Cool Xbox

[whoeverxxx]

Once I put a disc in the X-box I loose the connection, I'm assuming this is becuase the game starts. Also a D: folder never appears, just C,E,F,X,Y,and Z in Qwix. Does Evox or whatever he might have start automatically or is there something I have to do to start it? I see a file in his X-box C: folder in Qwix named XOdash so I'm guessing thats the name of the dashboard it has but I can't find where to make it start in his X-box applications.

[kosmiq]

How is the dash looking when you start the xbox?
Are you presented with the standard green xbox dashboard? Or are you presented a menu that contains options similar to "Launch DVD", "Emulators" and so on?

Whenever you insert a disc does it starts instantly? If so take a look if you can find any settings and look for "autostart game"...

A little note here; I can see the D: drive no matter if there is a game in or not. It will always be there for me, atleast when using Avalaunch or EvoX.

[whoeverxxx]

I found the autostart option and shut it off. Now I can see and read the D: folder with Qwix.
How do I back up this game since Qwix will only allow me to select one subfolder at a time to create an ISO? What option in Nero or DVD decrypter do I use to burn the ISO once I figure out how to create one? Do I need to name the ISO something in particular or does that matter?

[kosmiq]

Simply select D: and press make ISO... Name will not matter, the ISO will contain all files and be valid anyway.

Once you have gotten the iso done burn it with Nero, simply done by pressing Burn Image.

Using DVD Decrypter you must first change from "Read" to "Write" mode. Then it will be very simple...

[whoeverxxx]

Originally Posted by kosmiq

Simply select D: and press make ISO... Name will not matter, the ISO will contain all files and be valid anyway.

Once you have gotten the iso done burn it with Nero, simply done by pressing Burn Image.

Using DVD Decrypter you must first change from "Read" to "Write" mode. Then it will be very simple...

Selecting D: with Qwix and then trying to create an ISO of that folder, I get this message in Qwix.... D: is not a valid remote folder.... So I tried transfering the files to my harddrive using flashFXP and just for testing something I read somewhere else, I also tried using Internet explorer to do the job. Both worked fine but IE was easier to use.
So at this point I had the needed files in a folder on my harddrive and decided to backup 2 games for testing purposes (GTA SA and House of the Dead 3). I made ISO images using Qwix of both games from my harddrive and then chose DVD Decrypter to do the backup. First I tried GTA SA using DVD Decrypter but after inserting the backup disc into the X-box player it failed to load. Next I tried HOTD3 and did the same thing and walla it worked! My first Xbox backup DVD! Then I decided to redo the GTA SA backup DVD but again it didn't work. Maybe this game has some kind of copy protection on it?....... Any advise?

[kosmiq]

If I am not mistaken GTA:SA is larger than a standard DVD-r... I do not know, so long since I made my backup of it....

Glad you made it and now you know how to do also...

[whoeverxxx]

I tried another called NCAA 2006 and it works fine but GTA SA noway. It says GTA SA is only 2.85 GBs where as NCAA 2006 is 3.52GBs...Hmm...

Thanks for all the info kosmiq I couldn't have figured this out in the amount of time that I did without your superb X-box knowlege guiding me through it.

Next I'm going to order a modchip.A few questions for you or anyone else with some input on the matter.

Is Crystal still one of the newest and best chips to order or is there something better?

Do I have to upload a dashboard once the chip is installed or is all that stuff built into the chip? If so is the proceedure similar to anything I just did?

To put Emulators and Roms on the X-box do you burn an ISO to disc and then input it to the X-box through the dashboard somehow or is it a matter of uploading through your PC using a FTP program, or am I way off here?

[kosmiq]

Glad to be of help...

There is a chip named crystal? Nope, not be a b*tch here but still.... :P
If you know someone that can solder and can solder real good get Xecuter 2.6Lite or similar. Some of the best chips ever made.
If you are wanting to install it yourself but are not very familiar with soldering the Xenium SP.I.C.E is very good. Solderless on all versions of the xbox.

Once you have installed the chip you must install a bios onto the chip. I would recommend EvoX M8 Plus 1.6 if using a 1.6 xbox, if you are having a 1.0-1.5 I would say X2 5035 or X24983.
That bios will allow you to run backuped games, emulators, use a different dashboard and use all homemade programs for the xbox.

So when the chip is installed, has the bios on itself it is time to install a dashboard. I usually recommends SlaYers autoinstaller Deluxe 2.6 and will do this now too..
Get hold of that one, burn it onto a DVD and then simply pop it in and restart the xbox. Use the menusystem on the disc (you will see it) and make a format with reinstall standard HDD. It will set you up with a few emus, Xbox Media Center, a sh*tload of other apps and some other things.

Installing ROMS is another thing. When using the retail HDD there can be problems installing plenty of roms on the HDD as it will fill up pretty fast when FTP'ing N64 roms...
But if the HDD is upgraded you open a FTP transfer, go into the folder with the emu, looks for a folder named "roms" or something, FTP the roms there. Restart xbox, start emu and wham play away...
If using stock HDD you must edit the emulators .ini file so that it reads from "A:" (on most emu's this means D: but is named A: for some reason). Then burn your roms on a DVD and put it in the xbox, launch the emu and play...

That should give you some info...

[whoeverxxx]

Wow! complex... I can probably solder but maybe the solderless one would be my best bet since the only electrical device I've ever soldered before was a modchip to a few original Plastations and a bunch if car wiring projects.
Whats the proceedure to install the bios and the a dashboard? And where do you find that stuff anyway?

[kosmiq]

Installing the bios differs a bit between chips. But lets say you go for the solderless Xenium SP.I.C.E, then you install the chip. Start the xbox, when it has booted you will see the modchip OS. That will give you FTP support so go to settings, set an static IP on both the xbox and the PC. Start a FTP transfer, transfer the bios to e: on the xbox. Restart the xbox, choose "add bios" or whatever the name is and select the bios file from e:. Done...

So when the chip is installed, has the bios on itself it is time to install a dashboard. I usually recommends SlaYers autoinstaller Deluxe 2.6 and will do this now too..
Get hold of that one, burn it onto a DVD and then simply pop it in and restart the xbox. Use the menusystem on the disc (you will see it) and make a format with reinstall standard HDD. It will set you up with a few emus, Xbox Media Center, a sh*tload of other apps and some other things.

I can not give you any links to where to get bios's and stuff. They are considered illegal because they are modified xbox bios's. But I would recommend you take a look at xbox-scene
And look for a tutorial with the names IRC, xbins and how to in it...

If you are good enough to chip a PS1 I am sure you could manage chipping an xbox too. Go find a tutorial and you will see what it takes, then decide from that.

[whoeverxxx]

Thanks again for the info. The bios does not sound that hard to install since you've already taught me how to read X-box files with a P.C. and transfer them. I'm sure I'll have more questions when the time comes though. I hope your still hanging out here then.

What dashboard would you suggest?

[kosmiq]

Of course I will still be hanging around...

Dashboards depends on what you need... I think that EvoX is a good dashboard for starters and it last a long way. Currently the only dash that supports trainers to 100% too.

I am using Avalaunch as I find it has more settings I want plus support for RSS feeds. UIX (User Interface X) is also popular along with UnleashX. MXM is used pretty much too and so is XBMC...
That did not answer your question but start with EvolutionX (EvoX) and if you feel that it lacks something go try one of the others.