Xbox mod

[pointdablame]

Back on topic...

I've got a spare HD lying around I plan to use, which is a 7200rpm job, which I suspect may get pretty hot with the lack of cooling in the Xbox HD area. I've read that 5400rpm are recommended for heat purposes (and the fact you don't get any speed benefit).

Anyone had any issues with overheating? HD or otherwise?

I'm planning to stick in a spare 80mm fan (with some creative dremmel action) in place of the stock one to cut down on all that noise. I've been surprised how loud the Xbox is - noisiest console I've ever used.

I've used both a 5400rpm and 7200rpm drive in an xbox with no overheating problems.  An 80mm fan will certainly help however with the 7200rpm.  The box does get warmer with the faster drive, but it's not that bad.  You'll be fine with either really.

[shmokes]

Lloyd,

Your self-righteous, tattle-tale attitude wouldn't be so hard to bare if you weren't so full of ---Cleveland steamer---. 

A#1 - Modchips are not illegal.  You don't have to buy them on the black market.  You just go to one of dozens of sites that have been around for years, and put it on your VISA like any other product.  They are not sold as art to be hung on the wall.  They're sold as devices that you can modify your Xbox with.  They're an aftermarket product, like controllers, fans, faceplates, replacement cases.

B#2 - Modchips allow you to do MANY things aside from pirating.  I know that there have already been many attempts to pound this fact into your dogmatic skull, but you seem to remain oblivious to it.

C#3 - You did not suddenly become aware that software expoits are not authorized by Sony when Chad mentioned it in this thread.  Not that your being a hypocrite is relevant to whether modding is right or wrong, just that it's comical while we watch you get all high and mighty on us.

D#4 - MAME enables piracy.  You know it as well as I do.  The vast majority of users of MAME own zero PCBs (though have thousands of ROMs).  You may own PCBs for all your games, but most people don't.  By your reasoning you should not be using MAME at all, regardless of whether you are pirating, just like Chad shouldn't be modding an Xbox for media center functionality, regardless of whether he plans to pirate games.

E#5 - Why is it okay to open up gamepads and hack them? How does turning my Xbox into a media center hurt anyone?  The only thing that you seem to be able to plug all the holes in your argument with is arrogance.

F#6 - Shut the ---fudgesicle--- up.  Go troll somewhere else.  Saint doesn't need you to hold his hand.  The thread is four pages long.  The title of the thread is "Xbox mod".  If Saint, or any other mod, thought the topic was inappropriate it would have been moved to Post Hell three pages ago. 

G#7 - Your kids are going to hate you.

[shmokes]

Back on topic...

I've used 7200 RPM drives exclusively in the 9 Xboxes I've modded and never had a problem.  On my own and one other I drilled a bunch of holes in the hard drive tray so that the heat generated by the HDD could drop straight down in front of the exhaust fan, and I drilled a bunch of holes in the top, which looks just fine thanks because I only drilled holes in the grooves already up there and you wouldn't even see them unless you're looking for them.

But these measures seem totally superfluous.  As I've said I have NEVER seen the extra heat created by a 7200 RPM drive cause problems.

[lloydcom]

Lloyd,

Your self-righteous, tattle-tale attitude wouldn't be so hard to bare if you weren't so full of ---Cleveland steamer---. 

A#1 - Modchips are not illegal.  You don't have to buy them on the black market.  You just go to one of dozens of sites that have been around for years, and put it on your VISA like any other product.  They are not sold as art to be hung on the wall.  They're sold as devices that you can modify your Xbox with.  They're an aftermarket product, like controllers, fans, faceplates, replacement cases.

B#2 - Modchips allow you to do MANY things aside from pirating.  I know that there have already been many attempts to pound this fact into your dogmatic skull, but you seem to remain oblivious to it.

C#3 - You did not suddenly become aware that software expoits are not authorized by Sony when Chad mentioned it in this thread.  Not that your being a hypocrite is relevant to whether modding is right or wrong, just that it's comical while we watch you get all high and mighty on us.

