Jumper

Has anyone been using the original xbox as a media center? Its absolutely fantastic. I own both the Xbox and Xbox360. The original xbox is one of the best media centers I have ever used....even if you don't have one, and are looking for a media center.. it wouldn't be a bad idea to grab a used one and mod it... cheap alternative...

Mike

Hey Jumper,

I agree that it is very nice as a media center. I store most of my content on remote servers and the xbox talks nicely over a Samba share...

If anyone has any questions on how to setup the perfect media center, let me know.

jitterbugjohnny

Wow this never even occured to me....I think I might give it a try Is it difficult to mod?

retrogamer

If you have some kind of a link to a tutorial on how to do so I'd certainly be interested. Thanks

__________________
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Jumper

There are actually so many cool things you can do with your xbox... Installing linux on it and use it to check the email / web browsing from your TV in your living room..

I have not done this but it looks cool, i found this really cool site..

[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

The other option is to have a modchip install OR do a softmod, i believe these days the softmod is as effective as a modchip. I actually had someone do a modchip install on my xbox (try checking craigslist in your area)

Here are some instructions to do a software based mod (you don't have to open the xbox for this)

[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

I will do some reading as well so I can help out.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Mike

Here is a copy/paste:

this may or may not help because I don't own an XBOX and have never tried this on another XBOX

XBOX Softmod Tutorial with
Mordens Audio Hack 007 V3
(V1.03) By SlimboyFatz.

**DISCLAIMER**
Even though this Hack is pretty much fool-proof, You do so at your own risk!

Please read the FAQ at the end of this Tutorial.

Also read 'Xbox Backup Burning Guide' at end of Mod Tutorial


Equipment Needed:
1. XBOX version 1.0/1.1 (with the 4920 Dashboard)
2. Original copy of '007 - Agent Under Fire'
3. Action Replay for XBOX
4. Official 'Microsoft' Memory Card
5. Mordens Audio Hack 007 V.3

You only need items 6 and 7 below if you intend on
FTP'ing into your XBOX!!

6. Ethernet PCI Card 10/100Mbps
7. Ethernet Crossover Cable (CAT 5 / RJ45)

Now to the juicy part....Hacking that XBOX!!!!



STEP 1. Install the Action Replay card reader and Software to your PC (you need a USB port in the back!)

STEP 2. Insert your MS Memory Card into the Card Reader..Windows will detect this as a new device, Just follow
the information it gives you (You may need to insert your Action Replay CD-ROM again).

STEP 3. Unrar 'Mordens Audio Hack' and take out 'BondSave.zip'...Open the Action Replay program and then
Drag & Drop the 007 Gamesave onto the Memory Card window..Hey presto! The gamesave is on your Memory card.

STEP 4. Insert your Memory Card into your Controller and boot up your Xbox. Then go to Memory and Copy the 007
Gamesave from you MC to the XBOX Hardrive. Take out your Memory Card.

STEP 5. Insert you copy of 'Agent Under Fire'. Select Start Mission, Then Exit that mission. Go to Load Mission and Load the 007 Gamesave from your Harddrive.
And if all is well you will see the 'Phoenix Bios Loader' image then the new 'MXM' Dashboard will Boot up!!!

STEP 6. When MXM has loaded Press B to goto the Audio Exploit section (without this you cannot run backups etc...)
Press A to Install it and then A again to Confirm. When that is done it should return to MXM.


**PLEASE NOTE** You only need to follow these next steps
if you want to install Games straight to your XBOX harddrive.
You can stop here if all you want to do is play CDRW/DVDRW backups.

STEP 7. To FTP into your XBOX you will need to connect your Crossover Cable (CAT5) from your Ethernet Card in your PC to the Ethernet Port in the back of the XBOX.
To FTP files to and from PC to XBOX you will need some FTP software. I recommend CUTE FTP.
Once installed goto the Site Manager and enter the following details

FTP Host Address - 192.168.0.3
User Name - xbox
Password - xbox
FTP Port - 21

STEP 8. Connect through CUTE FTP to your XBOX and you should now see in the Right-Hand window the inside of your XBOX...You should see these Drives:

C,D,E,F,G (and maybe X and Y)

STEP 9. If you want to Install Games, Applications and Emulators to your XBOX you will need to put them onto the E drive.
You can install to the F drive if your Xbox will allow you to format it.

