I already got the box softmodded so i think I'm halfway through- i might as well go all the way right? After loading the box with old retro games that i can't find anymore these days (though, it doesn't stop me from looking and buying) My mind started to buzz with the idea of ripping the games I already have to my xbox so i can pop em in storage and not deal with swapping discs.
Having never really done this before, I am trying to find info on it. Unfortunately I am a bit late to the xbox party and I'm finding it difficult to find info.
I found a few programs to make isos of xbox games. Can i just make an iso of a game and drag/drop it into the xbox via ftp? Will XBMC be able to play it or does it have to be a specific file (or set of files)?
I want to turn it into a gaming hub and put as much as i can in storage/display only. My nes/snes collection is going there. So is my sega cd if i can figure out how to get the box to run those games without discs. Same with xbox 1. With this in mind, how big of an HDD should i grab? I know nes/snes/genesis should only be about 5 gigs tops. My wildcard is the xbox/sega cd/mame games. Should i go 200? 500? 1000GB?
xbox HDD swap, help before i buy buy buy
I'm in the same boat as you. I softmodded mine, but I'm using UnleashX for the dashboard.
As for ripping your Xbox games to the hard drive, I'm not sure of the method under XBMC, but UnleashX has an option to rip the games right off the main menu. I know there are a few programs specifically written for this, you should check out http://www.xbox-scene.com for more information on that.
Your Sega CD games will run fine as isos. Your best bet is using the newest version of Xenesis and ftp'ing the isos to your Xbox. Create a directory for your SCD games and store them there. You can point to the proper directory through the emulator.
Upgrading the hard drive is a bit trickier, as a soft-modded Xbox can only use a lockable hdd. You need a modchip or you can flash the TSOP (it's hard if you're not good at soldering or don't understand the method and programs necessary to do so). You can upgrade your harddrive, but you will need to hot-swap the drive while the system is on. The xbox will unlock the hdd (while it's powered on), allowing you to remove it and connect it to a PC. You'll basically copy your hdd key and all your files to the new hdd to make it compatible. But you must have a lockable hard drive, as these are the only ones that will work with a soft-mod. Go here for a step-by-step on how to do this: http://www.techfreaks.org/articles/modxbox2.shtml
You can find out what harddrives are compatible or work by going here and doing a little bit of searching: http://xboxdrives.x-pec.com/?p=list
Hope this helps to get you started. Definitely check out xbox-scene.com if you haven't already, they'll have answers for any question you could ask.
As for ripping your Xbox games to the hard drive, I'm not sure of the method under XBMC, but UnleashX has an option to rip the games right off the main menu. I know there are a few programs specifically written for this, you should check out http://www.xbox-scene.com for more information on that.
Your Sega CD games will run fine as isos. Your best bet is using the newest version of Xenesis and ftp'ing the isos to your Xbox. Create a directory for your SCD games and store them there. You can point to the proper directory through the emulator.
Upgrading the hard drive is a bit trickier, as a soft-modded Xbox can only use a lockable hdd. You need a modchip or you can flash the TSOP (it's hard if you're not good at soldering or don't understand the method and programs necessary to do so). You can upgrade your harddrive, but you will need to hot-swap the drive while the system is on. The xbox will unlock the hdd (while it's powered on), allowing you to remove it and connect it to a PC. You'll basically copy your hdd key and all your files to the new hdd to make it compatible. But you must have a lockable hard drive, as these are the only ones that will work with a soft-mod. Go here for a step-by-step on how to do this: http://www.techfreaks.org/articles/modxbox2.shtml
You can find out what harddrives are compatible or work by going here and doing a little bit of searching: http://xboxdrives.x-pec.com/?p=list
Hope this helps to get you started. Definitely check out xbox-scene.com if you haven't already, they'll have answers for any question you could ask.
Honestly, I'm not looking for something huge, as I'm sort of going for that "gaming hub" idea as well.
I figured 400-500 Gigs would be enough. Just enough for Gen/SNES/NES/SCD/PSX roms and isos, as well as space for quite a few Xbox games. Hell, saying you don't own hundreds of Xbox games, you should have plenty of space for some vids, mp3s, images, and the like to go along with it.
