Category Archives: Xbox
[How To] FTP Into Modded Xbox That Has Evolution X Dashboard (Or UnleashX)
Revisions:
1-15-10: Initial release. Video is coming if you have a hard time reading. 🙂
1-16-10: Added my Youtube Video.
Foreword: This tutorial shows the user how to FTP into their Xbox using the crossover cable or router method. Although this tutorial has a video (coming) and screenshots for the Evolution X dashboard, the METHOD is still the same for the UnleashX dashboard. You just have to be smart enough to recognize the network settings when you see it. – Versatile
Introduction
With a modded Xbox original (softmod or hardmod), you have the ability to FTP into your Xbox to transfer files. What this means is that you can transfer files from the PC to the Xbox (music, games, emulators, roms, movies), and also from the Xbox to the PC. You can also install custom dashboards, and other homebrew programs.
If you are new to Xbox modding, then please read my other guide here.
This guide will show you how to connect to the Xbox via two methods, the crossover cable method and the router method.
Aeon – Skin for XBMC
Do you have a modded Xbox? Do you run XBMC? Forget the PMIII skin, go to the Aeon skin! This skin is made for HDTV systems, so if you have a 720P or 1080i HDTV screen, you will see the beautifulness of this skin.
The coolest part is that you can assign different picture backdrops for each selection (Movies, TV Shows, Pictures, etc.) and its all random. A post about it isn’t going to do it justice. Check out the skin at www.aeonproject.com
[How To] Install a Larger Hard Drive in Softmodded Xbox
Revisions:
5-8-09: Added XBpartitioner download link.
4-3-11: Cleaned up some items at the end.
1-27-12: Fixed link for XBpartioner.
WTF! I wrote a post and when I posted it, the article was entirely blank. Talk about a good 30 mins wasted, so here is my brief version.
I have an Xbox, and last night I installed a new larger hard drive in it. So far it works, which is a Hitachi 250GB hard drive. The default hard drive is 8GB. Below is a great tutorial that I am just going to quote and give credit to, and after the tutorial see my quick comments on my experience.
This is a follow-up article to my original Modding the Xbox in 10 Minutes. This guide will teach you how to install a larger hard-drive into your modded Xbox. A lot of people will ask for a legitimate reason for installing a hard-drive larger than the stock 8gb one. Here’s a reason, games ripped to your Xbox load faster. Booting Halo 2 through the CD takes about twenty seconds to load; booting Halo 2 from the hard-drive takes about five seconds to load. There isn’t this night and day difference in all games, but there are plenty of other legitimate uses to using a larger hard-drive in a modded Xbox.
Remember, it’s only legal to rip games that you own to your hard-drive.
Before you begin, you’re going to need the following:
- Torx 10 and 20 Screwdrivers (available at your local Sears)
- xboxhdm_v1.9.zip (available on Xbins in the directory: /XBOX/Operating Systems/linux/distributions/xboxhdm/)
- FTP Access to your Modded Xbox
- Blank Hard-Drive
- Blank CD-R/RW
Once you have all of the above, extract the xboxhdm_v1.9.zip to its own directory. Connect to your Xbox via FTP and navigate to E:\backup\MS. If you used my first article, there should be a file called eeprom.bin in there. Transfer that file to your local \xboxhdm\linux\eeprom folder. If you did not use my guide, you will first need to backup your EEProm through your dashboard.
Navigate back to the root of your Xbox hard-drive and transfer the contents of your C:\ and E:\ folders from your Xbox to your local \xboxhdm\linux folder. The local folders should be empty prior to transfer.
Depending how much stuff you have on your Xbox, this transfer might take a bit of time. Once you have transferred the eeprom.bin and c:\ and e:\ folders, navigate to your local \xboxhdm\ folder and double click the make-iso-win file. This will launch the command prompt and will make a linux.iso file.
Use Nero, FireBurner, your burning application of choice to burn this .iso file to a blank CD-R.
Once the CD has burned, turn off your system and disconnect your current hard-drives. Set the jumper on the hard-drive you intend to use in the Xbox to Single Master. Connect this hard-drive. Go into your BIOS and make sure the boot order sets to boot from the CD drive before the hard-drive. Reboot your computer (if necessary), insert the burned CD into your CD drive and it should boot into the Xbox Maker and Recovery Tool program.
It makes no sense to write the following steps in a paragraph format because you just have to hit a number, type a word or answer yes/no. So here is how you navigate the program: (picture guide is located below)
- Press 1 (Boot VGA Console with Xbox-Drive Utilities (default)) and hit enter.
- Type xboxhd and hit enter
- Type yes (do not type y, you must spell out yes) and hit enter
- Press 1 (Build a New Xbox HD from Scratch) and hit enter
- Type yes and hit enter
- Type yes and hit enter (Continue Copying Files from /xboxhdm/C)
- Type yes and hit enter (Continue Copying Files from /xboxhdm/E)
- Reboot once it has finished copying (this might take awhile)
- Press 3 (Boot Linux with Locking/Unlocking Utilities)
- Type lockhd -a
- Turn off your computer
If you want to use your stock 8gb Xbox hard-drive in your PC, turn on your Xbox, if you installed Evolution X using my previous guide, go to System Configuration -> Unlock Harddisk. Turn off your Xbox.
Disconnect the hard-drive from your computer and unscrew the Xbox’s six torx screws. Unscrew the Xbox hard-drive’s two torx screws; unplug its molex connector and IDE cable. Plug in your new Xbox hard-drive and turn it on. Congratulations on your new hard-drive.
