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Xbox360 Forums => Xbox360 Software Forums => *nix OS and libxenon software on Xbox 360 => Topic started by: stonersmurff on April 01, 2007, 02:51:00 AM

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: stonersmurff on April 01, 2007, 02:51:00 AM

How to Install Ubuntu onto your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
(Using Debootstrap)

Introduction:
This is an advanced guide for installing Ubuntu to an Xbox360. I am assuming you already have Linux experience and understand the fundamentals. Anybody who is willing to write a guide for beginners can feel free to reference any information from this guide.

Prerequisites:
•   Xbox360 with a kernel version of 4532 or 4548. (If your kernel version is lower then 4532, you will need to update using HD_DVD_10-2006.zip.)
•   Hitachi 360 DVD Drive with modified firmware (Samsung does not work!)
•   Patched King Kong disk with the new King Kong Shader exploit for XeLL.
•   Cpasjuste’s Gentoo Beta Live CD found here http://downloads.sourceforge.net/free60/ge...on-beta.tar.bz2
   You must use the above version, because the first one lacks the tools needed.
•   Internet Connection (High Speed is preferred, since you will be downloading the install packages from the internet.)
•   Microsoft VGA cable for the 360 is also recommended, since it can be difficult to see what you are doing on a TV.
•   USB Keyboard/mouse.
•   Made a backup your retail xbox360 drive. (This is very important; not doing so will make it impossible to save 360 content to the drive again!)

Backing up your Xbox360 Retail Hard Drive WARNING:
Before even considering formatting your retail Xbox 360 Hard Drive for Linux, you must take a backup of either the whole drive or just the key sector to be able to use it again for saved games and other 360 content. This can be done with disk tools such as WinHex. If you’re unsure on how to do this, do not continue!

Installing Ubuntu Linux using Cpasjuste’s Gentoo Beta Live CD:
This guide is assuming that you have already patched and burned a King Kong ISO and have the new beta live CD booting your 360 into Gentoo. If you are not this far yet, then please refer to other guides to accomplish this. You will have to login as root before starting or put sudo at the beginning of each command, same goes for the rest of the guide.

At this point you should be in Gentoo Linux. DHCP should have setup your network connection. To check type ping www.google.com into the terminal you should get a response if your network connection is up and running. If not follow these steps to manually configure your network connection:

Type:

CODE

ifconfig eth0 192.168.0.2 up

Replace 192.168.0.2 with the IP address that you want to set.

CODE

route add default gw 192.168.0.1

Replace 192.168.0.1 with the gateway address that you want to set.

CODE

vi /etc/resolv.conf
nameserver 192.168.9.1

Replace 192.168.0.1 with the nameserver address that you want to set.

Now test your connection again, ping www.google.com you should now get a response, if you don’t get a response double check your settings.

Setting up the Hard Drive:
Type

CODE

cfdisk /dev/sda

This will bring up a graphical fdisk program.
Create your Linux swap partition:
Select New > Primary > 1024 > Select Beginning
Create your Linux install partition (you have to arrow down to free space first):
Select New > Primary > Let it use the rest of the free space and just press enter

Now you should have two partitions, sda2 should have the largest portion of space and sda1 should be around 1 gig to be used for swap space, if this is correct then arrow over to write, press enter and type yes. Then quit

Once that is done you need to format the install partition with:

CODE

mkfs.ext3 /dev/sda2

Then setup your swap partition with:

CODE

mkswap /dev/sda1
sync; sync; sync
swapon /dev/sda1

Install Ubuntu to the Xbox360:
Now that your drives are formatted and partitioned, it is time to mount the install partition and make a directory to get started from:

CODE

mkdir /mnt/ubuntu
mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/ubuntu
cd /mnt/ubuntu
mkdir work
cd work

Get the Debootstrap tools:

CODE

wget http://archive.ubuntulinux.org/ubuntu/pool/main/d/debootstrap/debootstrap_0.3.3.2ubuntu3_all.deb

Extract debootstrap:

CODE

ar -xf debootstrap_0.3.3.2ubuntu3_all.deb
cd –
zcat < /mnt/ubuntu/work/data.tar.gz | tar xv

Change folder paths by typing:

CODE

export DEBOOTSTRAP_DIR=/mnt/ubuntu/usr/lib/debootstrap
export PATH=$PATH:/mnt/ubuntu/usr/sbin

Run debootstrap:

CODE

debootstrap --arch powerpc edgy /mnt/ubuntu http://archive.ubuntulinux.org/ubuntu

For the fastest installation, use a mirror closest to you. Mirrors are listed at
http://wiki.ubuntulinux.org/Archive.

Downloading the basic installation can take an hour or so.

