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Tutorial How to Softmod the original Xbox [Rocky5] - 2022

AzzidReign

AzzidReign

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Yeah, I don't have a disc burner unfortunately. If it's that worth it to do so, maybe I'll invest in one, but if the only upside to the extras disc is just emulators and other dashboards then I'm not sure if it's currently worth the cost
Try moving them to the apps folder. Load your modded dash and they should appear in the apps folder.
 
Kevconroy09

Kevconroy09

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As the OG poster suggests, i had Just did a little research on softmoding vs chiping decided softmod, bought og xbox, female usb, splinter cell, exact usb as seen elsewhere, and luckily console came with copy of halo 2 so with everything i need acquired

all that was left was to find a nice tut to follow and i have just came across this thread witch is the most updated, in detail and still active thread i have found

Reason for softmiding vs chiping easier as no soldering skills

its also part nostalgia the reason as i had a chiped one in past with evox dash n i also prefer written tuts will keep thread updated with my process thanks for tut
Post automatically merged:

Also if anyone could tell me is it possible to use blank CD for exras disc as have no blank DVDs thanks
 
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AzzidReign

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blank CD for exras disc as have no blank DVDs thanks
Take a look at the size. I can't recall if you can use a CD but I would think you can. Size will be the determining factor.
 
Kevconroy09

Kevconroy09

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Thanks for replying, i was going to check the extracted zip file sizes as cd is only 700mb in size i just bought dvds instead cant wait for Wednesday hopefully the dvdr i got are compatible, i could do the soft mod and then the extra disc but it would just sitn annoying me n with no extras or sound
 
Kevconroy09

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Disc's arrived today so had a bash at softmoding now that everything needed is here lol was pretty straight forward took less 10 minz to make usb, extras disc and install, this was on a 1.6version console

I will add for anyone else who uses this tut,

(1). i did not have latest xbox dash was slightly lower than advised but after inserting halo 2, selecting xbox live with no net attched, when this restarted and should install update to most recent dash it just tryd to do trouble shooting after tryin few things gave up softmodded anyway with no issues and to get latest dash follow instructions to fix audio as this also installs latest xbox dash anyway.

(2). While clicking on .bat files on windows 10 this opens command prompt with a question "if you dont no what you are doing press enter" this opens up in your web browser for you to download .Zip the files needed, both .Bat can be acquired this way as it did not auto batch files on command prompt itsself,

(3). Also windows 10 will state this extras .iso is corrupt if you try to mount with windows 10, use imgburn as recommended i burnt on Verbatim DVD - R, 4.7gb,16x speed ,120min from amazon, although when i burned with imgburn i burnt at x4 speed and extras disc works fine.

(4). The link for xplorer360 software works but download on win 10 laptop and it wont open as its missing a .Dll file to run software i had to google xplorer360 and used (archivedotorg) and downloaded software from there this came with missing .dll file aswell as xplorer360.Exe file and all workd fine.

(Q). This is the good part tinkering with the extras etc, so can anyone help with few simple things

1. While installing dashboards non ms what Partition do i install to as there is multiple options also install as dashboard or application?

2. What Partition do applications install do and is there a list or link as to what each does

3.what Partition for homebrew files

4.how to add emulators? Or link to any of these questions would help thanks in advance.

This softmod was simple and completed by a normal dude with basic to average IT/modding experience n a passion for gaming with no restrictions this project cost me around £90 using ebay buy it now and auctions for everything i needed.

Last but not least to the OG poster thanks for the updated txt tut, all previous points I mentioned are not to say anything against your tut just some issues i came across that i thought i would share for anyone else who may come up against similar issues if you wish to use my points by all means so people dont need to read to end of comments to find them.

Let the nostalgia commence i hope more people see how easy this was and breath new life into a OG XBOX siting collecting dust somewhere.

