Ok, so I have been reading these forums for many months and last night i finally ordered an xecuter 2.3B pro and am going to use a Xapter to install it. I have looked at various tutorials and have found no clear cut answer to the questions I am about to ask, so here goes, please forgive me if i sound stupid or if these questions have been asked, but after all i did post this in the newbie section, so take it easy on me please!

1) After installing my chip, i will need to flash it with a new bios, correct? I am probably going to go with one of the X2 bioses, is this the best way to go? I can find these in the usual places correct?.......
2) once i flash a new bios onto my chip, I can use Slayer's to autoinstall EvoX and everything else on the disk ....this can also help me setup my new HD right?
3) As far as the whole new HD thing goes, will slayer's boot into EvoX and then i can ftp into my xbox to back up my C drive and all the other things I need to backup? then I can prep a new hard drive right?

Detailed answers will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

1. Yes. But the choice is up to you. I use always use X2s, even on Aladdin chips. Go with X2 4981 if you want to mod it (colors, removing flubber animation, etc), or 4983 if you have to have the newest thing (but you can't mod it). Get whatever bios that you want from the place you mentioned, and NOWHERE else.

BTW, do you know the difference between an X2.4981.06.256k bios & a X2.4981.67.256k bios (hint, it don't matter if you're new HD isn't larger than 137 GB)?

As for flashing, start here, and go read then follow steps one to five.


2. Yes. SlaYer's comes with GREAT documentation, telling you exactly what to do first, and then what you want to do according to different variables (size of drive, kind of install, install with apps, install only Evox, etc.) Just make DAMN SURE you get an official release. Check here for the ways to check.


3. Yes. SlaYer's will guide you to backup your factory M$ dash via FTP just by booting the SlaYers disc and following instructions. I mean, it's not automatic, but your assumtion is correct (you burn then boot slayers, FTP in to back up, shutdown, install new HD, boot slayers disc again, and then prep the new HD.

I just did exactly what you are going to do so here's the general steps I used.

1) Install the mod chip
2) Flash the chip -- http://www.teamxecuter.com/cromwell.htm
3) Boot from Slayers Disk with the original HDD
4) Do the "Backup" option from the menu
5) Connect via FTP and download the files to the PC. Slayers boot sinto EvoX so you can FTP right from the menu screen, no need to "install" anything on the retail drive.
6) Swap Drives
7) Boot from Slayers again and choose the "Upgraded Hard Drive Full Install" or whatever it is (this takes a while to run...)
8) Copy back your E drive if you have anything saved there.

That's about it. It was very simple. Everything worked exactly as it was supposed to and I didn't have any trouble at all.

Good Luck.