Configure the Base System:
Once the download is complete change root to your new Ubuntu file system:

CODE

chroot /mnt/ubuntu /bin/bash

Create a custom fstab:

CODE

editor /etc/fstab

You will need to add these entry’s to your fstab:

CODE

/dev/sda2     /          ext3     defaults   0   0
/dev/sda1     none    swap    sw           0   0
proc          /proc     proc    defaults  0   0
sys          /sys      sysfs   defaults  0   0

Configure Networking:
You will now need to configure your network, below is an example. Make sure to use the settings for your network. (If you do not set a loopback as shown in the example, gnome will fail to boot correctly)

CODE

editor /etc/network/interfaces

CODE

iface lo inet loopback
auto lo

# To use dhcp:
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet dhcp

#To use static:
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
address 192.168.0.45
network 192.168.0.0
netmask 255.255.255.0
broadcast 192.168.0.255
gateway 192.168.0.1

Edit resolv.conf to insert your nameserver, below is an example. Make sure to use the settings for your network

CODE

editor /etc/resolv.conf

search hsd1.mn.comcast.net.
nameserver 192.168.0.1
nameserver 192.168.0.2
domain WORKGROUP

Now reboot the Xbox 360.

Booting into Ubuntu from the Hard Drive:
Since you are no longer using the live cd, you will need to burn this ISO that includes a kernel that will boot from the Hard Drive.
http://mydedibox.homelinux.com/ubuntu-inst...loader-sda2.iso

Boot this cd just as you booted the live cd. You should now be in Ubuntu Linux.

Adding users, groups, setting root password, and hostname:
Set a root password:

CODE

passwd root

Create a user for yourself:

CODE

adduser your_username

Create an admin group:

CODE

addgroup admin

Add yourself to the admin group:

CODE

adduser your_username admin

Add your username to sudoers:

CODE

visudo
your_username ALL=(ALL) ALL

Set a host name:

CODE

echo Xenon > /etc/hostname

Installing Ubuntu Desktop (Gnome):
Make sure your logged in as root and type:

CODE

aptitude install ubuntu-desktop

This also can take up to and hour or so. When it’s almost finished you will get a resolution setup screen, select 1280x768 as the default resolution with space bar, and deselect the rest. The setup will continue for ten or so more minutes.

Configuring X:
Next you will need to download the xenon Xorg driver.
Type:

CODE

cd /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/
wget http://mydedibox.homelinux.com/ubuntu-install/xenonfb_drv.so

Then run the visual Xorg configuration:

CODE

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

Setup as follows:

1.   Attempt to autodetect video hardware? > No
2.   X Server Driver: Xenonfb
3.   Generic Video Card > Enter
4.   Video card’s bus identifier: Press enter for default
5.   Amount of memory: Press enter for default
6.   Use kernel framebuffer device interface? > Yes
7.   Autodetect keyboard layout? > Yes
8.   Keyboard layout: us
That’s if you’re in the united states, if your not then fill in your default layout.
9.   XKB rule set to use: xorg
10.   Keyboard model: choose your rule set based on the options
11.   Keyboard variant: leave blank if you’re in the U.S.
12.   Keyboard options: Leave as default
13.   Mouse Protocol: ImPS/2
14.   Emulate a 3 button mouse? > Your choice
15.   Xorg server modules: Default
16.   Write default Files section to configuration file? > Yes
17.   Attempt monitor detection? > Yes
18.   Use generic monitor if it doesn’t detect it.
19.   Video modes to be used by the X server: 1280x768
20.   Method for selecting the monitor characteristics: Medium
21.   Monitors best video mode: Choose what’s best for your monitor.
22.   Write monitor sync ranges to the configuration file? > Yes
23.   Desired default color depth in bits: 24

Now reboot and you will be greeted by ubuntu with Gnome the next time you load the XeLL boot cd.

Have fun!!

Guide written by stonersmurf ( http://xboxhacker.net / http://free60.org/)
Thanks to:
Cpasjuste for all the help.
Tmbinc for all the great tools, drivers, and patches.
Gentoo and Ubuntu developers for the great distro’s.

Where to find more info on Linux for Xbox 360:
http://www.free60.org/
Free60 is a project towards porting GNU/Linux, BSD, Darwin and related open-source operating systems to the Microsoft Xbox 360 video game console.

Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox360 (and probably some more) are registered trademarks by
Microsoft Corp. No affiliation between the Free60 Project and Microsoft Corp.
exists or is implied. All other trademarks and copyrights are
property of their respective owners.

This post has been edited by stonersmurff: Apr 1 2007, 09:58 AM

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: burgerbee on April 03, 2007, 01:26:00 AM

Works perfekt! Tnx for a nice tutorial.

The only thing i added was "restricted universe multiverse" in /etc/apt/sources.list. It is only "main" after debootstrap.

Will try Feisty when i come home from work. Tnx again.

/BurgerBee

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: burgerbee on April 03, 2007, 08:38:00 AM

Ubuntu 7.04 Beta

Officially isnt Ubuntu supported on PPC after 6.10, but here we dont care about that

I was too lazy for reinstalling from scratch but that should problably work with this tutorial. Just change to feisty like below. Please post if you try it. I will do it next time.

