Modded Xbox Questions

Since there seems a rash of modded Xbox talk and topics lately, I figured I'd add to pile by asking some newbie questions about it. I plan to do this sometime in the near future (or at least when the Xbox drops in price again) but I'm not too clear on some issues. I'm no stranger to the inner-workings of an Xbox and the general world of modding anything, but I've never really had any hands-on experience with it.

1) Whats the minimum size hard drive one would need for this? I'm mostly looking for Arcade roms, but a nice NES or Megadrive/Genesis collection wouldn't hurt either.

2) How does one update their skin/bios/roms/emus/etc? This may seem ridiciulously simple, but I've never heard of how anyone actually does it.

3) Would it be easier for me to buy another Xbox, a hard drive (I can get discounts on them from work) and then have somebody else do the mod (I know of a possible connection to have this done) or would it likely cost as much time and money to just buy one already modded?

4) Would modding it myself be too difficult? Bear in mind I've never touched a soldering iron in my life (if soldering is even needed).

Uh, thats all I can think of for now. I'm sure I'll have more after I see some replies on here.

1) You won't need a new HD unless you have .isos ripped to your HD or if you have a SERIOUS rom collection

2)Via a network cable to your PC

3)Well, you could, but don't need to.

4)There are many "no solder" chips out there, and i fyou already have an xbox, liklyhood of any soldering is non existant...

pyrokilla said:

1) You won't need a new HD unless you have .isos ripped to your HD or if you have a SERIOUS rom collection

2)Via a network cable to your PC

3)Well, you could, but don't need to.

4)There are many "no solder" chips out there, and i fyou already have an xbox, liklyhood of any soldering is non existant...

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In that case:

1) Okay

2) Like file sharing between PCs? Or is there a piece of software you use?

3) Fair enough.

4) What does the installation entail then? I'm going to do this on a new Xbox anyway since I'd like to keep them seperate.

Buro Destruct said:

In that case:

1) Okay

2) Like file sharing between PCs? Or is there a piece of software you use?

3) Fair enough.

4) What does the installation entail then? I'm going to do this on a new Xbox anyway since I'd like to keep them seperate.

Click to expand...

2) Yes, you will use ftp software to share.

4) I would mod the older system (your current one) as newer systems might require soldering (version 1.4 xboxs do, these are the newest)

1.5 are the newest in the US and you can check out www.xbox-scene.com for info and to find out what model system you have.

sonofx51 said:

1.5 are the newest in the US and you can check out www.xbox-scene.com for info and to find out what model system you have.

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oops i ment 1.5

Pyro-

Can I just DL the roms to my laptop and just upload them later to the xbox hard drive?

Will I need to "update" the front end or anything everytime I do that?

Are there a lot of front-ends available? I like KaedesBlade's especially---looks completely bad ass.

Kid Aphex said:

Pyro-

Can I just DL the roms to my laptop and just upload them later to the xbox hard drive?

Will I need to "update" the front end or anything everytime I do that?

Are there a lot of front-ends available? I like KaedesBlade's especially---looks completely bad ass.

Click to expand...

yep, all you need the pc for is to send the files. Any ftp software will do, once you have made a simple network its drag and drop.


The dashboard kaedes has is the same as mine, just a different skin, ever messed around with windows blinds or any skins for win98 or xp, same idea. MXM is one hell of a dash, you can add live video and music to anything, must be seen to appreciate!

So, installing one of these chips, like this X-excutor deal. It involves doing what exactly? Without getting too technical or wriiting a novel about it (if possible, if not, I'll try and figure it out myself).

-buy xbox and chip
-open xbox / put chip in
-put disc with new bios in xbox
-boot up and flash modchip
-put whatever dashboad software on disc, and load up xbox
-install dashboard to harddrive
-ftp all emus /programs and files wanted to xbox
-sit back and enjoy every system emulated perfectly on one system in your living room

even easier if you want is to just:

a-install or get chip installed
b-burn an emu disc with roms
c-boot the disc and play

that way you dont need to install a dash, ftp any files, install emus, etc..

With so many chips, just flat out, whats the best to go for? Basically whats the bottom line chip needed, no more no less and will satisfy all needs multimedia wise?

NeoFight said:

With so many chips, just flat out, whats the best to go for? Basically whats the bottom line chip needed, no more no less and will satisfy all needs multimedia wise?

Click to expand...

Precise and to the point.

All this talk has me highly interested in doing this. I had no idea the emulation had come so far on Xbox. Looks like I'll have to buy another one.

beelzebubble said:

even easier if you want is to just:

a-install or get chip installed
b-burn an emu disc with roms
c-boot the disc and play

that way you dont need to install a dash, ftp any files, install emus, etc..

Click to expand...

Yeah but remember, not all Xboxes read CD-rs. There are some out there with a Samsung DVD drive that will read CD-rs though. The one I got luckily came with one. I just copy everything over though, unless its stuff like DivX movies I burned a long time before I had my box.


edit: oooh and if you burn everything to disc, the emu won't be able to use Savestates, or actual gamesaves. Im not 100% sure about this for the xbox, but thats how it is on PC. If you have everything on CD, you cant save.

PUNJABEE said:

Yeah but remember, not all Xboxes read CD-rs. There are some out there with a Samsung DVD drive that will read CD-rs though. The one I got luckily came with one. I just copy everything over though, unless its stuff like DivX movies I burned a long time before I had my box.


edit: oooh and if you burn everything to disc, the emu won't be able to use Savestates, or actual gamesaves. Im not 100% sure about this for the xbox, but thats how it is on PC. If you have everything on CD, you cant save.

Click to expand...

yeah i thats why i use dvdr's