Edit: spell check
 
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BaconWizard17

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I have a question related to hard drive upgrades: I looked at the hard drive compatibility list and found one I liked, so I looked online and ordered it. I made sure it was locking, worked with my XBOX version, etc. On the list, it's listed as WD10EZEX-08WN4A0. I found one online that was just listed as WD10EZEX. All the other specs were the same (size, RPM, etc). I got it in today, and the model number written on the hard drive is WD10EZEX-22MFCA0. What are the chances of it working? It's still sealed, so I can return it now if I need to. Other WD10EZEX drives are on that list with different model numbers (one simply as WD10EZEX, the rest have different suffixes), though not this one. They're listed for other XBOX versions as well, though I'm assuming that list isn't all encompassing and just relates to what people have tried before. Is it worth it to give it a shot since it's close, or should I return it and look for another one?
 
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Kevconroy09

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I have a question related to hard drive upgrades: I looked at the hard drive compatibility list and found one I liked, so I looked online and ordered it. I made sure it was locking, worked with my XBOX version, etc. On the list, it's listed as WD10EZEX-08WN4A0. I found one online that was just listed as WD10EZEX. All the other specs were the same (size, RPM, etc). I got it in today, and the model number written on the hard drive is WD10EZEX-22MFCA0. What are the chances of it working? It's still sealed, so I can return it now if I need to. Other WD10EZEX drives are on that list with different model numbers (one simply as WD10EZEX, the rest have different suffixes), though not this one. They're listed for other XBOX versions as well, though I'm assuming that list isn't all encompassing and just relates to what people have tried before. Is it worth it to give it a shot since it's close, or should I return it and look for another one?

You have the hdd now might aswell try it out if it works or not add to compatibility list,

if not learn from the mistake,thats my plan.

i have just been searching compatibility list for few days now deciding on what hdd i want, opend my v1.6 console it has seagate hdd in it so thinking of replacing it with same make of hdd

does anyone have a suggestion on hdd sizes all i am looking for is enough space for me to dual boot 2 dashboards, a selected few emulators and roms and selected few xbox games

Also will update my previous post now that i have had time to figure out the softmod etc
 
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BaconWizard17

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You have the hdd now might aswell try it out if it works or not add to compatibility list,

if not learn from the mistake,thats my plan.

i have just been searching compatibility list for few days now deciding on what hdd i want, opend my v1.6 console it has seagate hdd in it so thinking of replacing it with same make of hdd

does anyone have a suggestion on hdd sizes all i am looking for is enough space for me to dual boot 2 dashboards, a selected few emulators and roms and selected few xbox games

Also will update my previous post now that i have had time to figure out the softmod etc

You’d probably be fine with a small drive (like 100 GB or so), but from what I saw during my searches, it’s honestly easier and cheaper to get a bigger hard drive. I don’t think a lot of companies make hard drives under 500 GB these days, so anything smaller is going to be older, more expensive, and likely refurbished rather than new. From what I saw, the 1TB drive I got ended up being cheaper than some 120 GB drives I was initially looking at.
 
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BaconWizard17

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I'm struggling to upgrade the hard drive. My new one is SATA, and I bought the cables that are mentioned in the tutorial (the SATA to IDE adapter and the 80-pin IDE cable, plus the Molex splitter). So, I opened my Xbox, disconnected the molex from the standard HDD, attached the splitter, and attached the ends of the splitter to the old HDD and the adapter (which is attached to the new HDD). I'm not sure where exactly I'm supposed to attach the 80-pin IDE cable mentioned in the tutorial, as it only has 2 ends to it. Maybe that's what I'm doing wrong.

I made sure that the new HDD is set to Slave (moved the little plastic jumper from the upper two pins to the lower two pins). I booted up the XBOX; it launches fine. I made sure Chimp was installed to the E: drive. I disconnect the existing IDE cable from the disc drive and attached it to the new hard drive (to the adapter). I go to Applications, and launch Chimp Loader, and then my XBOX goes to the screen that says that it needs to be serviced. What am I doing wrong? Could it be the new hard drive that's the problem, or is there something wrong with my setup? The original arrangement of stuff works fine, it's just when I try to launch Chimp Loader with the new HDD attached

Edit: upon watching this video, it seems I'm missing the linuxboot.cfg file for Chimp, and I can't find it anywhere in the softmod files. Where can I get it?