CODE

debootstrap --arch powerpc feisty /mnt/ubuntu http://archive.ubuntulinux.org/ubuntu

I updated instead. Edit /etc/apt/sources.list

CODE

deb http://ftp.acc.umu.se/mirror/ubuntu feisty main restricted universe multiverse

Update the packagelist and then do the upgrade

CODE

apt-get update
apt-get dist-upgrade -y

Got some small non-critical errors like missing multi-cast support in the kernel, but nothing special. It works fine directly. Will post again when I have done some tweeking.

BurgerBee, posting from Ubuntu 7.04 Beta

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Cpas on April 03, 2007, 11:43:00 AM

Thanks stonersmurff good tut and job

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: throwingks on April 04, 2007, 02:41:00 AM

Nice work!

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Perplexer on April 05, 2007, 12:59:00 PM

Post deserves to be pinned, or put in the tutorials section.

This is quite possibly the most valuable "first post" from a member I've ever seen. Thanks!

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: semajturtle on April 05, 2007, 04:35:00 PM

Absolutely awesome tut. Is it possible to format any sata hard drive to work with this since it erases all the ms stuff anyways? Throw a 300gb sata in there and you have a kick ass desktop.

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: stonersmurff on April 05, 2007, 07:57:00 PM

QUOTE(semajturtle @ Apr 5 2007, 11:42 PM)

Absolutely awesome tut. Is it possible to format any sata hard drive to work with this since it erases all the ms stuff anyways? Throw a 300gb sata in there and you have a kick ass desktop.

Sure, it is possible to use any SATA hard drive no matter the size, just make sure you buy a 2.5 SATA laptop hard drive. Then its as simple as swapping out the retail 360 drive for your new one.

BTW: Since I wrote this guide there has been a few updates, no samsung support yet, but VGA scaling has been fixed. So if your using a VGA cable and want to go above 1280x700 resolution, use this boot CD in place of the one posted above:
https://home.comcast.net/~ssmurf/XELL-Bootl...er-sda2-new.iso

You might have to rerun Xorg config to choose additional resolutions, just follow the same steps as above, but select the new resolutions you prefer. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: burgerbee on April 08, 2007, 04:33:00 PM

Have been thinking a bit about Xbox 360 optimization of Ubuntu. We want to keep up with the Gentoo folks :-)

Here is some non-scientific compiler tests I did. I dont think we can get speed gains like this but there should be atleast some gain from rebuilding.

CODE

bongy@xbox360:~$ gcc -mpowerpc speedtest.c -o speed;./speed
10E6 RDTSC time=1862 ms
10E6 RDTSC time=1863 ms
10E6 RDTSC time=1862 ms
bongy@xbox360:~$ gcc -mpowerpc64 speedtest.c -o speed;./speed
10E6 RDTSC time=1812 ms
10E6 RDTSC time=1812 ms
10E6 RDTSC time=1812 ms
bongy@xbox360:~$ gcc -mpowerpc -Os speedtest.c -o speed;./speed
10E6 RDTSC time=708 ms
10E6 RDTSC time=709 ms
10E6 RDTSC time=708 ms
bongy@xbox360:~$ gcc -mpowerpc64 -Os speedtest.c -o speed;./speed
10E6 RDTSC time=702 ms
10E6 RDTSC time=702 ms
10E6 RDTSC time=702 ms

So where could we start?

Like Gentoo you can go all the way from source with Ubuntu

CODE

apt-get -b source packagename

and for dependencies

CODE

apt-get build-dep packagename

Maybe just go for ubuntu-desktop and dependencies this way? (Doesnt look like debootstrap will help much if we want to go from source.)

Another way is to find an build script and make a new unofficial PPC64 depository and hook up depootstrap.

Just some random midnight thoughts.

/BurgerBee

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: epsilon72 on April 08, 2007, 04:40:00 PM

text based install still scares me, but that is a very good guide. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

This post has been edited by epsilon72: Apr 8 2007, 11:40 PM

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: JKD on April 08, 2007, 04:41:00 PM

QUOTE(Perplexer @ Apr 5 2007, 09:06 PM)

Post deserves to be pinned, or put in the tutorials section.

This is quite possibly the most valuable "first post" from a member I've ever seen. Thanks!

Totally agree. Respect

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Olsenius on April 11, 2007, 10:16:00 AM

Tried installing with

CODE

debootstrap --arch powerpc feisty /mnt/ubuntu http://no.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/

Froze at "Configuring libssl0.9.8". Froze as in no keyboard, no mouse etc.

Ill try it once more b4 i get edgy and upgrade afterwards.

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Olsenius on April 11, 2007, 11:22:00 AM

QUOTE(Olsenius @ Apr 11 2007, 06:23 PM)

Tried installing with

CODE

debootstrap --arch powerpc feisty /mnt/ubuntu http://no.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/

Froze at "Configuring libssl0.9.8". Froze as in no keyboard, no mouse etc.

Ill try it once more b4 i get edgy and upgrade afterwards.

Worked on second try.

