Best Exploit For My Xbox Options

[agg23]

Hello, I'm new here to the XBox modding community, so I have a few questions.

My Hardware:
Kernel: 5530
Dashboard: 5960

Built in 9-23-2003

I assume that the person I bought it from used XBox Live and that is why it is updated.

What would be the best softmod that I could do??? I was reading here and saw that this softmod was applied by hot swapping the HD. Would this work with my XBox or would a savegame exploit be better.

What I want to do with my XBox is put Linux on it. I'm a computer and Linux guru, but just don't know much about hacking XBox's.


Thank you very much,
agg23

[Heimdall]

Both hotswap and gamesave would work equally well. The hotswap method you linked to is old - xboxhdm 1.9 and Kingroach NDURE 3.1 is the latest and most stable hotswap softmod - see mysignature for a summary of softmod with hotswap. For gamesave use Krayzie NDURE 1.1.1

The dash version isn't necessarily an indication that the Xbox was used on Live, although it makes no difference.

Whether you use hotswap or gamesave depends on your skill level and the tools you have available. If you have a method for getting the gamesave onto the Xbox (USB stick plus USB adapter, or memory card plus memory card USB adapter e.g. Action Replay or a modified Xbox controller, or access to another modded Xbox) then that's far easier.

[agg23]

How is it any easier? Just because I take out the HD?

I would prefer to do the hot swap because I don't know how easy it would be to find MechAssault or any of the other games that will work. I also probably have all of the parts for a hot swap while I'll have to buy some (and wait) if I do a gamesave. The USB adapter isn't a problem since I will have to make one for Linux anyway...

Is their any good tutorials that you could refer me to? I looked at the one in your sig but it didn't make any sense.


Thanks again,
agg23

This post has been edited by agg23: Nov 6 2010, 03:45 PM

[Heimdall]

It's easier because you don't have to open the Xbox or your PC, and you don't have to find a version of xboxhdm that will work with your PC, and you don't have to hotswap - and remember that hotswapping has a chance of bricking your disk.

All the tutorials are about general use of xboxhdm, and contain lots of options that you don't need. There are two at the top of this section of the board, where you decided to post presumably after doing some reading, so you should have found them already - topics are generally pinned for a reason........

Read the tutorial, and the instructions that come with xboxhdm 1.9 and Kingroach NDURE 3.1. If after that you still don't understand the summary in the link in my signature then you should give up.

This post has been edited by Heimdall: Nov 6 2010, 04:12 PM

[agg23]

I just found this guide. I understand it quite well.

You simply don't need that step any longer - Kingroach's installer makes the script file for you. It's called ndure.htm, and you just have to rename it ndure (no extension). Run Kingroach NDURE 3.1, select your Kernel version under "Kernel Selection" and select "Create XBOXHDM Installer" - leave all other options at default.

Build your xboxhdm disc using the stock C from Slayers / AID / CASH (Slayers:\SYSTEM\All\c\, or AID:\Files\Dash\ms-c.zip, or CASH:\StockFiles\c\), and the Kingroach NDURE 3.1 files you just made. Rename ndure.htm to ndure (no extension), and place it in linux/ndure/ndure. Put the stock C in linux/C, and the Kingroach 3.1 files in linux/ndure (the Kingroach C and E directories and the ndure script should be immediately below this i.e. linux/ndure/C/ and linux/ndure/E/.)

Hotswap and run xboxhdm, select option 1 - boot VGA Console, then type xboxhd, then select option 2 - Rebuild C partition on existing Xbox drive. Once that has finished exit, then type xbrowser, run the ndure script, then select option 1.

I would assume this is what you are referring to. After reading the post I listed above it makes sense now.

How would I brick my disk? I would back up the HD keys and stuff so shouldn't I be safe if I mess something up (or did I read that wrong)?

Sorry for the noobish questions

[Heimdall]

IDE simply isn't designed for hotswapping - hotswapping can electrically brick the disk before you get anywhere near being able to backup the eeprom.

[agg23]

But will the guide I found work?

[Heimdall]

No. It's been deliberately posted, and then left there and added to over the years, just to make you brick your Xbox. Oh no - I wasn't supposed to tell you that..........

[agg23]

Well I successfully hot swapped.


Now that I have, how do I install a Linux distro? Do I just burn it or do I need to do some other things first?