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[krayzie]

I really doubt Bungie can do anything besides banning or analyzing Halo 2 stuff/content. They surely cannot scan your entire harddrive or anything. And intimidating and/or scarying people is something anybody can do. I wouldn't take such things too serious.

[k1n3t1c]

QUOTE

I have Krayzies UnleashX softmod with xbmc emulators linux etc. I have no modded maps in my tdata folder. Ive been playing on Halo 2 live since the update with this xbox with no problems. Hope this helps

I have krayzie's softmod also. But it's the fact that we have the softmod installed. Just like I asked krayzie, if we're able to coldboot and/or just leave the softmod on (when not on live). It's just too risky or me. I uninstalled it though, but I still have all my roms, apps, and music stored in my box. I'm afraid to touch it though. Like once I reinstall the softmod, and it might detect something in the box. Like how M$ made an update to try making people not use dual booting. (I think I've said this before.. hehe. yep there it is.)

[krayzie]

If they don't scan the HD (what they probably don't) cold booting is as safe as normal.

And you probably mean the update to fix the double dash exploit. However I can't really see how that is relevant to this thread. That was just a dash update and not some banning/scanning situation.

I think all the fuzz about Bungie is becuz of 1 thing: Stupid people cheating with Halo on XBL. So if you just make sure you haven't modified any Halo2 files I think you would be safe on the Bungie part.

[misterhoangdai]

turn off your softmod or restore your C drive to get the update. it won't work if you coldbooted

[cTTbLaKeMAn]

no, turn off softmod and do a coldboot!

[takiat]

Here is the procedure that worked for me, but I think there must be an easier way, as some above have said to turn off the soft mod.
Couple of quick questions.
How do you turn off the soft mod? Through the unleash dash? if so, what menu do i go to to do that?
I looked and did not see a turn mod off switch. I have read and read and read and I always see cold boot treats the xbox like it's not soft modded, and I have been able to get updated for other games (like madden 06) with no problems at all off cold boot. Why is Halo any different, and if it is, that's fine too, since I found a way to make it work. I would just like to know.

Viper,
Use this procedure for MA as it worked flawlesly for me:

Step 1: I used Slayers Evox 2.6 disc and restored HD to factory. I had been using Ltools, so Slayers will erase all the non M$ stuff on your HD as if you had never done anything to it. Run this and whala, brand new xbox str8 off the shelf.

Step 2: Go find Krayzie_MA_UXE_Intaller_Dutch-English_v2.8 from "the usual places".

Step 3: Get Slayers Evox 2.6 from "the usual places"

Step 4: Install AR using the disc that came with the USB and mem card you ordered. Stick the mem card in the USB adaptor, which should be plugged in to any usb port, and start the AR software you just installed. You will see drag and drop screens (3 of them Memory Card, PC Database, and Codejunkies.com). If your mem card is inserted, you will see Datel mem or something to that effect.

Step 5: Having both windows open, AR and Win Explorer, drag the ZIP file udata.zip (it is under MA save folder) to the mechassult folder under the column pc database. If you have done it correctly, you should see the file run linux under mechassault folder in that column. Drag "run linux" over to the mem card.
(Here is the somewhat tricky part if no one has ever explained it to you, but I will) With Datel, the cards suck. It probably will not have enough blocks to move the file. Mine showed 496 as file size, and 494 blocks free, even after fromatting the card, renaming the card to "the number 1" thinking this might free up a couple of blocks (was not happening), so it just would not fit on this AR mem card that came with it. But I was doing this at 2 AM and didn't want to wait, nor spend the 14.99 for a used M$ card unless I had to. So...Open the zip and find the file " loading.jpg" The path is UDATA/4d530017/62D648EBF155/skin/GreenBox/loading.jpg. Just delete this file and save the zip.
Now try moving udata.zip over and BAM, 489 blocks which will fit on your AR mem card. Nice workaround at 2AM. I know you could go to Wally world at 2am and get one, but not used and its $29.99 new.

Step 6: Place the mem card in the XBOX controller, turn your XBOX on without a disk in it, and go to the mem card. On Mechassault, push the d pad right to highlight run linux and hit A which will ask to to copy to HD, Hit A and it will begin copying.

Step 7: Open the tray and load mechassault. You will need to make sure you have the correct one that works, so look at the cd on the innermost ring (where you normally place your thumb or finger to hold it, on the burned side. Moving it around in the light, you will find some etching very close the the inner edge that will say MS02301L or MS02348L (the 2nd one I read somewhere and am going off mem so not 100% sure if the 2nd # is correct. Regardless, this doesn't matter as you have to have the 2301 or it won't work. Once verified, load up the game and go to the campaign screen and click on run linux.
This will take you to the Nederlands - English radio button choice. Choose English and your off.

Step 8: Click install softmod, which will take you to the virtual setup menu.  Click yes and the next screen wil have options Step 1: Vitrual EEPROM- click a and it will backup you EEPROM. Next, move down to Virtual C and click a, it wil will say this could take a while, so click a again. This is where the loading.jpg comes in. If you did not delete it from the zip to make it fit, (like if you had a bigger mem card) you would see loading below the xbox during this step, but without it, you will just see the screen go to Evolution X screen. This is fine.
Once it's done, a min or so, you will see Help! .06 or .67? Click on that, read it.
This has to do with the size of you HD. If you haven't changed your HD from retail, then it doesn't matter which one you choose, so I chose .06.
Fllow the wizard until you get a choice for the dashboard. You can choose Evox or Unleash X. Personally, I have done both and like the Unleash better, but you can always very very quickly reinstall, so it's no biggie. The wizard will check your files, etc... just keep following it until it installs your dashboard.