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: burgerbee on April 12, 2007, 04:02:00 PM

a bit off-topic but still....

Debian Etch 64-bit

I took a trip to the country of 64-bits over at http://debian-ppc64.alioth.debian.org/.

Debootstraped with...

CODE

wget http://ftp.se.debian.org/debian/pool/main/d/debootstrap/debootstrap_0.3.3.2_all.deb

and then ran it on...

CODE

debootstrap --arch ppc64 sid /mnt/debian http://debian-ppc64.alioth.debian.org

(etch didnt work at this stage)

adjusted /etc/apt/sources.list again

CODE

deb http://debian-ppc64.alioth.debian.org stable main contrib non-free
deb http://debian-ppc64.alioth.debian.org testing main contrib non-free
deb http://debian-ppc64.alioth.debian.org unstable main contrib non-free
deb http://debian-ppc64.alioth.debian.org experimental main contrib non-free

and updated to Etch...

CODE

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade -y
apt-get dist-upgrade -y

O well, they said 98% of the packages was built with autobuilder, but it felt more like 50%. This could be good option if you are after a LAMP-server or so. Not for the desktop atm. They should have credit for building and serving us PPC64 anyway. Tnx!

/BurgerBee

Edit: spelling

This post has been edited by burgerbee: Apr 12 2007, 11:20 PM

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: seaweed on April 15, 2007, 03:53:00 AM

Great tutorial!

Any chance of installing linux on usb-disk yet?

I use component cables to my tv (doesnt support vga), how will this look?

This post has been edited by seaweed: Apr 15 2007, 10:54 AM

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Icekiller2k6 on April 15, 2007, 05:13:00 AM

QUOTE(seaweed @ Apr 15 2007, 11:00 AM)

Great tutorial!

a. Any chance of installing linux on usb-disk yet?

b. I use component cables to my tv (doesnt support vga), how will this look?

a) yes it would, but usb isn't stable so we don't recommend it.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) probably not good, it will look stretched

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: burgerbee on April 15, 2007, 10:34:00 AM

I have made a little script for this now. Warning this script will WIPE your Xbox 360 harddisk.

Boot up the livecd and click "Application > Accessories > Terminal". Type the following commands:

CODE

sudo su
wget http://mydedibox.fr/burgerbee/ubuntuinstall.sh
sh ./ubuntuinstall.sh

Reboot the box when you are told. Boot with https://home.comcast...er-sda2-new.iso and login as root. You will be asked for a new password. The rest of the installation and download will start automatically and it is about 600Mb. Select xenonfb when the script asks for Xserver-driver Thats all.

Read about it at: http://www.free60.org/wiki/Ubuntu7.04

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: seaweed on April 16, 2007, 03:02:00 AM

Nice work. Im trying your new script now but im getting an error msg when i reboot with the cd.

can not open root device sda2
kernel panic etc.......

I have a new 100gb hard drive, unformated and untouched.

I followed the steps you said, but when it rebooted i had to do a "hard"(using the On/Off button) reboot on the 360, wont the files the script downloads be deleted once i do a "hard" reboot?

Or is there anything else im doing wrong?

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: seaweed on April 16, 2007, 03:39:00 AM

Its working fine now burgerbee, apperantly it didnt find the hardisk the first time, so it loaded files into memory instead

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: burgerbee on April 16, 2007, 04:17:00 AM

QUOTE(seaweed @ Apr 16 2007, 11:09 AM)

Hard reboot or toggle power is needed. The box can not be restarted with the script, so that is normal. It is safe to turn of power when X is going down.

But that it cant find sda2 after reboot sounds strange. I have tested the script five times or so without any problem and the previous state off the harddisk shouldnt be a problem. Nore the size. Please just try to start from the begining and run the script one more time. Maybe there was some kind of download problem during debootstrap.

Report if you get the same error again please.

/BurgerBee

Edit: hehe you got it working while i was typing )

This post has been edited by burgerbee: Apr 16 2007, 11:26 AM

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: seaweed on April 16, 2007, 06:47:00 AM

Indeed i did

Thanks for the quick reply

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: azerty007 on April 30, 2007, 09:49:00 AM

hey seaweed what did you have of hard disk 100mb

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: stonersmurff on May 05, 2007, 11:12:00 AM

Heres the update bootloader cd to add support for Samsung drives: https://home.comcast...da2-samsung.iso

The new livecd for Samsung drive support is also finished and will posted soon at free60.org.

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: mikomraz on May 08, 2007, 09:33:00 AM

I use a small 1gb MP3 player.
First of all, when I run burgerbee's script, it gets the error message:
"can not open root device sda2
kernel panic etc....... ".
Maybe it's because of the size of the player.
The other question is how do I change the script so it will make a 200mb
swap partition and the rest for the Linux itself?

Thanks.

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: mikomraz on May 09, 2007, 10:31:00 PM

QUOTE(mikomraz @ May 8 2007, 07:09 PM)

never mind, I solved the problem using cfdisk, but now after I installed everything,
the new bootable disk keeps saying the "can not open root device sda2 kernel panic etc....... " thing.
any idea?

