TheSpecialist's HDDHacker v0.5B - Install your Own HDD on Xbox360! Posted by XanTium | January 25 23:03 EST

TheSpecialist (one of the hackers who worked a lot on the original Xbox (360) DVD Firmware hack) sent us an awesome new tool that will allow you to use your own new SATA HDD in your Xbox360! No more 100usd for 20GB ;) The current tool only works with Western Digital BEVS series HDDs (20GB or larger needed) and for now you can use max 20GB, but when Microsoft will release larger drives you will be able to use as much space as Microsoft's largest HDD. Here's the full readme with all the details: [QUOTE] Hddhacker v0.5B by the Specialist. *************************** DISCLAIMER ******************************** This tool has only been tested by me. It worked for me. While great care has been taken, this tool may contain bugs and therefore may seriously harm your HDD. Use at own risk !!! *************************** DISCLAIMER ******************************** What: This tool will allow you to use HDD's that are not 'certified' by Microsoft. This specific tool is written for use with the Western Digital BEVS series only! How it works: x360 HDD's contain information on sector 16 about the HDD: the HDD serial number, the model, the firmware version and the size in sectors is stored here. The x360 asks the HDD to identify itself, by sending an 'IDENTIFY DEVICE' ATA to the HDD. It will compare the returned information to the info that is stored on sector 16. This information on sector 16 is signed and thus can not be changed. This tool will mod the FW from the WD HDD to comply with the information on sector 16, so that the 'identify' information will match the information on sector 16 and your x360 will accept the HDD as valid. How to use: Get yourself a Western Digital SATA BEVS HDD. Copy sectors 16 - 22 (7 sectors) from a valid x360 HDD to the Western Digital. Then, boot to dos (not a dos box from windows) and run this application. Make sure that you have ONLY this Western Digital drive connected to your sata controller, have the other devices disconnected. Then follow the instructions on screen. Keep in mind that you have to start the utility from a writable path if you want to create an 'undo' file (it will save it to the path you've started the tool from). Make sure that you have FIRST copied the sectors 16-22 onto the drive, BEFORE using this tool ! The tool will need that info on sector 16, otherwise it doesn't know how to mod your FW. After the tool has flashed your drive, turn off your computer, wait a few seconds, restart your computer and re-run the tool. The tool will tell you then whether the whole thing was succesful. FAQ: Q. Will this tool allow me to connect a 500 gb drive to my x360 ? A. No. The information on sector 16 is signed and can't be changed. You can only use size where you have a valid signature for. In otherwords, if a bigger HDD comes out, you can use that signature. Q. With which HDD's does this work with ? A. It should work with *ALL* Western Digital HDD's from the Scorpio BEVS series. Q. Do I need the same size WD HDD as the size on sector 16 states ? A. No. You can use bigger HDD's, but you can't use more than the size stated in sector 16. You can NOT use smaller HDD's than the size on sector 16 states. For example, you can use a 40 GB HDD with a sector 16 from a 20 GB HDD, but not the other way around of course. Q. Can I use the HDD in my PC again ? A. Of course. The tool comes with an 'undo' option, that will restore the original size. For example, you use a 40 gb WD HDD, you copied 16 sector from a valid xbox 20 gb HDD, so the tool will transform your 40 GB HDD into a 20 gb HDD. However, you can restore it to 40 gb anytime you want. The tool has the ability to create an 'undo' file, BUT this current version doesn't contain the option to flash it back. The next version will be able to do that. Just create the undo file and wait for a new version, should be out in the near future. Q. Why do I need more sectors than sector 16, if that one stores all the info? A. The following sectors contain the MS copyright logo and is checked for by the x360. Without it, the x360 will reject the HDD. Q. I have a x360 core version and want to use this hack to buy a cheap HDD. But how do i connect it? A. MS uses a specific connector. While it doesn't look too complicated to create your own, I haven't tried this myself, but I'm sure there are some creative hardware minded souls out there that should be able to think of something Q. How do I copy the 7 sectors? A. You can do so with tools like hex workshop, winhex etc. If you don't understand these tools, ask somebody who does. Q. The tool doesn't detect my HDD ! A. First, make sure you are running it from dos, not from a dos box under windows. Then, try playing with the SATA/RAID settings in your bios. Not all SATA controllers are supported. I use a VIA controller, which works perfectly. However my tool fails to see my Promise controller. I'll see if I can support more different controllers in the next version. Q. Your tool says everything was succesful but the drive doesn't work in my 360 ! A. Make sure you have copied sectors 16-22 correctly and didn't change any data. Q. Could you do this for my Seagate, Maxtor, Samsung or whatever drive too? A. Yes, but I don't have plans to do so. The cheapest WD drive (40 gb) ships for about $50 and thus is one of the cheapest. It is a lot of work to convert this tool for usage with other brands and I don't think it is worth the trouble. Q. So how do I get my 80 GB WD HDD working as 80 GB in my x360 ? A. There are 2 options: wait for a release by MS, so you can use that sector 16 (or hope that the rumours that they ARE out there already are true) OR wait for the kernel to be hacked. These are the only 2 options. Q. Where can I donate ? A. Nowhere. Just enjoy Thanks to: Team MODFREAKz for his initial logic board experiments, Loser for his findings on the sector 16 and everybody else at XBH. [/QUOTE] Official Site: n/a, by TheSpecialist Download HDDHacker v0.5B: here Open Xbox360 HDD-case: here

Nice! at least its a start to bigger hdds

EDIT: I just looked around and didnt find any 20 gb Western Digital Scorpio BEVS series hdds, anyone find some?