D#4 - MAME enables piracy.  You know it as well as I do.  The vast majority of users of MAME own zero PCBs (though have thousands of ROMs).  You may own PCBs for all your games, but most people don't.  By your reasoning you should not be using MAME at all, regardless of whether you are pirating, just like Chad shouldn't be modding an Xbox for media center functionality, regardless of whether he plans to pirate games.

E#5 - Why is it okay to open up gamepads and hack them? How does turning my Xbox into a media center hurt anyone?  The only thing that you seem to be able to plug all the holes in your argument with is arrogance.

F#6 - Shut the ---fudgesicle--- up.  Go troll somewhere else.  Saint doesn't need you to hold his hand.  The thread is four pages long.  The title of the thread is "Xbox mod".  If Saint, or any other mod, thought the topic was inappropriate it would have been moved to Post Hell three pages ago. 

G#7 - Your kids are going to hate you.

Lets look at your post again shall we?  I was not going to post again about this as this is already covered, but for the stupid out there I'll have another bash.  Let's look at your post one section at a time - you have had time to spell check it, etc. and it needs addressing because you have made some excellent points that I want to share.

A - Modchips are not illegal.  You don't have to buy them on the black market.  You just go to one of dozens of sites that have been around for years, and put it on your VISA like any other product.  They are not sold as art to be hung on the wall.  They're sold as devices that you can modify your Xbox with.  They're an aftermarket product, like controllers, fans, faceplates, replacement cases.

And your point is?

B - Modchips allow you to do MANY things aside from pirating.  I know that there have already been many attempts to pound this fact into your dogmatic skull, but you seem to remain oblivious to it.

Ok so lets look at what you posted above for (B).  You can do many things aside from pirating.  Ok, I go to your house see the xbox, see that it boot linux and you use it for an apache webserver.  I like that.  I can use the mod chip (already installed) and put Avalaunch on it or maybe both in each bank.  I can now pirate games.  The judgement on this moot - you hacked to run linux but nothing stops you to play pirated games right?  So again what your point?

C - You did not suddenly become aware that software expoits are not authorized by Sony when Chad mentioned it in this thread.  Not that your being a hypocrite is relevant to whether modding is right or wrong, just that it's comical while we watch you get all high and mighty on us.

High and mighty? No.  Responsible is a better word.  Knowing what is right from wrong however you flower it up.  Tiff exploits - well I haven't permanently affected or downgraded the software intentionally to infringe my TOS with Sony.  But its a good point.  I should have known better, its deleted (honestly).  No different now when I bought it - same revision.  Love it to bits.

D - D#4 - MAME enables piracy.  You know it as well as I do.  The vast majority of users of MAME own zero PCBs (though have thousands of ROMs).  You may own PCBs for all your games, but most people don't.  By your reasoning you should not be using MAME at all, regardless of whether you are pirating, just like Chad shouldn't be modding an Xbox for media center functionality, regardless of whether he plans to pirate games.

Barking up the wrong tree there mate. I physically own all my games I play on mame, and I can play the backups on mame just like the Sony Betamax argument.  Nothng wrong there, and I'm not as I said before, going there.

E - Why is it okay to open up gamepads and hack them? How does turning my Xbox into a media center hurt anyone?  The only thing that you seem to be able to plug all the holes in your argument with is arrogance.

Ok we went from hacking gamepad to hacking Xboxes to play XBMC.  Watchout on this one mate as you are opening up a can of worms.  I have seen XBMC in action and you can launch pirated games from its interface.  A bit different from your above post.  We will forget about that slip.

Remember here I'm a 24 year vet of PCs.  I was putting PCs together and selling them while you guys were in short pants or junior high.  Not to mention programming, so I'm not so dumb as you make me out to be.  Where were we? oh F?

F- Shut the ---fudgesicle--- up.  Go troll somewhere else.  Saint doesn't need you to hold his hand.  The thread is four pages long.  The title of the thread is "Xbox mod".  If Saint, or any other mod, thought the topic was inappropriate it would have been moved to Post Hell three pages ago.

Ok looks like you have exhausted your rational explanation of the subject and is going on a rant.  I bet Saint is steering well clear of this.  I don't wish him anything that would make a seasoned topic as this, get into a final decision.  I did asked before but - Sorry Saint, I over stepped the line and was rude in asking for your decision to tell this group.....

