Soft mod disaster, Please help

[bigballs5]

I soft modded my xbox a couple of weeks ago and it went fine, so I got my kids one today and tried to do theirs. I have the mech assualt hacks on a mem card, so I copied them on to the xbox hard-disc. I then put mech assualt game in and accessed the console with the emergecy linux option. Then I ftp to my pc and backed up c: and replaced them with the files i have on my other xbox. I rebooted and the pheonix logo started to flash up but the evolutionx dash wouldnt come on. I then deleted the files and tried again with the same out come. I then put the original c: files back but I couldnt access the xbox hd to remove the mech assualt saves. ( I was going to start all over again). So i tryed to get ftped to the console again but emerency linux wont work i just get an error message. It will still play real games but i cant access the ms dash ot the hd,. If I dont put a game in it just flashes the xbox logo and then crashes to error 13. Im stuck......

[old engineer]

You need to be a bit more specific m8.

What version Kernal and dash are u running on the problem Xbox.

...Also what the date of manufacture of the problem Xbox.

[bigballs5]

Cant get the dash up to check kernal. manufacture date is 05/11/2003.Thanks for looking, I think Im stuffed. i was "told" that this hack would work on all black xboxes, but it dont.

[old engineer]

If you have one of the more recent Kernals it doesn't allow u to downgrade the dash to install the hack, this could be your problem.

...In other words you can run the hack in memory but not off the HDD.

[bigballs5]

Yep that sounds exactly what is happening. Do you know what kernal I need to get this hack to work. Are there any other options if i get a kernal I cany use. Im taking the console back to the shop tomorrow as it is stuck in a perminant loop now. Fingers crossed.

[old engineer]

It sounds like your Kernal is probably 5530+

...Mechinstaller fonts and 5530+ kernel's are well known for having problems/not working.

...Bet u wished u had opted to use 007 audio hack? ...This would not of corrupted C:, unlike the font's you used :(

[bigballs5]

The main problem for me is I got a kit off a trader with mech assualt on mem card and all the hacked files on a disc, and install info. So i dont know what im really useing or what Im doing to be honest. As i said before i was told that it would work on all black xboxes, so I just went for it and took there word for it.

I have been reading up on audio hacks but most of it goes over my head. I have read alot on xbox-scene but its all too much to take in, that place has far too much information for newbies to understand completely.

Basicly do I have to have a xbox with a kernal lower than 5530 for the hacks I have too work, plus how do you find out what kernal you have?

thanks for all your help old engineer

[old engineer]

To find out your Kernal and dash version u need to be able to run the M$ dash!!!!

If u can't get your dash your stuffed!

...Go to the system info tab, let it scroll through all the copyright stuff and look out for something like: K:5530
D:4920

...As you will learn from the following, u can't get exploits that will 100% work on ALL black Xbox's.

They will work on most Xbox's. Old Xbox's from mid last year are no problem.

...For instance I've got one of them Crystal Xbox's which as u know are the latest available. I can run PBL 1.4 in RAM, but I cant install it, as it has the latest Kernal, which prevents me from downgrading the dash.

...There is work in progress on a hack for the EPPROM, but its still very early days.

I 'aint saying that running exploits on every Xbox is impossible it just requires a lot of work to get right, it 'aint simple m8.

...If u want simple u have to stick with 007 gamesave/audio hack that only installs on E:

...Anything like your Mech/font hack that goes on C: is risky if u 'aint sure what is going on.

The most important thing to remember is that what ever happens it can all be fixed. Might mean that u have to take your Xbox apart, and if u do that u may as well chip it!!!!


The following is the info u need, straight off Xbox-Scene, it should help to explain the facts:

Font Exploit:
1. You MUST have MS dashboard 4920 or lower (upgrade/downgrade if you don't)
2. You MUST NOT move, delete, or edit C:\xboxdash.xbe (but you can copy it and edit that)
3. You MUST rename "Xbox.xtf" and "XBox Book.xtf" to change the extension (usually to .XFT)
4. You MUST sign default.xbe with the -font key (unless it's already signed)
5. You SHOULD make a copy of xboxdash.xbe and edit it to point to your original font files (Do NOT replace C:\xboxdash.xbe with it though), so that you can still access the dash (tutorial (http://www.xbox-scene.com/articles/xtf-link-msdash.php)). You can use XTF2XFT Patcher (http://dwl.xbox-scene.net/~xbox/xbox-scene/tools/xbexbx/XTF2XFT-Patcher.rar) instead of hex editing the files.
6. You SHOULD backup your C:\ drive, especially xboxdash.xbe
7. You SHOULD NOT delete "Xbox.xtf" and "XBox Book.xtf"
8. You SHOULD use Bigfonts, Ernie & Bert Reloaded, or hacked MechInstaller fonts (differences (http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=95297))
9. You SHOULD NOT use "Bert is Cheating on Ernie" fonts (only works on kernel 4034)
10. It's a good idea have a working copy of a gamesave exploit with FTP access. If you do, you MUST NOT unplug the Xbox for more than 3-4 hours if the Xbox does not boot (e.g. installation not yet complete), or else you will not be able to use the gamesave.
11. MI fonts: You MUST rename your original fonts to "Xbox.bak" and "XBox Book.bak" (NOT .XFT)

Audio Exploit:
1. You MUST have MS dashboard 4920 (upgrade/downgrade if you don't)
2. You MUST NOT move, delete, or edit C:\xboxdash.xbe (but you can copy it and edit that)
3. You MUST sign the XBE with the key it uses (unless it's already signed)
4. You SHOULD backup or rename your original ST.DB (if you have one)
5. You SHOULD know the XBE name that it loads (e.g. E:\linux.xbe, E:\linux.x, E:\exploit, or E:\pbl.xbe) and what key it uses (-habibi or -audio)

Phoenix BIOS Loader (PBL):
1. You MUST NOT have kernel 5530 (flash TSOP, install chip, or don't use PBL)
2. You MUST have the RC4 key in the boot.cfg file (it shouldn't be all 0x00's)
3. You SHOULD have the EEPROM keys in the boot.cfg file (they shouldn't be all 0x00's)
4. You MUST use bootable-from-media (BFM) BIOS ROM(s)
5. If the screen flickers, then you have the Focus chip and you MUST use a newer BIOS (e.g. X2 4979 and up, or Evox M7)
6. You MAY turn on debug mode ("debug true" in boot.cfg) to speed up booting (no logo)
7. You SHOULD use XBtool to check the boot paths in your BIOS ROM(s).
8. PBL1.3: You SHOULD rename the BIOS to "xboxrom.bin" (or edit the name in boot.cfg)
9. PBL1.3: You SHOULD NOT delete "phoenix.raw"
10. PBL1.3: You DO NOT need to include the "phoenixboot" folder (source files)
11. PBL1.3.5i: You MUST put at least one BIOS ROM in the "Bioses" folder
12. PBL1.3.5i: You SHOULD edit boot.cfg to point to the name of one of your ROMs
13. PBL1.3.5i: You DO NOT need to include the "Source" folder (source files)
14. PBL1.3.5i: You MAY need to unplug third-party controllers and/or memory cards when loading PBL

[LiquidMercury]

You moved your big balls out of the way first I hope?

- Merc.

[bigballs5]

LiquidMercury my big balls are fine, just a little saggy, but Im sure they will tighten up a bit when i get my head around this stuff.

Any ways got another xbox but it dont have a info screen so I cant check what kernal and dash it has. (as far as I know) Thanks for the info old engineer, I guess Im still abit stuffed. I would like to try the audio hack but I still cant get my head around it:insane: