Computer Harddrive on Xbox?

[itsmethebest]

Does anyone know how to connect a xbox harddrive to the comp and if i can use a computer harddrive for the xbox? And if so how would i put microsoft dash on it? Let me know please!

[skiesx]

well, you're supposed to use a comp harddrive for the xbox, but remember, certain kinds are a bit temperamental and won't allow you to lock it in the xbox. i'd recommend Western Digital ( i have that) or Seagate. there's also Maxtor.. since the original xbox HDD is basically a computer HDD, you can connect it to the computer. BUT since it came originally locked, you have to hotswap it in order to unlock it.
here's a tut for hotswapping, it definitely helped me out:

Quote:

Hotswap method can fix all kind of problems on softmod Xbox.

I've seen enough posts that people have messed up their xbox in softmod. Hotswap method is the cheapest way to fix all kind of problems if you have on softmod xbox. Basically, it will let you to reinstall MS dashboard, to fix corrupted files, to backup and more.

What does hotswap do?
Because the xbox hdd is lock, PC can't read it. Therefore, You need xbox to unlock the hdd first then connect it to PC. So the xplorer360 will read the xbox hdd on PC. The xplorer360 is just like window explorer. Therefore, YOu can copy files back and forth between PC and Xbox hdd.

How does it work?
Turn on xbox and wait until the microsoft logo appear under the big X and XBOX. Quickly, remove IDE cable from xbox hdd and connect xbox hdd to IDE cable from PC. Run xplorer360 then Go to drive->open->harddrive or memcard. You should see 5 partitions of xbox hdd here. The whole process is called hotswap.

Why would I want to hotswap?
One is, you tried to do a softmod and ****ed it up, and now your xbox is giving you error 13, 14, 20, 21. This will allow you to install the default MS dashboard files, and repair your box.

Second is you don't wanna hack up a controller or buy an action replay, but still want to do a softmod. You can use this to copy the hacked gamesaves and linux file to your xbox.

Third is you want to softmod your xbox and dont want to spend money on game and AR.


NOTE ON ERROR 16: Try to disconnect IDE cable from xbox hdd just before it goes to error 16. You can also try to boot up xbox with an original game inside the dvd drive to see if microsoft logo shows up.


If you have a backup of the original eeprom on PC, you can build a new hdd by using xboxhdm.


Does your xbox qualify to do hotswap?
You can always do hotswap.

Turn on xbox without a game in dvd drive, do you see white microsoft logo appears under the big X and XBOX? If YES, then your xbox is qualified.

If NO, then hotswap may not work on your xbox. But you can still do it. Try to disconnect IDE cable from xbox hdd just before xbox hang or goes to service screen.

You can also load original game and do hotswap when microsoft logo shown up.


What do you need?
- Windows 2000 or XP
- Torxx screwdrivers 10, 15, 20
- Motherboard of PC must have 2 IDE slots.
- get the complete Clean Working MS dashboard file or the complete working softmod files of C and E drive (you can get C and E softmod files from your friend's xbox)
- To get the latest MS dash here
Want to restore your Microsoft Dashboard to it's Retail State? Read Inside.
- Xbox tools with ms dash inside. Thank to theridges.
MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service
- Softmod files "Shademand's Ready Made Xbox SoftMod" 325MB from bittorrent. Thank to Shademand.
Net2Go
Demonoid.com - Shademand's Ready Made Xbox SoftMod
- Xplorer360 OR FatXExplorer (It's in french, but more stable than xplorer360). So download and install xplorer360/FatXexplorer on PC. You can google it or go here
MAXCONSOLE - Playstation 2 Playstation 3 Xbox 360 Nintendo DS PSP Gamecube Nintendo WII Revolution - To the MAX!
MAXCONSOLE - Playstation 2 Playstation 3 Xbox 360 Nintendo DS PSP Gamecube Nintendo WII Revolution - To the MAX!


If you want to download other files for xbox, goto my page and look for "Download xbox files". There are 4 links.

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RESTORE XBOX'S HDD TO FACTORY CONDITION

After you have xplorer360 to access xbox hdd, then you can tell partition 3 is C drive and partition 4 is E drive. Backup partition 3-4 to PC. Then delete everything in partition 0-4.

So you want to make the xbox's hdd back to factory condition, then you need a complete working MS dash. You can donwload it from bittorrent or get it from your friend's working xbox.

Copy the MS dash to partition 3. Partition 4 has 2 empty folders UDATA and TDATA.

This is the FACTORY XBOX'S HDD:

Partition3: Audio, Fonts, xboxdashdata.185ead00, xodash, xboxdash.xbe, Xbox.xtf, Xboxbook.xtf

Partiton4: Cache, Tdata, Udata

Partition 0-2 is empty

NOTE: Cache, UDATA and TDATA folders are EMPTY. Partition 3 has the complete clean working MS dash.

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INSTALL SOFTMOD ON XBOX'S HDD

- You need the complete working softmod files of C and E drive. So you can get them from your friend's working softmod xbox by FTP the whole C and E drive to PC.

- If you can't it get from your friends, you can download Shademand's Ready Made Xbox SoftMod 325MB OR any other complete working softmod file. Then extract it all the way untill you get C and E folder inside.

- This is what Shademand softmod file has. Other softmod files may slightly different from Shadmand.

C folder has: audio folder, backup folder, fonts folder, xboxdashdata.185ead00 folder, xodash folder, xbox book.xtf file, xbox.xtf file, xboxdash.xbe file

E folder has: apps folder, cache folder, dashboard folder, screenshots folder, shadowc folder, skins folder, tdata folder, udata folder


- After you have xplorer360 to access xbox hdd, then you can see partition 0-4.

- Backup partition 3 and 4 to PC. Then delete everything in partition 0-4.

- Copy everything inside C folder to partition 3

- Copy everything inside E folder to partition 4

- Partition 0-2 is empty


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WARNING: MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS HERE, AND HAVE SOME IDEA OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING. FAILURE TO DO THIS COULD RESULT IN A USELESS XBOX.

NOTE: IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CONNECT XBOX'S HDD BACK TO XBOX BEFORE TURN XBOX OFF. OTHERWISE, THE XBOX'S HDD MAY STAY UNLOCK, WHICH RENDERS IT USELESS FOR YOUR XBOX. DON'T MESSAGE ME SAYING YOU ****ED YOUR BOX UP BY IGNORING THIS.


GET EVERYTHING READY:

1. Remove the four feet from the bottom of your xbox. Use the torxx screwdriver to remove the four screws. There are two more in the center, beneath the stickers. Take these out as well.

2. Take off the top cover. Use your torxx screwdriver to take out the two brass screws that are in the center holding the drive housing down.

3. Remove the section of casing with the harddrive in it.

4. Use the phillips screwrdriver to take out the four screws holding the HD in place. Loose the hdd so you can easy to remove the IDE cable and plus the one from PC in. Put xbox close to PC so IDE cable from PC can reach xbox hdd.

5. ON PC. Connect pc hdd to primary IDE cable. I think that is what you have now. And remove all dvd drives on secondary IDE cable. Just hook up one end of IDE cable to secondary IDE port on motherboard. The other end is free for now. It will hook up to Xbox hdd later. PC HDD AND XBOX HDD ARE ON 2 DIFFERENT IDE CABLES ON PC.

6. Now we've got everything ready.


HOTSWAP PROCESSING:

step1: turn on pc then press then Break/Pause key. So the pc completely stop booting.

step2: turn on xbox and wait until the microsoft logo appear under the big X and XBOX. Then disconnect IDE cable from xbox hdd and connect the one from PC to it.

If you dont see microsoft logo and xbox goes straight to service screen or hang at the big X, then disconnect IDE cable from xbox's hdd just before xbox goes to service screen or hang. Being VERY careful not to jolt or shake the HD too much, disconnect the DATA cable from the harddrive WITHOUT powering off the xbox.





Step3: press any key on keyboard so pc continue boot up. Now PC will detect the xbox hdd. PC boots normally as usual. IF it takes long time to boot to windows or PC hang, then something are worng. Check your connections, did you connect correctly Xbox hdd to PC? PC HDD AND XBOX HDD ARE ON 2 DIFFERENT IDE CABLES ON PC.