G - Your kids are going to hate you.

   All kids hate their parents when the law of the house comes crashing down.  I would respect them and be in the knowledge that my teachings were correct - to be honest, and true.  to buy the things you want from work and toil and not by stealing.  You can only do the best you can, as your kids are a reflection of you.

Wow no H. 

I think that cutting my comments from this thread will be exactly the opposite of what you were trying to imply.  That you are doing nothing wrong, putting my comments out in the lala zone will not vindicate you.

If you are going to mod - then do it without posting it and bragging about it on this board, what you do in your own home is your business.  What you post in here is everyones.

And finally: Xbox Mod can mean changing the fan, putting leds making USB connectors which you can legally do.  All I object to is the Modchip issue which is against the rules and illegal to use.

[clanggedin]

I used a 7200RPM drive in my XBOX for a long time with the stock fan and had no problems with it. I did upgrade to an 80mm fan later on, but you do have to cut the HD frame a bit to get it to fit.


LLOYD... It seems you have come to the wrong board to talk ethics and legalities. Please go find  somewhere else to blab about stuff none of us care about hearing. BTW.. I have modded Xboxes for quite a few of the police officers where I live and according to them, as long as I don't sell them with games on it then I'm OK to mod the hell out of them. There are a few others in my area that do the same thing. One even runs a commercial and no one has stopped him.

Stick to the other forums if you don't have anything constructive to say. All you have done in the Console forum is tell everyone that they are doing something illegal. If you are wanting to help so bad then stick to the building forums.

[lloydcom]

I used a 7200RPM drive in my XBOX for a long time with the stock fan and had no problems with it. I did upgrade to an 80mm fan later on, but you do have to cut the HD frame a bit to get it to fit.


LLOYD... It seems you have come to the wrong board to talk ethics and legalities. Please go find  somewhere else to blab about stuff none of us care about hearing. BTW.. I have modded Xboxes for quite a few of the police officers where I live and according to them, as long as I don't sell them with games on it then I'm OK to mod the hell out of them. There are a few others in my area that do the same thing. One even runs a commercial and no one has stopped him.

Stick to the other forums if you don't have anything constructive to say. All you have done in the Console forum is tell everyone that they are doing something illegal. If you are wanting to help so bad then stick to the building forums.

Wow that sounds great.  I don't believe you.  But it sounds great.  Thanks for sharing.

[JackTucky]

Wow that sounds great.  I don't believe you.  But it sounds great.  Thanks for sharing.

I think Maximrecoil changed his profile to lloydcom.  Another ---uvula--- debating for the sake of debating.  Please take your attitude over to the imdb forums where maximrecoil likes to hang out.  There you can argue for fun I understand.

Why don't you search the archives and see if your head will fit in your basement.

-J

[Silver]

AAAANYWAY...

Thanks for the feedback on the 7200rpm HD's everyone, looks like its no problem. And I like the idea of making some holes to allow the fanned air access to the HD. Might well do that....

[pointdablame]

I can use the mod chip (already installed) and put Avalaunch on it or maybe both in each bank.  I can now pirate games.  The judgement on this moot - you hacked to run linux but nothing stops you to play pirated games right?  So again what your point?

Again, a butter knife could probably kill someone.  There's nothing stopping me from doing that.  So are butter knives illegal?  Seriously... do you really believe this crap you are throwing?

High and mighty? No.  Responsible is a better word.  Knowing what is right from wrong however you flower it up.  Tiff exploits - well I haven't permanently affected or downgraded the software intentionally to infringe my TOS with Sony.

Woah woah woah.  So you admit to running the same homebrew that I might be running, but you are responsible?  And you know what is right and wrong?  ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow---.  Just because I use a different program to load something, I'm wrong while you're totally in the clear?  Puh-lease.

Barking up the wrong tree there mate. I physically own all my games I play on mame, and I can play the backups on mame just like the Sony Betamax argument.  Nothng wrong there, and I'm not as I said before, going there.

That's great. I can respect that, seriously.  I'm wondering though... did you rip the roms from your actual board or did you download the rom somewhere?  This isn't an attack.. I'm just wondering, since you're supposed to make a copy of YOUR game, not just use roms that you own.

