Topic: Can The Xbox Dashboard Multitask? (Read 91 times)

rjm2k · « **on:** March 18, 2003, 03:53:00 AM »

No. If someone figures out a way, then in future, maybe.

caustic · « **Reply #1 on:** March 18, 2003, 11:32:00 PM »

Has anyone looked into how hard this would be?

Xzigx · « **Reply #2 on:** March 18, 2003, 11:37:00 PM »

I would think that this would have more to do with the MS kernal that drives the Xbox(someone please correct me if I am wrong.) Therefore I think if multitasking was an option it would already be going on now or soon to be anyway but it would involve more than just a new dash update most likely

Xzigx · « **Reply #3 on:** March 18, 2003, 11:56:00 PM »

QUOTE (rooicity @ Feb 14 2003, 07:59 AM)

Would the hardware from the Xbox allow threading of applications/games.

What i mean is, would it be possible to run Evox or Nexgen, then run a game while the Evox/Nexgen dashboard would still be accesible for File Transfer ( FTP ) ?

If it is possible i understand that this could be very difficult but could it even be possible ?

QUOTE (BenJeremy)

It's impossible, as far as what you decribed.

The only way to run things 'simultaneous' to a commercial app is through the BIOS, as in, some program that is a part of the BIOS.

The debug BIOS does this, and you can access things while programs are running, at least in debug mode (I haven't played around with it much beyond that, yet).

Accessing the system while programs are running will probably be one of those new 'gee whiz' features we'll see in upcoming X2 BIOSes - but they'll have to implement the FTP server inthe BIOS itself.

anticol · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2003, 03:18:00 AM »

QUOTE (caustic @ Mar 19 2003, 08:32 AM)

Has anyone looked into how hard this would be?

I always wondered if you would be able to get CXBX to compile on the XBOX i.e. you could emulate the xbox on the xbox.

I think this is what the XWrapper project is trying to do (but dont quote me on that).

caustic · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2003, 04:37:00 AM »

you mean to run multiple "virtual" xbox's with one app running in each?

rooicity · « **Reply #6 on:** March 19, 2003, 04:46:00 AM »

He means that when he runs a game, the game is threaded so that the evox menu is still active and he can use the FTP server functionality from Evox while he is playing games.

Just like your pc who can run excel and word at the same time ...

anticol · « **Reply #7 on:** March 20, 2003, 12:37:00 AM »

QUOTE (caustic @ Mar 19 2003, 01:37 PM)

you mean to run multiple "virtual" xbox's with one app running in each?

Yeah that sounds about right.

We would have an XBE (some derivative of CXBX) that would load other XBEs create a thread and jump to the entry point. This loader XBE would need to be able to load multiple sibling XBEs.

Now I realise that things are never quite as simple as all that. The main loader XBE would need to manage several of the kernel exports internally, such as loading sections from the sibling XBEs and I cant even begin to envisage the memory management that would go on.

There is however another, potentially simpler, option.

We could add an extra kernel export (or hijack one of the debug ones that are never really used). A BIOS hack that added an extra kernel export to load and execute a file without the need to reset. Now that would be quite smart.

Well, if the above makes any sense then I wrote it. If it doesnt then I dont know who wrote it.

Mage · « **Reply #8 on:** March 20, 2003, 01:30:00 AM »

bioses with plugin support are bound to show up in the future.
Multi-tasking in theory could be possible.
Setting up new GDT and whatnot wouldn't be very fun, but yeah, it could be possible.

Author Topic: Can The Xbox Dashboard Multitask? (Read 91 times)