xbox misc help

[legend_018]

Hi. Someone gave me an old xbox with no controller, just a remote control that looks like a regular dvd type of remote control, not the gaming controller and no cd's and no memory stick/card. Just the box and enough wires to plug it in.

I was thinking of installing xbmc on it, but I have to mod it first right. Is it worth it? I have to go looking for a controller to be able to I believe right? I won't be able to play any games on it. And if I use a usb stick to help mod it, I need the game controller right?

I'm also trying to make sure I'm doing the right thing. It's hard to find clear cut instructions on doing all this. There are youtube videos and I saw some posts in here with a part 1 and a part 2 video, but the video doesn't work and it's hard to gage on what utube video is best to follow as all of them have a lot! of instructions on getting this done including a things you need list, which could require money.

Are there any well known videos to follow?

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks

[asbo]

Depends how you want to/can mod it, I think for the game save exploits you would need a controller. But if you have an older PC with IDE connections you could use XBOXHDM to install a softmod and I think you'd be ok with just a remote.

Depending where you are someone might be able to do it for you, or lend you a controller etc.
As for youtube videos; no idea. But we can help you with whatever route you decide to go down

Also have you played around with it yet? It might be modded already

[legend_018]

Is that XBOXHDM something you do after you following utube intructions to softmod it? I'll have to try to find information about it when I have sec.
I'm not sure if it's modded already, how would I know?

[asbo]

XBOXHDM allows you to install a softmod directly onto the xbox hard drive with a PC. Its how I did mine originally. A gamesave exploit is a lot easier but it all depends on what you have available/want to buy.

I'm not sure if it's modded already, how would I know?

Switch it on with the power button, do you get the green microsoft dashboard?
If so turn it off and try switching it on with the eject button. If both of these boot the microsoft dash then its probably not modded.

[legend_018]

ok thanks. I have to go get my kids from the bus-stop and there on vacation for 5 days (fun). I'll try to check that out soon. I'm also checking out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWAhlYKg7Xo

[legend_018]

Hi. Am I reading this correctly, in order for everything to work successfully with XBOXHDM, I will have to take the box apart so I can get access to the harddrive for plugging in an IDE cable right? The video was ok for the most part, except the very end looked like it could be a little confusing, but I probably have to play it a few times to figure out what needs to be done.

[legend_018]

XBOXHDM allows you to install a softmod directly onto the xbox hard drive with a PC. Its how I did mine originally. A gamesave exploit is a lot easier but it all depends on what you have available/want to buy.

I'm not sure if it's modded already, how would I know?

Switch it on with the power button, do you get the green microsoft dashboard?
If so turn it off and try switching it on with the eject button. If both of these boot the microsoft dash then its probably not modded.

Seems as though the monitor I have it plugged into is only showing grey scale so it's still hard to tell. lol

[asbo]

Hi. Am I reading this correctly, in order for everything to work successfully with XBOXHDM, I will have to take the box apart so I can get access to the harddrive for plugging in an IDE cable right?

yes, and you have to hot swap the hard drive whilst both the PC and xbox are on. This has to be done at a certain point as the xbox is booting whilst the hard drive is unlocked.

Does it look like this but in grey?

It should look exactly like that pic.
There are some modded dashboards that look similar so it might be easier to take a picture if you can?

Are you in a PAL or NTSC region?

[legend_018]

Yes, it does look like that. I'll get a picture. I'm not 100% sure. I'm in New Hampshire, United States.

[legend_018]

hmm I thought there might be an insert file in here, but looks like I have to figure out how to get the image into an url format. Also the light in my room is not that great and with my phone, I can't really get a good picture. I'm pretty sure it's safe that it's not modded. I might try to start following one of the video's on youtube to get this started. I have some time today.

[legend_018]

wow ok so having my first problem. ndure 3.1. very hard finding this. Tried many of sites with no luck. still looking. If anyone has it, please send me a link. I will continue searching. thanks

[legend_018]

wow ok so having my first problem. ndure 3.1. very hard finding this. Tried many of sites with no luck. still looking. If anyone has it, please send me a link. I will continue searching. thanks

I think I found it. Whew. : )

[legend_018]

Im stuck running the make-iso-win.bat file.

at first I was having some pathing problems, but the last error is this: Note* I notice I don't have a boot.cat file anywhere?

C:\xboxmaker>mkisofs -o linux.iso -b isolinux/isolinux.bi
-no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table -l -R -r
mkisofs: No such file or directory. Invalid node - Linux


The batch is inside is this: mkisofs -o linux.iso -b isolinux/isolinux.bin -c isolinux/boot.cat -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table -l -R -r linux

Note* when I turned on my xbox K is equal to 1.00.4034.01 and D is equal to 1.00.5960.01

Also version of Ndure is 3.1

Update* I have to take a break and get some other stuff done. I got 3.1 downloaded and looked around at many sites and I should be able to just run the batch file at a command prompt. I'm on a Microsoft XP box. I could try another computer to see if that will work. but other then that, I'm at a loss to why I can't run this.

Update*2 Well another machine seems to be getting further and allowing that batch file to be run.