Ok we went from hacking gamepad to hacking Xboxes to play XBMC.  Watchout on this one mate as you are opening up a can of worms.  I have seen XBMC in action and you can launch pirated games from its interface.  A bit different from your above post.  We will forget about that slip.

You still can't seem to separate "can" and "do"  Yeah, it can load games.  That doesn't mean everyone with a modded Xbox DOES load games from it.  Guess what.. I can load a virus right from within Windows... doesn't mean we all do it.

Remember here I'm a 24 year vet of PCs.  I was putting PCs together and selling them while you guys were in short pants or junior high.  Not to mention programming, so I'm not so dumb as you make me out to be.  Where were we? oh F?

There's a medal in the mail for ya.  Congratulations.

If you are going to mod - then do it without posting it and bragging about it on this board, what you do in your own home is your business.  What you post in here is everyones.

Where are we bragging?  We're discussing the process.  Ever hear of the first amendment?  Why on Earth can't we come here and discuss the intricacies of modding a system as long as we don't say "hey want me to send you 20 illegally copied games" or some such nonsense.  Your logic is so flawed its scary.

All I object to is the Modchip issue which is against the rules and illegal to use.

It's not against the rules, and its legality is at best questionable.  Again, USING A MODCHIP IS NOT ILLEGAL.  It opens up the possibility to do illegal things, but so does many many things in life.  I applaud you for never crossing the line of any law.. ever.  Kudos to you.

If you don't like reading about this, then don't read it.  Don't preach to us about how we're corrupting the minds of the youth and creating a legion of pirates.  Give me a friggin' break.

[clanggedin]

Can't the Xecuter run an external LCD on the Xbox?? If it can then I would suggest getting one for your Xbox Chad. XBMC can be controlled from the external dispolay so you don't have to turn on your TV to stream audio from it

[pointdablame]

Can't the Xecuter run an external LCD on the Xbox?? If it can then I would suggest getting one for your Xbox Chad. XBMC can be controlled from the external dispolay so you don't have to turn on your TV to stream audio from it

Yup, the Xecuter 3 supports the X3 LCD and probably others.  I don't really care for them, but they will work.

[markrvp]

I just wanted to state that I believe Nintendo joysticks suck.  Oh, I also have two modded Xboxes - do I need an attorney to turn myself in or can I just surrender in person at the local jail?

[lloydcom]

I can use the mod chip (already installed) and put Avalaunch on it or maybe both in each bank.  I can now pirate games.  The judgement on this moot - you hacked to run linux but nothing stops you to play pirated games right?  So again what your point?

Again, a butter knife could probably kill someone.  There's nothing stopping me from doing that.  So are butter knives illegal?  Seriously... do you really believe this crap you are throwing?

High and mighty? No.  Responsible is a better word.  Knowing what is right from wrong however you flower it up.  Tiff exploits - well I haven't permanently affected or downgraded the software intentionally to infringe my TOS with Sony.

Woah woah woah.  So you admit to running the same homebrew that I might be running, but you are responsible?  And you know what is right and wrong?  ---smurf-poop---.  Just because I use a different program to load something, I'm wrong while you're totally in the clear?  Puh-lease.

Barking up the wrong tree there mate. I physically own all my games I play on mame, and I can play the backups on mame just like the Sony Betamax argument.  Nothng wrong there, and I'm not as I said before, going there.

That's great. I can respect that, seriously.  I'm wondering though... did you rip the roms from your actual board or did you download the rom somewhere?  This isn't an attack.. I'm just wondering, since you're supposed to make a copy of YOUR game, not just use roms that you own.

Ok we went from hacking gamepad to hacking Xboxes to play XBMC.  Watchout on this one mate as you are opening up a can of worms.  I have seen XBMC in action and you can launch pirated games from its interface.  A bit different from your above post.  We will forget about that slip.

You still can't seem to separate "can" and "do"  Yeah, it can load games.  That doesn't mean everyone with a modded Xbox DOES load games from it.  Guess what.. I can load a virus right from within Windows... doesn't mean we all do it.

