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diablo46
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Xbox Version: 1.3
Modded: TSOP iND 5004

Joined: Sep 14, 2017
Posts: 4

Post Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 4:10 pm   
Post subject: Help updating to a newer dashboard.
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So i bought an original Xbox from a local seller, booted it up and it turns up it's a modded one. Now i've had my modded ps3 for years and i've done everything by myself but on the other side i know very little about Xbox modding scene.

It seems to be a 2003 China made 1.3. On startup i can read Xecuter2 on screen before it boots up to EvolutionX dashboard. XBMC says my bios is Xecuter2 4979.06.
From what i could gather Xecuter is a modchip bios so i opened up my console to see what chip versions it has installed but i could find none. Internally everything seems to be stock with no modifications
Is is possible someone removed the chip before selling it or am i missing something?

More importantly, how can i delete everything on the HDD and partition it differently without breaking anything and what can i do to bring it up to a more recent and better modded dashboard/firmware?

Thank you.


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AdmiralShlong
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Post Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 5:14 pm   
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Bios can be run off anything with enough capacity to store it, from something off the LPC or the onboard TSOP. So your TSOP was flashed with X2 4979. I suggest you eventually get X2 4983.67, since .67 bios support both F and G partitions if you ever want both. Instead of being limited to one extended partition.

To get new bios and dasboards the easiest way is HeXEn, but that only runs if you have a good copy of UnleashX somewhere in C or E. HeXEn 2017 is nice. So get UX on your HDD with a USB or FTP.

Why would you want to delete, erase, reformat, or repartition anything?

As for what you can do to the HDD without problem, FATX needs standard C-Z partitions first and foremost. After that much is determined by the bios in terms of set up.

Unless you know the boot path of the bios copy in question I suggest you flash your own configuration of a newer X2 bios.

Unless you don't care about a set boot path, in which case you can just erase everything on the C partition and dump what ever dashboard you want into the root of C. Erase that copy of EvoX from the E partiion root (most likely there) and X2 will default to whatever is in C. If you want to go that route I suggest you have access to a PC with an Ultra ATA IDE connection and a copy of Xplorer360 in case anything goes wrong.

_________________
320GB ST3320620A 7200RPM 16MB Cache
GELID GC-Extreme Thermal Compound
X-DU 512KB Chip & Toggle Switch
StarTech 80 wire UATA Cable
XBMC 3.5.3 Dashboard
Taiyo Yuden Clock Cap
80mm Noctua SSO2
128MB DDR RAM
iND-BiOS 5004
PHILIPS S6KM


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AdmiralShlong
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Post Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 3:58 am   
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Forgot to mention, you can also use shortcut.xbe for quick easy dash changes. Stay away from OpenXDK, it's slow, unoptimized, and causes double and triple boot attempts before success with some bios and paths.
_________________
320GB ST3320620A 7200RPM 16MB Cache
GELID GC-Extreme Thermal Compound
X-DU 512KB Chip & Toggle Switch
StarTech 80 wire UATA Cable
XBMC 3.5.3 Dashboard
Taiyo Yuden Clock Cap
80mm Noctua SSO2
128MB DDR RAM
iND-BiOS 5004
PHILIPS S6KM


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kaos_engr
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Post Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 4:45 am   
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diablo46 wrote:
From what i could gather Xecuter is a modchip bios so i opened up my console to see what chip versions it has installed but i could find none. Internally everything seems to be stock with no modifications
Is is possible someone removed the chip before selling it or am i missing something?

If no chip is installed, your Xbox could be modded by TSOP flashing. A tiny bit of soldering write-enabled the Xbox motherboard's TSOP flash EEPROM chip that held the original stock BIOS and the X2 4979.06 BIOS was installed. TSOP modding functions as if a modchip is installed -- loads a replacement BIOS instead of the stock BIOS -- but without installing any additional hardware.

diablo46 wrote:
More importantly, how can i delete everything on the HDD and partition it differently without breaking anything and what can i do to bring it up to a more recent and better modded dashboard/firmware?

Before changing anything, what files are on the C, E and F (possibly G drives)? Understand what you already have before doing something so drastic like reformatting the HDD. Other dashboards can be installed alongside/in addition to what's already there. The BIOS can be updated/re-flashed with the most current version compatible with your Xbox version 1.3.

Use Heimdall's Xbox Engineering (HeXEn) Disc
AdmiralShlong wrote:
...but that only runs if you have a good copy of UnleashX somewhere in C or E....

Not TRUE, you can install UnleashX to the HDD, but it's not required to run the Hexen 2017 disc.

