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[Gumba]

QUOTE (HoRnEyDvL @ Nov 13 2004, 06:05 AM)

Hmm dont think thats right since we have been coding nexgen. We can detect hdd model & Serial number but size is not possible as far as i know using retail bios. Actualy I think im right apps cant detect hdd size no matter what. EG. 160gb hdd installed. Using lba48 patched bios aka x3live worked fine. I then flashed an original debug bios onto the chip which only detect up to 120gb. I then searched for games on f: but nothing would list up since nexgen was now not able 2 read the hardisk partition because the bios didnot support lba48. So unless M$ is reading hdds that are > 10gig then i dont see what other way they can be doing these bans. If im correct a retail bios cant read f: but can read the size of the partitions. Because even when i boot retail bios with my larger Hdd M$ dash still boots so yeah.

Just because you can't do it via bios calls, doesn't mean its not possible.

Does an xbox have access to the IDE controller? if so it could directly interrogate the HD and read its stats using RAW IDE commands. MS could easily do this, they just need to get one of their Xbox Wizards to whip them up some code.

They could just be reading the HD model number, and checking with a list of all models they've ever used in an xbox... if the model number is unknown, then its not a stock drive... easy.


This post has been edited by Gumba: Nov 13 2004, 05:30 AM

[beanomack]

Not sure if anyone else on the boards uses the MS retail site to get xbox stuff, but there was recently a posting on the site pretaining to modded xboxes. not really sure if this will help anything but just thought id include it here for informational purposes.  The following is a direct quote from the site.

QUOTE

Handling Tampered Xbox Consoles MS invests a great deal of time and effort to ensure that Xbox gamers enjoy the most powerful and exhilarating game experience available today. The health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services they receive, both from manufacturers and the local retailers that support them. MS does not authorize or support any products or companies that modify or change the Xbox console in any way. The Xbox Live team has noticed and received reports from the Xbox Live community about users connecting to the Xbox Live service using modified Xbox consoles. By doing this, users are breaking the Terms of Service that must be agreed upon when a gamertag is created. The Xbox Live team has taken steps to eliminate this unfair activity through added security measures. It's important to the Xbox Live team that we provide an environment that gives all players an opportunity to compete fairly online. Xbox Live constantly monitors for users attempting to bypass security measures and gain unfair advantages over other players, and will take additional action as needed. It’s possible some users who have modified their systems may attempt to return them as a result of the added security features. When processing Xbox video game system returns, retailers should always check the contents of the packaging, especially the system itself. Consumers who attempt to open the Xbox video game system have voided the consumer warranty. Xbox Live has recently initiated additional security measures to ensure that those connecting to Xbox Live with modified hardware will be removed from the system. Modified consoles will be banned from the Xbox Live service. Information about those banned machines will be tracked to prevent them from connecting to the service. The video game system must be returned without any visible signs of tampering with screws on the back of the unit. Tampering evidence indicates the consumer attempted to open the video game system case. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If the following stickers located on the bottom of the Xbox system are removed or the screws are tampered with, the Xbox warranty has been voided and Xbox WILL NOT provide refund for the return, warranty or technical support. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (IMG:http://retail.MS.com/retail/xbox/images/Consoleimage.jpg) Make sure you check for possible tampering. It's up to you and your employer's return policy to determine how to process a tampered console. Please do note once again that Xbox will not accept and provide a refund for returns of tampered consoles. Thank you from MS Xbox for your continued partnership with us!

Again im not sure this is of any importance at all.  Just thought id share it with everyone.

[h2thek]

Gumba/Others-

1st thanks for your work, at this point I reached a conclusion the marriage theroy makes sence, further more combine it with heinreich finding at it makes all the more sence.  

Just because that code was there before and not used, doesn't mean it isn't now....I have talked to several people.  The only ones getting banned installed live, then upgraded.  I am playing live fine as well as other friends who install live, post mod.  

Good Work

p.s. - I have yet to see this theroy fail.  I conclude hands down marriage theroy is it....