Remember here I'm a 24 year vet of PCs.  I was putting PCs together and selling them while you guys were in short pants or junior high.  Not to mention programming, so I'm not so dumb as you make me out to be.  Where were we? oh F?

There's a medal in the mail for ya.  Congratulations.

If you are going to mod - then do it without posting it and bragging about it on this board, what you do in your own home is your business.  What you post in here is everyones.

Where are we bragging?  We're discussing the process.  Ever hear of the first amendment?  Why on Earth can't we come here and discuss the intricacies of modding a system as long as we don't say "hey want me to send you 20 illegally copied games" or some such nonsense.  Your logic is so flawed its scary.

All I object to is the Modchip issue which is against the rules and illegal to use.

It's not against the rules, and its legality is at best questionable.  Again, USING A MODCHIP IS NOT ILLEGAL.  It opens up the possibility to do illegal things, but so does many many things in life.  I applaud you for never crossing the line of any law.. ever.  Kudos to you.

If you don't like reading about this, then don't read it.  Don't preach to us about how we're corrupting the minds of the youth and creating a legion of pirates.  Give me a friggin' break.

Apples and oranges.

Butter knife again?  We could use lead pipe - a rope, some poison like draino.  Ever played Cludeo?

I'm not individually quoting this time.

Ok comparing Tiff exploit for hardware modding.  I like it, makes sense.  I see intoducing an image file equals to getting torc screws out of plastic.  Yep see your point.

No got the roms of mame.dk years ago and compared it to my boardset.  If the cops want to come around and do some CSI - I'm game.

You don't load viruses in windows ever?  Gee need to get some norton on your machine and have a check up.  You can see where I'm going with this.

Thanks for the medal - its a loveless industry.

Discussing the process?  Could like this to stealing a car.  You are not STEALING a car but talking about it.  Makes sense.  Hope there isn't any forums on nuclear weapons with that attitude.  You never know whos reading....

Ok using a modchip is not illegal.  Ok I will shut up now and apologise to all concerned if you can link me with some official site of Microsoft, Sony or whoever make the console that endorses modchips.  I want something to make your case crystal clear.   And I not talking about a clear xbox case mod 

I want some site that is not modchip paid for, that will be legal proof to all concerned that your points and statements made are true and accurate.

I want this.  Lets see if your ego on the subject is as good as your facts that you are representing.  Show me I don't know what I'm typing.

Please PM me on other facts as I'm sure we all had enough of this subject.  I will respond honestly and without sarcasm.

Apologies to others regarding true honest mods like fans, cases, etc. - I'm not including you into this debate, just the modchippers. 

I don't see the reason to replace the hard drive.  has it failed in some way?

[shmokes]

The judgement on this moot - you hacked to run linux but nothing stops you to play pirated games right? 

I physically own all my games I play on mame, and I can play the backups on mame

Are you too daft to see the incompatibility of these two arguments?  You installed MAME to play games for which you own all the PCBs for, "but nothing stops you to play pirated games right?"

Well, I'll tell you what, mate, I have seen MAME in action and guess what:  You can launch pirated games from its interface. 

For that matter you can murder people with knives, yet owning and using knives for non-murdery purposes is legal.  You can pirate movies with a VCR or a DVD Burner, yet owning and using those products for non-piratey purposes is legal.  You can drive drunk, yet drinking is legal and so is driving.  And you can pirate games with a modchip, yet owning and using mod-chips for non-piratey purposes is legal.

The gaping holes in your logic are ---smurfing--- hilarious. 

[shmokes]

Ok I will shut up now and apologise to all concerned if you can link me with some official site of Microsoft, Sony or whoever make the console that endorses modchips. 

Microsoft and Sony don't make the law.  They sell products.  Microsoft doesn't have to like what I do with my Xbox (operative word here being "my"). 

edit:  that should read: Microsoft doesn't have to like what I do with my Xbox as long as I am not breaking the law, which I'm not so long as I'm not pirating or using illegal software (which I do, just like I use MAME to play illegal ROMs, but that's irrelevant to the argument)

[lloydcom]

For that matter you can murder people with knives, yet owning and using knives for non-murdery purposes is legal.  You can pirate movies with a VCR or a DVD Burner, yet owning and using those products for non-piratey purposes is legal.  You can drive drunk, yet drinking is legal and so is driving.  And you can pirate games with a modchip, yet owning and using mod-chips for non-piratey purposes is legal.

