Author Topic: Xbox mod (Read 32219 times)

ChadTower · « **Reply #80 on:** November 28, 2006, 02:35:06 pm »

Will do. I'm going to toss tons of random notes on the mod experience in here as well. I don't care about streaming music to it but I do intend to stream video. That is my main reason for modding, to stream content to the 32" LCD we just put in our bedroom. I'm sure my wife will be thrilled with all of the obscure pro wrestling shows that will end up there.

I'm not going to replace the hard drive at first to keep the costs down. I may do that later as Xbox Live isn't in my plans anyway.

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #81 on:** November 29, 2006, 06:47:33 am »

My modded Xbox is used

90% of the time for streaming video \ music (Mostly downloaded anime or poker shows)

5% Emulation
5% xbox games

shmokes · « **Reply #82 on:** November 29, 2006, 10:15:01 am »

Quote from: leapinlew on November 28, 2006, 02:30:59 pm

One mistake I made with my xbox was trying to do too much junk with it - kind of like a PC. When all the smoke cleared and after using media center, jukebox software, and emulators I settled on using the xbox to copy rented/borrowed xbox games and I run a few emulators on it.

Seriously, "settled" is the perfect word here. Like Hoagie my Xbox is a media center first, game system last. I have about 80 Xbox games and hundreds of emulated games on it, but it is used for watching videos and listening to music far more. Additionally, I've modded about 7 or 8 other Xboxes and almost all of those are the direct result of people seeing what my Xbox can do as a media streamer.

ChadTower · « **Reply #83 on:** November 29, 2006, 10:18:22 am »

I do want to game on it a good amount... I don't have that much to stream but when I do it will make life easier and watchable on a better screen. There are a lot of Xbox games I've wanted to try but didn't have an Xbox. Just picked up KOTOR, Panzer Dragoon Orta, and Fable from Gamestop.

ChadTower · « **Reply #84 on:** November 29, 2006, 11:47:22 am »

Nice video... dude needs to stop melting his solder directly with the tip though.

Silver · « **Reply #85 on:** November 29, 2006, 03:37:01 pm »

Hmmm, I see your point about the old info/very confusing forums on modding.

I'm planning to mod an xbox so I can use it for mp3/video/emulation (and probably 5% xbox games). I am confused as to what the newer chips offer over the softmod?

What do you plan doing that needs the chip?

ChadTower · « **Reply #86 on:** November 29, 2006, 03:43:14 pm »

Well, from what I have been able to tell, modchips allow you to do a LOT more things. I haven't really researched soft mods so I don't know specifically what they allow and what risks they carry.

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #87 on:** November 29, 2006, 05:23:15 pm »

Modchips excel if you still want to play on live, need hardware ftp support, multiple bioses. Stuff like that.

Just so people know, i have all teh stuff to do a softmod and I'm willing to do it for free (in my free time) if you pay to send it to me and pay for return postage.

Silver · « **Reply #88 on:** November 30, 2006, 08:27:24 am »

This has prompted me to mode an xbox, so I've got a cheap 2nd hand one on route, and a Duox2(cromwell) heading my way.

Gone for the cheap modchip as I don't want multiple bioss etc... I want to stick in a large HD, make it look nice (dashboard?) play video and emus and about 3 xbox games. I have no plans to ever go on Live.

From what I understand I can set most of this up with an installer disc - is that right?

There seem to be a stack of different dashboards. Any tips on where to look for a comparision?

PS - sorry if this is a thread hijacking. Maybe I should jump to a new one?

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #89 on:** November 30, 2006, 08:42:49 am »

you can use xbox media center as your dashboard. Makes it easy for video\audio streaming and with a click y ou can access emulators and games as well

ChadTower · « **Reply #90 on:** November 30, 2006, 09:14:02 am »

Not hijacking... post away.

Silver · « **Reply #91 on:** November 30, 2006, 10:06:32 am »

Quote from: Hoagie_one on November 30, 2006, 08:42:49 am

you can use xbox media center as your dashboard. Makes it easy for video\audio streaming and with a click y ou can access emulators and games as well

Ok thanks. Does It matter what bios I use? it seems there is not much difference so long as they allow unsigned code...

