Simple region-free Xbox mod?

I'll get back to you as it's been ages since I did this mod.

As for what jpn xbox games that can run the exploit.
http://www.assemblergames.com/forum...to-Softmod-that-Sweeeeet-NTSC-J-Japanese-Xbox

 

Cool, hopefully it's pretty simple!

Damn! So NO Japanese Xbox games work? It's just Asian version games?

 

MechAssult and 007 Agent Under Fire are the exploit games.
In the tutorial i linked it tells you where to stop and you can change the modified Logo
back to stock logo but i don't know why you would as the logo changing signifies the TSOP has worked and is working.

 

This is pretty much what I did,should work fine.
http://www.biline.ca/xbox_mod.htm

 

Even the Japanese verson?

Does the modified BIOS change the BIOS screen by default? The different BIOS screen would indeed be useful to check the TSOP flash was successful, but ultimately I'd like it to look like the stock BIOS screen.

 

On mine when I boot up the xbox it looks stock except it says xecuter 2 instead of microsoft.

 

That's what he doesn't want.

Based on IND-BIOS I think the logo is stored in c:\mslogo.bmp and the text c:\text.x (I'm assuming Xecuter does the same)
this post goes into detail about iND-BIOS http://www.assemblergames.com/forum...and-other-info&p=742391&viewfull=1#post742391

 

Bingo!

So I would get access to the HDD and copy the original logo back or change the text back or something?

 

You'd have to boot into a exploited save to get FTP access to the HDD then you could just edit the logo back.
I've never done a TSOP, But I'm assuming it works like the Soft-mod to a degree and will just rename the original files.

 

I believe you can just not include the PNG in the BIOS. X2 5035 is probably a more simple approach if you want it. Or even the Evo M8+, since you can remove the EVO X badge.

 

Oh, so the modified BIOS screen is just a PNG that you can just remove from the custom BIOS before you flash it? Is "X2 5035" an alternate replacement BIOS or something? Does it not modify as much as Xecuter2 4981?

 

There is a thread in the xbox forum for Jap xbox exploit games.

first solder the required points on the xbox mobo..

Now download HEXen tools and extract the ISO using CXbox tool or simmilar, then follow my Soft mod tutorial and make a USB drive (all the files are in the video// hexen tools is in the TSOP tutorial).

ok so once you have made a xbox SoftMod drive (it uses SoftMod installer Delux) using Xplorer360 copy the whole contense of the HEXEN Cd to a sub directory of SID, it will take 30 minutes to copy..

ok ok now follow the Softmod tutorial till you get to SID, scroll down to file explorer and locate your Hexen tools.

once hexen loads up follow the TSOP tutorial from there..

 

Couldn't you softmod using an unofficial dash, than change the mod to load the MS dash as default?

I'm not seeing a good reason to go through the effort of BIOS replacements for a much simpler goal.

 

That's what dual boot does. It will detect a backup and load the custom dash to launch in the background.

 

Cool, thanks! Though that thread says that only the Asian version of certain games work, no Japanese games...

I don't know a whole lot about Xbox softmodding, but it seems like removing region-locking from the BIOS itself is the "cleanest" option to me. It doesn't need to load up any custom dash or anything, everything is almost the same, it just will boot all region games now. Just pop the game in and away it goes!

 

Well I have the original boot logo animation, but a 3rd party main dash. Only different from stock when I startup without a game. (it automatically loads the inserted disc)

 

Softmod, Modchip, TSOP, they all do that

 

Okay guys! The actual Xbox has arrived, so I've been looking more into this. I found a program from the link Pikkon posted called "XBtool".



It lets you edit the custom BIOS before you actually burn it. From the looks of things, you can change the colors of the boot screen (handy, since it looks like Xecuter will always change this) and from the looks of things, the colors it defaults to are the same as the stock boot screen. I think it would be far simpler to avoid the boot screen from being changed in the first place, but it seems like there's no avoiding it. It also looks like you can also change which dash it boots to as well, but from what Pikkon said, you can stop the softmod process after you've done the TSOP flash but before the custom dash install to stick with the stock MS dash, so this is unnecessary right? Seems like you can also choose the fan speed, the Xbox doesn't have the ability to automatically control the fan speed? That seems kinda weird.

 

Yes, if you have a TSOP and a modified BIOS it will boot the game without having a custom dash. Basic modchips allowed this.

So you could even burn the M8+ BIOS and have VERY basic functions. However if you feel that the x2 5035 dash is more suited to your style then you will have to use another tool, like X2 config tool.

Notice in that screenshot you posted DVD is default? You won't see the dashboard if you have a disc in the tray. You can set the 1st field to msdash.xbe and it will only boot the msdash. If you have no other dashes installed (most basic modchip services back in the day didn't install dashes), it would always boot to the MSDASH and backups will still load. In your case it'd be region free.

Also before your TSOP, make sure you know what version your XBOX is. If you don't know, and can't be fucked knowing. Use the M8+ BIOS and have very basic functionality. Since you want region free only. I would honestly suggest that bios. You can then use EVTool to set the BIOS how you want.

 

Well, all I want is region free, so if this M8+ BIOS can do that, and without any extra silly bells and whistles all the better! Does this BIOS also change the boot screen like Xecuter does? You mentioned a config tool, so it sounds like it might. If we go with the M8+ BIOS instead, will I need choose boot petitions as you mentioned you can do with Xecuter or is it just gonna load up the stock MS dash if we do the whole "stop softmodding after the TSOP is flashed" thing?

For versions, seems like it's as simple as following this guide:
http://www.biline.ca/xbox_version.htm

Then soldering the points shown in this guide:
http://www.biline.ca/xbox_solder.htm

Once I get this bad-boy cracked open for cleaning, I'll check and see what version I've got and solder it up while we're in there.