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OG Xbox Forums => No-Modchip Hacks (exploits) => GameSave Exploits => Topic started by: MaikarChaos on May 11, 2006, 07:59:00 PM

Title: Unique Problem
Post by: MaikarChaos on May 11, 2006, 07:59:00 PM
Note: If you suggest a mod chip you WILL be ignored. Thank you. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Reason? I don't like them. They are illegal. I feel that a softmod is not illegal because it's modifying what you already have and what you already own. Same as burning games is not illegal if you own the game (who wants to carry all those games around with them?).

Ok, so here's my situation.

I have a v1.0 xbox that I softmodded with krayzie's UXE, then tried to install the eee switcher so I wouldn't have to use a game to switch the mod on and off. Something went wrong and that resulted in my hard drive getting messed up. Little did I know how much...

So began the quest to restore my xbox. I tried hotswapping, at every single point. Never once did my hard drive unlock. Finally, today, I stumbled upon this. I managed to unlock my hard drive, and used FatX-plorer to take a peek into the hard drive on my computer. You wouldn't believe what I found...all the backup files were gone along with most of the mod files...if the mod files weren't replaced with junk. Soooo, that's when I got lucky I saw the update on the main site - this lil beauty here. I noticed the board he used wasn't listed in the items needed, nor did radioshack carry it anymore. So he's making that update soon.

Let's assess the situation, here's what I have:

-hard drive with lots of missing files
-eeprom reader (soon anyhow, so I can make my eeprom.bin - which was missing from the hard drive!!!)
-A good xbox with a stable softmod running
-2 computers:
---3700 AMD 64
---200 gig hd
---dvd/cd burner
---cd drive
---ide cables are too new, won't connect to the xbox hard drive, best for making ftp connections and getting needed files

and

---pentium 4
---200 gig hd
---dvd/cd burner
---cd drive
---ide cables can accept the xbox hard drive, already has the ability to unlock/read the hard drive


Here's my idea:

-Get the eeprom.bin
-Burn it to a DVD-R with Slayerz auto installer on it as well
-Open both xboxes and run them side to side
-Load Slayerz in the good xbox
-Swap the good hard drive for the bad hard drive (bad needs to be locked because it's only a modded box, not chipped)
-Use the Slayerz's unlock feature (or the config magic)  to use the burned eeprom.bin to unlock the bad hard drive (is that possible? or will it try to use the eeprom off the xbox's chip?)
-Rebuild the hard drive
-Lock the hard drive (config magic?)
-Put hard drive back in the bad xbox
-Success?

I'd prefer something that doesn't involve the computer, seeing as the one that can run it is my brother's and he's not always nice about letting me use it...that and I can't seem to boot up many things other than floppy boot disks. (Which my computer lacks a floppy drive, and the ide cables to hook the hard drive to.)

I'd like all possible feedback on my idea, and any alternate ideas would certainly be welcomed.
Title: Unique Problem
Post by: Neilor on May 12, 2006, 01:02:00 AM
1. Problem is not unique
2. Solution definitely is unique
3. You're making you're life so much harder than it needs to be.


Get XboxHDM, get a copy of either original C: drive(Slayers) or Kingroach's nDure installer for PC... create an XboxHDM CD with one of those filesets... borrow/steal your brothers PC... hotswap the corrupt harddrive... restore the C: drive using Xboxhdm... when the xbox and PC shut down the harddrive will re-lock with the correct password (ie. you don't need to get the eeprom reader board/kit)

Once you have it all up and running again, backup the eeprom.bin and transfer to your PC.

DaddyJ's tutorial in my sig is a handy reference for hotswapping/xboxhdm restore.

