So. In short, I fubar'd my XBox' softmod installation, to the point where the system can't even boot with the drive connected. This system had been functioning fine for years, and I simply attempted to update my chosen dashboard (XBMC) to get some better features... Yes yes, I know... If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Anywho: The drive format should be perfectly fine, and I'd really like to be able to keep the files on it. So I'm trying to figure out what program I can run that will load itself into memory, and then let me switch the drive while the xbox is on, so that I can FTP in, and restore the old application\dashboard data. I know there's a way to do it, but it's just been SO long since I've done this kind of maintenence, that I'm blanking on it. If you don't have modding experience, please don't answer this question, as this would be rated toward the higher end of softmod difficulty. All assistance appreciated! ^_^
Well you have a lot of options i'll give you a brief list and description of each one. Use an expoit - An exploit is a small version of linux that looks like a game save. You have to transfer the game save to the xbox then load the selected game, then load the save file. Hotswap - Hotswapping is a little risky and should be your second choice. A hotswap is when you let the xbox unlock the hard drive then you connect the hard drive to your computer to modify/restore your files. This gets around the whole eeprom business. Xboxhdm - If you have an xbox hdm cd or have the eeprom to your xbox backed up you can easily fix you xbox hard drive by unlocking it then using either xboxhdm or xplorer360 to modify the files. Eeprom Reader - An eeprom reader is an electronic device you hook up to the motherboard to read the eeprom off the board. With the eeprom you can easily unlock the hard drive. So with all this said do you remember how you modifed your xbox? Your saved game files are stored in E:/udata so i would think they're still there unless you randomly deleted them. What number error are you getting? Let me know which approach would be easiest for you and i'll link you a tutorial.
Okay.... We're on two different pages here, but I think that can be remedied. I can't use an exploit. That requires that I get a game up and running. I am getting error code 21(I believe), because the operating system files were incorrectly modified(This was my own error, which is what I need to correct). So, exploits are unfortunately out of the question(Though I do love them, because they're so easy!) XBoxhdm is really a bit more of a pain than I'm hoping to deal with, since I'm not rebuilding the entire drive. (It's brimming with about 300gb of stuff that I don't want to lose.) Ultimately, this is a replacement for the original drive. I still have the original drive, with softmod files on it. It's what's running in the system right now. What I am hoping to do, is to start up the xbox with it's stock 8gb hard drive, and then run a program (I can't remember if configmagic does this), which will load itself entirely into memory, so that I can safely hotswap the stock drive out, for the drive with broken files, then FTP in from my computer, and replace them to make the replacement drive function again. So, both drives are formatted to the XBox, they are both locked to the same xbox, one is 8gb, one is 300gb. The 300gb has been used in the xbox for quite some time, and I would like to continue using it(With all the saves and multimedia that are currently on it), the only problem with it is that I have essentially corrupted the dashboards to the point where the xbox can't even start from a disc. So, can you, or anyone suggest to me, a program that I can run on the xbox, which will allow me boot the system with the working 8gb, then (while the system is running) switch to the 300gb, and be able to FTP to it to replace the bad files? Thanks in advance!
I think you misunderstood. I asked you questions and you didn't respond, but infact we are on the same page. If you used an exploit (Softmod installer dexlue, linux installer) on any of the 3 games (bond agent under fire, mech assault, splinter cell) then you should be able to pop in your game and load the saved game (exploit). With error 21 you will still be able to load original games. But if you created a xboxhdm cd without your e:/udata exploit then you can't simply load the exploit. Either way, try throwing in an original game to see if it will load. If it does then see if you have an exploit saved on your drive. (for future refrence always keep an exploit on your modded xbox, it's like a backdoor) All the stock drive is good for is for backing up the eeprom, which if you made an xboxhdm cd or saved the eeprom you don't need to do this again. Let me be clear about this, there is absolutely no program that will run in only memory on the xbox. As soon as you pull that hard drive to switch you will be screwed. The xbox has different paritions, the programs run from x: y: z: these are the different cache locations. As soon as you pull your drive your xbox will lock up. Your hard drive will remain unlocked by pulling the power and will not relock with the eeprom on the board. If you had a hard modded xbox it could possibly work. You have to be really careful with softmods, they are extremely easy to mess up. If you can't load an expoit then you will have to hotswap or use xboxhdm. I think you misunderstood xboxhdm's options. It can rewrite just C: files so your operating system can be restored. You don't have to build a new hard drive from scratch and you would be able to keep all your files on other partitions. Here's a couple tutorials for you HOW TO: Hotswap with XboxHDM v1.9 (Super Tutorial) Hotswap Can Fix Xbox With Error 13, 14, 16, 20 And 21. Hotswap Can Reinstall Xbox's HDD To Factory Condition. Hotswap Also Install Or Reinstall Softmod Files. All Dashboard Problems Go Here. A Trick To Use Xboxhdm In Hotswap UPDATED 12/12/2006. So these are your options and probably the only ones you have. Let me know how far you get or if you want to tell me we're not on the same page again.... *edit* i forgot to add that if you use xplorer360 with the drive unlocked then it's just like accessing the drive in windows. There's no risk involved with a unlocked drive and you can modify, write or copy any file in the file explorer. It could be another option for you if you don't want to use xboxhdm.
Ah. Like I said, I can't even boot a game using softmod. The system won't even get that far, unfortunately. I've got two copies of mechassault with exploit saves that I use just for that (Used to be a bit of a side business for me). Looks like I'll have to take another look at xboxhdm, to see if I can get into that hard drive. So, if I'm not mistaken, I can take my xboxhdm disc(What I used to build this drive in the first place), unlock the drive using XBoxhdm(Because it is tailored to this system's eeprom, etc), reboot my computer, and use a program to get my saves, etc from the tdata\udata folders, reboot to xboxhdm and then use the disc to rebuild the C\E drives correctly, and then just reload all my files via ftp? Is this correct? I'm probably going to need to rebuild E:\, because the way mine is set up(rather sloppy actually), it may be relying on the E:\Apps folder for some of XBMC's files, and that's my primary dashboard in this config. So... Am I understanding this correctly, or is there another snag that I may be missing? Thanks again C4rn!