HeXEn is a highly customized installer version of UnleashX. It has a menu system configured to do just about anything you'd want an installer disc to do -- install the latest version of apps and re-flash a modchip or TSOP BIOS. This disc contains most of the latest homebrew Xbox applications and BIOSes gathered onto one disc. However, there are hundreds of retro system emulators available online that are not included.

You should download, extract (use WinRAR) and burn the extracted iso image to DVD-R media (recommend using ImgBurn 2.5.8.0. Don't download from the Digital Digest link as their LARGE, highly visible download linked installer has, I think its called RockCandy (correction OpenCandy), adware installer wrapped around the real ImgBurn installer. Sad The adware free link is there just small and hard to find. The other sites I've checked have download links to adware FREE clean installers - MajorGeeks and ImgBurn's mirror sites.)

Load the HeXEn 2017 disc into the Xbox's DVD drive and power cycle the Xbox to boot it from power up or if Evolution-X dashboard is running select Launch DVD from the menu. Once again, running HeXEn does not require you to first install the UnleashX dashboard onto the Xbox's HDD.

HeXEn 2017 is an installer disc and booting such unsigned homebrew application from disc is all part of a modified Xbox's startup process set in the hacked BIOS. Be that BIOS: X2 4979, 4983, or 5035; iND-BIOS 5003 or beta Feb 11 05 (aka 5004); or Evolution-X M8plus.

Xbox's can also be softmodded to do the same. No modchip required! No Soldering! No flashing a BIOS to the modchip! Or, even opening the case!

However, HeXEn 2017 will NOT boot/run on an unmodified stock Xbox.

When booting HeXEn 2017 disc on a modified Xbox, the power ring LED will turn RED and the display will be blank for about a minute before the menu is displayed. There are many options in the menu to install many software applications to the HDD and flash a new BIOS to the TSOP/modchip.


Last edited by kaos_engr on Mon Sep 18, 2017 12:42 am; edited 1 time in total


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ArchAngle
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Xbox Version: v1.6
Modded: Xecuter 2.6 CE

Joined: Oct 03, 2014
Posts: 362

Post Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 1:25 pm   
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Yes, when getting any program like ImgBurn get it from somewhere reliable and always use the Custom install option and NOT the recommended "Express" or any other similar option. When you see a "recommended" install option always treat it as potentially poisonous.

Ninite is probably the best source for PUP free software as it will use its own installer. Nothing other than ImgBurn should be installed.

That doesn't mean the PUPs etc some people have reported are not still there just that the option to install them accidentally has (or should have) been removed.

The trouble is a lot of good burners have been compromised over the years by being bundled with OpenCandy and other similar adware. CDBurner and Burnaware are two I know with the same problem.

However if you are careful BOTH those burners do include 'offer free' ie. PUP, adware free install options if you look carefully on their respective download pages. I suspect, hope, the same is true for ImgBurn.


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kaos_engr
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Post Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 12:51 am   
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With Windows 10 and a few prior versions, you don't have to download an application to burn an ISO image to media. Double click on the ISO image filename in Windows Explorer and the Burn Disc Image pop-up will appear.

Digital Digest does have an OpenCandy-free installer link but it's in fine print way down the page. Their HUGE Click here to download! button at the top of the webpage is not Adware free! (that DL image/link also states, "Download Manager Enabled". Another dead giveaway that PUP software installer has been attached.

I just hate that sites wrap an AdWare installer around otherwise adware-clean FREE software applications. Don't think the ImgBurn devs asked them to do so. Other mirror sites listed don't!

If given, check the hash values: CRC32, MD5 or SHA1 to verify a clean download. The file I first tested did not match so I downloaded the sources' file and their's did.

I use HashTab by http://implbits.com to check file hashes. There's a FREE personal use and pay Commercial use version. This app adds a Tab to Windows Explorer's File Properties when you right-click on a file. See attached image.

I checked the mirrors again. The files sizes downloaded are different than the 3,870KB's shown and Digital Digests' DLM enabled is definitely a different file at half the size.

Only the ImgBurn mirror site's download has the correct size and matching hash values. Weird!

The other site's 3,030KB downloaded installer files do seem to be Adware-free.



ImgBurn 2.5.8.0 Download Mirror Sites - 500x263px.jpg
 Description:
Hash Check Applications downloaded, ImgBurn shows CRC32, MD5 and SHA-1 hashes.
 Filesize:  24.5 KB
 Viewed:  274 Time(s)

ImgBurn 2.5.8.0 Download Mirror Sites - 500x263px.jpg




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ArchAngle
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Xbox Version: v1.6
Modded: Xecuter 2.6 CE

Joined: Oct 03, 2014
Posts: 362

Post Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 12:03 pm   
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I use HashMyFiles for the same purpose. It is one of the many tools that is part of the Windows System Control Centre. These include the Syinternals Suite (provided free by MS) and similarly useful free utilities from other companies.