Title: Unique Problem
Post by: cerealkillajme on May 12, 2006, 07:30:00 AM
QUOTE
Note: If you suggest a mod chip you WILL be ignored. Thank you. smile.gif Reason? I don't like them. They are illegal. I feel that a softmod is not illegal because it's modifying what you already have and what you already own
  jester.gif
Title: Unique Problem
Post by: krayzie on May 12, 2006, 08:21:00 AM
I can understand that people don't like modchips but saying the one is more illegal as the other is not really true
Title: Unique Problem
Post by: torne on May 12, 2006, 08:31:00 AM
A softmod that's based on nkpatcher and a version of the dash that you already have on your xbox (say, if your box happened to come with one of the exploitable dashes, and an old kernel that allows it to run) is certainly legal. A modchip with a downloaded bios image that's a hacked copy of the MS bios is certainly illegal (illegal distribution of a derived copyrighted work).

There's a huge grey area in between, though (e.g. a softmod that's made from a dash version you never had on your xbox, or a chip that runs a bios image that you modified yourself after dumping your own copy of the MS bios from your box).

So, it's maybe not as clear as all that wink.gif
Title: Unique Problem
Post by: MaikarChaos on May 12, 2006, 09:02:00 AM
QUOTE(Neilor @ May 12 2006, 01:33 AM) *

1. Problem is not unique
2. Solution definitely is unique
3. You're making you're life so much harder than it needs to be.
Get XboxHDM, get a copy of either original C: drive(Slayers) or Kingroach's nDure installer for PC... create an XboxHDM CD with one of those filesets... borrow/steal your brothers PC... hotswap the corrupt harddrive... restore the C: drive using Xboxhdm... when the xbox and PC shut down the harddrive will re-lock with the correct password (ie. you don't need to get the eeprom reader board/kit)

Once you have it all up and running again, backup the eeprom.bin and transfer to your PC.

DaddyJ's tutorial in my sig is a handy reference for hotswapping/xboxhdm restore.


Did I forget to mention? My computer cannot boot XboxHDM - why is beyond me - I'm going to give it another try...but! Let me explain why you're wrong.

My hard drive WILL NOT UNLOCK ON A HOTSWAP. My only option is to unlock it using that bootdisk I gave a link to. If I can load XboxHDM, problem solved as I'm well aware. However, since I cannot hotswap, I cannot do as you suggest. And yes, I have tried DaddyJ's tutorial. I've hotswapped at all the right moments. Did I not mention the eeprom.bin isn't on the hard drive? lol..

Also I don't want to dispute the legality - I just want a simple fix. While you may find my view funny, I would appreciate it if you respected my view. It's all a matter of opinion, as I well understand - and that's my opinion.

Thanks for the suggestion.
Title: Unique Problem
Post by: xman954 on May 12, 2006, 09:45:00 AM
QUOTE(MaikarChaos @ May 11 2006, 09:30 PM) *

I stumbled upon this. I managed to unlock my hard drive, and used FatX-plorer to take a peek into the hard drive on my computer.

ok so you can unlock the HDD but xboxHDM did not work
did you try Xplorer360 using XP

also they need to fix that tut:
the hdd key is NOT the password
Title: Unique Problem
Post by: MaikarChaos on May 12, 2006, 02:21:00 PM
QUOTE(xman954 @ May 12 2006, 10:16 AM) *

ok so you can unlock the HDD but xboxHDM did not work
did you try Xplorer360 using XP

also they need to fix that tut:
the hdd key is NOT the password


Yes, I can unlock it because I used a floppy boot disk. For some reason XboxHDM won't work though.
Title: Unique Problem
Post by: MaikarChaos on May 12, 2006, 06:11:00 PM
Sorry to double post but update:

Ok, I used xboxhdm (my computer finally loaded it, yay) and I rebuilt my xbox hard drive, everything is there except the eeprom. I'll just build that reader like I originally planned, and get the eeprom - load it to a floppy, boot xboxhdm again and lock the hd with the eeprom. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(Since the hard drive was unlocked, to be able to edit the files, I can't relock it using xboxhdm.)