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: MrDVD on June 23, 2007, 08:24:00 PM

Is this installed Ubuntu a 32 or 64 bit version ?

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Chan163 on June 28, 2007, 03:11:00 PM

Let's assume I have a 250Gb WD BEVS drive and a sector from one of the X360 Elite drives... Would it be possible to keep the M$ data on that drive and use the space behind those 120Gig for Ubuntu?

If not, why not?

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Chan163 on July 02, 2007, 05:11:00 PM

No one?

@ mikomraz: I guess your MP3 player won't be mounted as 'sda2'.... So Linux can't find it there.

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Gnash on July 27, 2007, 06:43:00 AM

This is very nice and useful. It's amazing how linux has become compatible with virtually any platform, including the Xbox, PS2, Ps3, and even the iPod Nano.

I once surfed a PS3 proxy server running linux. I hope that this detracts from the Micro$oft monopoly.

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: MoNeY_MaN on July 29, 2007, 04:32:00 PM

This is a great looking guide and very informative. If only i had not ever upgraded my xbox 360 and i could try this stuff out. I am so jealous of you all who run Linux on your xbox 360

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: brilliantdonkey on August 16, 2007, 10:27:00 AM

CHan163, did you ever get your split XBox360 + Ubuntu hard drive idea working? I'd love to do that, too, since I don't have two HD enclosures, and would need to swap the hd every time (I remember reading that the SATA connectors are too fragile for frequent swapping.)

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: hellawacked on November 10, 2007, 07:16:00 PM

might not go here but anyways would it be possible to install a more user friendly OS like windows after this by installing the ubuntu to ur hard drive then get a windows 2000 or xp cd and install it to ur hard drive like a normal computer?>

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Icekiller2k6 on November 27, 2007, 12:45:00 PM

QUOTE(hellawacked @ Nov 11 2007, 03:52 AM)

moan.. Xbox360 = PPC
windows = x86 aka.. you need to a install linux op xbox360 && then in a virtual machine Windows.. so.. speed will be like sh*t

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: clousr on December 16, 2007, 09:36:00 AM

Would it be possible to intall linux to an external hdd so i do not have wipe my 360 drive?
Also could i play backups of my 360 games in iso form?
and are there any emulators for ps2, xbox, etc.?

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: xmugen360 on December 16, 2007, 10:41:00 AM

there is an app called tiny xp and yes search the threads can be installed to thumb drives or external hd

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: iwanttheagrocrag on January 18, 2008, 09:30:00 AM

HOLY S*** not only is linux possible its also my favorite distro. UBUNTU rocks

EDIT: wait before i get anymore excited, is it actually Ubuntu or is it xubuntu ect. , and is it mostly intact like are you able to change settings?

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Icekiller2k6 on January 18, 2008, 09:56:00 AM

QUOTE(iwanttheagrocrag @ Jan 18 2008, 06:06 PM)

its Ubuntu 7.04 (not 7.10 won't start)

not xubuntu .. well you CAN install KDE or XCFE or whatever window manager you want..

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Icekiller2k6 on February 13, 2008, 05:28:00 AM

Just a heads up,

Ubuntu 7.10 now works @ xbox 360.

Install script @

http://www.free60.org/wiki/Ubuntu7.10

thanks ssmurf (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: sparticus13 on February 28, 2008, 08:28:00 AM

Well I don't think this can be done yet but can't hurt to ask. Would it be possible after installing ubuntu on the HDD to boot directly from the HDD with out the use of the xell boot cd? Looking for a way to use the dash to select it and boot just like a demo game.

Reason I am asking is because I have a few 360s I got off ebay and were dead. I fixed them but a few had a swapped DVD drive and of course no DVD Key that matched. I keep looking for ways to boot up linux without the use of the DVD drive. I could get it all installed of a working 360 and then hope to boot it from the HDD on the systems that needed the DVD key. From that point I can get the key off the motherboard.

Any ideas would be great.

Thanks

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: rapidmovies on February 28, 2008, 05:17:00 PM

how would the speed suck? I thought the 360 had 3 core 3.4 ghz PPCs? I can run windows + mac fine on any core 2 duo machine. Qemu greatly speeds up emulation speeds when using ubuntu as well. The only problem i can think of would be the ram.

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: utar on March 02, 2008, 10:18:00 AM

QUOTE(Icekiller2k6 @ Feb 13 2008, 02:28 PM)

Just a heads up,

Ubuntu 7.10 now works @ xbox 360.

Install script @

http://www.free60.org/wiki/Ubuntu7.10

thanks ssmurf (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Bonus!

As a matter of interest how was the Gnome issue fixed?

Utar

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Icekiller2k6 on March 05, 2008, 10:06:00 AM

QUOTE(utar @ Mar 2 2008, 06:18 PM)

Bonus!

