How to softmod an original Xbox - anyone got an easy guide?

[bacteria]

Bought a DVD off ebay that is supposed to have all the programs and guides for softmodding an Xbox included, which is great as I don't like to use torrents.

I'll let you know how this goes when I get it and get around to trying the mod. The DVD was listed on ebay in a way to not get attention, I barely noticed the listing; item only cost £2.50 so worth a punt.

[Niode]

Bought a DVD off ebay that is supposed to have all the programs and guides for softmodding an Xbox included, which is great as I don't like to use torrents.

I'll let you know how this goes when I get it and get around to trying the mod. The DVD was listed on ebay in a way to not get attention, I barely noticed the listing; item only cost £2.50 so worth a punt.

You're still going to need a XBOX to USB converter and a memory card to softmod. Plus all that information is freely available on the internet, as is the software you need.

Either that or you do the rather complex HDD swap softmod.

[Ziggy]

Speaking of HDDs though, that's what kinda makes me wanna put a chip in my already softmod Xbox. I haven't read a tutorial on putting in a larger HDD in a softmod Xbox that didn't seem extremely long and complex. Maybe it's just me, I'm really not into the whole softmod thing. Soldering stuff, that's what I can do

item only cost £2.50 so worth a punt.

I agree.

[bacteria]

Niode - Xbox to USB converter...I read that you can either connect your Xbox to your PC and then FTP or alternatively use a CD to copy the files to the Xbox instead; not needing to therefore network them?

Yes, lots of guides and not easy to understand, I like things simple; also the software mentioned needs torrenting, given the choice of using a torrent and having the programs on DVD, thought made life easier to have the programs on a disc ready. I was kinda hoping the DVD off the guy on ebay might be all inclusive in content, if not, hey, £2.50 is worth a risk. If I can make it work, i'll make an easy A>B guide for others if they are interested, plain English version.

I have a memory card for the Xbox, 8Mb, not tried it (or my Xbox for that matter).

If i'm wrong about the first paragraph you kindly offered to copy the files to my memory card, so i'd take you up on that offer!

[Niode]

Niode - Xbox to USB converter...I read that you can either connect your Xbox to your PC and then FTP or alternatively use a CD to copy the files to the Xbox instead; not needing to therefore network them?

Yes, lots of guides and not easy to understand, I like things simple; also the software mentioned needs torrenting, given the choice of using a torrent and having the programs on DVD, thought made life easier to have the programs on a disc ready. I was kinda hoping the DVD off the guy on ebay might be all inclusive in content, if not, hey, £2.50 is worth a risk. If I can make it work, i'll make an easy A>B guide for others if they are interested, plain English version.

I have a memory card for the Xbox, 8Mb, not tried it (or my Xbox for that matter).

If i'm wrong about the first paragraph you kindly offered to copy the files to my memory card, so i'd take you up on that offer!

When I softmodded my xbox I didn't use a single torrent. I got it all from xbins on efnet IRC. So it's definitely possible without torrent. However, if you want MAME you're going to want to use FBA-XXX, and since that's a 7GB+ download you're going to have no choice but to torrent. Unless you want to waste a few weeks on rapidshite or megaupload or some other crap like that.

[Ziggy]

Yeah, I had a hell of a time trying to get FBA to work. I forget what version numbers and whatnot, but I know there were two main versions of the emulator out that were current. Problem was finding the ROM set that was compatible. If the ROM set didn't match the emulator version, they don't boot. I download ROMs from many sites before I finally found a complete set on UG that were all the correct versions to run on the version of FBA XXX that I had. I made sure to download the entire set, just to be sure. If it ever disappeared, I'd have a hell of a time finding the right versions again!

[gtmtnbiker]

I download ROMs from many sites before I finally found a complete set on UG that were all the correct versions to run on the version of FBA XXX that I had. I made sure to download the entire set, just to be sure. If it ever disappeared, I'd have a hell of a time finding the right versions again!

Underground gamer torrents are the way to go. Just a couple of clicks and you're done. Very easy and pretty fast if there are enough seeders.

[Ziggy]

I think they best part about using UG is the level of trust. If I find something, I can 100% trust it is what it says it is.

[Niode]

Yes exactly my point. Getting FBA downloaded and then downloading a mame set is just a massive headache, and you're going to spend massive abouts of man-hours just tweaking the romsets to get them all working. FBA XXX has done the miles for you so you just copy it onto your HDD and away you go.

tl;dr you're going to have to learn to torrent whether you like it or not if you're going to use the xbox for what you want to use it for.

[Hatta]

FBA is not MAME. MAME has more games supported, but FBA runs the ones that it supports better. The most recent port of MAME to the Xbox is Coinops Reignite. You'll probably want both Coinops and FBA on your box for various games.