Xbox mod advice

[crisis]

I bought my first XBox once I learned enough about how softmodding would work. I was not comfortable with the hotswap method, even though it had worked for some friends of mine. Here's what I purchased, costs included:

- XBox console *NEW*: $150
- Action Replay USB memory card reader/writer *NEW*: $20
- MS Memory card *USED*: $10
- 007: Agent Under Fire *USED*: $7

Excluding the hard drive, I wanted to do this thing for under $200. I also wanted to have the items on hand that would be needed to reinstall the exploit as needed.

I installed the Ultimate XBox Exploit (UXE). From where, I used its built-in utility to back up the contents of the C: drive and the EEPROM.BIN file. The EEPROM file is most important of all as it ties the locking/unlocking of your HD to your XBox motherboard's specific EEPROM information.

I used XBoxHDM to create new partitions and copy files to my new HD (a Maxtor 160GB). I also used it to lock the new HD with the proper EEPROM information.

(fast forward from December 2004 to March 2006)

I taught myself how to solder with a breadboard, some spare wire and a few tutorials. I blew one XBox mobo doing an Xecuter 3 CE + LPC rebuild installation. Two subsequent installations on a v1.0 and v1.6b were successful. I now run properly chipped XBox consoles with the enhanced BIOS selection switch on the front.

These are the benefits that I have found of a modchip over a softmod (specifically with the Xecuter 3):

- FTP services built-in to the X3 bios

- Just drop a new hard drive right in! the X3 bios has tools that will partition and format your new XBox drives. You can then boot with a utility like Auto-Installer Deluxe and lay the files out on the drive

- If your drive dies, you're not completely in the dark. Most people set the softmod, but they don't back anything up. They also don't understand the lock/unlock concept. If you've lost your original. locked XBox drive, you're in a very bad way.

- Support for multiple BIOS installs (including a 256K recovery BIOS should everything else go to shit)

- Throttle fan speed (it's nice particularly for larger >=300GB driveS)

- Truly disable mod for XBox Live without question. With softmods, this has been questionable

- No need for XBoxHDM, special games or the hotswapping to get the mod going

Of all of the above, the biggest benefit would be that you aren't completely dependent on the reliability of the hard drive. With a softmod, everything is on that drive. XboxHDM requires that you have a separate PC with an open IDE slot. You also have to make sure that that PC's bios will not put a freeze on drives, thereby preventing you from locking/unlocking them. I ran through a couple of Dell Dimension PCs before I found one that wouldn't freeze the drives.

So, if you're going to go the way of the softmod, I'd recommend having the tools mentioned above. Immediately back up your drive contents and EEPROM file. Create a bootable XBoxHDM disc with your files in the proper places. Then, I'd make an ISO of this disc and back it up elsewhere. It's a little overkill, but it only takes a couple of hours, and you'll have a proper set of disaster recovery tools

[PissCloud]

There's alternative to soldering - the no solder adapter. I bought a pre-mod a few years ago but since I found out about this thing, it's made the whole thing a peice of piss :p

This is where I bought the chip (Xecuter 2.6) + Xapter (UK sorry, I know most people here are from the States)
http://www.kanection.co.uk/product.php/456/27/

There might some limitations to the softmod method.. not sure what they are, but the adapter method is very easy.

[edub421]

i just got into the xbox mod scene myself about 6 months ago. Wow was it over my head, much more involved than installing a flip top on my ps2!! But anyway, after i read up on it, i was pretty nervous. I was going the soft mod route, didn't really want a chip soldered in pulling power, so i figured i'd get geared up to install the soft mod myself, but i also wanted a much larger hard drive installed too, to house EVERYTHING. After reading on locking and unlocking the HD and eeproms, and all that other good stuff, i was way in over my head. I did a search and came up with a guy out of texas(pm me if you want the name, i won't spam) who installed a 250 GB HD, did the soft mod, installed lots of goodies like a dongle free dvd player, dvd2xbox, just to name a few, and a couple of emulators. He also cleaned the system out pretty good all for $150. Can't beat it hands down. He offered great tech support after i got it, i had a few problems after i tried installing a few things, but he really offers a great service and a great price. It worked for me, and now i'm in video game heaven.

[Saraph]

My friend soft-modded his X-Box and has a list of features. He hasnt quite gotten into the better part of using his box though, like media center and emulation. He mainly just uses it to store rented games on the HDD. I was wondering if anyone knows of a tutorial or site that specializes in getting XBMC and emulators running on a soft modded system. Thanks in advance!

Edit: Ok, I'd just like to get NES, SNES, and Genesis running on his box along with Media Center. I have romset's for those systems.