As a matter of interest how was the Gnome issue fixed?
Utar

libfbdevhw.so from 7.10 is replaced with the libfbdevhw.so of 7.04

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: battery on April 05, 2008, 04:24:00 PM

after you install Ubuntu, how do you put the original 360 save game files back on the hdd, assuming you've created a backup image of the hdd prior to the installation of Ubuntu?

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Menzis0 on April 16, 2008, 11:51:00 AM

how about a philips, benq or liteon?
im just asking because i got really tuned up by the guide, i'd love linux on my xobx, allways been a fan of the os, but now im torn

because my drive isnt the one described, what would you have me do, leet 1.post-guide?

Thanks in advance and sorry if i missed a smilair question...

cheers
-Menzis0

btw: love the guide

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Grim187 on April 22, 2008, 03:00:00 PM

Run debootstrap:

CODE

debootstrap --arch powerpc edgy /mnt/ubuntu http://archive.ubuntulinux.org/ubuntu

bash: debootstrap: command not found

im pretty sure im doing everything right, this is my 2nd attempt and i got the same error the last time (on a different box).

i noticed there where 2 unextracted files in the dir (pic) making the usr/lib/debootstrap and /usr/sbin directory's invalid so i tried extracting the 2 files and it didn't make a difference (pic), so beyond that im not sure whats going wrong.

Edit: Spellcheck

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Multihax on April 22, 2008, 08:47:00 PM

QUOTE(Grim187 @ Apr 22 2008, 02:36 PM)

Run debootstrap:

CODE

debootstrap --arch powerpc edgy /mnt/ubuntu http://archive.ubuntulinux.org/ubuntu

bash: debootstrap: command not found

im pretty sure im doing everything right, this is my 2nd attempt and i got the same error the last time (on a different box).

Try:

CODE

./debootstrap --arch powerpc edgy /mnt/ubuntu http://archive.ubuntulinux.org/ubuntu

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Multihax on April 22, 2008, 10:12:00 PM

Couldn't edit my previous post, so...

QUOTE(Grim187 @ Apr 22 2008, 02:36 PM)

i noticed there where 2 unextracted files in the dir (pic) making the usr/lib/debootstrap and /usr/sbin directory's invalid so i tried extracting the 2 files and it didn't make a difference (pic), so beyond that im not sure whats going wrong.

You'll need to execute this in your '/mnt/ubuntu' directory:

CODE

zcat < ./work/data.tar.gz | tar xv

Then from here, you can now execute the debootstrap:

CODE

debootstrap --arch powerpc edgy /mnt/ubuntu http://archive.ubuntulinux.org/ubuntu

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: xxANTMANxx on June 09, 2008, 08:30:00 PM

It all seemed to install great using the script at http://www.free60.org/wiki/Ubuntu7.10

There is one problem I am having, I selected the wrong screen resolution. Is there a way I can fix this using Ctrl + Alt + F1? It seems like a lot of work to reinstall it all just to fix that simple little mistake

Thanks for any help

EDIT: After doing a bit more searching I found that this works

Press Ctrl + Alt + F1
Login as root using your pass

and then using this command
sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: fosterchild11 on August 04, 2008, 11:33:00 PM

Anyone have up to date install instructions? I've followed free60.org for the 7.10 install and used the boot cd they link to. However, when I go to boot up with it, I get an irq 36 errors that repeats for ever. I can complete the install by keeping track of what i type, and had it fully working minus the desktop.

It dawned on me, that maybe i needed the old v.21 xell boot cd after I read about recent updates in the kernal. So I attempted to start from step one on free60.org and made it thru formating the drive again, but it's not stuck at not being able to make the /mnt/ubuntu directory. I have no idea what happened and have tried numberous times to cfdisk, which appears to delete it, but then when i continue and try and mnt sda2 and the ubuntu folder the command prompt freezes. It's almost like the hard drive got corrupted and the only thing i can think of is to take it apart and stick it in an external and format it with windows or something.

I just need to know which directions to follow and which xell boot cd to use. It appears there is conflicting info on free60.org. I have both 2.6.21.1 and 2.6.24.3 xell boot cds. I forgot to mention, before trying to start over I did boot from the 2.6.21.1 cd and there was no errors as the 360 booted everything up, except for the desktop not starting.

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: pastortom on October 16, 2008, 03:52:00 AM

QUOTE(stonersmurff @ Apr 1 2007, 11:27 AM)

How to Install Ubuntu onto your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
(Using Debootstrap)

......................

Hi mate..

Recently got a hold of a Xbox 360 with kernel 4532 and had to try out this guide..

I used the scripts on free60.org and tried several guides but it just wont work damnit..

After Ive run any of the three different scripts on free60.org or the manual way that you describe in your guide, I get this message: "Complete, please reboot with SDA Bootloader" and I did so, it goes into panic mode after it has loaded the kernel.. Says "Disabling IRQ#32" as well as "Disabling IRQ#36" in a unending loop.. Help?!

I used this guide: http://www.free60.org/wiki/First_Steps
and this: http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=595543

Ive tried to boot it even with harddrive disconnected, internet cable disconnected, tried burning the Xell disc 5 times now on different speed, nothing works

What is going on?

