Hardmodding, Softmodding, Dashboard and BIOS Queries

I have recently decided to mod my X-Box due to all the amazingly cool stuff I've seen on Google video. I was wondering, seeing as how I am a noob to modding, what is the difference between softmodding and hardmodding? Does the Xecuter 3CE modchip come with its own integrated BIOS, and does it matter which dashboard I install?

I REALLY appreciate any help I can get

Thanx

 

Softmod goes here
http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/311710

 

Xenium ice is cool xecuter has a good bios smartxx has the bigges flash 4mb.read the ice gide and get a hdd installed by someon on teem xecuter install a xenium ice then flash it with c.bios.bin on hdd ez no ftp

 

I tried to download the 3 files but can only download 1