Good Luck and Happy Soft-Modding!!

XBOX Backup Burning Guide -

Note: I am assuming you have a Version 1.0 - 1.1 XBOX and using CD/RW

1.Download a Program called Extract-XISO
2.Add your Downloaded game to Extract_XISO, Yes you may say that the game you just downloaded was an ISO..But its better to change it to the proper XBOX format (XISO).
3.Grab a copy of NERO 6 (Burning Software)
4.Go into 'Burn Image' in NERO and Locate your XISO (ie. Halo.xiso)
5.Now make sure the Settings are as follows -
a - Tick the 'Finalize CD (No further writing possible)' box.
b - In 'Write Method', Choose 'Disc At Once'.
c - And always try and choose the lowest 'Write Speed'...1x or 2x, Even though I have Burnt at 4x and 8x with No problems!!
6.Now Hit the 'Burn' button and away you go!

**A Few small points regarding CDRW Media to use, I have the Samsung Drive fitted (this drive is really not fussy what it plays)...But I can guarantee that these types of Media work 100% with this specific Drive -

Packard Bell CDRW 700MB 4x 10x Compatible
Memorex CDRW 700MB 1x 4x Compatible.

**Be Warned..the Thomson and Phillips DVD Drives installed in other XBOX can be very particular about what Backup Media they will play!!


FAQ -

Q. Do i need the 4920 Dash, or will any Dashboard do?
A. Yes you need 4920, the Exploit only works with this version. Visit Xbox-Scene Forum for help on upgrading or downgrading your Dashboard.

Q. How do i find out what Version of Xbox I have?
A. Take a look here [Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

Q. How do I find out what Version of Dashboard I have?
A. Power up your Xbox, Goto Settings, System Info, then wait for the Microsoft information to scroll down. At the bottom you will see something like this:
K:1.00.4817.01
D.1.00.XXXX.01
XXXX is your Dashboard version.

Q. I have an Older Dashboard version, which Live enabled Games will Update my Dashboard to 4920?
A. Splinter Cell, MechAssault, Unreal Championship, Ghost Recon, Moto GP, MX Superfly, Capcom Vs SNK 2, Whacked!, NFL 2003, NBA 2003, NHL 2003, Star Wars KOTOR...and more!

Q. Do all available Xbox Live Games update my Dash to 4920?
A. NO! Live enabled games after Aug/Sept 2003 will Update your Dash Higher than 4920...Avoid games such as..XIII, Counter-Strike, Project Gotham Racing 2, Rainbow 6-Raven Shield...and more!

Q. Can I use a Backup of 'Agent Under Fire' to run the Exploit?
A. No! Only an Original copy will work. There has also been rumours of the Platinum versions not working as Microsoft may have fixed the error within the game.

Q. Can I use an Action Replay memory card?
A. No! This make of Memory Card seem to corrupt the Gamesave. Use the Offical Microsoft one.

Q. Where can I get 'Mordens Audio Hack' from, I cant find it anywhere?
A. Have a search round on 'Google' and check out some of the Xbox Utility sites, or search Xbins on IRC.
You will find it!!

Q. What exactly comes packaged inside this 'Audio Hack'?
A. The Hack comes in 2 parts
1.The 007 Gamesave which crashes the console and lets you access the MXM Dashboard.
2.The Audio Exploit which enables you to run unsigned code.

Q. What exactly can I run on my Soft-Modded Xbox?
A. Pretty much anything (backups, movies, emulators, media players, homebrew games).

