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[PedrosPad]

QUOTE (rmenhal @ May 24 2004, 05:33 AM)

It might be possible to beef up bert so that it would check if e.g. either of the fire buttons is pressed during boot and if so then skip key patching and run an alternative executable instead of E:\default.xbe.

Ok, the big reveal.....

I've always believed that restoring the standard system state is the trick to Live access - and not patching the retail XBEs, thereby breaking their signatures and all the problems this brings.

I determined that Live 1.0 and greater programs appear to check C:\fonts ahead of falling back to C:\.  Thus file and folder renaming is one of the techniques I had in mind.

Part 1: Restoring the standard system state.
With the Ultimate Dashboard Exploit, with bert_ate_ernie deployed in the root on C:\ (as I recommended), restoring the standard system state requires:

To hide the Ultimate Dashboard Exploit (UDE):

• Renaming the update.xbe based C:\xboxdash.xbe to C:\xboxdash.xbeUDE
• Renaming C:\bert_ate_ernie.xtf to C:\bert_ate_ernie.xtfUDE

To restore the standard system state:

• Renaming C:\f0nts back to C:\fonts
• Renaming a backed up retail dashboard (any ) from C:\xboxdash.xbeORG, to C:\xboxdash.xbe

The advantage of this restored system state, is safe access to the retail dashboard, from which XBOX!Live console can then be launched (and xonlinedash.xbe can now return to the retail dashboard also).

Getting the bert_ate_ernie.xtf font to do this renaming via a held button press is not an idea I'd considered, but a cool one.  It simply needs to reboot after all the renaming. .  (I was considering using an easter egg exploit to 'toggle' the renaming).

Part 2:  Reinstalling the Ultimate Dashboard Exploit.
All retail dashboards released so far can perform the easter egg exploit.  In this scenario the settings_adoc.xip needs to be the pre-live 4817 Dashboard, that'll be exploited via double-dash fonts, installed to the root C:\.  You see, Live 1.0, and greater, XBEs look for their fonts in C:\fonts first, but pre-live XBEs only look at the root C:\.  These fonts will be reverse the renaming, and simply reboot.

Note:- Left out, for clarify, is the fact that the easter egg fonts will also actually need to be included in the rename toggling.

Let's all start timing rmenhal

PS. Because you'll be using latest retail Dashboard when in the safe system state, you shouldn't get any repeated forced updates from XBOX!Live.
PPS. The pre-live Dashboard's C:\settings_adoc.xip isn't overwitten by Dashboard updates (they update the one in C:\dashdata...\settings_adoc.xip).

[rodpad]

any chance someone could hook me up with a link (via pm) to the package? or is it now at the "usual places"? i checked last nite but no luck

[ldots]

QUOTE (PedrosPad @ May 24 2004, 09:46 AM)

PS. Because you'll be using latest retail Dashboard when in the safe system state, you shouldn't get any repeated forced updates from XBOX!Live. PPS. The pre-live Dashboard's C:\settings_adoc.xip isn't overwitten by Dashboard updates (they update the one in C:\dashdata...\settings_adoc.xip).

Maybe I dont get your idea, but when you return from Live (being in the restored state), you return to the latest retail Dashboard right? Then you want to use the easter egg exploit to return to the UDE. This requires having the C:\xboxdashdata...\settings_adoc.xip replaced by the pre-live dashboard to work. But if/when the retail dashboard will be updated on Live this settings_adoc.xip will be replaced - thereby disabling the easter egg exploit  

[PedrosPad]

QUOTE (ldots @ May 24 2004, 11:17 AM)

Maybe I dont get your idea, but when you return from Live (being in the restored state), you return to the latest retail Dashboard right? Then you want to use the easter egg exploit to return to the UDE. This requires having the C:\xboxdashdata...\settings_adoc.xip replaced by the pre-live dashboard to work. But if/when the retail dashboard will be updated on Live this settings_adoc.xip will be replaced - thereby disabling the easter egg exploit

Good catch ldots - but I'd be very surprised if an entire Dashboard upgrade would be triggered by an incorrect C:\xboxdashdata...\settings_adoc.xip (given that this is only an easter egg, and not really involved in the operation of the XBOX or XBOX!Live.)  If this is replaced, occasionally, by an XBOX!Live update, it can be downgraded again via a game save (hell of a lot easier downgrading this one file, than the whole dashboard).  So I don't think this affects my proposed solution. It'd be helpful if someone could pop in legacy C:\xboxdashdata...\settings_adoc.xip, and hop onto XBOX!Live, to see if this forced an update, but I guess no one would want to risk getting banned.  I'm game to try in once me broadband gets installed next week (I need XBOX for me bedroom anyway ).