Step4: Run xplorer360. Go to drive->open->harddrive or memcard. Xplorer360 SHOULD read the harddrive. It will show 5 patittions. You can also goto manager, you should see the xbox hdd in there. If it doesn't, you may have to go to the device manager and have it scan for changes.

step5: partition 4 is E drive, Partition 3 is C drive. Be sure backup everything to PC first before doing anything. Do the RESTORE XBOX'S HDD TO FACTORY CONDITION or the INSTALL SOFTMOD ON XBOX'S HDD that stated above. Or you can modify the hdd as your way if you want.


Step6: Once you've modified the harddrive as you like, turn off the xplorer. Disconnect the IDE cable of xbox hdd and connect the IDE cable from xbox the xbox hdd again. Then turn off the xbox so the hdd can be relock.

NOTE: BE SURE TO RECONNECT THE XBOX'S DATA CABLE TO THE HD BEFORE POWERING OFF YOUR XBOX. NOT DOING THIS CAN MAKE THE HD STAY UNLOCKED, WHICH RENDERS IT USELESS FOR YOUR XBOX. DON'T MESSAGE ME SAYING YOU ****ED YOUR BOX UP BY IGNORING THIS STEP.

step7: Reboot xbox to see what happen.


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HERE IS THE SUMMARY OF HOTSWAP:

FOR Xplorer360, you need to know what is primary and secondary IDE cable on PC. So the PC's hdd is usually on the primary ide cable. Leave this IDE cable ALONE.

The other IDE cable is secondary. Remove all devices so this ide cable just connect to motherboard and the other end will connect to xbox's hdd.

Also check jumper on xbox's hdd. Make sure it set to Cable Select OR Master. turn on xbox and time when xbox goes to error screen or service screen. Now you are ready to do hotswap.

-start with xbox and pc off
-turn on PC and hit Pause/break key. PC should stop loading. If your pc can't stop loading then logon windows. You can hotswap in both cases (hit pause/break OR logon the windows first)
-turn on xbox (You can try both: without game OR with a game inside dvd drive). Disconnect ide cable of xbox's hdd JUST few seconds BEFORE xbox goes to service screen/error. Also watch the LED. it should stay green at the time you disconnect ide cable.
-connect xbox's hdd to PC
-hit any key on PC to continue boot up to windows. If you are already in windows then ok. PC boots normally and act normally, if not hotswap will not work.
- goto Manger and scan for a new drive. You should see xbox's hdd.
-open up xplorer360 and read the xbox's hdd
-if you can't read the hdd, turn off pc and connect xbox's hdd back to xbox. Then turn off xbox.

Try again for 3 times.

Let me know if you can't get it works. Also tell me what wrong with your xbox and error code too.


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HERE IS THE TRICK TO USE XBOXHDM IN THE HOTSWAP:

Download and extract xboxhdm1.9 on desktop. Go here to make a boot disk. Also check if it loads.
How To Upgrade HDD On Softmod Xbox

When done with the boot disk and it works, keep the boot disk in the CD/DVD drive still. Now you are ready to do hotswap.

-start with xbox and pc off

On pc, disconnect ide cable from the hdd. The xbox hdd will connect there.

On xbox. Check jumper on hdd to make sure it set to Master OR Cable Select. turn on xbox and time when xbox goes to error screen or service screen. Now you are ready to do hotswap.

-turn on xbox (You can try both: without game OR with a game inside dvd drive). Disconnect ide cable of xbox's hdd JUST few seconds BEFORE xbox goes to service screen/error. Also watch the LED. it should stay green at the time you disconnect ide cable.
-connect xbox's hdd to PC where the PC's hdd connected to.
-Turn on PC. PC should load the boot disk. Xboxhdm loads up. Following options and xboxhdm's intructions to copy files to xbox's hdd. DO NOT use Lock/Unlock options.
-when done, turn off pc. Connect xbox's hdd back to xbox. Turn off xbox.

Enjoy

Credits go to TheReturn (afterdawn)

[T Sizzles]

you can use a PC harddrive on your xbox as long as it uses the ATA / IDE interface (not SATA, SAS, SCSI)

[MiCrOz]

Is it possible to go on Live with a different HDD?

yes, but you need a new EEPROM that has never been on live

[knockem]

yea if u dont get a new eeprom ur box will be banned what i did was i installed a bigger hd in my box before i got on live and ive been fine