Updating Already Jtag'ed Console To Play Newest Games / Kinect, Total n00b when it comes to JTAG's so please excuse my stupidity Options

[Ssseth]

I had someone from my local classifieds JTAG my Xbox 360 in June of last year. Unfortunately he's moved away so I can't ask for his help with this. A couple of backups I've tried recently aren't loading (XBLA games as well) and I just borrowed a Kinect and my Xbox doesn't have the updates needed for that either. I've spent a couple of hours reading around various forums and tutorials and honestly am more confused then when I started. Most info I've found on updating/upgrading assumes you know how the hack was done in the first place and unfortunately in my case I don't. I really don't want to mess up my JTAG since they are getting really hard and expensive to track down.

So for some of the details on my system:
- My Xbox is using an older Freestyle Dash version prior to the latest 2.x.
- I have a DVD I put in the drive that automatically boots my Xbox into FSD
- My current official Xbox dash is 2.0.9199.0
- My FSD files are on the 20GB hard drive attached to the Xbox and all the other content is stored on an external USB drive
- The Xbox MB is a Falcon

Any advise or pointers would be greatly appreciated. I'm in the IT field so I can generally figure something out, but a starting point that is in plain English like you would tell someone brand spanking new to all this would be greatly appreciated. If I've missed any obvious details I should have included I apologize in advance so please let me know and I'd be more than happy to provide them.

Thanks!

This post has been edited by Ssseth: Feb 16 2011, 07:27 AM

[Twis7eD]

Do you have a copy of your current NAND image or your original NAND image that the person who JTAG'd your Xbox used? Because basically you just need to take one of those images and then run the image through this program. The only other thing you will need is your CPU key.

To get your CPU key, turn your JTAG off, then turn the JTAG on with the eject button. You will be presented with either a blue or grey screen depending on how you have your JTAG connected to your console. It will scroll through a bunch of stuff, wait until it gets to the end of the scrolling and then it will list your CPU key. Take that and the NAND image and put them into the program that I linked to above and then generate a new NAND image.

Afterwords, take that new NAND image, put it on a flash drive, connect the flash drive to your JTAG and then turn your JTAG on with the eject button. It SHOULD recognize your USB device and start to update to the newest dashboard. Once it is done, leave the console off for a little bit(one minute) and then turn it back on. You should now be on the latest dashboard.

Let me know if you want me to elaborate on anything that I just said or if you are confused on anything I just said.

[Ssseth]

Do you have a copy of your current NAND image or your original NAND image that the person who JTAG'd your Xbox used? Because basically you just need to take one of those images and then run the image through this program. The only other thing you will need is your CPU key.

To get your CPU key, turn your JTAG off, then turn the JTAG on with the eject button. You will be presented with either a blue or grey screen depending on how you have your JTAG connected to your console. It will scroll through a bunch of stuff, wait until it gets to the end of the scrolling and then it will list your CPU key. Take that and the NAND image and put them into the program that I linked to above and then generate a new NAND image.

Afterwords, take that new NAND image, put it on a flash drive, connect the flash drive to your JTAG and then turn your JTAG on with the eject button. It SHOULD recognize your USB device and start to update to the newest dashboard. Once it is done, leave the console off for a little bit(one minute) and then turn it back on. You should now be on the latest dashboard.

Let me know if you want me to elaborate on anything that I just said or if you are confused on anything I just said.

First off, thanks a bunch for the reply.

1. No I do not have any NAND images at all. The person that did the mod just handed me the console and that was it.

2. I tried turning on the console with the eject button and it looks like the power is on but I do not have anything displayed on my screen. It's just blank like nothing is hooked up at all. I'm using HDMI with the optical audio output if that makes any difference.

3. Based on 1 and 2 above I can't do #3 that you suggested.


I totally understood the directions you gave me though and that is a quantum leap forward compared to where I was a few hours ago. Thanks so much, anything else to get me on the right path would be fantastic.

[Takashi]

Try a vga cable or composite, yours doesn't have the newer xell with hdmi support.

[Ssseth]

Try a vga cable or composite, yours doesn't have the newer xell with hdmi support.

I'll have to dig out a TV tomorrow to try (using a projector currently hardwired through the wall with HDMI and component only). I'm sure I must have the old cables around here somewhere.

How about the NAND though, unfortunately like I said I don't have a copy at all.

[insanity4all]

you can dump it with flash360.xex

[Ssseth]

Thanks again for the replies thus far. So let me recap to ensure I'm clear.