I do think that that's part of the problem, as is the 80-pin cable. It seems the right one to get needs 3 connections, not 2 like the one linked in this tutorial
 
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AzzidReign

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Edit: upon watching this video, it seems I'm missing the linuxboot.cfg file for Chimp, and I can't find it anywhere in the softmod files. Where can I get it?
That's weird. Is it not in the zip file located here?
[Click here to view this link]

And I have to ask, you are unzipping it, correct? I know, silly question for most people but ya never know the level of someone's knowledge when trying to help :tongue:
 
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BaconWizard17

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Yep, it’s the one from the softmodding tools, and I am unzipping it to a folder with the same name as the zipped file in E:\Apps. It’s recognized in my applications list
 
AzzidReign

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Yep, it’s the one from the softmodding tools, and I am unzipping it to a folder with the same name as the zipped file in E:\Apps. It’s recognized in my applications list
Odd...I recall coming across information on that file a while ago but iirc Rocky5 Rocky5 had made mention somewhere on the internet that the linux file was no longer needed. Hopefully by tagging him, he can confirm this or not.
 
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BaconWizard17

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Well, maybe the cable is the only problem. I ordered a second one
 
AzzidReign

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Well, maybe the cable is the only problem. I ordered a second one
Do you have a picture you can post? I think you said you had a problem with connecting it. I'm assuming it's a SATA to IDE adapter you are referring to?
 
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BaconWizard17

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The SATA to IDE adapter is fine, it's the 80-pin IDE cable that's the problem:

zt4HJ4O.jpg


This is the one that you linked in the tutorial. It only has 2 female ends, so I can't connect it to the both drives and the motherboard. I just used the default IDE cable that's in the XBOX.

I have the adapter connected, and it fits fine and connects properly (currently disconnected from the XBOX):
08NHt68.jpg
 
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AzzidReign

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B BaconWizard17 - I'll have to check the link and see if I can update it for you then. I had taken the link from recommendations I had found around the internet.
 
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BaconWizard17

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This is the one I ordered. 80-cable, 3 connectors. I think it's a bit longer than the existing one
 
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BaconWizard17

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AzzidReign AzzidReign I tried that new cable, and no luck. When I try to launch Chimp, it gives me the error message that says my XBOX needs to be serviced

What I did:
  • Made sure new drive was set to slave
  • Hooked up all the cables in the proper place (molex splitter between the two hard drives, IDE cable connecting the disc drive, old hard drive, and motherboard)
  • Started up the XBOX. Once the dashboard launched, removed the IDE cable from the disc drive and connected it to the new hard drive
  • Ensured Chimp was in my E: drive in the Apps folder (unzipped)
  • Launched Chimp, and I get the error
Could my new hard drive be the problem? The first time I tried to do this, the exposed connections on the back of the SATA to IDE adapter touched the hard drive briefly and there was a brief spark. I covered the connections in electrical tape to prevent further issues. The hard drive makes normal hard drive noises when it's running (as best as I can tell), so I don't know if that's the issue, or if something else is.

Sorry to keep bugging about this. I'm doing my best to figure it out, but I'm pretty much a novice with this kind of stuff.

---------------------------------

After writing all that out, I tried it again and got a second weird occurrence (which has happened 3 times in a row now). I go through the same procedure as above, but when I connect the new hard drive, my E: drive shows up completely empty. I can't transfer any files, I can't launch chimp, I can't even add a folder to the E: drive. I'm not sure what the cause of that could be, but it doesn't seem good. I checked the files before disconnecting the disc drive, and it's all there. It only goes away after I move the cable. I gave it a few minutes, and then refreshed the file list on my FTP program, and the folders in E: showed up, but the files didn't. Chimp shows up as an application on my application list, but when I try to launch it it just tells me that the xbe doesn't exist. I guess this is better than getting an error, but I'm still not sure what the problem is

---------------------------------

Further Edit: I tried to take the suggestion of that video I sent a while back and wait 5 minutes after booting up before switching the cable. When I did, launching chimp gave me the error again. The error code is 21, if that’s relevant
 
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