Whats the most straightforward way to install xbmc?
How do you install emus onto the HD?

SNAAKE · « **Reply #92 on:** November 30, 2006, 02:22:03 pm »

straightest way is to get my customer later install that installs xbmc360 for you..AUTOMATICLY ! AIM me and I will send you the ISO if you want

snaaake718

shmokes · « **Reply #93 on:** November 30, 2006, 02:26:37 pm »

But then switch back to Project Mayhem cos it looks so much nicer

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #94 on:** November 30, 2006, 04:50:17 pm »

If you are into torrents, you can find an ultimate installer Iso on many sites. I beleive they are up to version3.1 or something. It has almost every common program, dash, bios, and emulator on it and you can choose which you want to install from teh disk.

It can be used in the softmod process or with modchip.

slycrel · « **Reply #95 on:** November 30, 2006, 06:45:57 pm »

I'll poke my head in here and give a plug for softmodding.

While the hardware mod can be a lot of fun, from what I understand of the technicalities, softmodding can do it all just as well, as long as someone has written it. The big deal breaker is xbox live, that's where the softmodding gets into trouble areas. I think the chips are better featured because they make people money.

I've got a 200 gig drive in my xbox with a softmod, it's very handy having everything on the HDD. I also have a softmodded xbox in my arcade machine. They get used mostly for emulation, gaming, and occasionally some video/streaming. (MAME first, then sega/snes/2600) Rarely xbox games anymore though I own a bunch. I've had a lot of fun re-playing out of this world (PC port to the xbox) on there as well.

Best of luck, keep us updated on how it works out for you. =)

Silver · « **Reply #96 on:** November 30, 2006, 07:49:44 pm »

@Snaake

Thanks - I don't use aim. Is this an ISO you made? or is it available elsewhere...

@schmokes

eh? Sounds like more reading for me...

@Hoagie_one

Thanks - there seem to be a large number of install torrents around: "Mannzon.com-installer" "X-Wizard Multiinstaller" "XBMC-CVS-install" "ZXBinstaller 3.1" "Slayers Autoinstaller". It is not clear whats different....

@slycrel

Thanks, having read up more, it does appear that a softmod would have probably suited my needs fine as I don't care for Live, but I got one of the cheapest chips so at least I will just be flashing its bios, leaving the xbox's intact.

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #97 on:** November 30, 2006, 08:16:55 pm »

i was refering to slayers, but the others are similar if not downright teh same.

I've never upgraded a harddrive on a softmod, anyone want to tell me the easiest way to do that?

ChadTower · « **Reply #98 on:** December 01, 2006, 07:39:04 am »

I thought about a softmod but those downloaded installs scare me. How do you know it isn't really malware if it's not from a trusted source?

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #99 on:** December 01, 2006, 08:01:06 am »

Well, I could send you the files that I have and have used that work. HAvn't heard too much about people bricking their xboxes. Most xboxes can be fixed with a modchip anyways.

ChadTower · « **Reply #100 on:** December 01, 2006, 08:54:52 am »

Good malware wouldn't brick your Xbox. It would install listeners on it that a hacker could control. Things like spam senders. A person would probably never think to look on their xbox for spyware.

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #101 on:** December 01, 2006, 09:21:54 am »

cant help ya with that. I just asked in teh community and found the recommended software and used it.

shmokes · « **Reply #102 on:** December 01, 2006, 09:50:48 am »

Quote from: Silver on November 30, 2006, 07:49:44 pm

@schmokes

eh? Sounds like more reading for me...

Oh . . . Project Mayhem is the default skin for XBMC. Snaake mentioned that his installer would include MC360, which is a fairly impressive skin that mimics the media center layout of the Xbox 360. A lot of people are all about the MC360 skin, but I don't think it looks nearly as professional and attractive as Project Mayhem.

Anyway . . . it's not important. You can switch between the different skins in the settings menu so you can just try them both out and see which you like.

ChadTower · « **Reply #103 on:** December 01, 2006, 09:54:54 am »

FWIW, doesn't make a bit of difference to me. If it has reasonable usability, looks professional, and is the default, that works for me. It's all about the functionality for me.