The Xell disc youve linked to is offline so I used the one Free60.org links to.. it boots, loads the kernel but disabling IRQ#32 and #36 keeps coming up .. something about "nobody cares, disable irqpoll in options"

This is really annoying as I was so looking forward to this and spent 12 hours on this XBox 360 now trying to get Linux to work on it.. The LiveCD works just fine, so it doesnt make any sense..

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: pastortom on October 16, 2008, 04:48:00 AM

QUOTE(fosterchild11 @ Aug 5 2008, 08:09 AM)

I get the same error mate..

Really annoying.. tried almost everything.. Where did you get the 2.6.21.1 version?

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: pastortom on October 17, 2008, 04:44:00 AM

QUOTE(pastortom @ Oct 16 2008, 12:28 PM)

QUOTE(burgerbee @ Apr 3 2007, 10:57 AM)

All the steps from buying the box until running Linux.

1. Buying the box

You need an Xbox with a kernel version of 4532 or 4548. You can check your kernel version in "System -> Console Settings -> System Info". The line at the bottom contains your kernel version in the format K:2.0.nnnn.0, where nnnn is your four digit kernel version.
If your kernel version is older, you can update to one of these versions. Do not update to a version newer than 4548! You won't be able to downgrade! If you already have a newer version, there is nothing you can do right now.
If you buy an Xbox, make sure that its manufacturing date is before 09 January 2007, so that the kernel version is 4548 or older. You can see the manufacturing date ("MFR Date") through the carton without opening it.

Source: http://www.free60.org/wiki/Run_Code

2. Upgrading the kernel to 4532

If you have a pre-4532 kernel, you need to get the file HD_DVD_10-2006.zip, check the MD5SUM to be cd4db8e2c94266ab73513c361dd5b8f6 (important!), burn it to a CD, and insert the CD into your Xbox 360. The program will update your machine to kernel version 4532. This file is an authentic Microsoft update application, but is not available on Microsoft's servers any more. If you own an Xbox, it should be legal for you to download and run this application.

Source: http://www.free60.org/wiki/Run_Code
Download: http://www.360mods.n...ails/id=76.html

3. Flashing the DVD

Diffrent tactics depending on the DVD modell in your box. Read the excellent Firmware Flashing Tutorial

Download: http://www.360mods.n...ails/id=61.html
4. Buy King Kong and make an image

There is two versions of King Kong. The patcher currently does not work with the newer "classics" version of King Kong. In doubt, buy the oldest version you can get.

You can read about game backups in the excellent Firmware Flashing Tutorial

Download: http://www.360mods.n...ails/id=61.html

5. Patch your King Kong image

"Patch your King Kong ISO with either the windows exe or compile the source for Linux.
If your using the windows patch, you will need to download cygwin1.dll and put it into your windows/system32 folder.

Then make sure shader.bin, the exe, and your King Kong ISO are in the same folder and run:

win_patch.exe <name of iso>
or
./linux_patch <name of iso>

After your ISO is patched, burn it like a normal game.

Source: Included readme
Download: ftp://linux360:[email protected]_xell.zip

6. Get Linux

This LiveCD is based on the BETA Gentoo LiveCD. It includes our X.org framebuffer driver and a Gnome Desktop environment. Download size is around 600MB.

Source: http://www.free60.org/wiki/LiveCD
Download: http://downloads.sou...on-beta.tar.bz2

7. Get it started

Switch on your Xbox 360, and load up the patched kingkong, and press 'start' on the title screen. Wait until the tray opens. Insert the Linux CD. Close the tray. A few second later, you should be greeted by some penguins.

Source: http://www.free60.org/wiki/First_Steps

8. Install it to harddisk (optional)

I have made a little script for this now. Warning this script will WIPE your Xbox 360 harddisk.

Boot up the livecd and click "Application > Accessories > Terminal". Type the following commands:

CODE

sudo su
wget http://mydedibox.fr/burgerbee/ubuntuinstall.sh
sh ./ubuntuinstall.sh

Reboot (turn off) the box when you are told.

Boot with https://home.comcast...er-sda2-new.iso and login as root. You will be asked for a new password. The rest of the installation and download will start automatically and it is about 600Mb. Select xenonfb when the script asks for Xserver-driver. Thats all.

Read more about it at: http://www.free60.org/wiki/Ubuntu7.04

Just wanted to let you know I figured it out.. For some XBox 360 consoles the Xell bootloader youve posted DOES NOT work.. It gives Disabling IRQ#32 and IRQ#36.. for those who gets this error use this Xell bootloader instead:
XELL-Bootloader-sda2-v2.6.21.1

Perhaps update some of your links too as they do not work.. Other than that, Great guide

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: dervboy on March 08, 2009, 10:44:00 AM

does anyone want to replace those files back on the WWW??? they are not available ANYwhere

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Wadarr on August 31, 2009, 04:27:00 AM

QUOTE(dervboy @ Mar 8 2009, 06:44 PM)

does anyone want to replace those files back on the WWW??? they are not available ANYwhere

The problem is, ubuntuinstall.sh are outdated in every places. New Ubuntu releases available, but script contains old hyperlinks.