This post has been edited by MaikarChaos: May 13 2006, 01:14 AM
Title: Unique Problem
Post by: xman954 on May 12, 2006, 07:01:00 PM
QUOTE(MaikarChaos @ May 12 2006, 03:52 PM) *

Yes, I can unlock it because I used a floppy boot disk. For some reason XboxHDM won't work though.

well the eeprom must be on the disk (or you have the password) so whats the problem ??
there are DOS tools to lock and unlock the HDD
Title: Unique Problem
Post by: MaikarChaos on May 12, 2006, 11:02:00 PM
Hm..if you read what I said. I used a program made by seagate (that loads on a bootdisk) to unlock the hdd. Then I used XboxHDM (which I finally managed to load) to rewrite the files of the already unlocked drive. As I said before, there never was an eeprom.bin on the drive because it was deleted by a failed softmod. Meaning, hotswapping didn't work either. Once I get the eeprom with the eeprom reading I'm building, I can lock the drive again and I'll be fine. smile.gif
Title: Unique Problem
Post by: xman954 on May 12, 2006, 11:26:00 PM
QUOTE(MaikarChaos @ May 11 2006, 09:30 PM) *

OK build that reader they do work, saved a stock unbaned HDD and eeprom.bin that way
now used for live  (IMG:style_emoticons/default/jester.gif)
Title: Unique Problem
Post by: Neilor on May 13, 2006, 02:33:00 AM
You were right.... prett f'n unique mess you got there.... sad.gif

One suggestion before you start building the eeprom reader... try xbrowser in XboxHDM or Xplorer360 to look at the unlocked harddrive... it is possible FATXplorer was showing a falsly corrupted image of the drive.

Title: Unique Problem
Post by: krayzie on May 13, 2006, 04:47:00 AM
QUOTE(torne @ May 12 2006, 04:02 PM) *

A softmod that's based on nkpatcher and a version of the dash that you already have on your xbox (say, if your box happened to come with one of the exploitable dashes, and an old kernel that allows it to run) is certainly legal. A modchip with a downloaded bios image that's a hacked copy of the MS bios is certainly illegal (illegal distribution of a derived copyrighted work).

There's a huge grey area in between, though (e.g. a softmod that's made from a dash version you never had on your xbox, or a chip that runs a bios image that you modified yourself after dumping your own copy of the MS bios from your box).

So, it's maybe not as clear as all that (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)


usually you will still boot to an illegal xdk built dash with a softmod. also under dmca and similar europan eula laws circumventing copy protection and backing up copy protected software is illegal also. So a softmod is in most cases and many countries not legal.

This post has been edited by krayzie: May 13 2006, 11:49 AM
Title: Unique Problem
Post by: MaikarChaos on May 13, 2006, 06:44:00 PM
QUOTE(Neilor @ May 13 2006, 03:04 AM) *

You were right.... prett f'n unique mess you got there.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

One suggestion before you start building the eeprom reader... try xbrowser in XboxHDM or Xplorer360 to look at the unlocked harddrive... it is possible FATXplorer was showing a falsly corrupted image of the drive.


Told ya it was unique. lol

I already formatted it as a new drive. We have all the pieces for the eeprom reader and we're going to build it in just a few minutes now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Title: Unique Problem
Post by: spiky3mike on May 14, 2006, 05:00:00 PM
goodluck
Title: Unique Problem
Post by: mrbelvedere on May 15, 2006, 03:58:00 AM
That seagate program is actually firmware flasher.  It will update the firmware on your hdd, which has the side effect of unlocking it. And bu unlocked I mean, will stay unlocked even after power is reset to the unit.  So the hdd needs to be relocked, hence why he is using the eeprom reader.
Title: Unique Problem
Post by: Neilor on May 15, 2006, 06:57:00 AM
QUOTE(MaikarChaos @ May 14 2006, 01:15 AM) *

Told ya it was unique. lol

I already formatted it as a new drive. We have all the pieces for the eeprom reader and we're going to build it in just a few minutes now. smile.gif

How did you get on ?