As I mentioned in the "what have you brought" thread, I picked up a cheap Xbox today. I've never owned one before, so I thought I'd ask you guys if there's anything I should know. For example, should I softmod it? I've also read that PAL Xboxes (which is what mine is) don't support HD resolutions while NTSC models do. Apparently you can switch a PAL to NTSC to enable HD if you have component cables. Does this effect the console's region? Anything else I should know? How do a format the console and restore it to factory default? Is OK to feed the console after midnight?
Only feed it Burnout Revenge and you'll be fine! But after midnight is still a no-no! Hexigon should chime in very very soon, he will unleash the answers! :smile-new: I love the way Xbox has two mechanical parts that can fail relatively easy (HD and ODD) as well as some BGA action! That said, I had to bury a Mega Drive II today. We do what we can... Anyway... Congratulations! :triumphant:
Don't feed it after midnight!!! If you want simple HD support, you can softmod the system by an exploit and install UnleashX. Just switch to NTSC through the dash and all well and good, games will change when they need to on their own once those options are set. Personally I would install a modchip, but the softmod is a very quick and easy solution. Doing the softmod will not affect the console's region but all the region locking is done through the MSDASH, which the softmod will move from the default dash therefore ruling out retail booting problems With games, well depends what you like playing. I play the XBOX for it's Arcade racers and fighting games. I can suggest these: Wreckless, Project Gotham Racing, PGR 2, Agent Under Fire, Dead or Alive 3, Dead or Alive Ultimate, R: Racing Evolution, Double-S.T.E.A.L: The Second Clash (my favourite title for the system), Burnout, Burnout 2, Burnout 3, Need for Speed Underground, King of Fighters Maximum Impact Manix, Sudeki, Breakdown, Dead to Rights, OToGi, BMX XXX, Bloodrayne, Colin McRae Rally 3, Gunvalkyrie, House of the Dead III (Get a lightgun for that if you have a CRT), Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast, Rallisport Challenge 2, and Time Splitters 2. Others who are into say RPGs and so on will be able to mention more, but my genres are very very simple Think I answered everything, most likely haven't but let me know if I can help you any more.
I was gonna ask if there were any games exclusive to non-PAL regions, which would require the system to be soft-modded, but I'll need to soft-mod it anyway to get HD? Looks like I need to soft-mod it then I've watched your video, and I have a few questions: 1) Is it possible to re-skin the softmod so it looks like the default dashboard? I like the look of the original better 2) Will installing a softmod erase my console's HDD? 3) Can I borrow your USB to Xbox cable? Of the games you mentioned, which are: A) Exclusive to the Xbox (i.e Conker Live and Reloaded) B) Are on other platforms, but the best version is the Xbox version (i.e Silent Hill 2) I think it would be silly to get a game that has a superior version on a different platform (i.e the Xbox version of Knights of the Old Republic vs the PC port) Also, what's this I hear about explosive clock capacitors? I'm not sure what version it is yet, but what do you mean by "a lot more stable"? Does the softmod crash a lot?
You'll find out your XBOX version once you softmod. If it's below 1.5 I would TSOP though. Yes there are skins that look like the original MSDASH, although they are not perfect they still will look alright. The cables are cheap, just buy one XBOX versions of the games that generation were the best looking ones. GTA:SA is good on XBOX just the button layout wasn't for me, but maybe I didn't play it enough to find out completely. What Pikkon was talking about is; softmods can be broken very easily if you start tinkering around with the C partition of the drive. If you delete or move one file in the wrong place, the system will no longer boot and just show an error. Therefore TSOPs are a lot easier to work with as it will always boot from DVD if there's any MSDASH related errors.
Some games like Crash Twinsanity, official 480p was exclusive to NTSC Xbox. No other platform or region. (such games even if the PAL disc is region free and supports 480p still need an NTSC system to use it unmodded)
"TSOP" being replacing one of the chips in the console, yes? Also, how about helping out a fellow Aussie and lending me your USB cable What's the process to install skins involve? If I don't mess around with the C petition, would I be fine with soft-mod only? Jeez, NTSC gets all the breaks! Looks like putting the console in NTSC mode is a great idea. I have heard that's a great game, is it more than "KotOR with kung-fu" though?
TSOP is write enabling to the BIOS chip. (you'll need to use an exploit or already be softmodded for this to happen). Why I'm saying just buy a cable is because they are $6, and it will cost you that much in postage :/ To install skins it's just as easy as drag and drop in the correct folder. Correct! I think while installing the softmod you have the option for VirtualC which will rule out the mistakes of messing around with the C partition.
Oh, so TSOP is a more permanent version? So the process would be something like soft-mod, write to the BIOS chip, then remove original soft-mod? Fair enough Guess I'll go grab ONE OF THESE then. Where do you drag and drop from? Do you upload the skin to the USB stick from your PC or something? Also, what's up with regions on the Xbox? I just realized that my copy of Scrapland is an NTSC copy, but my Xbox has no complaints about running it.
