the day he turned it on and it went to a code of 06. not sure what it means or how it happend but now what do I do. It won't boot to the hdd nor can I boot from the dvd drive. Any ideas?

[ninja1monkey]

is there a way to hack 360 games to work on xbox?

[Budreaux]

is there a way to hack 360 games to work on xbox?
Yes.. well, actually it's a matter of flashing new firmware to the DVD drive....

[wtp]

Need help once again guys. Today the boy was play with the great soft modded xbox that you guys walked me through. Anyways he copied a game to the drive which he has done before with no problems. Later in the day he turned it on and it went to a code of 06. not sure what it means or how it happend but now what do I do. It won't boot to the hdd nor can I boot from the dvd drive. Any ideas?



anybody?

[wtp]

This is really odd but after supper I thought I would mess around with the xbox. I turned it on and to my surprise it fired up. The only down fall is that the only 2 options that come up is launch dvd and settings. I started flashfxp and copied the drive to my computer, then put in slayers disk and retrieved the hdd key and wrote it down. Then i played around with slayer and tried loading different dashboards but nothing is working it just goes back to evolution or somthing with launch dvd and settings. I need help. Any ideas?

[wtp]

I can't believe nobody has ran across this or something like it.

[ninja1monkey]

can you tell me how that is done? and if there is any websites out there that have it done for games already.
i wuld love to play those!! :)
especially with the halo 3 coming out!!! :D

[Hack@d]

can you tell me how that is done? and if there is any websites out there that have it done for games already.
i wuld love to play those!! :)
especially with the halo 3 coming out!!! :D

Subscribe to a usenet group (usenetserver dot com) or (giganews). Subscribe to v3 dot newzbin dot com and download all the PSP, XBOX, XBOX360, etc. games you want.

wtp, the best place to get all your answers is xbox-scene dot com. I know it is frustrating but I have done a few xbox's already and after the first it is simple. I did my kids PSP too and it is great because I can store 4 or 5 games on the memory stick and never have to worry about scratched UMD. The other benefit is you can download every game you want from usenet. PSP is way harder than xbox because you have to downgrade the kernel.

The best thing about XMBC is that I can store tons of movies on the HD in divx format, the movie info is downloaded from IMDB so all the kids see is the movie cover and click on it to watch it. Also have about 50 games on it as well. My 6 year old loves it because he can play anything and I never get pissed about ruined DVD's. That goes for the wife too, she is remote challenged.

[ninja1monkey]

is this just to download games for consoles??
the xbox is already modchipped.
i want 360 games to work on regular xbox.
please tell me if there is any website that has guide or has it done for some games already. they dunt even make regular xbox games nymore.
and i dunt wanna spend $400 on a new console.
is there a way, please help!!

[Hack@d]

No such luck. I am waiting for the first homebrew to come out for 360 before I buy one. Not much fun if I can't have the same experience as I have with the original xbox and xbmc.

[wtp]

Well I got it back to factory, so I thought. I have the ms dash for a dashboard, it plays games fine but when I tried a softmod it freezes. I thought I would try xboxhdm to build a new drive. I've been trying the hotswap idea with no luck. I read that if I would boot up the machine and after the xbox logo would come up disconnect the ide cable and plug pc cable in and the drive should be unlocked. xboxhdm says still locked. I also didn't get error 11 with the dvd unplug either so I tried booting a game and then doing the swap and it still didn't unlock. Why is this drive not unlocking?

[ruciz]

Well I got it back to factory, so I thought. I have the ms dash for a dashboard, it plays games fine but when I tried a softmod it freezes. I thought I would try xboxhdm to build a new drive. I've been trying the hotswap idea with no luck. I read that if I would boot up the machine and after the xbox logo would come up disconnect the ide cable and plug pc cable in and the drive should be unlocked. xboxhdm says still locked. I also didn't get error 11 with the dvd unplug either so I tried booting a game and then doing the swap and it still didn't unlock. Why is this drive not unlocking?

The hard drive unlocks between when the glob is finalizing (about to show the big X) to when the Microsoft comes up on bottom. you have about a 3-5 second window to get the drive unplugged from the xbox and attached to a computer. You really have to have a feel for it.
I take it you are booting the computer, hitting PAUSE/BREAK on it to freeze loading, powering up xbox, swapping IDE cable, then hitting enter so the computer can continue to boot and detect the drive?

With the troubles you are having I say it would be easier for you to get Evox running on it, then make a backup, and use your EEPROM file to lock the drive with XboxHDM. EEPROM File is your key to the drive being locked. If your softmod is freezing up its one of 2 reasons - the softmod itself is corrupt, or the xbox file setup is corrupt. I had a memory card go bad on me and that caused the softmods to freeze up cause the gamesave was corrupt.

Personally, a $20 DuoX2 chip that would take 15 min to install seems like an easier solution right now for you.

[wtp]

Here is what I did. I built a eeprom reader, made a eeprom, used xboxhdm and built a knew hdd. Everything worked great. I went to chunkheads software and download sid4.0 and it would not work. I download sid4.0 from another loaction and that installed. I made backups right away and then chose softmod, single boot. everything seemed to be working until I rebooted. It went back to original ms dash screen. Why is it doing that. Am I doing something or is it suppose to do that? I've used mechinstaller awhile back and that worked fine.

[ruciz]

Here is what I did. I built a eeprom reader, made a eeprom, used xboxhdm and built a knew hdd. Everything worked great. I went to chunkheads software and download sid4.0 and it would not work. I download sid4.0 from another loaction and that installed. I made backups right away and then chose softmod, single boot. everything seemed to be working until I rebooted. It went back to original ms dash screen. Why is it doing that. Am I doing something or is it suppose to do that? I've used mechinstaller awhile back and that worked fine.
Didn't happen to delete your gamesave yet did you?
does any backups boot?
does powering up with power button over eject do anything? I think SID4.0 offers a dual boot which can load original dash on eject power up, or modded bios on power button power up.

If you have your eeprom your laughing, make an xboxhdm disc with the eeprom file, then throw your locked drive in, unlock it, fix your files, relock it and insert into xbox again.

If a backup boots, make a dashboard disc (like evox or avalaunch) with DHCP enabled, then restore everything and re-softmod.

This is the main reason I opt for chips these days in those consoles so this shit won't happen anymore to people. If you have your EEPROM file you can rebuild your hdd too, just have to find the magic hole to hook the drive up without it locking tighter than a virgin on prom night.

[wtp]

ideas where to get a good mechinstaller?

[wtp]

I got it going!!! So far. This time I went into xboxhdm and unlocked drive and instead of starting with build a new drive from scratch I choose to format drive first. I did that like 5 times then started the process of building from scratch and used chunkhead's msdash instead of slayers and used the splintercell version of softmodding instead of mechassualt and it worked perfect.

[ninja1monkey]

what worked perfectly?

[empulse]

I heard somewhere in the Xbox-Scene forums someone talking about actually being able to flash the Xbox's flash with Evox M8 Bios... but I never heard an explanation of HOW. Anybody heard about anything like that?

[slipknot691]

it is possible to flash the onboard chip with the Evox M8 and the X2 bios but only certain boards i think its the 1.2-1.5 but you have to solder two points together on the top and two on the bottom and flash it like that i have done it on at least 3 xboxs to date and it works great and you can set it up to dual boot like having a chip and that way no one has to worry about messing up traces only problem is bad flashes but i recommend it to anyone that can solder small points