That last sentence needs backing up like I said before - if you make such a statement then I would like to see proof of where you got your facts from.  You can use a tall building to throw yourself off to kill yourself or someone else for that matter. But its your brain that tells you not to, because I think you are kind and honest and truthful and respect life as much as your own. And hopefully that will be enough to stop you, unless you are acting in self defense.

Before you go into that Sony don't make the law.  Well the DMCA is still floating around.  Please let us not go around in circles.  Show the proof of your argument.

Yes using a DVD to burn files is ok.  -  You install the drive and away you go.
Murder with knives yep.  - Find a pointy one, and one two three....ouch.
Drinking alcohol is Legal - Yep.  You have to be over 21 years old, or 18 in the UK. Otherwise - no.
Driving a car is legal as long as you have a license and insurance.  Yep
Drinking while intoxicated - uh no.  Thats illegal.
You can pirate games with a mod chip.  Really?  Are you sure?  I don't know....
Owning and Using Modchips is legal ? On your wall right?   

[JoyMonkey]

I think I speak for a lot of people here when I say

[pointdablame]

Apples and oranges.

Butter knife again?  We could use lead pipe - a rope, some poison like draino.  Ever played Cludeo?

You're agreeing with me then?  None of those items are illegal, yet they can facilitate illegal acts.  You don't want to outlaw them though, do ya?

Ok comparing Tiff exploit for hardware modding.  I like it, makes sense.  I see intoducing an image file equals to getting torc screws out of plastic.  Yep see your point.

Wow... reading comprehension maybe?  You denounced DevHook but then said the TIFF exploit was fine.  DevHook isn't a hardware mod there killer.

No got the roms of mame.dk years ago and compared it to my boardset.  If the cops want to come around and do some CSI - I'm game.

Sounds a lot like how I'd say let MS come to my house and PROVE I was pirating games instead of using XBMC for media center purposes.  But I suppose you are right again, and I am wrong.

You don't load viruses in windows ever?  Gee need to get some norton on your machine and have a check up.  You can see where I'm going with this.

I'm not even sure what you mean here, but NO, I don't load viruses on Windows.  With 20+ years of PC experience, I'd hope you don't either.

Discussing the process?  Could like this to stealing a car.  You are not STEALING a car but talking about it.  Makes sense.  Hope there isn't any forums on nuclear weapons with that attitude.  You never know whos reading....

This is retarded, sorry.  Stealing and taking.... that's semantics.  Actually loading a game in XBMC as opposed to just having the functionality there is completely different.

Ok using a modchip is not illegal.  Ok I will shut up now and apologise to all concerned if you can link me with some official site of Microsoft, Sony or whoever make the console that endorses modchips.  I want something to make your case crystal clear.   And I not talking about a clear xbox case mod 

I want some site that is not modchip paid for, that will be legal proof to all concerned that your points and statements made are true and accurate.

I want this.  Lets see if your ego on the subject is as good as your facts that you are representing.  Show me I don't know what I'm typing.

You're not going to find a site where MS or Sony condone this... that's pretty obvious.  Why would they condone it?  It can destroy systems and hurt customer service and customer reactions.  Its beyond the scope of what the system was meant to do.  That doesn't make it illegal.  You void the warranty.. that's about it.

Again, will you find a site that Chevy endorses where they put a 1000hp engine in a Chevy Cobalt without any other modifications?  No.  That doesn't mean its illegal, it only means the manufacturer doesn't like the idea.

I don't see the reason to replace the hard drive.  has it failed in some way?

Media center functionality.  Hold your music and video locally as opposed to across a network.

[JackTucky]

I think I speak for a lot of people here when I say

JM:

Unless you tell lloydbraun to STFU, you don't speak for all of us.

-J

[shmokes]

There have not been any cases in the U.S. testing the DMCA in that respect.  The only case I can point you to is one involving Australia's version of the DMCA which has a nearly identical provision about circumventing copy protection methods.  In that case mod chips were ruled legal on the basis of all their legitimate uses.  Australian case law doesn't set precedent for U.S. courts, but it does show that there is more than one way to interpret DMCA. 