Step 9: Once this is complete your xbox is soft modded successfully with 2.8. Push a to turn the power off, turn power back on and open tray to boot to the dash. Remember to take note of the EEPROM.bin backup on the last wizard screen. Use FlashFXP to move the file to your HD.

THATS IT, YOUR DONE! You now have a working retail/modded xbox that will play everything you throw at it.
Once you have done this a couple times, you will be able to mod an xbox while getting ready for work, as it is really so easy thanks to Krayzie, and takes under 10 min to mod an original xbox.

Forget about the new bigger hd's added, etc.... FTP the games directly from original cd to your hd, verify all the files are there, and use a program like Qwix (and there some newer ones out now that are supposed to better for file structure) to create an ISO. Burn using any ISO burning software. (I use DVD Decrypter v3.5.2.0 and have not had a single bad burn or disc not work), You will be able to use these to play anygame.
There are plently of posts about backing up, so I will just say as far as media, FujiFilm 8X DVD-R didn't work for me, but Sony 8X DVD+R did every single time.
Check BB, they are on sale $20 instant rebate so 19.99 for 50 at the register. You might want to get the Sony -R since i have read most xbox dvd-roms read -R better, but I have not had a single problem yet and over 20 games tried, including the new madden 06.

I will continue about Slayers 2.6 restore disc on my next post tonight.

Let us know how it goes.

[viper_1986_1986]

when you have a softmodded xbox how is the file structer?
the downloaded halo2 files will be in one set spot? thus even with a softmod on as long as i cold boot halo2 should be able to use the autoupdate, and install the files to the normal folder? even if i have other changes on the harddrive? such as having GTA:VC on the harddrive in another folder?

[takiat]

The Slayers disc will reset your HD to factory defaults. As long as you have the factory HD installed.
It will remove all NON-M$ items. Once you have restored, you can go on XBL, install your updates (no need to do any maps yet, they work from cold boot) and then re-mod your HD using the mem card, as you should keep that installer file for future use. Once you have reinstalled Krayzies, you will be able to go on Halo, as Slayer's would have removed all non M$ items (yes, this means you will lose any other items not M$ -  ie: apps, emulators, etc....)
Once you have remodded per steps in my previous post, you can get on XBL and d/l maps, etc... and it will work w/o banning you, although no one can gaurantee. I can just say my son has played Halo2 on XBOX live a couple of times since modding this way, and we have yet to be banned.
he is playing it as we speak, (what I would give to be a kid on summer break again!) and it is working flawlesly. I guess Halo2 is different than other games, because I could do updates on madden 06, and it updates the files no probs, but Halo will give you a service error from a cold boot once you hit update files.

Perhaps Krayzie will provide something to us so we don't have to unmod, then remod in these situations, but I am so happy with what he has done already, I don't mind at all. Like I said, it only takes a few min to restore, then reinstall his prog. I can easily and quicly ftp the emulator and other apps files as needed, but the good thing about krayzies, you should not need any other apps besides his to play xbox with burned or original XBL games.

One thing, you will have to install his mod before you can use slayers, so I installed mod, used slayers, then reinstalled on all xboxes I have modded since you never know if someone has mod files on their xbox, and you should have a clean xbox before installing his to not interfere with the install and cause any problems. Oh yeah, when I restored to original factory HD, it removed my XBL account, but I wanted to make 100% sure my HD was clean. At lease until the end of the year when XBL acct ends. After that, it's the one online service they talk about on the scene that I will be using....DAMN XBL in 2007!
Anyway, just do account recovery, and your XBL acct will be back on your HD and make sure you recover before you install Krayzie's.

As far as file structure, I use Qwix to burn and don't notice any additional lag playing OFFLINE games, but if you search on here for qwix, you will find newer better programs to improve the way the file structure is copied, as in not alphabetical. I have not tried them yet, but have read a lot of posts, so it looks like something I will look into at some point.

For other files on the HD, if I understand Krayzie properly, then since his prog boots to a virtual c, it doesn't matter if you have other files in other folders just to be able to play XBL. You should not get banned. Perhaps Krayzie could weigh in and let me know if I am understanding this correctly.
The only reason I even used Slayers is because I got a service error when attempting to d/l the Halo2 update files (not the maps). My son mostly plays this, so I asked him and he said file updates at log in are not seldom, so for now it's a good workaround. Keep in mind I have not has this updating problem with anything but Halo2.
Also, if Krayzie could weigh in on the question of turning off the soft mod, since cold boot does allow updates at log in to XBL.
You could try to install the updates, and if you get a service error screen, go back and follow the slayer restore to factory/XBL acct recovery/update Halo2 files/reinstall Krayzies..... method and it WILL work.
You will have to reinstall your apps and emulators etc... when doing it this way.

I do not know about the game saves bannig you from XBL, if the game saves came while using an exploit. I thought Krayzies 2.8 did not make you do that, but I am not sure on this one. Anyone???
Thanks

Hope this helps, back to work now, just on break.

Latz

[takiat]

Viper,
Got an update, although you probably have read this in the other thead MA vs Splinter Cell. You just have to click on run linux after booting to the original MA game screen. Go to campaign, click run linux, then it will give you the option to turn off the soft mod so you can go on XBL and get updates, etc...
Krayzie is an exceptional human being. Thanks for making such an incredible program.