[crisis]

There is an awesome CD of utilities, etc. called Softmod Installer Deluxe. Once you run one of the memory card exploits (with 007 Agent Under Fire, Splinter Cell or Mechwarrior), you can then run the CD to back up the exisiting drive, reformat the drive, rebuild partitions, install softmod exploit and then install the dashboard (like XBox Media Center).

Obviously, most folks will want a larger hard drive. If you're going the softmod route, make sure you have an x86-based PC with an extra IDE port. The reason for this is that the XBox binds specific hard drives to boards by locking those drives with the code from that board's EEPROM. The memory card exploit will obtain this info and set up an FTP server so that you can download and back up the info for future use. You can then use a bootable CD called XBoxHDM to lock most any IDE/ATA drive with the code specific to your motherboard. That's how people install larger drives via softmod.

I was completely overwhelmed by all the XBox stuff when I first got started. I've done probably 20 softmods and a handful of modchip installations. The softmod process is very easy, but you have to have one of three particular titles (first-run, not the 'Greatest Hits' reissues), a memory card and a USB memory card writer to implement the exploit. You can usually find these games without much issue at your local video game spots (Gamestop/EB, Blockbuster Gamerush, mom 'n pop stores, etc.)

If I can get some more time this week, I'll post a few URLs to help people get started. This is definitely the ultimate emulation and home theatre box ... and quite cheap!

[Nubifier]

I'm sorry if you don't like reviving of old topics but I HAD to post this here because so many people are worried about frying stuff.
There is actually a way to softmod a new HDD in w/o Hot-swapping, it may be a long processes, I don't know, haven't tried it yet. I will test this out myself next time I get the chance but ATM I don't have a floppy drive, and yes, you do need one.

http://xbox-scene.com/articles/no-modchip-hdd-swap.php

P.S: I haven't read the whole thing, but I skimmed and saw nothing of hot-swapping, sorry if I missed it.

[americankgb]

There is an awesome CD of utilities, etc. called Softmod Installer Deluxe. Once you run one of the memory card exploits (with 007 Agent Under Fire, Splinter Cell or Mechwarrior), you can then run the CD to back up the exisiting drive, reformat the drive, rebuild partitions, install softmod exploit and then install the dashboard (like XBox Media Center).

Obviously, most folks will want a larger hard drive. If you're going the softmod route, make sure you have an x86-based PC with an extra IDE port. The reason for this is that the XBox binds specific hard drives to boards by locking those drives with the code from that board's EEPROM. The memory card exploit will obtain this info and set up an FTP server so that you can download and back up the info for future use. You can then use a bootable CD called XBoxHDM to lock most any IDE/ATA drive with the code specific to your motherboard. That's how people install larger drives via softmod.

I was completely overwhelmed by all the XBox stuff when I first got started. I've done probably 20 softmods and a handful of modchip installations. The softmod process is very easy, but you have to have one of three particular titles (first-run, not the 'Greatest Hits' reissues), a memory card and a USB memory card writer to implement the exploit. You can usually find these games without much issue at your local video game spots (Gamestop/EB, Blockbuster Gamerush, mom 'n pop stores, etc.)

If I can get some more time this week, I'll post a few URLs to help people get started. This is definitely the ultimate emulation and home theatre box ... and quite cheap!

There's a nice new console disc that's floating around for the hard mods as well. It has a lock ulock utilty built onto the dvd as well as a lot of the latest bios images and different front ends, as well as a partitioning program. It also has a copy of the original xbox dash which came in handy because I didn't really feel like copying all my stuff off before formatting.

most everything can be found on xbox-scene frontpage or their forums.

[americankgb]

+ Evox M8+ 1.6 BFM BIOS (with G Drive Support for HDD Upgrades).

Didn't realize that the m8+ bios was out yet. I might have to reflash my chip in the coming weeks.

[risk]

I'm sorry if you don't like reviving of old topics but I HAD to post this here because so many people are worried about frying stuff.
There is actually a way to softmod a new HDD in w/o Hot-swapping, it may be a long processes, I don't know, haven't tried it yet. I will test this out myself next time I get the chance but ATM I don't have a floppy drive, and yes, you do need one.

http://xbox-scene.com/articles/no-modchip-hdd-swap.php

P.S: I haven't read the whole thing, but I skimmed and saw nothing of hot-swapping, sorry if I missed it.

i wouldnt reccomend this method. its old and it uses some windows applications that dont work well. i suggest using xboxhdm with the eeprom of the original xbox in it to lock a new hdd. other ways is to use a chip or tsop the xbox. tsop/chipped xbox's dont need the hdd to be locked in order to function with the hdd plugged in.

[sotu]

If you're serious about getting an modded xbox my suggestion is to go on craigslist and get one for around $100 modded. You can find them for all budgets and right about now is the time to get one cuz they're cheap. Everyone wants to "upgrade" to a wii or xbox360 neither of which can do what a modded xbox can do.