Last edited by ArchAngle on Tue Sep 19, 2017 1:46 pm; edited 1 time in total


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KIxxx
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Joined: May 28, 2017
Posts: 99
Location: Canada

Post Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 11:49 am   
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Before doing any changes there is a few things you should do

#1 Backup the EEPROM and FTP it to your PC.
#2 FTP over a softmod save package (SID, Babylon, Rocky5) so you have a back door in case of BIOS or chip failure. You can even modify the softmod so its activated by button combo so its installed alongside the hacked BIOS and only activated in emergencies
#3 Take pictures of C, E and F partition contents and post it

Switching from Evox to UnleashX or XBMC is very easy and doesnt require an installer unless you feel uncomfortable replacing a couple of files. You just cant be using any files you wish to replace.

The evox files should be as follows
DEFAULT.XBE (or EVOXDASH.XBE)
CONFIG.INI (or DEFAULT.INI)
SKIN (folder)

and you would simply replace them with (UnleashX)
DEFAULT.XBE (or EVOXDASH.XBE)
CONFIG.XML
SKINS (folder)

You want the replacement XBE to be named the same as the original so rename it as needed the XML and SKINS folder names should not be changed. Also since UnleashX cant flash BIOS a smart move to do is move the 3 Evox files to a folder called RemoteX in the apps folder so you can still run it as an app if needed


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ArchAngle
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Posts: 362

Post Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 1:56 pm   
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Concur, ^ good advice.

It is probably better not to delete the existing main dash XBE but actually rename it to something bootable before copying in the new one. That way, or so the theory goes, if the new one fails for some reason the Xbox should still boot from the next available bootable XBE on the drive ie. the old dash.

I've never been minded to test if this works but it was recommended practice by many Xbox gurus so that's what I've always done.

There is a list of Xbox bootable XBE names you may be able to find still. I've always used "avalaunch.xbe" simply because it was alphabetically the first.


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diablo46
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Xbox Version: 1.3
Modded: TSOP iND 5004

Joined: Sep 14, 2017
Posts: 4

Post Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 5:07 pm   
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I wanted to format the hdd because it was full of stuff from the previous owner but in the end i changed it with a bigger, 160gb drive that a received from a friend.
Burned a dvd with Hexen 2017 so that i can set up the new hdd and afterwards i also updated the bios to iND-BIOS 5004 for G drive.

Everything working great, booting to UnleashX with XBMC installed as an application. All i have to do now is get a component cable and start to game on.
Any other essential apps other than Enigmah's Video Select that i should have installed?

Thank you all for your help.


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KIxxx
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Post Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 11:23 pm   
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UnleashX has built in region switching (check in the System menu to make sure its activated) so you shouldnt need Enigmah. Not really any other apps that would be needed.

Just be sure to back up the eeprom and transfer it to your PC if you havent already.


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kaos_engr
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Post Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 4:30 pm   
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diablo46 wrote:
I wanted to format the hdd because it was full of stuff from the previous owner but in the end i changed it with a bigger, 160gb drive that a received from a friend.
Burned a dvd with Hexen 2017 so that i can set up the new hdd and afterwards i also updated the bios to iND-BIOS 5004 for G drive.

Everything working great, booting to UnleashX with XBMC installed as an application. All i have to do now is get a component cable and start to game on.
Any other essential apps other than Enigmah's Video Select that i should have installed?

Thank you all for your help.

DVD2Xbox v0.78 R2 to rip original game discs to HDD.

PXHDD
DVDX2 - Dongle-free and region-free DVD player.

Possibly try other replacement dashboards:

EvoxDash v3935 has Flash BIOS function and essential data backup of EEPROM, current BIOS, HDD config area and a couple other system info text files get created too.

AvaLaunch v0.49.3 build 137 or 142 - supports FTP Boost mode for faster XISO extraction transfers when used in conjunction with the PC Windows app Qwix v1.0.1. (Hopefully, the archive has a change log with diffs noted between these two releases.)

There are a huge number of retro computer, game console, arcade emulators, homebrew games and game ports (e.g., computer system - AdamX, arcade emu - MAMEoX, N64 - Surreal64CE, homebrew - KMBX Tetris, game port - Doom-X to name a few of the 100+ available.)


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KIxxx
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Post Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 11:52 pm   
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kaos_engr wrote:
diablo46 wrote:
I wanted to format the hdd because it was full of stuff from the previous owner but in the end i changed it with a bigger, 160gb drive that a received from a friend.
Burned a dvd with Hexen 2017 so that i can set up the new hdd and afterwards i also updated the bios to iND-BIOS 5004 for G drive.