MAME is as illegal as mod chips.  It allows you to play copyrighted materials that you don't own.  It circumvents the need to own a PCB in order to play the game. 

In the end, I don't give a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, of course.  Pirating games (which I do) is wrong.  However, converting my DVDs to DIVX files for use on my media server and modifying my Xbox for use as a media streamer are not wrong, neither, for that matter, is copying a game for backup purposes.  If MS implemented a system where you could send them a damaged disc to which they would replace at no charge I'd change my stance on that, until then backups are fair use.  They might be illegal, but it's bad law.   

[lloydcom]

Actually the laws have changed to reflect the sale of knives to certain age groups.  The same as filling up a can of petrol there is some truth in that.

I want proof that someone in standing in law says it is LEGAL TO USE MODCHIPS.

Cant make it clearer than that eh?

But you cannot - you are full of  

So for a laugh I will contact my friend that works for a certain company and ask for an offical statement on the subject.  You can read about it here too:

www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) cites that circumvention devices, including, but not limited to mod-chips, are illegal, because the device circumvents the copy-protection features of their host systems.

Mame is illegal? I'll email Aaron today, to ask his response.

The land of Oz has until 2007 to come up with an alternative in relation to trade treaties.  The net is closing down under.

 

[ChadTower]

To go back on topic:

SHMOKES

Now that I've got your attention, I took the HD and DVD out, left them connected, and powered the thing up.  No 3.3v LED.  Pulled the motherboard.  Wouldn't you know it, that one solder point you mention, I missed.  I reviewed the documentation, it's never directly referenced in the LPC PCB steps.  The pic shows a terrible angle where it may or may not be soldered.  The v3 tutorial, which doesn't have the rebuild PCB, shows it clearly.

Awesome call.  I owe you one.   

[Silver]

Good work. Hopefully get mine up and running in the next couple of days...

Amazing what some people do mod-wise. Been reading about people adding 64meg ram (requires lots of SMD soldering all the pins) to double the memory, and even de-soldering the CPU to replace with a twice-as-fast 1.4Gig  PIII - this is no Zif-socket swap either...

[ChadTower]

Geesh.  At that point, just use a more powerful PC with the linux version.

EDIT:  Hit that solder point, put it back together... still no 3.3v LED.  For giggles I wiggled the mod PCB just a tiny bit... the 3.3v LED came on strong.  Wiggle it again, goes off, comes back on... I guess the pins are just a tad too short.  Any wiggling of the PCB makes connection to one or more pins intermittent.  I'll have to figure out a solution for that tomorrow.

Hit the power button, still red LED on external switch.  Then I hit the eject button to power up and it went blue.  This is all with no TV hooked up so I'll do that tomorrow too to see if I get the FlashBIOS screen.  This is what I was hoping for tonight, though.   

[pointdablame]

you'll get a Flashing Red and Green if there are no video cables connected to the Xbox, just in case you weren't aware of that.

[shmokes]

Awesome call. 

Sweet.  Don't mention it.

[shmokes]

you'll get a Flashing Red and Green if there are no video cables connected to the Xbox, just in case you weren't aware of that.

BTW, pointdablaame, you probably wouldn't know this if you haven't specifically used an X3 modchip, but when Chad refers to the LED being red he's talking about this one.  That logo lights up different colors depending on whether the mod is successful and what mode you boot up into.  He talked about FRAGing earlier, but I think right now he's talking about this thing.  You want it to be blue or purple, I can't remember.  If it's red there's a problem with the install, or maybe the bank-selection dip switches there are configured wrong.  I can't remember exactly, it's been about a year since the last (and only) time I installed an X3.

[ChadTower]

you'll get a Flashing Red and Green if there are no video cables connected to the Xbox, just in case you weren't aware of that.

That may explain what I saw... though I think it was orange and green.

[pointdablame]

you'll get a Flashing Red and Green if there are no video cables connected to the Xbox, just in case you weren't aware of that.