Q. Can I still Rip CD's after installing the Exploit?
A. Yes you can.

Q. Where do i store all the games and apps on my Xbox?
A. You install them to the E drive.

Q. I have heard you can Format the F drive and gain an extra 2 gigs, is that true?
A. Yes and No, It all depends on what Version Xbox you have. If your Xbox allows it, you can easily Format your F drive from within CuteFTP.

Q. Do the Xbox Live 2.0 enabled games automatically update my Dashboard?
A. No! Your Dashboard will only be Updated if you Hit the Live Tab or connect to Xbox Live.

Q. What are the advantages of Backing up my Xbox C drive, once I can FTP in?
A. The main advantage is that you have an Untouched copy of the 4920 Dashboard stored on your PC, which comes in handy if you accidentely Update your Dashboard with say a Live 2.0 enabled game.

Q. If I did Update my Dashboard to a version higher than 4920 which files would I need to take from my PC back onto my Xbox? And how do I do it?
A. You would need to FTP back in to your Xbox and Delete the xboxdashdata folder and the xboxdash.xbe file from your Xbox HD. Then you would need to Upload the xboxdashdata folder and xboxdash.xbe from your PC back onto your Xbox. Then your Dashboard is back to the 4920 version, Simple as that!

Q. What is the MXM Dashboard actually all about, is it similar to the Evo-X Dash I have heard about?
A. It is similar to Evo-X but contains many more features, Read more about it here What is MXM?

Q. Once i have installed the MXM Dashboard, can I set it as the Default dash?
A. Yes you can, replacing the MS Dash. Take a look here on how to do it MXM Default Dash guide

retrogamer

Excellent information Thank You

jpc82

XBox Media center is by far teh best piece of software out. I have 3 Xbox's in my home with XBMC on all of them. All my files are stored on a remote fileserver with a SMB share that XBMC uses to access the files. It has been able to handle every video file I have ever given it without an issue, even some my PC had trouble with.

XBMC is the only reason I bought a XBox and I have not regetted getting it for a moment, if I had I wouldn't have bought 2 more of them.

As for modding the system I softmodded 2 of mine myself, and about 7-8 for friends. Its very easy to do if you have all the tools. You need Splinter Cell, Mech Assault or 007 and a special game save, but once you have that it take a few minutes to do and then you can just ftp XBMC over and any other software you need.

The only tricky part if swapping the HD for a larger one, but if your going to store all the files remotly its not a big necessary.

Moogly

Xbmc is how we watched DivX on the TV before the players were cheap now we have 3 that can play them due to the recent price drops. Is a much cheaper way to watch stuff since alot of music videos come in DivX etc on the net you can fit a whack of them on one DVD.

Be sure to get the controller layouts though as you can get frustrated watching an hour long movie and skipping to the next every time you try to pause it etc LOL used to me happen to me all the time.

I should mention too our Xbox is modded with a chip and an 80 GB hard drive. I just use Auto installer deluxe (newest is 3.10 I think) to install everything (Dashboard emu's all programs etc etc) The Disk can be found all over the net (I won't post locations here) Using this method you don't have to hook up the Xbox to your PC at all only downside is every time a new version comes out you have to reformat the Hard drive including all of your saves etc I have yet to figure out a way to save them other than hooking the Xbox up to the PC which I don't want to and can't do down here in my basement. If anyone knows an easier way to save let me know.

Also be sure to hide this Disk if your kids play your xbox alot. My son got a hold of the disk not knowing what it was one day when I was at work and wiped out our Xbox with it including hours and hours of Fable I had been playing LOL lesson learned on that one.

__________________
http://www.myspace.com/mrdylan

Jumper

I still see the xbox as a better solution then the dvd players as you can stream directly from the PC and will not have to swap discs. It's nice having entire seasons of shows easily accessable.

I was actually looking for another way to be able to get content from the PC to my TV. I went to futureshop and saw some of those media center devices that linksys and dlink makes, but it seems they are 'media extenders' which work with Windows Media Center Edition which tend to stream *WMV's only*

Is there another device that can do this? I would pick one up for sure for people like my brother/parents who would find the xbox a bit confusing/hassle...