[djgarf]

uk law states that it is perfectly legal to mod your xbox with a modchip but it's when you flash a bios that has hacked copywrited code in it that it becomes illegal
that is why most chips come pre flashed with the legal cromwell bios because with cromwell you cannot run copied games and so are not circumventing any protection's on the xbox
you can run linux with cromwell though

as for getting your xbox chipped why dont u try a no solder modchip
i was reading the review of the xenium sp ice no solder mod on xbox scene and the guy that reviewed it really put the xbox through it's paces and the chip didnt come loose once