Hi all, I'm new here. I own an electronic repair business, and I recently got an Xbox for repair. I've already figured out that the Thomson drive is faulty and am in the process of replacing it. I will go with a Samsung drive drive, probably a SD-616T. And I did find the original SD-605B firmware to modify it. I spent almost all night reading this site as well as many other searches. I know some of you dont like to offer up some info, but as a electronic tech, I like to help who I can. Personally I think it's cheaper to just buy a new Xbox DVD drive or the laser assembly from Llamma.com, than trying to mod one, that was not made for the xbox. For those that want to mod the 616, it's not for the inexperienced. It requires some serious wiring, reversing the loading motor and modifying the firmware. And most important, if you discharge any static electricity into a wrong point on that new DVD drive, chances are, you'll be screwed. However, taking all this into consideration, I will post a link.
http://www.xbox-linux.org/Talk:Xbox_..._and_Utilities
btw, from what I've read tonight, I think Quall, is probably one of the most knowlable persons I've seen, regarding the Xbox.
Dewey