FREAKIN AWESOME! Nice job man, cant wait till the kernel gets hacked and i CAN hook up my 750GB hdd! Or maybe 1TB if they are cheap enough when/if the kernel gets hacked

This is too sweet. Thanks for sharing it!

Incredible work, now if only MS could releas a bigger HDD sooner!

This is incredible.

Now that core packs can be gotten for about 200-250 you can build a 360 w/ hard drive for under 300.

Now where can you buy these 20gb drives that are confirmed working?

Nice. Bet it won't look pretty.

I'm sure someone will come out with a barebone HD casing to match the 360.

Good job.

w00t! Great job man!

I searched a bit and couldn't find any of the Western Digital BEVS, except for a few foreign sales I saw from googling.

So it's confirmed that 40 gb will work and possibly 80 gb? I have a feeling we are going to start seeing a lot of hard drives being sold on ebay. EXAMPLE: "20 gb pc sata drive for sale! cheap!" and "40 gb 360 hard drive for sale!" all by the same seller. cha-ching...

Did you read anything?

i believe that the wd sata bevs drive might be more common in the 40-80gb range, cause for anyother computer why have something like a 20gb. be it 40/60/80 the firmware change makes it a 20.

edit: heres a link 40 gig
http://www.nextag.com/Western-Digital-WD-S...AF821D2852316E3

100gig

http://www.nextag.com/Western-Digital-WD-S...739/prices-html

Who will be first to get the HD signature bits from a dev-kit 360?

I believe they come in 60GB or maybe 80GB sizes...

Beauty! I can see in the not-so-distant future:

$80 100GB HDD + $15 third-party HDD enclosure = a 100GB Xbox360 HDD for the same price as the retail 20GB!!

Thanks as always, TheSpecialist...

I can source these hard drives now its a matter of finding out how to make my own connectors . A tutorial on this would make this complete.

Great work Specialist like always.


keep it up.

hopefully the having a hacked Kernel will be coming soon

If you wait for the kernel to get hacked to have a bigger hard drive then doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of a bigger hard drive as I am sure Xbox Live! will check for it and thats where most of the hdd space will be used for downloading conent unless you put music on there. It is still awesome but i doubt the kernel will get hacked before MS releases new hdd anyway. Good work

i have a feeling that when they do release a larger HDD that that will provide the key to hacking the Kernel. since it should help them find what code the kernel is looking for

You know, I bet those same people that were calling him an ass for not releasing the DVD exploit will be the same people praising him. Good Work TS. I hope we will soon be able to understand how to take and make our own HUGE HDD's. I can't stand having this 20 gig crap.

None too exciting for now, maybe down the road it will be. Nice work I couldn't do though.

"sectors 16 - 22 (7 sectors) from a valid x360 HDD"

Are these sectors the same on all HD's or do they each have a unique per HD signature?

Nice to see some progress in the HDD front. Hopefully soon we won't have capacity/model restrictions.

Works Great!! Thanks Specialist!!!

awesome job man

TheSpecialst at it again...WOW -...wahts next?

Do you think it would be safe to use the same hard drive information for multiple Xbox 360s? Xboxes that would connect to Xbox Live?

I would like to buy a second 360, this would save me ~$60 ; )

Maybe cloned hard drive serials is a no-no for Live. hmmm.

This is awesome, thanks man!

cooOOOOL! I want to do this! I am gonna put ridiculous amounts of music on there!

Would that really matter? for all MS knows you could of brought your HD to play on a friends 360.

Xbox #1 with Gamer Tag #1 logs into Xbox Live to play MMORPG.
Xbox #2 with Gamer Tag #2 logs into Xbox Live (at the same time as #1) to play Gears of War.

Doesn't Microsoft also rely on the hard drive information to lock down their DRM?
It was the hard drive key they used to ban specific Xbox 1's ; ), although for the 360 its more than likely not how they do it.

For now, it's probably wise to avoid this (cloning the hard drive info for use on multiple Xbox's -- for having a cheap second drive, probably safe) for the time being if you value Xbox Live.

I can completely see them reacting to this if for no other reason than to force you into buying their overpriced larger capacity drives when they come out.

I am impressed. Good work again specialist.

TheSpecialist you are simply THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great work ! If someone whould have an 80GB HDD from a debug console whould they be able to create cheap 80GB drives for everyone?