Tutorial source: http://www.techfreaks.org/articles/modxbox2.shtml
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I spent a good four hours last night and figured out my PC was the problem. Here are some useful tips:
- New hard drive to be master on primary IDE channel. Optical drive of PC to be master on secondary IDE channel. Do not try other variations, it will not work! I.E: Primary hard drive, slave optical drive.
- When you lock your hard drive, you may see this error: “Drive on primary master is frozen cannot change the security status of a frozen drive! Try to disable ‘automatic detection’ on the primary IDE channnel in your PC BIOS and reboot.”
- If you get this, do not bother going into your BIOS and disabling “automatic detection” as other websites say because most likely there is no such thing as an option. I was using an Emachine with an Intel processor, and that was the problem because I couldn’t lock my hard drive.
- If you are lucky, use a different PC and cross your fingers. Apparently, using AMD based machines work great when trying to lock your hard drive. I had a spare AMD machine, and I was able to lock the hard drive without any errors.
- See if your hard drive is lockable at this link: http://xboxdrives.x-pec.com/?p=list
- If you get this, do not bother going into your BIOS and disabling “automatic detection” as other websites say because most likely there is no such thing as an option. I was using an Emachine with an Intel processor, and that was the problem because I couldn’t lock my hard drive.
XBPartitioner Link
By popular demand, I give you a link to the XBpartitioner program! To traditionally get this, you must login to IRC and find it, but now I save you the hassle. Enjoy!
There you have it. If you have problems, let me know and I will see what I can do as I am living proof that this tutorial works.
[TiT] That’s It Tuesday – Issue 21
Hi underground visitors! Welcome to the twenty-first issue of TIT, or That’s It Tuesday! Every Tuesday, I, Versatile1, will give you a rant of whats going on in the blog, whats intended for the future, hope, dreams, etc.
What am I thinking about? We have gotten some more Interest in PS2 tutorials, so I guess I know what people love to do nowadays. Hehehe. In other unrelated news, today I’m going to buy an Xbox cheap from a guy from Craigslist. Comes with 2 controllers, the console, and 5 games. How much? Well, if I told you , it be either: 1) V1, you are so frickin cheap, or 2) OMG thats a sick deal!
E-mail me if really interested.
With that said, I will probably write some simple Xbox tutorials to show you how to backup your games, and mod your xbox so you can copy games to the hard drive. Pretty slick right?
Anyway, thats about it for now. I may work on another podcast, we shall see. Until next time, peace out.
Alternatives To TVLinks
Well, it has finally happened. The owner of TVLinks.co.uk was arrested and shut down.
”
It’s a sad day for streaming video fans everywhere as news has been reported that TVLinks has been shut down and the owner, a 26yo man from Chelteham in the UK, was arrested.
Though not hosting an actual content himself, and rather merely providing links to where particular titles can be found, he was nonetheless apparently charged for the “facilitation” of copyright infringement.” –ZeroPaid
So, we have got a few alternatives for you all.
You can find them all here: Click Here!
Or Below:
Surf The Channel
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QuickSilverScreen
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Enjoy!
Voltaire
[Game Preview!] Gears Of War (PC)
Yes, the GoW PC edition was supposedly released today, so we have a special preview for you:
As cracks come out, we might even have links for you!
Halo Wars
Alright, this is apparently the next new game from Ensemble Studios.
It looks amazing, let me tell you.
Here is a video:
Halo Wars is a real-time action strategy game for the Xbox 360 that allows the player to control large armies and to shrewdly direct them in realistic warfare. Set early in the iconic war between the Covenant and UNSC – made famous by the Halo FPS games – Halo Wars provides a new angle on the war while bringing new heroes to the battle.
The images below are renders of the units or buildings in-game. Mouse-over each image to see the original concept art. In the weeks and months ahead we will be updating the features page with more information and imagery.
(taken from halowars.com)
To learn more, watch videos, and more, go to http://www.halowars.com/
its pro 😛
How To Get Free Games, Game Consoles, iPods, and Other Things!
Alright, This is Voltaire once again with a “how to get free stuff” report. Those of you that have read my previous get a free iPhone article know what sticklers we are for free things. Well, I have found a really good site. Yes, it has iPods, iTunes cards, Wii games and extra Wii parts, xbox 360’s, HALO 3 (YES FOR FREE), xbox parts, xbox live cards, PS3’s with games and parts, music, DS’s with games, PSP’s with games, and much, much more!
And heres the deal: you dont need a credit card! Most of the offers available do NOT need a credit card. All you have to do is complete a little survey or sign up an account but you wont need a credit card. of course, for those of you that are willing to spend a few bucks, there are credit card and cell phone offers to be completed.
So, how do you get points? complete offers! or tell you friends to help you out.
Want to sign up? well, i didnt mention a link or a set yet.
So there it is! Click above to sign up and start getting free things!
(They have the Touch, so you better hurry!!!)
The site is reliable, and credits add up instantaneously. You will not have any problems!
Halo 3 – Incredible Grenade Stick
I don’t link to games that often here on The Underground, but I came across this amazing halo 3 sticky grenade, and I just had to put a link up here.
Watch it and see, its short clip, and you will agree that is one amazing grenade throw. I would embed the video here, but the code doesn’t work for non-youtube videos. 😦
Welcome to the Underground. 