Everything working great, booting to UnleashX with XBMC installed as an application. All i have to do now is get a component cable and start to game on.
Any other essential apps other than Enigmah's Video Select that i should have installed?

Thank you all for your help.

DVD2Xbox v0.78 R2 to rip original game discs to HDD.

PXHDD
DVDX2 - Dongle-free and region-free DVD player.

Possibly try other replacement dashboards:

EvoxDash v3935 has Flash BIOS function and essential data backup of EEPROM, current BIOS, HDD config area and a couple other system info text files get created too.

AvaLaunch v0.49.3 build 137 or 142 - supports FTP Boost mode for faster XISO extraction transfers when used in conjunction with the PC Windows app Qwix v1.0.1. (Hopefully, the archive has a change log with diffs noted between these two releases.)


UnleashX also can rip games which is why I didnt mention DVD2XBOX (never really liked it anyways seemed to get lots of hype for not a lot of output)

And if you install Avalaunch you dont need to worry about Evox to backup the EEPROM. Ava does it automatically as soon as it boots and saves it in TDATA, where as Evox you have to tell it to do a backup. One thing you will notice is an Ava EEPROM backup is 4 bytes different than an Evox, which is also 4 bytes different than a ConfigMagic backup. This is nothing to worry about, they all zero the header differently which causes this.

Far as Dongle Free Im amazed people still use that lol. Thought XBMC had kinda killed it off like the Dodo bird.

One thing I will mention since transfer speed was brought up, if you are running wireless internet on your PC or it has 2 ethernet ports you can hook the XBOX direct to it no cross over cable and get way better speed than you will ever see going through a router. You simply right click on the PCs internet connection and pick SHARE and check off ALLOW OTHER USERS TO CONNECT VIA THIS CONNECTION. You will go from 1 or 2 mb/sec to 7-10 mb/sec like this (Ive been doing it for years)


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diablo46
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Xbox Version: 1.3
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Post Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 10:47 am   
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kaos_engr wrote:
EvoxDash v3935 has Flash BIOS function and essential data backup of EEPROM, current BIOS, HDD config area and a couple other system info text files get created too.

There are a huge number of retro computer, game console, arcade emulators, homebrew games and game ports (e.g., computer system - AdamX, arcade emu - MAMEoX, N64 - Surreal64CE, homebrew - KMBX Tetris, game port - Doom-X to name a few of the 100+ available.)

I have EvoX as a side dashboard, used it to make a backup for the eprom. I'll also give AvaLaunch a try in the future.
Yeah. i've noticed the emulation side is strong on the Xbox but i'll probably give it a pass as it's easier for me to set up an emulator on my PC if i ever want to do some retro gaming.

KIxxx wrote:
One thing I will mention since transfer speed was brought up, if you are running wireless internet on your PC or it has 2 ethernet ports you can hook the XBOX direct to it no cross over cable and get way better speed than you will ever see going through a router. You simply right click on the PCs internet connection and pick SHARE and check off ALLOW OTHER USERS TO CONNECT VIA THIS CONNECTION. You will go from 1 or 2 mb/sec to 7-10 mb/sec like this (Ive been doing it for years)

For now i've had it connected via cable to my router. I managed to get about 11mb/s but in the future i plan to get a second cheap pci network adapter for my computer and make a direct connection between console and PC.

One thing i've noticed is that UnleashX and XBMC report different temperature readings. There's a ~10 degree delta between them while idling on dashboard with UnleashX displaying 50-51 celsius while XBMC says 40-42.
How do i know which one is true and what's a good temp range for the Xbox?


Last edited by diablo46 on Sat Oct 07, 2017 12:25 am; edited 2 times in total


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ArchAngle
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Post Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 11:38 am   
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That is a well known 'issue' and it is a bit mysterious because, surely, both dashes are using the same temperature reporting sensors.

But the fact is there is a typical +10C difference in the temperatures reported by UnleashX (and EvoX). My take on this is that XBMC is the more sophisticated and regularly updated dashboard and those are the temperatures you should trust more.

That doesn't mean UnleashX's reported temperatures aren't useful. They're consistent so if you know that it typically reports CPU/MB at 58C - 62C in high summer/ambient temperatures with a x1 fan speed then you have all the info you really need.

If it goes up beyond that and the ambient temperature isn't high then you know you have problem; the actual figures are not really important. With UnleashX you can put in a threshold temperature in the system settings too.

BTW I've found the v1.6 Xboxes report higher temperatures than other older versions. I have a v1.6 and and v1.1 which I sometimes running together when FTPing between them and the v1.1 with the same UnleashX dash version shows temperatures consistently 8C lower.

That is despite the fact I've never replaced the TIM paste on the v1.1 but have done on the v1.6 with, TBH, little difference in the before and after temperatures reported.


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