Topic: Marriage Theory - How To Not Get Banned. (Read 1704 times)

Gumba · « **on:** November 11, 2004, 01:50:00 AM »

(This theory was originally discussed in great detail and was almost totally verified in this thread http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=1984331, but following that, most of the discussion and verification took place in this thread. The "Marriage Theory 101" thread http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=335984 makes a good introduction to Marriage Theory )

The Marriage Theory.

When you go on XBL with an XBox MS marries your EEPROM to your HD serial in their database.

If at anytime in the future that marriage is broken (ie EEPROM or HD is changed, but not both) then the EEPROM is banned (and possibly the HD too!)

...

A solution would thus be to swap both EEPROM and HD (bummer, but just put your big Xbox HD in your computer and get another big HD)

Further, there is a belief that MS is flagging GamerTags which have been banned, and if this tag is used on an XBox with a non-stock HD, then the XBox will be banned (Both EEPROM and HD). So If you get banned you need to replace your EEPROM and HD with EEPROMS and HDs which XBL has never seen, as well as replace your GamerTag if you want to use a big HD.

(confirmed by MS tech support : http://forums.xbox-s...0)
(slow xbl logins with flagged GTs : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=306498)
(detailed explanation : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=1963940)
(detailed tests : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=308731)
(ydgmms' confirmation : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=2038318)
(MS confirmation of stock xbox is fine : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=304652)
(phoenixuk confirms : http://forums.xbox-s...ic=310137&st=30)
(Flagged GT experience : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=2224563)
(5 xboxes, 10 eeproms & 7 hard-drives confirmation : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=2250003)
(woodster gets banned w/ flagged GT : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=2259161)
(flagged gamertags started with Marriage Theory : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=2382143)

Further still, the assumption is that MS has been marrying HDs since one of the Live updates, probably in July 2004. If you upgraded your drive before MS started gathering the Marriage details then you should also be fine. MS started banning based on the Marriage data circa November 9th 2004.

(Live 2.0 Rollout Dates + HD scanning article http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=1988809 )
(Live 3.0 Articles at IGN April 21st http://xbox.ign.com/...8/508307p1.html)
(MS on the new Live scans : http://www.forbes.co.../ap1656290.html)

So, based on what I can see

if you are going to use an Xbox on Live and you want to upgrade its HD, Upgrade its HD *BEFORE* you take it on Live for the first time

The rumours that harddrives are being scanned for Halo2 save games, or homebrew software are *completely* unsubstantiated, although it does appear that font-exploits and other soft-mods as well as cheats for XBL games (PGR2) are being scanned for, and are a banning offense. This will not be an issue if you use a modchip and don't cheat

If you do get your xbox + big disk banned you will need to get a new eeprom, hd and gamertag (you only need a new gamertag if you want to use a big disk).

(instructions for unbanning and recovering an xbox : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=299557)

If you really want, you can just give up and use a stock xbox for XBL, and you will be fine for ever more

...

UPDATE:
There seem to be enough confirmations to say that my main theory is correct, and also that H2 is not banning people based on HD model numbers, also, people's hard drives are NOT being scanned for their contents!

So, from what I can tell, you only get banned if you swap your HD *after* you first go onto XBL with a given Xbox, since Xbox Live 3.0 or so was unleashed on the world.

If you're planning to upgrade an Xbox's HD, you need to do it before you first connect it to XBL.

And finally, remember to use an XBL blocking BIOS so you don't get banned for having an active modchip! And never run the MS Dash from your modded bios!

...

Confirmations:
There have been many confirmations of Marriage Theory, I plan to link to some of the more clear and detailed posts. If you have a clear confirmation which you feel should be linked, please PM me.

3 extensive tests : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=305792
banned then got new eeprom+gt+big disk : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=305867
triple confirmation : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=1998928
Survey results lean towards marriage theory : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=306745
banned then got new eeprom+gt+big disk : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=2002170
5 confirmations (2 banned,3 not) : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=1995549
detailed confirmation : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=307503
confirmation, drives are not crosslinked to multiple eeproms : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=308409
MS insider confirms : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=308428
mmacmu1 survey confirms Marriage Theory : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=308083
IntraDream survey confirms Marriage Theory : http://intradream.co...wtopic.php?t=20
confirmation thread : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=308001
double confirmation + support transcript : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=308004
9 confirmations! (3 bans, 6 unbans) http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=309595
Team Xecuter supports Marriage Theory : http://www.xbox-scen...pEFqmSCCwfD.php
thorough confirmations : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=331793

...

Drive Cross-Referencing
It appears you can use an unbanned but not virgin HD with a virgin EEPROM but you can't use a non-virgin EEPROM with a different HD (without copying the drive 'disk.bin' info from one to the other)
(Drives aren't being cross-refrenced :
http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=2049500)
(6 weeks and still good : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=2176441)
(large HDs work too : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=2193001)

...

local marriage theory seems to be a crock.

