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Softpack for xboxhdm
The text below is the readme from a softmod package for xboxhdm. It's aimed at people who cannot use memcards to get the required files on their xbox - I still believe the memcard packages are easier to use if you have this options, since you dont have to take the lid off you xbox. If you however at the same time want to upgrade your HDD this could be of interrest to you.
This package will hopefully extend the usefulness of xboxhdm, and make life easier for first-time softmodders and people who are scared of linux...

Pay special attention to the requirements on kernel and dashboard versions.

CODE

Softmod Package for use with xboxhdm. ------------------------------------- This is a small package intended to make softmodding easier using xboxhdm. WARNING ------- It's ONLY for people having a kernel version below 5530 and running dash 4920. If you dont fulfill these requirements there is no point in trying to use this package. SOFTWARE NEEDED. --------------- xboxhdm v1.3 or above softpack v.1.0 WHY ? ----- Some people dont have the option to use softhack packages from memory cards. The alternative is to upload files to the xbox HDD from a PC using HDD Driver or a fatx enabled linux. HDD Driver is buggy (if people get it running at all) and some people dont like to use linux because they are unfamiliar with the commands needed. Xboxhdm tries to be more user-friendly by including a semi-graphical filemanager, and now if people just want the "standard" hacks this package should make installation even more simple. WHAT WILL IT DO ? ----------------------- This package will install : 1) The NO-CD new stable audio hack. 2) The Mech-fonts (original feenix version)   The "Xbox Live" tab will be renamed to PBL   and will load the Phoenix Bios Loader when pressed. 3) Phoenix Bios Loader v 1.4.1 with support for Focus chip.   Only bios included is the 4981.67_ef bios. Include   more bioses (E:\pbl\Bioses) if you need. 4) Evox v. 3935.   Ip              = 192.168.0.3   Subnetmask      = 255.255.255.0   Defaultgateway  = 192.168.0.1 5) Install a font patched copy of the MS dashboard (xtf -> bak)   in C:\ called msdash.xbe to be run from Evox when using   the font hack. It has been tested only on the 4920   dashboard from Slayers Evox, but should work on all 4920   dashboards. On first boot after succesfully installing this package only the audio hack will be enabled. I did this to ensure nobody would end in the clock loop on the first boot. (To run the hack go to Music. Press "unnamed soundtrack". Then choose copy -> copy -> New Soundtrack -> Done The included Evox has been set up to be able to enable/disable the font hack, and at the same time disable the audio hack. Go to : System Utils -> Settings  to access this option. The Mech fonts have been found to be very good at recovering from the clock loop, but some people still experience them. Therefore the font-hack enable/disable functionality is usefull if you are going to unplug your xbox from power for longer periods of time. Also when the fonts are disabled you have the soundtrack capabilities of the MS dash. HOW TO USE ---------- Get the software. Extract both xboxhdm and softpack. Move the softpack directory to xboxhdm/linux/ See the howto from xboxhdm for information on making the bootable iso. (the impatient user can just execute the make-iso-win.bat script) Unlock your xbox HDD, either by hotswapping or by unlocking the drive with the unique HDD password (get it from Evox, ConfigMagic, or use your eeprom). Once bootet to xboxhdm with your xbox HDD on primary master type : softmod Follow instructions. When you are done remember to re-lock the drive if it was unlocked earlier. Reassemble you xbox. Enjoy ! Remember that you can use xboxhdm and the built-in filemanager 'xbrowser' to add, remove, renamed files and directories on your xbox HDD.

This post has been edited by ldots: May 16 2004, 05:52 PM

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Thought I'd might as well add a small guide on hotswapping using xboxhdm. You dont have to remove your HDD from the xbox. Just do the following :

• Remove torx screws in the bottom of the xbox to be able to remove the lid.
• Move your xbox close to your PC, so that the primary ide cable from the PC can reach the xbox HDD
• Pull out the ide cable from the xbox DVD drive
• Boot xbox. Will stop at error 12 with the HDD in an unlocked state.
• Boot PC with xboxhdm CD in the drive
• At the linux boot prompt it will wait for 5 mins. allowing you to do the hotswap - plug PC primary master ide cable in xbox HDD.
• Press enter to boot xboxhdm
• To install softmods type : softmod

If you didn't do the hotswap correct you will receive an error from the 'softmod' command.