I spec'd it like this: 400-500GB, 16MB Cache, 7200 RPM drive, lockable. This would cater to the amount of space you need and be plenty fast enough to handle whatever you want to load from it. Finding these lockable hdds is a bit tricky. If you search around with the model number you pick out from the Compatibilty website, you could probably find a second-hand retailer online or on ebay with a few in stock. Make sure the drive is EIDE/IDE compatible, or you're gonna have to hunt down a SATA->IDE converter.
I figured 400-500 Gigs would be enough. Just enough for Gen/SNES/NES/SCD/PSX roms and isos, as well as space for quite a few Xbox games. Hell, saying you don't own hundreds of Xbox games, you should have plenty of space for some vids, mp3s, images, and the like to go along with it.
I spec'd it like this: 400-500GB, 16MB Cache, 7200 RPM drive, lockable. This would cater to the amount of space you need and be plenty fast enough to handle whatever you want to load from it. Finding these lockable hdds is a bit tricky. If you search around with the model number you pick out from the Compatibilty website, you could probably find a second-hand retailer online or on ebay with a few in stock. Make sure the drive is EIDE/IDE compatible, or you're gonna have to hunt down a SATA->IDE converter.
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executioner
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I prefer XBMC as a dashboard but it does not have ripping capability, recommend using a program called dvd2xbox.TheGMan wrote:I'm in the same boat as you. I softmodded mine, but I'm using UnleashX for the dashboard.
As for ripping your Xbox games to the hard drive, I'm not sure of the method under XBMC, but UnleashX has an option to rip the games right off the main menu. I know there are a few programs specifically written for this, you should check out http://www.xbox-scene.com for more information on that.
Consoles: NES, Famicom, SNES, GC, GB DMG, GB Pocket, GBC, GBA, DSI XL, N64, VBoy, NDS, 3DSXL, Wii, SMS, GEN+CD+32X, GG, SAT, DC, WS, WS Color, NGPC, XBOX, 360, PS1, PSone, PS2, PSP, PS3, 3DO, CD-I, NGCD, Actionmax, TG16+CD, TE, PCE-DUO, Odyssey2, Playdia, 2600, Lynx & JAG.
a lot of people do like XBMC and i really can't figure out why. Is it just the skin of it? I'm not really into streaming media to my xbox (it isn't plugged into the lan unless i am uploading/tweeking). Is that its only advantage?executioner wrote:
I prefer XBMC as a dashboard but it does not have ripping capability, recommend using a program called dvd2xbox.
If anyone is curious i went with a 500GB. Probably more than i need (can't believe i was thinking about 1000), but i found a good price on one. I can't wait to start ripping and loading. Already love the emulators on it.
Well, that and you can put movies/audio on it. Personally I prefer unleashx as my default, I only boot into xbmc if I want to watch a film or something. UnleashX is just faster at performing mundane things like memory card management and game ripping. Don't forget it's very easy to 'triple-boot' your xbox by installing xbmc as an app rather than a dashboard. I have unleashx, official xbox os and xbmc on my xbox.
Marurun wrote:Don’t mind-shart your pants, guys
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executioner
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yes well my xbox is used mostly for media stuff, don't play games that much on it. Having scripts installed on xbmc to watch things on the tv from the web like quicktime movie trailers, youtube and gametrailers videos is nice. Also having it run on 720p is just great. Its a good app so having it at least in your drive is cool, but as Niode says if you are not gonna use all that stuff Unleashx is the best and it has some rather nice skins.nickfil wrote:a lot of people do like XBMC and i really can't figure out why. Is it just the skin of it? I'm not really into streaming media to my xbox (it isn't plugged into the lan unless i am uploading/tweeking). Is that its only advantage?executioner wrote:
I prefer XBMC as a dashboard but it does not have ripping capability, recommend using a program called dvd2xbox.
Let us know how the hot-swapping goes for you.
Consoles: NES, Famicom, SNES, GC, GB DMG, GB Pocket, GBC, GBA, DSI XL, N64, VBoy, NDS, 3DSXL, Wii, SMS, GEN+CD+32X, GG, SAT, DC, WS, WS Color, NGPC, XBOX, 360, PS1, PSone, PS2, PSP, PS3, 3DO, CD-I, NGCD, Actionmax, TG16+CD, TE, PCE-DUO, Odyssey2, Playdia, 2600, Lynx & JAG.