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[radioheadrule83]

I've not long had my box modded... got the X3 from teamxecuter..

Don't worry I'm not gonna bother asking about piracy. But are there any good home-made utilities yet? Things that let you access the hard disk for example? What can be done with the dashboard?

If anyone has any nice links, I'd muchly appreciate it!

 

[Fantasmo]

Go to forums.xbox-scene.com for everything and anything mod-related. Their forums are vast and informative.

Get yourself Avalaunch, Xbox Media Center (XBMC), and a few emulators. The code is copyrighted with MS signatures so you will find these on IRC. I don't remember the room names but I don't think I'm allowed to post them anyway.

You can get a nice cheap remote for xbox at jandaman.com for XBMC. Xbox remotes work in any controller slot so you don't have to unplug controller 1 all the time.

Enjoy!

 

[8bit]

The best thing you can get is XBMC, the media centre. With that you can watch media files and use your box as a jukebox.

 

[radioheadrule83]

Cool, thanks!

Also... I may pick up an Xbox Live starter pack soon, but will it be totally pointless? I mean I've got a switch on the box to turn the mod chip off / take it out the loop or whatever... what do they dish out bannings based upon?

 

[Fantasmo]

Bans occur two-fold. First is if you sign on with a modchip. Insta-ban.

The new bans occur due to changed hardware "after the fact". If you sign onto Live with the default Xbox hard drive (and modchip off) you're fine, unless you swap it out with a bigger one later. As soon as they see a new hard drive serial number on an old Live account, ban.

Read forums.xbox-scene.com's Live forum for details.

 

[DaCocoBrova]

Don't bother fucking w/ Live. Err on the side of caution and just leave it alone.

Anyway, here's what I recommend:

UnleashX - Use it as an app or boot right to it as a dash. Shit's hot once you find the right skin

XBMC - The app.

Kawa-X - CPS2 and Neo Geo emulator

MAMEoX - MAME on XBOX

 

[Fantasmo]

Don't listen to DaCocoBrova. Honestly, look at it this way. If you follow his advice and never use Live anyway, you may as well be banned right?

Most mods have either a BIOS chooser (including the MS original) or a switch. I've had a mod since day 1 and have never gotten banned.

Follow the advice of my last post and let me add precaution...

Either unplug the ethernet from your Xbox while using Live Aware games or password protect your Live account, since they might try to connect without your knowledge and ban you.

It really only takes me an extra 30 seconds to enable Live.

Happy gaming!

 

[DaCocoBrova]

^^

Why go through all that? Just get another XBOX strictly for Live. Plugging and unlplugging the ethernet cable as a 'precaution' would annoy the hell out of me.

 

[Fantasmo]

<slaps forehead>

Did you think, even for a minute, even for a second, that he would ask about Live bannings if he didn't have the intention of using Xbox Live with his mod enabled Xbox?

Is it even SLIGHTLY possible, that he wants to use his current Xbox for everything?

And, do you think maybe, that there are people out there that are unable to enjoy the luxury of a second Xbox?

Is it possible for him to not have room in his entertainment set for a second Xbox?

I reiterate, why would he ask about Live bannings if he plans on using a second Xbox?

It works fine and it takes 30 seconds. Anyone who's not spoiled or wealthy can take 30 seconds to enable Live. Hmmm... 30 seconds or $150? Some of us will take the 30 seconds, thanks!

 

[The Faceless Master]

the X3 bios has active live blocking, and it's on by default...

just go along with your own business with the mod on, live server ip's are blocked...

basically, your main concern is not to switch the hard drive once you've been on live with the xbox before...

oh, and just because it has live blocking, doesn't mean you should tempt fate and try and connect anyway...

if youi get banned (and only then) then you can worry about maybe buying a new xbox for LIVE...

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

I still have the stock HDD on both of mine, you desparately need XBMC though, the greatest app in the world damn near. With a wireless setup in my house, it is lovely

 

[DaCocoBrova]

The only reason I mentioned a 2nd XBOX is beacuse it's just a lot easier. If you could afford to mod it, then I don't think getting another used one would break the bank.

I'm buying another XBOX, but I'm modding that one too... I've been away from the scene and haven't kept up w/ the newer chips. Plus, the guy I get my chips from got 'got' by the Federal government and is out the business, so I have to find another chip retailer.

The majority of my backups are on +R, so that rules out getting a Samsung drive. Philips it is I guess.


Any wonderful new chips out worth considering? I'd prefer a nice and easy solderless installation.

 

[Fantasmo]

The majority of my backups are on +R, so that rules out getting a Samsung drive. Philips it is I guess.

Wrong! I have a Samsung drive and +R discs works wonderfully on them. Even my friend's Thomson drive reads my +R discs just fine. Try updating your DVD writer's firmware and using better discs. I use TDK and Memorex from Best Buy. I expect my new Sony discs will work fine also. I only backup movies and tv shows so maybe games are the problem. Maybe game backups are different from movies but I doubt it.

Any wonderful new chips out worth considering? I'd prefer a nice and easy solderless installation.

Xenium has a great solderless solution already but only for versions 1.5 and lower. SmartXX is working on a solderless solution which supposedly is going to hit soon for 1.6/1.6b. Spiderchip's 1.6/1.6b solderless is out now but has had very very few good reviews so far.

basically, your main concern is not to switch the hard drive once you've been on live with the xbox before...

The faceless master speaks the truth. However, if you DO want to swap out the drive later, there is a way to do it. It involves transferring the original HD's serial # onto the new one you put in.

 

[DaCocoBrova]

Wrong! I have a Samsung drive and +R discs works wonderfully on them. Even my friend's Thomson drive reads my +R discs just fine.

I dunno. Several friends of mine have the SegaGT/JSRF bundle XBOX w/ Samsung drives and they don't read any +R media, which is consistant w/ the info that's out there. Thomson drives are actually tops in regards to compatability despite all they flack they get. The only thing they don't read are CD-Rs, but who needs that anyway?

 

[COCKLES]

Don't bother fucking w/ Live. Err on the side of caution and just leave it alone.

Anyway, here's what I recommend:

UnleashX - Use it as an app or boot right to it as a dash. Shit's hot once you find the right skin

XBMC - The app.

Kawa-X - CPS2 and Neo Geo emulator

MAMEoX - MAME on XBOX

He speaketh the truth.

You also can't go wrong with Sega CD, ZX Spectrum, C64, SNES, Megadrive, PC Engine, Amiga, N64, PSX, NES, Master System emulation either.

 

[DaCocoBrova]

:lol

I knew I forgot something...

There's also Linksboks. A web browser.

 

[The Faceless Master]

Samsung drives can read +R, but only if your burner supports bitsetting and you change the booktype to dvdrom before you burn the disk

so for disks you've already done, it's useless...

and yeah Thomson are most compatible... they are also the ones that break down the most... you win some, you lose some...

and just get a soldered mod, way less problems... seriously... anyone that doesnt have a shaky hand and can thread a needle can mod an xbox...

 

[rc213]

CPS1, CPS2, NeoGeo. Anyone know what im doing wrong because i cant get any of there to work on xbox. Something special im missing?