so im getting a seagate 250gb hdd from newegg, and im wondering about xbox hdm.
i basically have the stuff i need, C: drive files, E: dashboard, Tdata Udata, but for the eeprom do i need EVERYTHING from my xbox's E: eeprom backup? or just the eeprom.bin?

You need a C and E folders (preferably stock) and the eeprom.bin, that is all you need.

I'd recommend building it as stock (or possibly just add the softmod gamesaves to your E:\UDATA) then modding it once your done.

You can FTP anything to your PC and put it back afterwards if needed.

so its better not to have the dash and stuff...k umm if i have the gamesaves wont they give me the un-install menu? or not? also can you give me the order of steps i need (theres like 8 options) to make it so it works right. i will just transfer C: drive and E: TDATA and UDATA

The gamesaves you add should be stock ones (never ran yet). That way when you install the new HDD it boots just like a brand new unmodded xbox. Then you mod it like you would normally (copy gamesaves from MC, load one of the softmod games and install). Including the gamesaves in the E:\UDATA will just cut out the step of copying them with a memory card/AR.

The only reason we say it's easier to build it as stock, there tends to be alot of problems usually getting it to load the hacked dash (usually loads the M$ dash), so by making it stock it makes less problems.

Steps I'd do:

1. Get a stock C and E folder (can be found in CASH, Slayers, AID)
2. Get your eeprom.bin
3. Put your C and E folders in the "linux" folder.
4. Put your eeprom.bin in the "eeprom" folder.
5. Run "make-iso-win.bat" to create the XISO you need. (use "make-iso-lin.sh" if your running Linux)
6. Hook up the HDD to your PM in your PC and put your XBOXHDM disc in as well as making sure your bios is set to boot a disc before anything else (some bios's will boot the disc without changing the boot order)
7. Run "xboxhd" and follow the easy onscreen commands.
8. Remember to lock the drive once your done. From the main menu you can use the option 3 or 4.

Only fresh on the brain since I did it last night for a friend

all right, so i should just do C: drive, and make a E: TDATA and a UDATA. then get the and put them on the iso before i burn.... im not trying to be dumb at all, one last question could i put all my saves (excpt the modded ones) on my iso? also whats the best burning program, one last question do most hdd's come locked??
sorry bout the delay, i had a softball game (we won 13-3 )

Yeah, you could use a stock C and then just create an E:\UDATA and E:\TDATA folder.

You can put all your saves on before you make the ISO if you want. But again, just not the modded gamesaves (UDATA is the only folder you need to FTP onto the new drive). If you don't know the folder letters/numbers of the hacked gamesave, you can open the gamesave you used to mod (or any that is specific to your game you used) and find the folder name, then match that one with the one on the xbox and just don't transfer that one.

Nero works good for burning, but I prefer Alcohol 120%.

A brand new HDD does not come locked. Some HDDs are lockable and some aren't. A softmod requires that the drive be locked to boot, a modchip allows booting of an unlocked drive, that's why it must be locked (with the eeprom info) for it to work in your xbox. If your pulling a used drive from a PC it shouldn't be locked either, or you would probably remember locking it if it is locked.

http://xboxdrives.x-pec.com/?p=list

cheers on the game m8

all righty, didnt want to have 2 do everything again... i have nero 5, but its a demo so idk if it works, i also have imgburn i dont know about that either,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822148141
as far as i can tell this one should lock?

unleash x has the save no.'s next to the gamesaves, so i just wont use that one. i dont need anything from tdata then? i think that has my halo 2 map pack

well alchol not really an option, i have windows ME

If you are going to all the trouble of doing XBHDM, why are you then doing the soft mod after.

It is much simpler to do the mod to the files before making your XBHDM CD. That way, when you are done, you are all ready to go! Follow this Guide

And yes, all you need on the XBHDM from the Backup directory is the eeprom.bin file.

I use Nero to burn my XBHDM CDs.

well i might do that. however i have a complication.
my xbox's dvd drive isnt working right, i'll turn it on and press the open button, and 1 in every 2 times it will jam. the drive makes a few noises like it trying to eject, then sometimes after trying like 3 times it will open 1/2 way, so im going to be getting a new xbox 1st. (well that and mines really worn, powered up 3000 times despite being 2 1/2 yrs old) so ill be needing the new eeprom.bin

Right. But don't just through out your old one. A 'vergin' eeprom can be valuble in case you ever get banned from XBL. And, realy, with a moded Xbox, who needs a DVD anyway (once you have copied all your games to the harddrive).

Why don't you pull the DVD drive apart and have a go at fixing it? I've fixed about 5 with that same problem - they're not really high on the scale of difficulty.

There's a few tuts on how to disassemble various drives too - Llama's page has a walkthrough for both thomson and samsung drives - maybe even phillips if my memory serves me.