The Local Marriage Theory
A new theory which is a refinement to the original Marriage Theory has been floated recently, and successful test results are just beginning to come in.

UPDATE: there have been no successful confirmations in a long time, i think the theory might be a crock.

The theory is that MS marries the EEPROM to the HD by writing metadata onto the HD in a part which doesn't get erased by normal formatting (the partition table). If at a later date you connect to live and this data is not there when it should be, or is there when it shouldn't be, or is wrong, then you get banned.

This is an interesting theory because :
1) it explains the results the original Marriage Theory predicts, and
2) it also explains some results that the original Marriage Theory doesn't predict! and
3) it predicts that you can possibly get back on live without acquiring an XBL Virgin HD!

You should be able to virginize your current HD and thus get back on live by rewriting the partition table with a partition table from a virgin stock drive (or just low-level formatting the drive with a program like autoclave).

You can write the partition table using Slayer's EvoX installer's "Prepare New HD" (3b2) option which runs the evox command 'configsector "disk.bin"' to load a partition table from a virgin stock drive (stored in the disk.bin file)

So, the (not 100% confirmed) steps to getting back onto live are

1) get new eeprom
2) re-virginize HD using Slayer's or autoclave (etc)
3) get a new gamertag if your HD is not stock (ie originally shipped inside an xbox by MS)

(LinoX initial post : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=2024516)
(confirmation: http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=2035794)
(revirginizing : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=2071375)
(slyt fix confirmation : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=2074361)
(possible refutation : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=339221)
(fire and slayer auto-install problems : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=338957)
(disk.bin format confirmation : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=341832)
(how to revirginize : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=2230602)
(another refutation : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=2239796)

...

Xboxdash.xbe Must Be The MS Dash:
There is a lot of evidence to suggest that the c:\xboxdash.xbe file *must* be the official MS Dashboard or you will probably get banned. Many people mis-install their hacked dash by renaming their xboxdash to something else, say msxboxdash.xbe, then installing their hacked dash as "xboxdash.xbe". DO NOT DO THIS! You will probably get banned.

A better approach is to use a bios which can load hacked dashes from alternate locations, such as c:\avalaunch.xbe or c:\evoxdash.xbe.

...

Mundane Bans:
It seems that with all the attention the new banning systems are receiving newbies are forgetting (or not realizing) about the more mundane methods used for detecting modded xboxs!

You can not go on live with a hacked BIOS as it will be detected and you will be banned. This means you can not play backed up games on live! So you must load your retail kernel to go on live, and to load your retail kernel, your xbox's HD must be locked.

Also, some live games will connect to live automatically so you must use an XBL Blocking BIOS to prevent this, other wise you can get banned without realising it. BUT an XBL Blocking BIOS normally does not prevent the MS dash from connecting to Live, so you MUST NOT use the MS Dash when booted off your hacked BIOS. Nor must you update the dashboard, which will also connect to live, and some modern games will do this without asking. You can even get an XBL blocking BIOS for 1.6 xboxes, so you really have no excuse not to use one.

It is also suggested to set a passcode on your XBL account, which will help prevent accidentally logging in to Live.

If MS sends you an email informing you that you've had your XBL account cancelled that is not actually the same as a ban, its actually worse, and normally happens for swearing, making insulting remarks, cheating, or playing pirated Halo2 on Live.

(Bungie on cheating/abuse related bans : http://bungie.net/Ne...eeklywhatsjan14)

...

Tell Me About EEPROMs?:
The EEPROM is a small chip on your Xbox motherboard which holds 256bytes of important information, including your Serial Number, MAC address, HD Unlock Key, Video Mode, Etc. When someone says "get a new EEPROM" they actually mean getting a copy of someone elses' EEPROM data, and replacing the data on your EEPROM with that data. If you get a new motherboard, you have a new physical EEPROM.

You can buy EEPROMs for 5-10USD from sellers in the Buy/Sell forum

(xbox-scene buy/sell forum : http://forums.xbox-s...hp?showforum=12)
(zodiiak's unbanned EEPROMs : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=143336)

BTW, as a modder, you should always backup your EEPROM data.

...

Alternative Theories:
There are a number of alternative theories floating around, IMHO Marriage Theory is the most plausible theory which has the most correct predictions and has stood up the best, I reckon there are probably some other causes of bans, which then lead to a flagged GamerTag and thus extensive scanning, but on the whole, Marriage Theory is the major thing to be aware of.

(summary of the current theories floating around : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=1994396)

...