[TraZer]

/TraZer

[PedrosPad]

QUOTE (TraZer @ May 24 2004, 12:29 PM)

I nedd some serious help here.... I may have missed something I dont know but everytime I boot my xbox I get the 21 error problem.... I want to be able to boot PBL directly. I have usually been running PBL from the bert ernie reloaded font hack and it have worked pretty good unless that damned clock loop. Ok soo here is what I have done I copied bert_ate_ernie.xtf to c:\ renamed the font directory to f0nts with a zero (shall I remove the fonts inside the directory?) I got a xboxdash (update.xml correct size) from a guy who sentme some files and I also copied it to C:\ then  copied xboxdash.xbe, evoxdash.xbe and evox ini to c:\ Now I copied the last files I needed in E:\ default.xbe, boot.cfg, phoenix.raw and xboxrom.bin if anyone could help me on this I would be sooooooooooooooo gratefull *haha* /TraZer

You don't state that you've removed (or renamed them to  .XTFBAK) the other XTF fonts on C:\.  bert_ate_ernie should be the only file with an XTF entension left on C:\

Although, the symptom looks like the E:\default.xbe isn't habibi signed.

Try and locate a _Package that's been prepared - It'll have all the files you need, correctly signed, etc.

[TraZer]

thanks again
TraZer

[rmenhal]

QUOTE (wivenhoe123 @ May 24 2004, 07:54 AM)

though as soon as i remove my mod chip and try and boot i receive an error 13! any suggestions?

Since it seems to be working with the chip, it must be that your executables aren't properly signed.

QUOTE

UPDATE! ok it seems if i use the xboxdash.xbe from digisatman's package then i receive error 21, though if i sign the xboxdash.xbe it changes to a error 13.

You mustn't sign or modify that xboxdash.xbe in any manner. Error 21 looks better here. Is your E:\default.xbe from digisatman's package too? It should then be properly signed already (right?) and need no signing or modifications. If your E:\default.xbe is from somewhere else, then you need to sign it with xbedump using the -habibi option.

[Angerwound]

QUOTE (rmenhal @ May 24 2004, 06:30 AM)

"fonts" is in 16-bit unicode. In this case, there's just a 0x00 after each (8-bit) letter. There are two occurrences in xboxdash.xbe.

Thanks rmenhal!

[Angerwound]

Well, I guess you edited out the question on your post rmenhal but no a modified settings_adoc.xip will not cause an update just tested it.

BTW, I have K: 4034 and D: 5960 running the UDE. I can boot to the hexed m$dash.xbe but no luck with xonlinedash.xbe yet. Kicks me back to the avalaunch dash. I hexed it as well. Hrm...


I also discovered that when all three fonts are placed in the fonts DIR.

/c/fonts/
xbox.xtf
xbox book.xtf
bert_ate_ernie.xtf

The MS Dash will boot. It either loads the other two first or skips bert_ate_ernie.xtf
The update.xbe(4920 UDE version) performs the same way, if all three are within the same folder the xbox.xtf and xbox book.xtf are loaded first and the update application starts.

[TraZer]

I have posted two images of how my C:\ and E:\ drive looks like
maybe it could be of some help for us who cant get this to work?
or else I just have to go back to the original font hack whisch I reeeaaaallt hate haha.
anyway here comes the images:

Partition C:\
Partition E:\

thanks for all your help and putting up with all my questions

/TraZer

[PedrosPad]

QUOTE (rmenhal @ May 24 2004, 01:23 PM)

But.. isn't this already done? 1. Install easter-egg 2. Install UDE 3. Install Idots' EvoX menu entries (but remove the ST.DB renaming lines) I've never used a game save exploit, so I have to ask. Is easter-egg really easier/faster than doing it through a game save? When a new version of dash becomes available, you'll need to either do a game save exploit or open your box and attach Xbox's HD to a PC. Well, if you don't mind the latter option and don't have 007/MA/SC, then I guess easter-egg makes sense. I didn't want anything renamed, but patched on-the-fly. Just reboot with fire button pressed and go Live. That's it. But if we mustn't patch anything in memory, then the button-press-on-reboot simplicity doesn't make much sense. But does having a modified C:\dashdata...\settings_adoc.xip cause any repeatedly forced updates? devz3ro?

