QUOTE(FrostyTheSnowman @ Aug 25 2009, 04:29 PM)

Actually it is a shielded 8-wire PlayStation2 extension cable w/ends chopped off.
Hahaha, a Playstation2 extension cable, no way i would guess that.
(Good use of the competitors parts)
Could you measure the resistance of one of the wires? and the voltage on d0-d7 of your printer port?
Shielded should be better, but it may also cause your problems with the longer cable.
Did you connect the shielding to the Xbox outer casing and the shield of the pc?
Use to work for a big telecom firm and have seen some weird shit with different sorts of cables.