Account Recovery Speculation:
There is a theory that you can prevent a Marriage Theory related ban which is going to happen, but which hasn't happened yet, by performing an account recovery before actually getting banned. As far as we know, this is not true.

(account recovery refutation : http://forums.xbox-s...dpost&p=2002938)

...

If you want to link to this post use this URL : http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=304652

zackery · « **Reply #1 on:** November 11, 2004, 02:41:00 AM »

I hope this helps out.

here are my specs
xbox ver 1.0
xecuter 2.2 lite

40 gig hard drive

I upgraded my hard drive about a year ago and then purchased xbox live. I have been playing halo 2 on xbox live since it came out and have not been banned yet. So this either proves your marriage theroy or m$ is banning people in waves. Either way I'm going to wait until we have more information on this situation to get back on xbox live.

oh yeah and i still have my first eprom. I've never had to get a new one.

This post has been edited by zackery: Nov 11 2004, 11:08 AM

jabberwock · « **Reply #2 on:** November 11, 2004, 02:59:00 AM »

From what i've gathered your theory seems quite probable at the moment. One thing though... do we know that it is on your first connection to live that MS take your EEPROM and HD serial OR could it be just at a given time when MS started checking XBoxes (via a a live update maybe, or otherwise). Are there people who have made changes to EEPROM and hard drives since joining live but not not for some time and are not banned?

Personally.. I've changed my EEPROM twice since joining live though not since January (Had a large HD installed already). Last night i went on to live.. did the update... and not banned, though will have to see what happens in due course. Can't check till Sunday though.

Gumba · « **Reply #3 on:** November 11, 2004, 03:11:00 AM »

We're currently assuming that as long as you made the changes before the last major Live update (Live 2.0?) then you're safe

So, yes, it looks like the checking doesn't go back all the way to the beginning of time

January should be okay I think, May... well... may be okay? I'm not sure of an exact date yet, the figure "8 months" has been floated.

Does anyone know when the Live 2.0 update came out?

zackery · « **Reply #4 on:** November 11, 2004, 03:14:00 AM »

like June or July I think.

Zero-One · « **Reply #5 on:** November 11, 2004, 03:15:00 AM »

Diablo1399 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 11, 2004, 03:20:00 AM »

Okay, here's what happened to me:

I had a modded Xbox with a 120gig HDD installed. Last night, I was able to play Halo2 on Live with no problems. Today, it won't let me connect -- either through Halo or the dashboard.

Note well: I have not actually been banned. I just get a network error when I try to connect to Live, and the troubleshooter gives me a "modified Xbox error".

HOWEVER, one thing strikes me as interesting -- I get the network error instantly. There's no delay as it tries to connect to Live. This leads me to believe that the HHD/EEPROM comparison is being done LOCALLY ie on your Xbox, not over Live.

I still have my original HDD, and I bet I could connect to Live if I installed it, but it's not locked, and my modchip currently isn't working, so I can't lock it.

Can anyone else confirm if the new HDD check is being done locally and not over Live (by using a packet sniffer or something to see if the Xbox communicates with Live before it refuses to connect)?

This post has been edited by Diablo1399: Nov 11 2004, 11:26 AM

Zero-One · « **Reply #7 on:** November 11, 2004, 03:29:00 AM »

zackery · « **Reply #8 on:** November 11, 2004, 03:32:00 AM »

That's what I was thinking to. Maybe you're on live, it copies this file over, and the ban doesn't take effect until you restart and when you try to get onto live it finds this new file.

Gumba · « **Reply #9 on:** November 11, 2004, 03:37:00 AM »

kyu81 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 11, 2004, 03:54:00 AM »

hmme I was just wondering would I get banned ?

I had xbox with 160gb in it and recently i switched my motherboard(still same hdd). I think last time I used live with old xbox was around mid April (not so sure) and i think major live update was around mid April. After I swirched my motherboard, I logged into live w/o a problem(like 2 weeks ago). I am getting halo2 today and I am reluctant to try. Do u think I might get banned?

ricjax99 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 11, 2004, 04:32:00 AM »

I'm a 99.9% newb to modded xbox's but i would like to add something to your intresting discussion.

If MS married the HD serial to the EEPROM, what happens to people who quite legitimately had their Xbox HD replaced due to a failure and already had a Live account with their old HD.

Should MS class a person who had an xbox repaired by someone other than MS themselves as a a criminal?? NO, Would they........................

!?

ILLusions0fGrander · « **Reply #12 on:** November 11, 2004, 04:43:00 AM »

Gumba · « **Reply #13 on:** November 11, 2004, 04:49:00 AM »

Gumba · « **Reply #14 on:** November 11, 2004, 04:53:00 AM »

Author Topic: Marriage Theory - How To Not Get Banned. (Read 1704 times)