Tell me about Xbox 360 firmware modding

[Signa]

So, I just got this shinny new Xbox 360, and I've already decided to mod it. As I understand it, I'm going to have to crack the sucker open, and connect a SATA cable to the DVD drive to flash my firmware.

What I would like to know is, once I have it open, will I be able to tell what drive I have installed? I already know it's a lite-on/BenQ/Phillips design, but I can't tell for sure which one I have for sure. I ALSO know, that with the model being the new red Resident Evil version, the installed DVD drive will probably be the newest whatever MS puts in these things.

I also would like to know about LIVE banning. Are the current firmwares pretty much safe from banning? I'm not really concerned about playing online too much, but I have noticed a lot of arcade games that seem to catch my eye a lot more than the disk games. I probably will be wanting to play those, and being banned from LIVE will suck.

I'm also noticing that some people need to buy PCI cards for their PCs to get working SATA ports for the flashing process. Does anyone know if this is a requirement, or can onboard SATA ports work?

Once I have this all in place and working, is there anything that needs to be known about burning the disks? Any special formating at all? Some of the Wii games I downloaded needed patching before I burnt them, and I haven't seen anything about this in the Xbox world.

[1cooldude]

Originally Posted by Signa

I also would like to know about LIVE banning. Are the current firmwares pretty much safe from banning? I'm not really concerned about playing online too much, but I have noticed a lot of arcade games that seem to catch my eye a lot more than the disk games. I probably will be wanting to play those, and being banned from LIVE will suck.

As far as LIVE banning goes, I do know that it happens but not as much. Several of my friends who have their boxes modded have been playing with these boxes for almost two years. Not a great sample to draw a conclusive proof about the pros/cons of modding but it is possible to enjoy both. More accurate info may be drawn from the scene forum.
I managed to dig this out>>

http://www.zeropaid.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=52707

[Signa]

Since a spammer has revived my thread, I thought I would just mention that I have a lite-on drive, and I NEED to get a certain hacking tool to proceed. They go for about $30. I'm about ready to buy one, but because of my slow work periods, I didn't feel like throwing down another $30 after the $400 for the system. I've had the Xbox sitting in my room in pieces for a few weeks now.

[1cooldude]

I am assuming that you will not have any problems putting it altogether after a considerable amount of time had passed. I usually draw some simple notes and if it all fails I seek "youtube" how-to edition.

[Signa]

It was very simple to deconstruct. All you needed was a paper clip for half of it. I think the hardest part will be to figure out where certain screws will go, and I still remember which ones were which.

[Signa]

Well, it is hacked now. It was VERY simple once I got that extra tool. I even splurged for the probe tool, and it was totally worth it. You just stab this little needle into a hole and a light comes on. I'd like to say it was the best thing I've ever spent my money on, but now that I'm looking at the 360 game lineup, I'm not so sure. Every game on it that I want to play is on the PC. If it's on the PC, I'm gonna buy it, so I'm not certain that the 360 was a good purchase.

There are a lot of downloadable games like Braid to look forward to though. I think that is where my 360 is going to shine.

[drtoker]

Originally Posted by Signa

Well, it is hacked now. It was VERY simple once I got that extra tool. I even splurged for the probe tool, and it was totally worth it. You just stab this little needle into a hole and a light comes on. I'd like to say it was the best thing I've ever spent my money on, but now that I'm looking at the 360 game lineup, I'm not so sure. Every game on it that I want to play is on the PC. If it's on the PC, I'm gonna buy it, so I'm not certain that the 360 was a good purchase.

There are a lot of downloadable games like Braid to look forward to though. I think that is where my 360 is going to shine.

Exactly my thoughts too. I've had a few chances to pickup dirt cheap 360's, and thought to myself, if it were modded...

But the game linup (ones not available on pc) is not that strong, at least not for my preferences.

Now modding the wii was the best thing I could do ever, don't have to worry if the game I wanna try is crap or not, just play and find out.