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Hellzone on August 31, 2009, 02:14:00 PM

I found a new Debootstrap
Put it in... but it didn't work
Ill tink around with this, if i can get a working script ill post it and update free60 while im at it.

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: geoffmac on September 13, 2009, 12:52:00 PM

Someone please post a working script to get ubuntu installed to the hd, all the scripts floating around seem to have bad links and even replacing debootstrap links doesnt some to do it. ;(

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: P!XAR on September 16, 2009, 04:12:00 AM

WHEN release OS for other Version XBOX-(falcon -jasper)???

pleas....

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Hellzone on September 16, 2009, 11:10:00 PM

I was able to install the core OS... how ever it was missing drivers i think

It did boot off the HDD because i could hear it... 1 min in or so it locked. I remember a login page..might have used the wrong login

Ill look into it a bit more..

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: masterluke on October 12, 2009, 01:04:00 AM

the script i posted here..

http://forums.xbox-s...&...t&p=4542333

.. has the corrected links which are all currently up - and installs fine from the gentoo beta2 livecd.. i still had a couple of issues after installation but this should get you a basic system up and going

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: DaemoniZ on November 24, 2009, 01:59:00 PM

Hi.
Why i cant install Ubuntu 9.10 ?

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Icekiller2k6 on November 24, 2009, 03:42:00 PM

QUOTE(DaemoniZ @ Nov 24 2009, 10:59 PM)

Hi.
Why i cant install Ubuntu 9.10 ?

because the kernel patches weren't made for it, cause you didn't port the patches, because the xorg changed around some stuff....

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: DaemoniZ on November 24, 2009, 05:39:00 PM

QUOTE(Icekiller2k6 @ Nov 24 2009, 11:42 PM)

because the kernel patches weren't made for it, cause you didn't port the patches, because the xorg changed around some stuff....

And it is impossible to fix?

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: Icekiller2k6 on November 25, 2009, 01:21:00 AM

QUOTE(DaemoniZ @ Nov 25 2009, 02:39 AM)

And it is impossible to fix?

sure if your a programmer, you can "port" them...

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: NoWar on February 01, 2010, 02:13:00 AM

QUOTE(Icekiller2k6 @ Nov 25 2009, 09:21 AM)

sure if your a programmer, you can "port" them...

Are there news about new kernel for linux ubuntu?

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: hvckz on February 04, 2010, 02:36:00 AM

thus this installation will work on jtag'ed xbox?
XBR_3 and xellous by red?

BTW can this be installed OFFline

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: juggahax0r on March 26, 2010, 08:30:00 PM

Ok so how do i go back to sqaure 1 , i need to start over . I did the script for installing rebooted with the kernel sic and my screen was all messed up i couldn't log in so i went in a formatted my 360 to try and get rid of the install and start over. now after i do the Gentoo step for the script and then boot from the kernel disc it panics because it can't find the HDD partitions which should have been overwritten and free spcae my 360 show 13.9GB free

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: juggahax0r on March 26, 2010, 09:43:00 PM

I solved it , i happen to be a linux user. My problem was i am a little baked and clicked root terminal instead of normal terminal and i didnt know what the root pass. Which hadn't been set yet. Anyways i open a normal terminal set the root password for the hell of it. and just ran cfdisk and set up my partitions , i left about 10gb free for save games and shit.

will the 360 see 10gb and use it just as its part or would it overwrite the linux partitions and use the whole drive?

I am guessing it is only capped on the upper limit and it will format a whole drive up to 250Gb now that they have a bigger drive out.

Back to the point i ran the install script and it started running over again like before now i have to reboot so got to finish my post. Oh yea i am browsing the web and checking out xboxscene on gentoo on the 360 its pretty quick for a live cd. I wish they had a version of Gentoo to install to the HDD but Ubuntu 9.10 is what i am using for my second OS on my PC. Sorry to waste your thread space with my garbage

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: jigglywiggly on April 12, 2010, 08:18:00 PM

Someone pleaes post updated instructions I got stuck at the debootstrap stuff, dead links and then when I try a new version, there is no edgy found and well... it's being stupid.

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: mirrors on August 07, 2010, 01:39:00 PM

Would someone mind explaining how to maintain (or backup and restore) the original Xbox 360 partitions after formatting for Linux? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/uhh.gif)

This post has been edited by mirrors: Aug 7 2010, 08:39 PM

Title: How to Install Ubuntu onto Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Post by: herman05 on May 15, 2012, 06:02:00 AM

Thanking you Nice post.
namebench

xboxscene.org forums

Xbox360 Forums => Xbox360 Software Forums => *nix OS and libxenon software on Xbox 360 => Topic started by: stonersmurff on April 01, 2007, 02:51:00 AM