That sounds right, just unlock your drive with the eeprom.bin using the xboxhdm cd and then depending on how you want to go about it you can either use xboxhdm to rewrite c and e or you can load windows with the drive unlocked and use xplorer360 to modify the contents of each partition. Explorer360 is a fatx file explorer. It will be able to read the fatx file system the xbox uses. The second tutorial link uses this program also. If you want you can download my cheater files, this only works for the first file system types (operating system on C only 1.0-1.5). the other xbox's (1.6) require the mod files to be in both c and e partions. Let me know how it goes Xplorer360 How To Use FATXplorer (Alternative to Xplorer360)
Hey, thanks a lot! This should be very helpful. I'm hoping to take care of this either tonight or tomorrow; I'll be sure to let you know. I can't believe how much information there is to be forgotten on this system, lol. That's what I get for trying to update something I haven't done work on in over a year! -.- -------------------- Edit: I'm in the midst of it right now, it's slow going, but I've got the drive up in windows with Xplorer360, and I'm replacing the operating system, as well as the C drive files, to make sure that this drive is up and functional again. ^_^
So, progress... I think. Stayed up after the gf went to bed, and used XBoxHDM to unlock the drive. Couldn't see any of my old E:\ files in there, which is a bit concerning. Went ahead and swapped in\out the bad files for xbmc, and rebooted\relocked. Loaded up the xbox, it booted to MS Dash... Which is a bit weird. But okay. Got to the evox dashboard, and discovered that I couldn't find my games. Loaded XBMC from there, and it can see my apps folder, but my videos, music, games, and emulators folders are now non-existent. Moreover, the hard drive seems to be reading like a partitioned 8gb according to my system. I'd REALLY like to not lose those files altogether, they were VERY useful to me. But if I don't have a choice, in order to be able to use the whole drive correctly, then that's what I have to do... Any thoughts or ideas?
It almost sounds like data corruption but i don't know how it would magically happen if you didn't move anything. You should try to unlock the drive with xboxhdm and then use xplorer360 to see what patitions you have. You can also run boxplorer in your apps and see if your partitions are still intact. You'll have to ftp the app to the xbox. Here's the app http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7PET9RV5 i don't remember if this is with the g partiton patched or not Also an aid disc would have a patched boxplorer on it. http://www.aidtracker.com
So.... I have worked through the majority of the headache. I've got evolution x running on it now. it recognizes everything as it should, mostly. lol. What used to be on the E drive is now all on the F drive... And as long as it works, I really don't care all that much where it's stored. Additionally; I'm backing up my files that I was worried about. Lastly, I'm going to need to re-set XBMC as my primary dashboard again. Currently, it's just an application, but I prefer it as my primary boot screen. Can someone kindly point me towards the tutorial on how to do that again? I seem to remember it involving replacing the evoxdash.xbe with the XBMC one, but I need to see what files have to be moved with it, so that it runs properly this time (This is what killed it the last time.) Thanks! ----------------------- All fixed! I have XBMC up and running, none of my data was lost (Though XPlorer360 can't see the F drive apparently), and as an added bonus, it's the newer version of XBMC that I was trying to switch over to in the first place(This is what killed my unit to begin with!) Thanks for your help C4rn! Much appreciated! I have my central entertainment hub back again, yay! ^_^
xboxhdm-- only works with a hard modded unit. OR SOFTMOD FIRST, then xboxHDM.You need the EEPROM dump to use this tool. Softmod the unit first to get that key. Otherwise you cannot RElock the drive without a chip. I chipped one unit and tried this util on the other without realizing that I needed an xbox games saves util for the softmod. so I have one unit that is unlocked without a chip, and no matter what I do the EEPROM save is corrupted.This after getting that hardware, so I know HOW to softmod, but cant go further without another chip. I even tried the 'swap with modded unit' trick to no help. I'm not removing the other one, though the drive IS locked. The other one is chipped and works fine, but I had to 'slay' it with slayer's disc. hotswapping doesn't work reliably. eeprom reader, make ABSOLUTELY sure its a straight through cable.I tossed my chip I made for this because the com port couldn't read the chip as the cable was crossed. Get the f-f [at radio shack] and gender change one end. the power source will prob be your cell battery, so DO be careful. I have YET , because of this to get it to work. try a chip if all else fails. I can lock under 15 seconds with a chip.same with unlock. Its quite a pain with a softmod AND if your ftp instasll goes on you on a softmod,youre toast. thats another thing that happened to me, as to why the EEPROM isn't backed up on that unit.
I'm sorry i don't know if you're trying to give advice or tell us you have a problem. Handsom solved his problem by following the tutorials. I've done both soft modded and hard modded xbox's and xboxhdm worked flawlessly each time. I've had to hotswap a dozen times and it went off without a hitch. Since it's 2009 and there are so many success stories from years past i wouldn't be so quick to say "this will not work", unless of course you are doing something wrong. You don't manually unlock and then relock the drive when you hotswap, the xbox does this automatically when the ide cable is plugged in to the xbox when it's turned on and off. Leave this thread alone and start a new thread if you have a problem.
Xboxhdm does require the eeprom, yes, but you can build the eeprom reader, so it's not beyond xboxhdm, by any means. And I disagree, hotswapping seems to work very reliably when you do it correctly.