[ldots]

For a future update to this package I am/have made a small patcher program
for patching xboxdash to use *.bak fonts, allowing the user to lauch msdash
from Evox when installing this package. I want to do this patching only for
dash 4920 since this is preferred Mech-font dash anyway, but I have come
across two different versions of dash 4920 :

Version 1 (From Splinter Cell update) :
Filesize (bytes) : 1633220
Data folder : xboxdashdata.10027100

Version 2 (from Slayers) :
Filesize (bytes) : 1634304
Data folder : xboxdashdata.1012a700

The offsets specifying the fonts in these dashboards seem to be the same,
but I would like to know if I can always trust them to be. Does anyone know
of more 4920 dash versions? Any comments on whether I can assume the offsets to the same for all 4920 dashes?

[ldots]

OK - no response the my post above! So I went ahead and inluded the xtf -> bak patcher on the new release of xboxhdm (v.1.4)
When installing the softmod packge the user will now be given the option to make a copy of the xboxdash.xbe, automatically patch it (xtf->bak) to be able to reach the ms dash from Evox.
The patcher checks the xboxdash version in that the filesize is checked and the patching is aborted if it doesn't match any of the two filesizes posted above. It has been tested to work on the 4920 dash included with Slayers.

Have fun with!
Remember, that when building an xbox HDD from scratch anyway, this is a very easy way to include the dashboard exploits and PBL/Evox - if you dash/kernel version allows it!

[jon20usa]

u sir are a genius. thanks for ur huge contributions to the scene. keep up the awesome work!!!      

[ldots]

Thanks a lot! Nice to know my work is appreciated.  

[Studerboy]

QUOTE (ldots @ May 8 2004, 11:46 PM)

Thought I'd might as well add a small guide on hotswapping using xboxhdm. You dont have to remove your HDD from the xbox. Just do the following : Remove torx screws in the bottom of the xbox to be able to remove the lid. Move your xbox close to your PC, so that the primary ide cable from the PC can reach the xbox HDD Pull out the ide cable from the xbox DVD drive Boot xbox. Will stop at error 12 with the HDD in an unlocked state. Boot PC with xboxhdm CD in the drive At the linux boot prompt it will wait for 5 mins. allowing you to do the hotswap - plug PC primary master ide cable in xbox HDD. Press enter to boot xboxhdm To install softmods type : softmod If you didn't do the hotswap correct you will receive an error from the 'softmod' command.

Will this work if you don't want to use the cd but just to unlock your hard drive??

[Angerwound]

Yes you are great man. I finally had a legit reason to use your tool today other than to just mess around. A friend borrowed my box and when it arrived back nothing but Error's out the ass. You saved my life today. Only problem I had was when I tried to use your script it wouldn't load 'xbrowser' worked just fine though...  

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QUOTE (Studerboy @ May 20 2004, 02:38 AM)

Will this work if you don't want to use the cd but just to unlock your hard drive??

Yes it will. You can do the same without the xboxhdm CD. Just hit the 'pause' button on you PC before the bios starts detecting hardware. Then do the hotswap and hit 'pause' again to resume booting.

[ldots]

Thanks Anger!

QUOTE (Angerwound @ May 20 2004, 02:51 AM)

Only problem I had was when I tried to use your script it wouldn't load 'xbrowser' worked just fine though...

Just to be sure if it's a bug I need to fix... Did you mean the 'softmod' command didn't work? And do you remember what error you got? Could be it didn't find the softmod package?

[Dlusion]

Is this a way of getting files to the xbox hdd without a mem card and original box? If so can I do it but do a different exploit?

[orenda666]

First of all, great little pack. And I imagine the problems I had were down to personal user error.

I booted up the xboxhdm iso I had burnt including dash 4920. Copied the dash across. All good.

Ran softmod, it found the softmod pack on the cd, found the x-box partition and proceeded to
start the installation.

I accepted the installation of the Audio hack: OK
Accepted the installation of the Font Hack, said yes to installing/replacing PBL & Evox.

Thats when the problem hit. It basically tried to remove every file from the cd-rom directory,
obviously failing being ro, and claimed that all had been successful.

Started xbrowser again, and my C drive on the box was completely empty. So re-copied the dash across
and retried the sofmod, same result. Re-copied the dash again and restarted the x-box. I can load evox via the Audio hack, but cant install the font exploit as the files obviously arent in the directory. Noticed that the softmod mounts the pack when installing. Am running Suse, so could I mount it in Suse and copy across the respective font files via ftp , and if so, what is the mount command and I presume it would just be the bert/ernie font hacks.

Cheers!