Ed_McCarron · « **Reply #104 on:** December 01, 2006, 01:08:48 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on December 01, 2006, 08:54:52 am

Good malware wouldn't brick your Xbox. It would install listeners on it that a hacker could control. Things like spam senders. A person would probably never think to look on their xbox for spyware.

Dang nab it, Chads on to my plans to co-opt his XBOX into sending threatening emails to the president.

ChadTower · « **Reply #105 on:** December 01, 2006, 01:13:56 pm »

Jong Il is sick of hearing from me by now anyway.

crashwg · « **Reply #106 on:** December 01, 2006, 04:10:44 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on November 29, 2006, 11:47:22 am

dude needs to stop melting his solder directly with the tip though.

What exactly do you mean by that? I'm relatively new to soldering and I do it exactly the same way as shown in the vid. If there's something wrong about that a tip on the "right way according to CT" I'm listening. Or reading rather...

ChadTower · « **Reply #107 on:** December 01, 2006, 04:56:46 pm »

Heat the components, not the solder. You shouldn't have to touch the solder directly to the tip. It burns off the flux FAST, actually draws it away from the components rather than towards it, and you lose control of the solder. Solder flows towards heat so if it can bypass the component and go straight for the source it usually will.

slycrel · « **Reply #108 on:** December 04, 2006, 12:56:22 pm »

I've got a good set of instructions for my bigger HDD softmod. I did a lot of looking around and found one that had 3 languages support but wasn't advertised at all on the main sites. I think it was for the more serious (or european?) modder community.

99% sure it doesn't have malware in it, but I could be wrong. Why waste your time with xboxes when there are so many unsecured PC's on the internet in general out there?

If anyone wants the stuff PM me, happy to hook ya up.

ChadTower · « **Reply #109 on:** December 04, 2006, 01:05:00 pm »

Quote from: slycrel on December 04, 2006, 12:56:22 pm

. Why waste your time with xboxes when there are so many unsecured PC's on the internet in general out there?

Because no one is going to look on their Xbox, and really, all a spammer needs is a couple of boxes to stay up and working with their stuff. A reasonable PC user knows how to download AdAware and use it. That stuff isn't available for the Xbox.

Odds are the packages out there are clean but being a security oriented software engineer I'm paranoid about such things.

BTW, extreme-mods.com are slow. I still don't have the chip I ordered and I paid for 3-5 day shipping on the 22nd. There was a holiday in there but still, we're well past 5 USPS business days now. The Xbox has been sitting dismantled on my work bench for a week and a half now. That's too high traffic a spot for something with a billion pieces.

shmokes · « **Reply #110 on:** December 04, 2006, 01:22:25 pm »

Chad,

I've never dealt with them personally, but I run into this a lot. It seems like just about every mod-chip seller is based in Canada. I bet money that your delay is due to your chip crossing the border. It doesn't absolve the seller entirely, because they should really advertise this so that their customer has realistic expectations about shipping, but the outfit itself very likely shipped the chip to you immediately and the delay is with the Canada and U.S. postal systems.

ChadTower · « **Reply #111 on:** December 04, 2006, 01:40:40 pm »

Oh, I wouldn't have had issues with it at all except that it specifically said 2-5 day shipping (just went back to confirm, it's 2 and not 3) via USPS First Class. That implies, at least to me, that they are inside the US.

We'll see what the box says when it arrives. I'm usually pretty patient because I have 100 other things that need doing as well. Not sure why this one annoyed me.

Quote

United States Postal Service (1 x 0.8lbs) (First-Class Mail (2 - 5 Days)): $5.27

shmokes · « **Reply #112 on:** December 04, 2006, 02:02:55 pm »

Trust me . . . it's coming from Canada.

I went through exactly the same thing. I ordered from Divineo and the shipping was listed exactly as you described. I finally sent them an email saying, "Where in the hell is my modchip?" And they said that the 2-5 day USPS that they listed wouldn't actually kick in until the package made it through customs and into the U.S. Yeah . . . retarded.

ChadTower · « **Reply #113 on:** December 04, 2006, 02:07:09 pm »

Ah. Well, I'm still sneering at their web page. Sneering with intent.

Silver · « **Reply #114 on:** December 04, 2006, 06:12:23 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on December 04, 2006, 02:07:09 pm

Ah. Well, I'm still sneering at their web page. Sneering with intent.