1. Use flash360.xex (is there a certain version I need to use or just whatever when I can find via Google?) to make a dump of my current NAND (where will the file go exactly so I can track it down afterwards?)
2. Press the eject button while connected via composite instead of HDMI to find out and write down my CPU key
3. Use FreeBOOT Toolbox 0.04 Maker v2.7a with the NAND and CPU key I obtained in steps 1 and 2 and it will make me a new NAND file (again, where does it put the file?)
4. Put that newly created NAND file on the root of a USB flash drive (FAT32 or NTFS is fine I take it), insert drive into USB port on Xbox, power on with eject button, wait for it to automatically update on it's own, power off for a minute and then power on with normal power button
5. Profit $$$?

So after that I'll have the latest updates but will I still need to update my Freestyle Dashboard or will the old one still work? Is FSD still the popular choice out there or is there something else new that people are using?

Cheers!

[Twis7eD]

Thanks again for the replies thus far. So let me recap to ensure I'm clear.

1. Use flash360.xex (is there a certain version I need to use or just whatever when I can find via Google?) to make a dump of my current NAND (where will the file go exactly so I can track it down afterwards?)
2. Press the eject button while connected via composite instead of HDMI to find out and write down my CPU key
3. Use FreeBOOT Toolbox 0.04 Maker v2.7a with the NAND and CPU key I obtained in steps 1 and 2 and it will make me a new NAND file (again, where does it put the file?)
4. Put that newly created NAND file on the root of a USB flash drive (FAT32 or NTFS is fine I take it), insert drive into USB port on Xbox, power on with eject button, wait for it to automatically update on it's own, power off for a minute and then power on with normal power button
5. Profit $$$?

So after that I'll have the latest updates but will I still need to update my Freestyle Dashboard or will the old one still work? Is FSD still the popular choice out there or is there something else new that people are using?

Cheers!

Let me make it easy on you. You have pretty much everything right.

1. Download Auto Xbins here. It is a program where you can download Flash360 plus TONS of other useful things that aren't allowed to be posted on these forums. Once you have it downloaded, open it up and navigate to /XBOX 360/dashboards/Flash360/ and download Flash3601.0.zip onto your computer. Unzip that, put the Flash360.xex and Media folder and files on a flash drive or some type of storage device that you can plug into your JTAG. Now, on your JTAG, run the Flash360.xex and it should be pretty self explanatory on how you dump your NAND from there. Just follow the on screen instructions.

2. That is correct. HDMI will not give you a signal. You need to use RGB or standard AV cables to get a signal.

3. That is correct. It will put the file wherever you specify. It will either ask after it is done making the NAND image or it will show up as an option in the program.

4. Correct.

5. Profit = Kinect. Happy gaming.

[Ssseth]

Let me make it easy on you. You have pretty much everything right.

1. Download Auto Xbins here. It is a program where you can download Flash360 plus TONS of other useful things that aren't allowed to be posted on these forums. Once you have it downloaded, open it up and navigate to /XBOX 360/dashboards/Flash360/ and download Flash3601.0.zip onto your computer. Unzip that, put the Flash360.xex and Media folder and files on a flash drive or some type of storage device that you can plug into your JTAG. Now, on your JTAG, run the Flash360.xex and it should be pretty self explanatory on how you dump your NAND from there. Just follow the on screen instructions.

2. That is correct. HDMI will not give you a signal. You need to use RGB or standard AV cables to get a signal.

3. That is correct. It will put the file wherever you specify. It will either ask after it is done making the NAND image or it will show up as an option in the program.

4. Correct.

5. Profit = Kinect. Happy gaming.

Brilliant, this forum needs a thanks button!

I'm probably pushing it here since you've already been so helpful, but does anyone have any responses to the dashboard questions? I suppose I could have numbered them as well.

6. So after that I'll have the latest updates but will I still need to update my Freestyle Dashboard (to 2.x since I'm on 1.x now) or will the old one still work?

7. Is Freestyle Dash still the popular choice out there or ar there something else new that people are using as a dashboard replacement?


Cheers!

[Twis7eD]

Brilliant, this forum needs a thanks button!

I'm probably pushing it here since you've already been so helpful, but does anyone have any responses to the dashboard questions? I suppose I could have numbered them as well.

6. So after that I'll have the latest updates but will I still need to update my Freestyle Dashboard (to 2.x since I'm on 1.x now) or will the old one still work?

7. Is Freestyle Dash still the popular choice out there or ar there something else new that people are using as a dashboard replacement?
Cheers!

It's no problem, I like to spread knowledge and help people with what I can.