Good Work Guys

I wouldn't expect those Bast@rds to stop here  

[The InVert KING]

my cuz on a xenium ice got banned 11/9 soon as he was signing into halo2 for the first time.. i got a smart xx v1 i guess i needa check and see if ive been banned my gf hasnt played on it since 11/9 on halo2...

i didnt feel like reading 10 pages ne problems with smart xx v1 or v2 getting banned??

this sux ass i might say considinger i dont want to buy a third xbox for my gf

i have 1 modded (gf uses), and 1 unmodded( I use for live only

let me know plz

[Gumba]

QUOTE (The InVert KING @ Nov 13 2004, 08:45 AM)

my cuz on a xenium ice got banned 11/9 soon as he was signing into halo2 for the first time.. i got a smart xx v1 i guess i needa check and see if ive been banned my gf hasnt played on it since 11/9 on halo2... i didnt feel like reading 10 pages ne problems with smart xx v1 or v2 getting banned?? this sux ass i might say considinger i dont want to buy a third xbox for my gf i have 1 modded (gf uses), and 1 unmodded( I use for live only let me know plz

IvertKing, if you look at *one* post, make it this one

Marriage Theory: http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=304652 <-- GO HERE!!

[KlingElf]

I've got a 1.0 Mexico XBox w/ a 160 GB Western Digital HDD and a Xenium ICE installed. I originally ran XBL with the stock drive, but I may or may not have used the bigger HDD after the XBL2.0 date.

I played Halo 2 for about 10 hours on the 10th, using the retail BIOS, and just checked now, and I can log on to Live fine.

I believe that the key to proving or disproving the marriage theory is by booting the retail bios FROM THE MODCHIP!

Instead of disabling the chip, and leaving it open to probing, or whatever is going on, try flashing the retail bios to one of the banks and booting to that. It wouldn't explain the TSOP bans, but it might help the people with modchips.

Another theory I have is that modchips that require a bios selection on boot might trick the probe, should it exist, into thinking that nothing is there. The Xenium's on board OS isn't loaded the same way as the bios, as far as I know, so it could be tricking the theoretical probe into thinking that there's no modchip there at all.

If you guys could test these theories out, we may get closer to solving this problem.

[PeterMagician]

QUOTE (KlingElf @ Nov 13 2004, 10:14 AM)

I've got a 1.0 Mexico XBox w/ a 160 GB Western Digital HDD and a Xenium ICE installed. I originally ran XBL with the stock drive, but I may or may not have used the bigger HDD after the XBL2.0 date. I played Halo 2 for about 10 hours on the 10th, using the retail BIOS, and just checked now, and I can log on to Live fine. I believe that the key to proving or disproving the marriage theory is by booting the retail bios FROM THE MODCHIP! Instead of disabling the chip, and leaving it open to probing, or whatever is going on, try flashing the retail bios to one of the banks and booting to that. It wouldn't explain the TSOP bans, but it might help the people with modchips. If you guys could test these theories out, we may get closer to solving this problem.

This was also my idea, but i talked to some experts, and all of them said that this would not work. I have a XBIT, by the way. If this theorie is correct, would it work with it?

[HustlerOne]

I myself have a modded box (see stats in signature) and just bought Halo 2 Limited Edition.  I bought my box last October and modded it within 2 weeks of getting it with both the xecuter 2 and the 250GB hard drive.  The first time I attempted to log onto live was about a month or two ago when I finally bought a router, so my box was never on the network prior to being modded.  I'm going to try Halo 2 very soon on Live but I was wondering what my odds are of being banned, even using the retail disc and modchip off.

[Lightsier]

Well, let me tell you this story.

A friend wanted his XBox to be modded (software) so I said sure.  I did a harddrive swap for a 120GB (used the 007 hack) and we switched harddrives.  No moddified files or anything.   I even erased his C:\ drive and FTPed over a fresh MS Dashboard.  I did an account recovery on his XBox and everything worked fine.  He was able to get on Live no problem.