Heh, I had a loooong delay with Diveneo years back - although I am in the UK, so dealt with there UK arm. Despite saying UK stock, it was shipped from abroad, and as well as being 10 days late, I had to go and pick it up and pay custom charges...

I ordered my chip (duox2) last thurs, and pleased to say it arrived on sat with regular shipping. And Xbox arrived today, though I've not tested it... Too much else to do!!

Quote from: slycrel on December 04, 2006, 12:56:22 pm

If anyone wants the stuff PM me, happy to hook ya up.

Yes please - post or PM would be great. I'm after info a large HD.

I'm currently unclear on large HD support - whats the largest that can be supported? Some bios's seem to indicate you need to patch a offset to get LBA48 support?

For that matter - what bios should I use with a DuoX2?

So much info to wade through...

ChadTower · « **Reply #115 on:** December 04, 2006, 06:48:10 pm »

It arrived today. From Illinois.

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #116 on:** December 04, 2006, 07:25:24 pm »

Quote from: Silver on December 04, 2006, 06:12:23 pm

I ordered my chip (duox2) last thurs, and pleased to say it arrived on sat with regular shipping. And Xbox arrived today, though I've not tested it... Too much else to do!!
...
I'm currently unclear on large HD support - whats the largest that can be supported? Some bios's seem to indicate you need to patch a offset to get LBA48 support?

For that matter - what bios should I use with a DuoX2?

Evox M8+ is probobaly the most common BIOS used for DuoX2's.
If you've got a 1.6 Xbox you'll need a 1.6 specific BIOS. Also, the DuoX2 will only take a bios file that's 512kb, so you might need to resize it. Once you've got the appropriate Evox bios, you can use EvoxTool to resize it and make some small adjustments to the bios (change led/logo colors, enable large disk support, change boot priority etc). Flashing the DuoX2's BIOS is easiest from FlashBios, which is usually on one of the DuoX2s BIOS banks- you just boot the Xbox to Flashbios with a network cable attached, enter the Xbox's IP into Firefox (the IP will be displayed on the FlashBios screen), then point it towards your bios.bin file.

I'm not sure what the largest drive you can put in there, I use my Xbox's mostly for XBMC and stream most of their content from a PC, so I've never used anything bigger than 120gb.

ChadTower · « **Reply #117 on:** December 04, 2006, 07:37:04 pm »

I'm not even upgrading mine right now. Maybe later, after Xmas.

EDIT: header pins are in. I really need a magnifying lens/worklight setup.

EDIT2: keep getting interrupted. Motherboard is back in, connecting all things to modchip, about to plug modchip in. Not sure what that pot is on the corner of the mod PCB.

EDIT3: doesn't work, no video, flashing red/green eject button.

EDIT4: Got to the dashboard, so it boots now. Had the dips set wrong I guess. The X3 switch LED is still red. No FlashBIOS screen yet. I have to stop working on it for tonight, have actual work to do now. Maybe I have the mod PCB hardware level flash protection dip set wrong.

shmokes · « **Reply #118 on:** December 05, 2006, 01:23:15 am »

When I soldered my Xecuter I seem to remember having the same problem. If I remember right I had missed an entire solder point. Look at the picture where I have the yellow arrow. I had connected this solder pad to the header pin that sticks through the board, but I didn't realize that I was also supposed to let solder flow off the rebuild board onto that little through point or whatever it's called on the Xbox motherboard.

Anyway, it had me stumped cos the chip seemed to be coming on, but I couldn't get that damned LED to turn blue. I had assumed that the solder must all be correct or the Xbox would be FRAGing (Flashing Red and Green eject light). But, no. I had, indeed, missed a solder point. Once I got that on there everything game up perfectly.

Silver · « **Reply #119 on:** December 05, 2006, 07:05:46 am »

Well you're streaking ahead of me....

Had the xbox apart, looks like a ~~v1.2 or 1.3 (serial inconclusive, so I'll never know...)~~ It's a v1.3. Which should mean a nice and "easy" install - just the lpt pin header,d0 and the eject button I think....

And you're right D0 IS small! Think i'm going to have to take this to work where I can use a workbench setup...


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