How should I mod my XBOX and help doing so..

[l0whit07]

I've done a search on this site looking for XBOX mods and have found a bunch of helpful info. However most of it was for very specific questions, and also for people who had a decent understanding of XBOX modding. I, unfortunately, have no idea!

So I just got an XBOX yesterday in great shape with 3 S controllers. I bought it with all intentions of having it modded. I've never owned anything XBOX before, but I heard they were excellent for turning into a media center.

I am basically looking for information and advice on how I should go about having it modded for what I want it to do. I will give as much information about the system I have and will try to explain what I want my XBOX to do.

It has a MFG Date: 2004-09-27. I can take it apart if necessary to find out more information. I know there are different types of disc drives and what not.

I am pretty sure I want to go the hard mod route. If you think the soft mod makes more sense for me, then please let me know why. I know I want to put a bigger hard drive in. I also want it to be able to emulate, as well as be able to store movies/videos on the hard drive.

There are multiple dashboards I've read about and it seems most people say either the Unleash or XBMC ones. Which would be the most functional and easiest to use for what I want to do?

I believe that I read something about being able to put a USB port on. Is that practical?

I know that is a lot I am asking, but I really have no idea about any of it. I did searches on Google and there is just tons of different people saying different things. I would much rather put my trust in to you all. I'm sorry for my ignorance.

Not nearly as important, but where can you purchase different system shells? I saw sevin0seven's XBOX and that thing is sweeeeeet!

Also, I will be looking to pay someone to mod this thing for me. If anyone is interested.

Thank you so much to anyone who responds and helps this ignorant guy out.

[Ziggy]

From what I can tell, the only advantages of the softmod is for people that can't solder and/or don't want to spend the money on the chip. I usually always prefer a hardmod over a softmod.

And, as far as I can tell, upgrading the hard drive is a piece of pie if you have a chip. Seems likes a hassle if you have the softmod.

[l0whit07]

Thanks Ziggy587. Confirmed my questions of the softmod.

I can't solder! I'll have to pay for a solder job.

I forgot to ask if there are certain hard drives that work best or if just any hard drive will work?

[alexis524]

make this your new best friend:

http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php? ... 04,111,113

you're having the same problem i had when i got into the xbox scene. i wanted it modded, but had trouble sorting thru all the (mis)information floating out there. Ultimately, i paid a guy i found on the net to install a 250GB HD and softmod it.

Do a search for Slayers auto installer disk or AID 4.5 to help with soft mod options (pretty easy)

best of luck to you

[Ziggy]

There's a list some where that confirms hard drive models that will work. I'm not sure if there's a more up-to-date way of locking a new hard drive to a softmodded Xbox, but the guides I have read made it sound like a some-what complicated task.

[presicion25]

Here it is.


http://xboxdrives.x-pec.com/?p=list&l=52

I upgraded mine to a 500 Gig hard drive last year. But mine is chipped with an Xecuter 2. I had to use the Xbox Hard Drive Maker tool to do it.

Ive got a couple softmodded ones Ive done but they have the regular 8Gig Hard Drive that came with the system.

Heres a site where some of the members chip Xbox's and Mod and Jtag Xbox 360's.

http://www.se7ensins.com/forums/

[Hatta]

On the other hand, the only benefit to having a hard mod is for people who want to run multiple bioses for development purposes. For nearly everyone a softmod is just as functional as a hard mod. You're loading the same bios in either case.

Give Auto Installer Deluxe a look. Upgrading the HDD should just be a few button presses and there's a very thorough manual to help you through.

Basically, you can't go wrong either way you do it.

[avrame]

Actually, no, HDD upgrading on a softmod is pretty dang hard to do :S

I tried to do it for the longest time, and just gave in to using a chip.

The problem is softmod upgrading the HDD is that the HDD is needed to boot the box because the HDD has a specific key for the box, after it boots auto installer, you need to be able to put a new hdd in to install the xbox file, pretty easy to do. But after that, you need to lock the HDD with the specific key for the xbox, or it will not boot with the new drive.

Every attempt I made failed at upgrading the softmod. Each try take about an hour of HDD prep. seeing that I have about 5 hours of free time after work before I sleep... I wasted about 2 weeks trying to get the dang thing working.

[CRTGAMER]

Thanks Ziggy587. Confirmed my questions of the softmod.

I can't solder! I'll have to pay for a solder job.

I forgot to ask if there are certain hard drives that work best or if just any hard drive will work?

Practice on that soldering, a meticulous steady hand required around chips. I soldered PSX greys, could not do a PS One white due to very tiny pins on the chip. Not sure of tolerances around XBox. Maybe softmod route first, see if it'll suit your needs?

[dlmvii]

There is virtually no difference between a soft and hard mod to an end user. It is a little more difficult to upgrade your hard drive, but by no means hard (google for xboxhdm, which makes the process incredibly simple).