Then, I applied UDE2 to his XBox and that was fine.  Well, he wanted to go on XBox Live and download some content so I told him to rename all hacked files and folders to gibberish names and extensions (and return all the official MS files back to their proper names) and he was able to load up to the official MS Dashboard again.

He goes on live, banned (Modified XBox error).

So, I think they do atleast search the C: drive.  If you think it was something else let me know, but that's all I could see was possible.

[bLiZZaRd1284]

QUOTE (bLiZZaRd1284 @ Nov 12 2004, 12:51 AM)

I'm about to test this i have a 250gb hd never been on live,  and i'm getting a new eeproms from [email protected], i'm going to install everything lock the hd and take of my x2.3b lite + chip and just play live 2nite and see if i get banned tomorrow anyone else think i should do this or is this just a waste of time and M$ is really checking hd model #'s

i tested this out and my xbox its still able to login to  live.... and its been over 24hrs


i place in a new hd 250GB flashed the eeproms w/ a new one that i got used slayer cd to do a retail restore and took my mod out, created a new gt and used halo 2 to do an update or the dash and i have been plaiying on live last nite and thing morning.... i have yet to try the my other gt that has been flagged.......


my i think M$ is checking got unsign xbe files on C,  but i could just be reaching.....

[Genessee]

With the chip on, I've played a little Fable and Outrun (in single player mode) to make sure the backup to hdd was ok.

I have a 1.0 xbox, X2.3Lite chip, 120GB Maxtor HDD (Locked).

If I do get banned, at least they have that nifty Crystal XBox out now, I've always liked that one.

[thepissedoffman]

Just wanted to let you guys know my Live status: Unbanned :-)

I have a v.1 Xbox that I got the day it was launched. I modded it about 18-20 months ago with a Xecuter 2.3 Pro and put a 120 gig drive in it. I went onto Live after I had modded it.

I did get banned once around 8 months ago because I watched a DVD in the MS dashboard and left my chip on. I modded my brothers Xbox and took his EEPEROM with his permission and got back on live, that was about 3 months ago.

I also had a Thompson drive that I replaced 3 months ago with a Samsung drive.

As for the files on my drive I have crap everywere. My F drive has tons of ROMs, Xbox games, music and movies. I also have a few save game files that I downloaded on my hard drive, some that worked fine and some that did not 9 got curropt game fles when I tried to load it ). And finally I have the EvoX .xbe dashboard file in the root of my C drive.

I hope this helps in finding out how to avoid this banning.

[HomicidalMo0se]

QUOTE (Genessee @ Nov 13 2004, 05:01 PM)

No ban for me so far.  I've been playing a little DOA:U, Outrun and Halo2 on live.  Halo2 since about 2 days now I guess. All with the chip off of course With the chip on, I've played a little Fable and Outrun (in single player mode) to make sure the backup to hdd was ok. I have a 1.0 xbox, X2.3Lite chip, 120GB Maxtor HDD (Locked). If I do get banned, at least they have that nifty Crystal XBox out now, I've always liked that one.

genessee, when did you install your hdd?

[Gumba]

QUOTE (AntMan3DFX @ Nov 13 2004, 03:33 PM)

** Speaking of Savegames, Here is an interesting observation ** When Halo 2 updates it adds a save to our xboxes. The Save  is "ONLINE UPDATER APPLICATION"  .. Also if you delete your regular Halo 2 Game save it will have to re-Update XBOX LIVE via the Halo 2 disk, next time you play. I forget if its deleting the updater App or the Gamesave but I THINK its the gamesave.  Im not going to crack open any of those 2 files I just mentioned, dont have time, sorry.

That is a mighty interesting observation )

I wonder if this is the magical file which makes it so people get refused access even before their box appears to attempt access...

[Lightsier]

I'm going to ask my friend today what he was did before getting banned.  He might of done something stupid like try to log onto XBox Live with the hack enabled.