[asbo]

Don't worry about the pic.
I'm in the UK so I physically can't help but I'll try my best via this. There's probably someone on here near you that could help out if you get seriously stuck though

Its been several years since I've used XBOXHDM and I remember using a tutorial on the xboxscene forums which now seem to be dead. I've been looking for a decent tutorial for you but they all seem horribly out of date.
I think the instructions with XBOXHDM are reasonable, so follow them and hope for the best
I will help however I can

[legend_018]

ok assuming I've done everything so far, my next step is to find some screw drivers to take the box apart. It's Thanksgiving here and probably not something I can do today. I don't have any. I'm not on the latest kernel versions on the xbox that some utube video's recommended, so I'm hoping it will work. I got the CD burned with the Linux.iso and I booted up on it from my laptop to make sure it booted up to something and it did.

One thing that I'm trying to square away in my head is IF I'm able to actually get thru this and soft mod my box, I know I can install xbmc. But what about games? Is that something I can get help with or at least pointers from this site? I do have some experience (awhile ago) with the xbmc stuff as I have an appletv2 with it on there. I do want to put xbmc on the xbox if I get that far without any major problems. But, I'm trying to figure out how games fit in? I've read some bits and pieces about emulators that you can install that are probably prepacked with games. I'd like to be able to do that, have a few small kids...play some games ya know?

Any pointers on where to start once I get to that point would be great? I can start another post if it's best for this question?
Another quick question I'm searching for is: The internet. It looks like I can only plug that box into the internet via a cable? I had tried to connect wireless, but a message came up on the box saying I needed the wireless adapter. Is xbmc able to see it wirelessly without that adapter? probably not I'm guessing. Didn't know if it was programmed to work differently then the actual xbox itself.

[asbo]

my next step is to find some screw drivers to take the box apart.

You'll probably find having a set of torx ones handy for other things. If you have an electric drill you might have some torx head bits already and not realise

I'm not on the latest kernel version

From what I recall neither was I when I first did mine, worked ok though.

But what about games? Is that something I can get help with or at least pointers from this site?

yes of course.
First off you'll need a controller to play any games. You can play xbox games using the optical disc drive and you can also copy them to a hard drive if you install a larger one. However you should bare in mind that the optical drive might not be working any more.
The hard drive the xbox comes with really is tiny, 8 or 10GB, so really there isn't a lot of room for anything another than xbmc, although you may squeeze on a few emulators.

It looks like I can only plug that box into the internet via a cable? I had tried to connect wireless, but a message came up on the box saying I needed the wireless adapter. Is xbmc able to see it wirelessly without that adapter? probably not I'm guessing. Didn't know if it was programmed to work differently then the actual xbox itself.

yes it only has an ethernet cable connection, although you can buy a wifi adapter from what I hear its not a lot of good, the xbox is over 10 years old now so its quite limited. A few members have used routers as wifi bridges and suchlike, but personally I just use a cable.

Glad to hear the laptop booted the disc ok, sounds promising

[legend_018]

Thanks for the help and the encouragement! I got the box apart, but bad news is, the old computer I have doesn't have IDE. I used to have a kit that allowed you to plug in any kind of harddrive to a computer via usb and I can't find it. Was wondering if that might work. I also have to dig through the cellar to see if I have a computer down there. I used to have TONS of computers, but over the years have ditched them. Heading to parents for Thanksgiving Dinner so I'll have to deal with it at a later time.

[asbo]

Thanks for the help and the encouragement!

I'm glad to help

I got the box apart, but bad news is, the old computer I have doesn't have IDE. I used to have a kit that allowed you to plug in any kind of harddrive to a computer via usb and I can't find it. Was wondering if that might work.

I've wondered this myself, it almost certainly wouldn't work with XBOXHDM 1.9(There is a later version that can boot from USB but I don't know if it can read/write hard drives via USB).
You can read and write to xbox memory units including USB sticks formatted in FATX with a program called Xplorer360.
I'm kinda tempted to try it with a hard drive

Your best bet is to find an older PC with IDE though.
If not then buying a controller, specific game and building/buying a USB adapter for the game save exploit is your next best option, it shouldn't be too expensive either
Also, how good are you with a soldering iron?

I commented at dinner that all the Americans were probably about to have thanksgiving dinner enjoy!

[asbo]

I'm kinda tempted to try it with a hard drive

yes I'm quoting myself
I had a search and you can use Xplorer360 to hotswap a hard drive, so if you find your USB adaptor you should be able to do it that way. It also should be a lot lot easier.

[legend_018]

I went to my mothers for thanksgiving and what do you know, they had an old computer down in there cellar. Score!
Came home and I would say that I have soft modded my xbox at this time.

Now I need to figure out my next plan. I might search around about games first before installing xbmc. I also have limited time with the internet connection because we use mostly wireless in the this house and the only tv/room I can hook it up to with the wire is being used a lot by others (watching tv basically). But, I think I'll do some more research and figure out what I want to do from here. I have a older Linksys router so hopefully I don't run into any snags hooking it up to the internet. Then I'm either going to work on getting xbmc on the box or look into game emulators/playing games.

I notice the menu now has an option for games, also an option for applications, but when you click on it, it's empty of course.