Nope not really. From what i read on XH marketplace buys are stored in the TSOP.

Oh and the developer HD might just not be signed (it doesn't really have to, does it?)

So... this will make 20gb HDs cheaper... that's it.

the tool will make the larger drives only have access to 20gb. so you can get a bigger drive, but only be able to use 20gb, until ms brings out bigger drives.

does anyone think this might chnage ms pricing on newer bigger hard drives, if people can buy there own with this tool, ms might have to release a bigger hard drive at the better price.

than if this tool was not available. this man may of saved us 360 owners, some money in the long run.

nice to see more progress, in the long goal, of homebrew, hopefully we will get there sooner rather than later.

Thank you Specialist.

Can't wait for a release of a bigger drive so we can snatch the signature!

Amazing work, dude!

Hope we are able to use a 80 or 120 gb hdd soon!

Hmm I'm curious if it'd be possible to split a HDD the same way we'd split a TSOP.

So if you had a 40GB you could split it into 2 20GBs with a switch... then you could use one side for games and the other side for media or however you'd want to break it up.

I suppose it would heavily depend on the design of the HDD controller circuit.

None the less it's an awesome revelation.

I too am curious if the dev box HDD are secured in the same way. if so we could be using larger drives now.

I suppose a simple test to see if it's possible would be to simply throw a dev HDD onto a retail box and see if it's recognized.

although neat M$ has stated over and over they have absolutely no plans to put out larger drives.

so what does this give you ? nothing. it doesnt do anything.
so you can throw in a 40gig laptop hard drive,, so what, you can only use 20 gigs.
ok so you saved a bunch of money. ok. THAT makes it worth it, but AWESOME and GREAT!! gimmie a break, all he did was play around with different important sectors until he found the right one that works.

it doesnt give us anything special cuz whether you buy a 20 gig or 80 gig it only gives you 20 gigs and as you know that doesnt last.

i am in no way shape or form dogging this guys time and energy put forth into this, but it doesnt offer us anything special.
aside from saving us about .. oh... 50 bucks. which i suppose is ok as it gives us that money to buy games or HD movies or points or arcade stuff.

the thing now is that you have to copy your profile and saves over to the new hard drive.

sorry for being the downer but you kids who are sitting here practically ejaculating over this are brain dead and don't realise it doesnt really offer much of anything.

so now you can all fload eGay and buy all the 20-40gig hard drives you want.

have fun cuz they dont make very many small drives that are sata.
not only that but it only works with the WD drive he stated.
so have fun with that even more

What about adding multiple 20gig via a sata hub. Adding a rotary switch to go from one to another.

Just an idea.

Kudos to TheSpecialist.

But, outside this you all should make a step back and give a look at what this discover means.
Not only Microsoft locked down hard disks with a key system, they also used a scheme that makes an HDD swap really unfriendly and you cannot get rid of it (oh, and stop the useless "when they'll hack the BIOS" crap).
You've your points when you talk about PS3, but you can put EVERY 2,5" HDD inside a PS3, either a 3,5" model with an adapter and it "just works"...
So, just for once, stop this collective climax you're getting for the news (yeah, big deal, you can die trying to find a BEVS just to get 20 Gb on a nonstandard cartridge... AWESOME, MAN!) and just accept, only once, that MS lockdown policy sucks.
Admit that the entire mod scene is lagging, admit that after a year of almost nothing the only thing out there is a hack to use pirated games and STOP the bullshit about "now they are one step closer".

Just for once keep in mind that if they (who?) succeed you probably won't ever need to copy security sectors from disk to disk to make your (put a number here) GB disk work.
Geez, the XBox 360 scene is so depressing...

great find Specialist, keep up the good work

Thank you TheSpecialist, great work, but if I've understood well, an original hdd is needed in order to extract few sectors to copy them to the new hdd... (¿or someone has published this information from his m$ hdd somewhere?). Thus, the price of the SATA WD hdd (in Spain I've seen them for 50 €), and the connector ... is not much more cheaper than the original one. Anyway, I've found it very interesting, taking into account that it will be very useful when bigger hdd's exists (also because they will be more expensive).

i knew that extra harddrive case i bought would come in handy. i got a display 360 a while back and its just a bare case with a bare harddrive case. sweeeeet

This is sweet news, I am going to wait until M$ comes out with the new one to see what size it is so I can buy the exact same size.

Newegg has a bunch of the right drives for pretty cheap:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList....amp;srchInDesc=

another small step foreward!
very nice!!!!!!!!!!!

I am actually a little concered about the timing of this release. Since this hack does not provide much benefits now...

How do we know MS wont put some countermeasure into larger drives so this hack doesn't work. Maybe they encrypt these 7 sectors in larger hard drives. The Specalist knows a lot more than I do of course... I just have an issue with tipping your hand before a product is released.

sooooooo, is it at all possible to access the drive thats currently in the 20gb model, reformat pr delete the extra crap on it which only gives 13gb free?

wait so with this as of right now we can only use 20gb hdds that are non m$?