Basically yes, can even use a tracepen if you like and bridge the points. It's really simple, also if you ever want to upgrade the Hard Disk in the future you can just drop in another one. Well there's no need to remove the softmod, what I would do is just use Slayer's Auto Installer or AID 4.5. Doing this step will somewhat also set your unit to factory defaults in a way as well. Yep, that's the right cable! You're in the right direction! Keep on going!! You drag and drop from your computer via FTP. Scrapland must be a multi-region game. Rallisport Challenge 2 is multi-region and mines a NTSC-J version.
psychonauts is a superd game for 360 and there oddworld munchs oddysy and stranglers wrath oops i ment psychonauts is for origonal xbox sorry
Bridging points? FTP? Methinks I'll need some detailed instructions on how to do all this, got any suggestions? All these games are available on Steam and I already have them on said Thanks though!
Once you get closer to actually doing it will be easier to understand however... First to TSOP you'll need to know your XBOX version to begin with, so have you opened up your XBOX yet? If not, use the guides below. Having trouble? Take a photo of your motherboard and I'll take a look at it for you bro If XBOX-SCENE servers don't kick up again by the time you read this post, then use this guide. TSOP Guide here About FTP instructions. I'll be able to make for you at the time you want to transfer skins. I hope I'm explaining everything easily for you, let me know if I'm going to fast and I'll explain it in more detail. Good luck!
Yes just jump onto Xbins and grab the TSOP flashing game save exploit kit after dropping a lil blob of iron right inbetween these points then your on your way to xbox haven! While your on xbins you may want to also grab the UiX Dash and install it onto the root of C:/ and set the .xbe name to evoxdash if it's not already then enjoy! You'll have basically the MSDASH in a totally wicked mode where you can edit anything to your desires etc.. Skin dash colors, submenu options, orbs etc.. Also has a few prebuilt skin colors within the dash skin settings. If you need help or whatever just hit me up! But first you need to find out what version motherboard your xbox is rocking.. Is there a TSOP Chip? What kind is it? 1MB or 512KB? Let me know, It's already sitting around here as I still use them! ;-) The bridging points vary by motherboard version. I got pictures for both, and a nice word tutorial.
I'm going to go with the HeXEn method. I should be able to FTP the image to my Xbox, load the tool from either the games section or utility section on my dash, and flash the M8+ Bios I want to use. My model is a 1.4 so I have to use the 256K sized one. Might even be able to just build a new HDD if I burn it to a CD and load it with my blank 320GB HDD. Either that or I'll just use the partition tool I have installed and replace the DVD drive with the 320GB drive temporarily to copy everything over and leave it unlocked since the M8+ BIOS doesn't require it to be locked. Maybe them my hacked PC DVD drive will work. I have that famous PC drive that will read original game disks with hacked firmware. Forgot what it is since I couldn't make it work before and have stored it for months...
You know guys a better explanation of TSOP flashing is "Like a built in modchip" what you are doing is replacing the normal bios with one for a modchip @OP The only real problem with a softmod is replacing the HDD but I agree with everyone that if you can then TSOP is the way to go since its safer since you can boot from DVD plus it will just simply make your life easier As for dash I would recommend XBMC with JX-720 skin (Its the Xbox 360's blade's dash on the OG Xbox!) but since you want a default like launcher then IDK as I have never really looked for one but I can search for one (UIX was mentioned so I will check it out first) EDIT: I couldn't get it to run as app so I gave up :/ based on pictures tho it seems that it is exactly what you are looking for
So I managed to flash my EEPROM to the M8+ BIOS and it works great. Only issue is I couldn't use the HeXEn method. Crap Thompson DVD drive didn't like my CD media so I used Gentoox bootloader. Only issue is Gentoox seen to have somehow embedded itself into my dash so that whenever I go to load an application that resets the console I get the Gentoox loader instead of the app. Gonna have to build the new drive manually with PC it seems. At least I don't have to lock it now. Word of advice: Don't use Gentoox bootloader for BIOS flashing. More trouble than it's worth... EDIT: I was wrong. The app I used before for my HDD cloning boots from Gentoox it seems. The problem is that Gentoox boots in HDTV mode and the LBpartitioner doesn't seem to like my video chip now that I have the M8+ BIOS on it. Gentoox loader creates the famous double screen and the actual cloning part of it just makes the screen a diagonal mess of squiggles. Gonna have to build the HDD from PC like I said earlier. At least I was able to FTP my C and E drives to the HDM tool folders. Now to go load the USB drive to my junk PC motherboard and start building. No need for locking it now.
Currently at work, but it sounds like the first thing I need to do is open it up and find out more info about its guts. Will post some photos later! Oh, I've also ordered one of those USB cables, guess I'll need that to begin the process