BTW, pointdablaame, you probably wouldn't know this if you haven't specifically used an X3 modchip, but when Chad refers to the LED being red he's talking about this one.  That logo lights up different colors depending on whether the mod is successful and what mode you boot up into.  He talked about FRAGing earlier, but I think right now he's talking about this thing.  You want it to be blue or purple, I can't remember.  If it's red there's a problem with the install, or maybe the bank-selection dip switches there are configured wrong.  I can't remember exactly, it's been about a year since the last (and only) time I installed an X3.

Yup... never used those before.  Now that you say it, I know what you're talking about, but I wouldn't have thought of it otherwise.  Good call.

[ChadTower]

To clarify, shmokes was right about what I was saying... though pointdablame was right about the flashing eject button LED (though IIRC it was orange and green). 

The LED on the external switch goes blue if it is enabled, red if disabled, and purple if set to use the backup BIOS (which is recommended to be FlashBIOS but doesn't have to be).

BTW, the stupid plastic switch on the PCB level hardware protection circuit snapped off.  It didn't damage the circuit or the switch housing but the lever is gone.  I have to switch it with a tiny screwdriver now.  Took nearly zero force to break it.

[shmokes]

Oh yeah . . . did anyone ever answer you about that pot on the corner of the chip?  It controls brightness of an LCD screen, if you decide to install one, which you don't because they cost money and are useless.

[pointdablame]

which you don't because they cost money and are useless.

I thought I was the only one who felt that way.  I just don't see the point.

[ChadTower]

No one had answered it, actually, but I happened upon it about an hour ago while reading the flash tutorials.

Next step is to figure out how to resolve the loose connection issue.

[shmokes]

I can kind of see the point if you get a vacuum florescent display, but you can't even read an LCD screen from more than five feet away from the thing.  I have one in my Xbox.  Or had one, anyway (long story).  Useless.

Chad, do you just need downward pressure on a chip?  I had a box that I had done a solderless install in that had a tendency to come unaligned.  I put a small chunk of Styrofoam between the chip and the DVD tray, so that when the Xbox was all put back together the DVD was constantly pushing down on the mod chip.  Maybe something like this would work.  It's been about a year and a half or two years since I put that chunk of Styrofoam in and it's run perfectly ever since.

[ChadTower]

I haven't worked out which exact direction the pressure needs to be in yet.  I was considering a more permanent solution like adding a tiny bit of solder to each of the pins to increase their thickness.  Barring that I was thinking a bit of wood to hold it in place like you describe.  Styrofoam makes me nervous as IIRC it carries a bit of charge and I'm not sure about its conductivity.

[clanggedin]

FYI... Here's a tidbit on the MODCHIP legality issue.

http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20870905%5E15317%5E%5Enbv%5E15306,00.html

[ChadTower]

In Australia.

[clanggedin]

Here's a quote from the Modchip Wiki

"Many companies are now selling modchips without any possibly DMCA-infringing BIOS code loaded onto the EEPROM portion of the chip module, or loading it with a totally legal BIOS containing none of the manufacturer's copyrighted code (for example the Cromwell BIOS developed by the Xbox Linux Project). It is then up to the customer to separately obtain a copy of their desired (possibly illegal) firmware and then to flash it into EEPROM."

So in essence modchips aren't illegal. It's what you install on them that makes them illegal. If you use them in a way that doesn't circumvent the DMCA copy-protecction then you are in your legal right to do so.

OK BACK ON TOPIC.....

[ChadTower]

That's where it becomes grey.  In the past, devices that serve no other purpose than to circumvent security measures have been considered also illegal whether they in and of themselves fit that definition or not.  DirecTV used that law to go after thousands of signal hackers and won a lot of cases where the hackers were buying boards with empty eeproms and loading the hacked software themselves.  Those boards, however, had no possible other use.  The Xbox modchips aren't quite so cut and dry as to which ones can have uses other than loading up an XDK compiled BIOS.

It comes down to this:

1)  Is it free of anything illegal as sold?

2)  Does it have any legitimate use that does not require loading illegal software?

If you can't answer yes to both questions, many localities consider the device itself to be an illegal trade tool and thus illegal itself.

[shmokes]

Shouldn't the answers to those questions be no for localities to consider them illegal?