Backup games Via HD

[devilchild]

I have a completely unmodded xbox, I have a pc with a network card, and crossover adapter. I'm tempted to start soldering, never done it before. But i consider myself technically minded. But first i was wondering. Is it possible to transfer backups from the pc harddrive to the xbox harddrive and run them?

I'm guessing i will need an updated bios, Is it not possible to get an updated bios without having the xbox modded?

I've looked around the forums, I dont want to softmod, as its not a definate answer. I dont want to get a solderless chip, as these from reading some posts here seem to be damaging internal components? I may solder, But im in experienced. So if the way i'm asking about works. I'd like to try it. Does it work?

If not, Are solderless chips safe?

If not, Whats the easiest solder chip?

[Quall999]

If it matters, xbox is the easiest mod solder job I have ever seen. That includes being easier than a psone.

Why transfer games from a pc hdd when you can just copy it directly to the xbox from the original disk?

[devilchild]

I've heard its not possible to do anything with an xbox unless its modded in someway.

Has to be modded to run the new bios
Has to be modded to run games from HD
has to be modded to EMulate
Has to be modded to connect it to a pc.

True? Or False?

I have an Xbox here, Could i take a game. Put it in and transfer it to the HD. Without it being modded?

Could i put a new Bios on the Xbox without it being modded? I dont use XBLive by the way

[devilchild]

Mess, I just read the Faq @ the top. It says the xbox has to be modded.

[devilchild]

I've ended up modding, Easier option really.

I have the Xbit. Just wondering what Bios to use?

I've noticed people like X2. whats the latest version?

I've also found a bios called X3 by the same people. Any good??

[kosmiq]

To answer some questions asked in here:

An unmodded xbox can play games from the original disc and play .mp3 from the hdd though the standard dashboard.
It can be connected to a PC without any mods but it can not run any games from hdd or backuped discs without any mod.

There are a few ways to mod an xbox.

1. Softmod
Using exploits (bugs) that are caused when running some games you can install and use a new dashboard along with an bios-loader.
This will result in:
You can play backuped games, both from hdd and disc.
You will still have the original BIOS in your xbox, there will be a custom BIOS loaded when you are playing games or similar.
Is is a fairly simple process, and I can send links to guides via PM if that is needed.

2. Solder-less modchip
This is by far the easiest way of modding the xbox. You can go buy a solderless chip and then put it in there. No soldering at all needed, and it is easy to remove it that is needed.
The only bad thing with solderless is that you have to be even more sure wich version your xbox is (I will write more about this furhter down).
About solder-less damaging anything?
No they don't. They work as any other chip, bypasses some stuff and makes it possible to use your xbox to a 100%.

3. Solder modchip
The most used and proven way to mod the xbox. It will do the same thing as solderless, the better thing is that there is a lot more of them.
When a new modchip reaches the market, you always solder them.

4. Flash the xbox BIOS itself (TSOP-flashing)
The xbox has (of course) a BIOS of its own. This is located in a usual flashmem and this can be reflashed.
There are some things that has to be done first of course, but it is possible.
The drawback here is that if you fail, the original BIOS is ruined and you will have to get a modchip anyway.
Not so commonly used, pretty risky and may require some soldering sometimes.
Also note that this does not applies to xbox 1.6 (thanks Quall999).

What you xbox will be able to and not able to do when modded:
Play games from hdd and backup discs.
Support bigger HDD's (some BIOS'es supports up to 400gb, also depends on modchip).
Play DivX, XviD and most formats of movies directly from disc or hdd.
Get your xbox banned from Live if it detects your modchip.
Loose your warranty.
Run emulation software, there are several of them out there. So you will be able to play N64, NES, SNES and so on your xbox.
Play games from all regions (and you can also change the region to fit the game).

About versions of the xbox.
As stated in the newbie guide here in the forums there are more than one version of the xbox (afaik it is up to 1.6b right now).
The problems that this will create is that not all modchips works on all xbox's.
Nearly any chip will work on 1.0 to 1.5. This is due to similar soldering pins and general design.
Anyway 1.6 has a few diffrences and will therefore require a specifically 1.6 compatible modchip. At the moment I do not think there are any solder-less chips for the 1.6.
There are several ways of how to find out which version you have. Here I can also PM links.

A final note:
Depending on your xbox version and when it is manufactured you will have one of total three possible DVD-readers.
The problem here is that the Thomson reader can ONLY read DVD-r and DVD+r so no go on CD-r here.
The second reader (wich name I can't recall right now) can only read CD-r and DVD-r.
The Samsung is the best and can read all formats (DVD-r, DVD+r, CD-r).
This means that you can't backup small games on CD-r and then expect them to work on your xbox. The same applies to music and small movies.
If you are lucky your xbox might be able to handle CD-RW pretty good.

Yes I know I answered some questions not asked and so on, but this way I have reduced the number of questions that might be asked.

If there are any further questions ask on, and I will try to help.
Some of these question might already have been answered somewhere and I apoligize if that is the fact (I checked the faqs but nothing similar enough there I thought).
If any moderator finds any of the above text to be useful and that it might be answered more times, please feel free to use them in any faq or similar at the forums.

Edit:
Forgot to mention something about BIOS'es avaible for modchips and xbox's.
The most commonly used BIOS is the EvoX BIOS'es. They were from the beginning made for the executer chips (if I am not mistaken). They work very well and support like everything. No limitations at all and there are so many of them even more edited so that they do whatever you want them to do.
Most modchips uses (and supports) all bioses based on X2.
The X3 however is so far only usable on the eXecuter 3 chip and will remain so for a while.
There are no real big differences between them anyway.

Happy modding and xbox'ing.

[Quall999]

- reguarding #4 -
1.6 xbox's don't have tsop's, so they are not flashable
1.0-1.1 xbox's can have switches installed to switch between original and hacked bios.

[voyager]

As far as my experience goes 'limited' I think if your are not using a router you need a patch cable and not a crossover I made the same mistake, but we dont learn if we dont make mistakes.

[snyper1982]

Originally Posted by voyager

As far as my experience goes 'limited' I think if your are not using a router you need a patch cable and not a crossover I made the same mistake, but we dont learn if we dont make mistakes.

You need a cross-over cable if you are NOT using a router, you can user either on most routers out now.