xboxscene.org forums

Author Topic: Debug Rc4 Key  (Read 46 times)

volcomman2003

  • Archived User
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 144
Debug Rc4 Key
« on: January 06, 2004, 06:13:00 PM »

k i had one or two questions i was just starting to turn my box to a debug box anyways i was following a tutorial here on xbox-scene its the easy way to make you xbox and debug box anyways i got all the files from the usual places and proceeded with the tutorial i hit the debug rc4 key and the moment when you have to change
the line

:Romfile xboxrom.bin

to something else i think the bios the tutorial was unclear on all of this to me

my ? were can i find my debug rc4 key or do i have to get it from some where else and do i change xboxrom.bin to the bios.bin file that i have or what thanx for the help anything is appreciated

edit: i downloaded some bioses and i get the romfile line now but the problem is which bios to use i am using a soft mod so one of them might be the wrong type for me any suggestions
Logged

delphaeus

  • Archived User
  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 20
Debug Rc4 Key
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2004, 05:43:00 PM »

You should really use the search function next time, but I'll be nice and answer.

The Xbox BIOS contains a compressed and encrypted copy of the kernel -- the secondary boot loader (2bl for short) starts by decrypting the kernel into memory in order to run it, using the RC4 algorithm.  If you don't have the right key, it'll output garbage, and the Xbox won't boot.  If you have the right key, it'll output a nice happy fun kernel, and the Xbox will jump into it, and puppies will dance and play.

(Just to prevent some confusion, there's actually two RC4 decrypts; the one you're concerned about is the second.  The first is done to decrypt/decompress the 2bl itself, and the RC4 key for that is stored inside the MCPX.  But that's not relevant to your problem.)

There are tutorials in the xbox-scene archives (and better tutorials in the Phoenix Boot Loader forums) that will tell you how to extract an RC4 key from a BIOS image yourself.  Because of that wonderful law we call the DMCA, it is illegal to blatantly ask for the RC4 key for an image, and it's illegal for us to post the keys.  So, I'm afraid this is as much help as any of us can give you.  Once you get the RC4 key, you save it in the rompath.ini file, and it'll work.

FYI, if you have a 1.0 or 1.1 Xbox, you'll also need EEPROM keys.  Again, search the PBL and XS forums for more info on that.  And if you want to know about what the Xbox is actually doing when it boots, this page on the Xbox-Linux project site is quite informative.
Logged

d0wnlab

  • Archived User
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 326
Debug Rc4 Key
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2004, 02:22:00 PM »

QUOTE (delphaeus @ Jan 13 2004, 03:43 AM)
You should really use the search function next time, but I'll be nice and answer.

just to point out something, and in no way am i complaining about it x-s does a great service to the end-users, and downtime is an inevitability,

but when search is down more often than not when you go to use it, sometimes you COULDN'T just use the search function.
Logged