[Solved] Reinstalling an already softmodded Xbox

[Romano2K]

Please remove, advanced users will already know about this, I don't want new users even knowing how to get access to stuff there not meant to. (There was a reason I said not to tell people, in the long run it could cause me problems, as people like to touch things there not meant to.)

Removed, sorry!

[io.]

Hello,

I'm still using XCalibur 3.4, but like Romano2k said it puts too much files "everywhere" however it has tools which offer the possibility to build a new hdd. That's nice when you want to install a bigger one.
I like the listed features of your softmod Rocky5, does your extra disc allows or will allow to build new hdd (because I guess it's not compatible with hdd built with XCalibur)?

Thanks for any reply.

[Romano2K]

Hello,

I'm still using XCalibur 3.4, but like Romano2k said it puts too much files "everywhere" however it has tools which offer the possibility to build a new hdd. That's nice when you want to install a bigger one.
I like the listed features of your softmod Rocky5, does your extra disc allows or will allow to build new hdd (because I guess it's not compatible with hdd built with XCalibur)?

Thanks for any reply.

I guess you're coming from the Gueux forum, are you?

I had the chance to get some help from Rocky5 to upgrade my Xbox' hard drive.

He made me install his softmod on the original hard drive, then he made me backup the C and E drives with a specific method (which I could tell you about with a private message), then he made me enable the virtual eeprom function with his disc, backup the eeprom.bin file. Then I have just used XboxHDM 1.9 (download, uncompress, copy Xbox backups, build ISO, burn ISO) to prepare my new 250GB hard drive then lock it. I had to re-install the softmod on the newer hard drive to make it work properly, but it was easy.

Tell me if you need more details, including in french.

[io.]

Indeed, years ago I did find a lot of informations on Gueux when I was softmodding my XBoxes and even now I still take a look at the retro forum from time to time.

I'd like more detail if you don't mind, thank you. But if I need to build a specific ISO for each XBox then don't bother (because all my RW medias are dead for years now).

[Rocky5]

Indeed, years ago I did find a lot of informations on Gueux when I was softmodding my XBoxes and even now I still take a look at the retro forum from time to time.

I'd like more detail if you don't mind, thank you. But if I need to build a specific ISO for each XBox then don't bother (because all my RW medias are dead for years now).

Depending on what you want to do there are 2 options.

Chimp & XBHDM

Chimp works on all Xbox version & only requires you to be able to run unsigned code first & run either from a disc or from the Xbox HDD (the latter is where I run it)

XBHDM requires you have a PC with IDE ports & your EEPROM backed up to your PC (should be doing this anyways) & a disc for each Xbox. (you also need the raw C drive files)

So your best bet is to softmod an Xbox (using mine or what ever one you want), download Chimp 2618 & install it to E:\Apps (zips include readme's) then watch some youtube videos on how to use it.

Once your done you will have what ever HDD you wanted to upgrade locked & ready to be put directly into your Xbox.

[io.]

Thank you for your reply.

I think XBHDM is what XCalibur 3.4 uses and it has an option to read the eeprom.bin file from a floppy (that's the way I do it).
So I will try XBHDM and maybe its USB version too.

Thanks again.

[elmimmo]

There is no difference between E:\Dashboard & C:\Dashboard other than the location.
I look in C first if I find a dashboard I load it, if not I look in E if I find one I load it, if not I look for the recovery dashboard in E if I find it I load it.

Considering then that your softmod looks for different Dashboards on cascade, I thought about a possible drawback of using Team XBMC Shortcut XBE, which is that, if it is present, but the path in the cfg file is not valid, then I guess it will hijack your fallback sequence and never redirect to your recovery dashboard in E. But I saw that Team XBMC Shortcut XBE's has its own hardcoded fallbacks (unless I am interpreting what its code does; could someone confirm?).

I mention it just in case someone wants to do as I do and finds this of interest.

[Rocky5]

There is no difference between E:\Dashboard & C:\Dashboard other than the location.
I look in C first if I find a dashboard I load it, if not I look in E if I find one I load it, if not I look for the recovery dashboard in E if I find it I load it.

Considering then that your softmod looks for different Dashboards on cascade, I thought about a possible drawback of using Team XBMC Shortcut XBE, which is that, if it is present, but the path in the cfg file is not valid, then I guess it will hijack your fallback sequence and never redirect to your recovery dashboard in E. But I saw that Team XBMC Shortcut XBE's has its own hardcoded fallbacks (unless I am interpreting what its code does; could someone confirm?).

I mention it just in case someone wants to do as I do and finds this of interest.

I may actually use that instead of what I currently use, I can only fallback on 3 paths.

You could always change the dashloader Config to load a specific path, edit it with a txt editor. (That way, if you removed your destination app, it would load the xbe path 2 or 3)

OK Update:
I will be now using the XBMC Shortcut XBE as the dashloader, I also added in support for the 8th partition, so if no dashboards are found it will load the recovery dashboard in the real C. (bugger knows when the update will be out)

[Scarfaze]

Hello there. I am a newbie but managed to softmod my xbox with babylon a while ago. All is working great except for one thing. Whenever i boot my xbox with a game inside, the game loads first (even after turning off autolaunch). I heard great things about the rocky5 softmod and am willing to try it. Will it get rid of my previous softmods? As i probably did something wrong with my previous installation, hence the small inconvenience. Thanks.

[Rocky5]

Hello there. I am a newbie but managed to softmod my xbox with babylon a while ago. All is working great except for one thing. Whenever i boot my xbox with a game inside, the game loads first (even after turning off autolaunch). I heard great things about the rocky5 softmod and am willing to try it. Will it get rid of my previous softmods? As i probably did something wrong with my previous installation, hence the small inconvenience. Thanks.

That's the default behaviour of NKPatcher, it's that way so you can load a disc if something goes tits up with your dashboard, or you would be in a boot loop.
(With original discs this cannot be disabled with a softmod as they boot before NKPatcher patches the kernel)

[Scarfaze]

Thanks for replying. So everything is fine with my mod then. Just a long stick to reach the eject button from my bed on a super lazy day is all i need:)