Please don't forget downloading ISO's is not discussed here as this is illegal. Even if you really are just downloading once for games you own, it is still a bit dodgy. Discussing backing up your own games from your original discs you legally bought is fine.
Check the forum rules if unsure :wink:
http://www.360mods.net/Forums/viewtopic/t=6.html
Anyway that said, for info burning ISO's is of course possible, you don't need a .dvd file.
Anyone who uses Xbox Backup Creator (XBC) to dump their games and opens up a .dvd file that it creates in notepad will see, all the .dvd file contains is just the path to the ISO to be burnt (Usually in the same folder) and the layer break info. It is possible to burn a game without using this file as long as you set the layer break info in your burning program, such as ImgBurn. If you feel the need it is very easy to create a .dvd file using notepad. All you need to do is open Notepad and type:
Code:
LayerBreak=1913760
IMAGE.iso
Where IMAGE.iso (Edit the file name to whatever your ISO is called) is the path to the game ISO to be burnt in relation to the .dvd file and the layer break needs no explaination, read the tutorials if your unsure what a layer break is. Then simply select File>Save as.. and call it XBOX360.dvd or whatever & place it in the same folder as the game ISO. I always name it the same as what the original game disc reports as in Windows, usually XBOX360.dvd.
Using a Kreon drive is not what creates stealthed games. This is simply the method of reading Xbox 360 game discs which are not normally read by most DVD drives. Only certain drives such as the Toshiba Samsung SH-D162C when flashed with the Kreon firmware can read the discs & dump the game.
Programs like XBC or Schtrom360 XtractV3.2 use a Kreon drive to read, dump and stealth patch a game for you.
Don't even get into hotswopping and the wxRipper method if you don't have to, its outdated and less reliable as you have to mess around with the security sectors (SS) etc yourself, which is what makes a game stealthed.
IF you have to try and stealth a dump, you should check the tutorial section as it tells you the wxRipper method there.
As I said XBC etc does this for you, as long as you have a SH-D162 Kreon drive, or similar, which are easily available on ebay and dont cost much, so you could backup all your originals yourself safe in the knowledge they are properly stealthed.
Finally in answer to your queries:
1.) I have always used cheapest possible DL DVD's for my backups with no problems AT ALL. Burnt 28 games with no coasters. No loading problems, nothing! I have used RiDisc Xtreme & Zero Defex DL DVD's, I paid £14.99 (approx $28.00) for 25. I ALWAYS burn at 2.4X, takes time but worth it if it saves on DVD prices. Verbatim cost more than twice as much as that here, dunno about other places.
2.) As I said, downloading games even if you own the original is probably dodgy ground. However as long as the game ISO's you burn are stealth patched then they will work with the new FW.