6. The old one will still work, but I recommend downloading the new one. It is a lot better. The only thing that it lacks at this point is the ability to change your LED colors on the ring of light board. In order to boot directly to FSD, though, you will need to do a couple things. I'll explain them. Firstly, you will need to open up Xbins. From there, navigate to /XBOX 360/development/system apps/dash_launch/ and download Dash Launch v2.08 for 12611. Put the installer folder on a storage device that can be connected to your console. Then have a look over the readme that came with Dash Launch so that you can edit the launch.ini file correctly to fit your needs. Then take that launch.ini and put it in the installer folder of your storage device. Then connect the storage device to your JTAG and find the installer folder and launch the default.xex and follow the on screen instructions. Once you have it installed, then it will automatically boot to the path you set it to. So, you can set it to boot to FreeStyle Dash 1.2 and then boot to FreeStyle Dash 2.0 if you hold X. It's pretty useful.

7. FSD is still the most popular. I would upgrade to 2.0 if you want to stay up to date, though.

[Ssseth]

It's no problem, I like to spread knowledge and help people with what I can.

6. The old one will still work, but I recommend downloading the new one. It is a lot better. The only thing that it lacks at this point is the ability to change your LED colors on the ring of light board. In order to boot directly to FSD, though, you will need to do a couple things. I'll explain them. Firstly, you will need to open up Xbins. From there, navigate to /XBOX 360/development/system apps/dash_launch/ and download Dash Launch v2.08 for 12611. Put the installer folder on a storage device that can be connected to your console. Then have a look over the readme that came with Dash Launch so that you can edit the launch.ini file correctly to fit your needs. Then take that launch.ini and put it in the installer folder of your storage device. Then connect the storage device to your JTAG and find the installer folder and launch the default.xex and follow the on screen instructions. Once you have it installed, then it will automatically boot to the path you set it to. So, you can set it to boot to FreeStyle Dash 1.2 and then boot to FreeStyle Dash 2.0 if you hold X. It's pretty useful.

7. FSD is still the most popular. I would upgrade to 2.0 if you want to stay up to date, though.

Perfect, sounds like I can handle that. Last but not least, any good guides around on how to install the latest copy of FSD? I recall going to install it when it first came out, getting confused and just deciding against it.

[Twis7eD]

Perfect, sounds like I can handle that. Last but not least, any good guides around on how to install the latest copy of FSD? I recall going to install it when it first came out, getting confused and just deciding against it.

Just did a quick search and found this. I didn't really read it over so I can't verify it's legitimacy, but honestly you don't really need a guide. Just take the files that you get and put them in a spot on your storage device, then just go to utility's in FSD and search for your game paths. That's basically all you have to do. Everything else is pretty optional.

[Ssseth]

Just did a quick search and found this. I didn't really read it over so I can't verify it's legitimacy, but honestly you don't really need a guide. Just take the files that you get and put them in a spot on your storage device, then just go to utility's in FSD and search for your game paths. That's basically all you have to do. Everything else is pretty optional.

Sounds good. It's probably simpler now. I was looking into it when it first came out and you had to map all of the directories and such manually in an .ini file and it was getting to be too much hassle for me since everything was working fine then.

I've just generated the new .bin file and am ready to update to the newest 12611 from my current 9199. However the file is called freeBOOT.bin, I recall reading somewhere that it needs to be called something else in order for the Xbox to pick it up and install it automatically when using the eject button?

Edit: I think I found it, updflash.bin?

Edit 2: Most guides I've seen say to use Flash360 to update the NAND with the .bin file, what is the difference or benefit of using the eject button instead?

This post has been edited by Ssseth: Feb 17 2011, 07:54 AM

[x Yo1nK x]

i boot xell and update that way. ive ony used flash360 to dump my nand a few times to compare

[Twis7eD]

Sounds good. It's probably simpler now. I was looking into it when it first came out and you had to map all of the directories and such manually in an .ini file and it was getting to be too much hassle for me since everything was working fine then.

I've just generated the new .bin file and am ready to update to the newest 12611 from my current 9199. However the file is called freeBOOT.bin, I recall reading somewhere that it needs to be called something else in order for the Xbox to pick it up and install it automatically when using the eject button?

Edit: I think I found it, updflash.bin?

Edit 2: Most guides I've seen say to use Flash360 to update the NAND with the .bin file, what is the difference or benefit of using the eject button instead?

Yes, make sure to rename the file updflash.bin and as for using Flash360 over XeLL(the screen that comes up when you press eject), the only difference is really simplicity. I told you to use XeLL because it is a lot simpler to explain, but you can use Flash360 if you prefer, it doesn't really matter either way. I personally always use Flash360 just because of force of habit.

This post has been edited by Twis7eD: Feb 17 2011, 09:39 AM