Excellent - Some feed back.

YES! it's all being done already - so it's a tried and tested solution .  Largely what I'm recommending is the purpose the various exploits are put to.

The original Easter egg exploit was used to go from a safe state to an exploited one.

With the Ultimate Dashboard Exploit you can boot directly into the exploited state.  

I think it's fair to say that the exploited state would be used more, so the Easter egg's finger dancing makes it inconvenient for frequent use.

At this point, it's worth reminding the readers you can still play XBOX!Live games, from original media, in the exploited state - you just can't use the game's link to the XBOX!Live console.

Once in the exploited state, you could use an Evox script to perform the renaming (as you point out), but because some people prefer alternative custom Dashboards that may not contain scripting, this is not an option for all.  However all custom Dashboards allow the execution of an XBE, so putting the all the necessary renaming into an XBE would suit everybody.  (Making the bert_ate_ernie font execute this 'C:\RenameSafe.xbe' on a held-button press skips even the need to enter the custom Dashboard).

What's new in what I propose is to use the Easter Egg exploit (which currently works on all Dashboards) to re-enable the Ultimate Dashboard Exploit, from the safe state.  No need to scramble around finding your exploited game DVD, etc.   It's all on the HDD.

All the bits actually exist on the scene for anyone to configure their XBOX this way, but I feel that it would be made simpler by a new DD bert & ernie font, for use by the Easter egg, that'd execute a 'C:\RenameUDE.xbe', and, ideally, a new bert_ate_ernie font, that'd launch 'C:\RenameSafe.xbe' on a held-button.

[PedrosPad]

QUOTE (PedrosPad @ May 24 2004, 11:46 AM)

I'd be very surprised if an entire Dashboard upgrade would be triggered by an incorrect C:\xboxdashdata...\settings_adoc.xip (given that this is only an easter egg, and not really involved in the operation of the XBOX or XBOX!Live.)It'd be helpful if someone could pop in legacy C:\xboxdashdata...\settings_adoc.xip, and hop onto XBOX!Live, to see if this forced an update, but I guess no one would want to risk getting banned.  I'm game to try in once me broadband gets installed next week (I need XBOX for me bedroom anyway ).

QUOTE (Angerwound @ May 24 2004, 01:43 PM)

Well, I guess you edited out the question on your post rmenhal but no a modified settings_adoc.xip will not cause an update just tested it.

A brave man, and an ace result!

QUOTE (PedrosPad @ May 24 2004, 09:16 AM)

I'm assuming that, by the time you've performed all the XBOX!Live updates to the latest Dashboard/XBOX!Live console, the final xodash\update.xbe would be far newer than the 4290 update.xbe - and the font overflow bug fixed. A best-case-scenario is that the additional check simply steps over loading an overflowing font, and carries on looking and loading the remaining fonts what match the *.xtf wildcard.

QUOTE (Angerwound @ May 24 2004, 01:43 PM)

BTW, I have K: 4034 and D: 5960 I also discovered that when all three fonts are placed in the fonts DIR. /c/fonts/ xbox.xtf xbox book.xtf bert_ate_ernie.xtf The MS Dash will boot. It either loads the other two first or skips bert_ate_ernie.xtf

More ace results

[{later}]

QUOTE (TraZer @ May 24 2004, 01:57 PM)

I have posted two images of how my C:\ and E:\ drive looks like maybe it could be of some help for us who cant get this to work? or else I just have to go back to the original font hack whisch I reeeaaaallt hate haha. anyway here comes the images: Partition C:\ Partition E:\ thanks for all your help and putting up with all my questions /TraZer

ok,

what kernel and what dashboard are you using? cuz your screens look ok...

you only seem to miss the settings_adoc.xip at your C drive.

Here are my pics of C:\ and E:\ (exploit is working perfect here)

http://members.lycos...ler/C-Drive.jpg
http://members.lycos...ler/E-Drive.jpg

Also, to all the non-believers, the clock loop is 100% fixed! I've unplugged my xbox for about 12 hours and then plugged it in WITHOUT a network cable in it. It booted the first try!

[digisatman]

QUOTE

Also, to all the non-believers, the clock loop is 100% fixed! I've unplugged my xbox for about 12 hours and then plugged it in WITHOUT a network cable in it. It booted the first try!

who said there were non-beleivers?



lol