Xbox modding made easy
(Click Image to Enlarge)Have you ever been interested in playing backed up games on your xbox? Using emulators, or even making your xbox into your own home entertainment center? Do you want to keep your warranty in tact, or are you afraid of the risks of hardware modification?
If you answered yes to any of those, software modification may be for you, here is a simple guide on how to modify your xbox without opening it, soldering a single wire, or ruining your warranty.
Preparation
| Pros | Cons |
| -Allows for the use of a larger harddrive -Allows you to run homebrew software which can: -Allow you to backup games -Allow you to use your xbox as a media Center -Allows you to use emulators -Allows you to play DVDs without the use of a remote -Allows multi region and backup games to play -Does not void your warranty |
-Disables access to xbox live -To upgrade the harddrive you need to open the case, which will void your warranty |
Warning: do not try to connect to xbox live with a softmodded xbox, they can track your mod, and you can/probably will be banned.
Supplies needed:
- A working xbox
- A xbox memory card (preferably Microsoft brand)
- An action replay, or similar device to allow transferring files to the memory card from your pc
OR
- A flash drive with an xbox adaptor (http://www.liksang.com/info.php?category=83&products_id=2154&)
- Software to transfer the mod software to the memory card, and the mod software(SID); Available at: http://aid.xbox-hq.com/
- An Ethernet connection to a computer with FTP (optional)
- A cd burner, and one or two blank cds (just incase)
- One of the following games: James Bond: Everything or Nothing, Splinter Cell 1, Mechassault 1. (None of these can be GOTY or platinum editions; they all must be the oldest releases available for the exploits to work.)
Step 1: loading SIDOnce you have downloaded the SID package relevant to the game you are using, copy it to your xbox memory card (or usb drive) then attach the memory unit to your xbox. Copy the saved exploit over to your xbox harddrive.
Next; you load the game of choice, and load the saved game that you had transferred, which will take you to the SID menu. From this menu your xbox is capable of creating an FTP connection with your computer (for those of you who can make use of it, good for you. Otherwise it is irrelevant to the mod).
From the SID menu, choose to back up your C:, and make sure you always have an original copy of the default m$ software on your E: partition. After this, choose to install the softmod, and place it on C:; when prompted to use the “Tray open menu” choose “no”
Warning: NEVER erase your original xbox dash board, this can/probably will brick your box.
Shut down your xbox.
Note: your xbox will be fully capable of playing backed up games from this point on, using AID is just an easy method of accessing a lot of the homebrew software available.
Step 2: Burning AID
Find the newest Version of AID you can (normally available on http://aid.xbox-hq.com/ or http://www.mininova.org)
Burn the ISO image to a disc Via your choice of burning software (E.g. Nero)
Step 3: loading AID
Turn on your xbox, and once it’s finished loading, insert the AID CD you just burned. You will be taken to a menu similar to the AID menu, choose the softmod you would like to install (I prefer evox installed on c:) and choose to install any other software/emulators off the list you’d like to have. Install everything else to E:.
Warning: Don’t backup your c: more then once, this will overwrite your original dashboard.
Glossary
AID – “Auto Installer Deluxe” This is the software you burn onto a CD or DVD and load with your xbox once SID is installed. This disc contains all the software needed to properly soft mod an xbox
Dashboard – The operating system on your xbox
FTP – “File Transfer Protocol” This is the basis for sending and receiving files between your xbox and your home pc, by using software such as flash FXP.
M$ - “Microsoft”
SID – “Software Installer Deluxe” This is the software you load onto your memory card that will initially allow you to load and install homebrew software on your xbox
Note: if you end up getting an error code due to doing something wrong, try to start the machine with the game in it, if it loads the game, you can still do anything you want, this will get you out of 99% of problems you could run in to.
cardgames Said:
on September 8, 2006 at 11:27 pm
cardgames cardgames
Hawkstriker Said:
on October 30, 2006 at 6:21 pm
You should figure out how to do this on a 360
bryre Said:
on November 25, 2006 at 10:47 am
Is there any other risks with this? i am green as grass when it comes to modding but i dont want to ruin my xbox
Mad Contender Said:
on July 16, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Twinkle, twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky, Twinkle, twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are.