GENERAL Softmod original xbox - anyone still have the hardware/game disks required?

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AndyInNYC

Junior Member
Aug 24, 2015
17
0
I'd like to softmod my two original xbox systems so that I can download additional map packs for Halo 2 to play with my son. Unfortunately, I have none of the 'exploitable' games nor the required connectors.

Does anyone still have these items sitting on a shelf somewhere that I could borrow or rent? I'm in Mercer County, NJ.

Thanks all.


Andrew
 
G

gavin_darkglide

VIP Member
Dec 14, 2012
2,303
118
There is always the hdd hot swap method. where you turn on the xbox, then once it has booted, swap the data cable on with the pc, after the pc has gotten past post test. then boot xboxhdm, and you can change the files manually. I have had xbox's where this method has bricked the hdd in the xbox, which then requires an eeprom reader.
 
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AndyInNYC

Junior Member
Aug 24, 2015
17
0
gavin_darkglide said:
There is always the hdd hot swap method. where you turn on the xbox, then once it has booted, swap the data cable on with the pc, after the pc has gotten past post test. then boot xboxhdm, and you can change the files manually. I have had xbox's where this method has bricked the hdd in the xbox, which then requires an eeprom reader.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply - the difficulty there is deciding whether the added maps are worth the probability that I brick one of the boxes versus getting both done correctly.

I've got to think that someone still has one of the games and memory stick/cable in a closet somewhere.

If I can't get this done the 'easy' way then I will definitely consider the hotswap.


Andrew
 
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AndyInNYC

Junior Member
Aug 24, 2015
17
0
Typing from my phone.

You mind linking to the right parts on eBay? Lots of potentially wrong choices to be made.

Just created the disk to hot swap - can only hope it's right.

Andrew
 
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AndyInNYC

Junior Member
Aug 24, 2015
17
0
Kexxen said:
I would still recommend using the usb stick method. You can get the usb to Xbox cord for like $3 on ebay, and splinter cell for like $4. Also it's super easy. Here is the tutorial I used my first time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqTjxuYQflM
Click to expand...
Kexxen,

I just bought the USB to XBox cable on eBay. We'll see how long it takes to deliver.

It seems that the Splinter Cell or Agent Under Fire exploits don't actually need the game disk, just the save file. Is this true? If so, anyone out here have the files which could be emailed/made available to me.

Barring that, I know I need to avoid "Platinum Hits" editions, but I'm having trouble locking down the correct Splinter Cell or Agent Under Fire versions on eBay (basically because I only know what a 'car' looks like and I was sent to the parking lot to find a 'Honda' - they all look alike).

Any pointers/links to which versions on eBay will work correctly?


Andrew
 
Kexxen

Kexxen

VIP Member
May 26, 2014
174
23
The way a softmod works is you use the game to trick the Xbox into running the installer menu, which looks like a save file (you need the game disc). I used the splinter cell version. Other than the fact that you need the original version of the game, you just need to make sure you get the PAL version if your Xbox is PAL region, or NTSC if your Xbox is NTSC region.

I think the tutorial I linked you to had a link to the save files in the video description.

Just as long as the USB to Xbox cable can hook up a flash drive to the Xbox, that's all you need. Should look like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Female-...erter-Cable-/171742407000?hash=item27fca52958
 
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AndyInNYC

Junior Member
Aug 24, 2015
17
0
Yes, I bought the cable and a $10 version of Splinter Cell.

It seemed in the video that the game CD is never actually used except to get the save file onto the memory stick.
eBay has for sale a XBox to USB with a memory stick and Splinter Cell save for $27 - seems directly aimed at the soft mod crowd. Since it didn't include the game, kind of implies that the game wouldn't be required (or you'll just have to find the game anyway and spend more money).

Thanks for all your help. This is turning into more work than I anticipated - especially since I don't just 'dump' the Halo 2 map packs onto the drive and voila I have expanded maps. That's the next step, however.


Andrew

Andrew
 
Kexxen

Kexxen

VIP Member
May 26, 2014
174
23
Also, the Xbox will be picky about which USB stick you can use. I used a 256 Mb staples relay. You should google for a compatibility list in order to make sure you have a usb that will work.
 
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AndyInNYC

Junior Member
Aug 24, 2015
17
0
So all the parts are on order - some from the US and some from Hong Kong; we'll see what international shipping time runs.

It's my understanding that after I soft mod, I can (relatively) easily upgrade the hard drives to 250GB and all of the LBA tools and other bits and pieces are now 'automagic' from the utilities.

Do you remember if the softmod requires/relocks the internal drive which comes with the XBox?

Andrew
 
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AndyInNYC

Junior Member
Aug 24, 2015
17
0
OK, trouble in paradise.

I was able to softmod the 2nd xbox - no problems, everything worked as expected.
On the original xBox I'm having problems.

This Xbox is a Halo Special Edition model.

After the first fail I went into Memory and deleted all saves of all games.

I loaded the save game from the USB stick/cable to the HD and booted the machine with Splinter Cell.
When I click to load level (or checkpoint) the machine locks up - the screen doesn't change, but the controller won't change the screen.

Music plays in the background.

After multiple reboots, I'm still stuck trying to install the softmod. Halo 2 will still start - I haven't borked the machine. It just won't load/run the saved game as the other machine did.

Upstairs machine has XBMC running and seems quite happy.

So, what might I be doing wrong with my Halo Special Edition XBox?


Andrew
 
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AndyInNYC

Junior Member
Aug 24, 2015
17
0
Well, I played "One of these things is not like the others ..."
The first XBox, while not a Halo Special Edition, is hooked up with a coax adapter (yuck!). The Special Edition is connected via component.

I found a single reference to something along the lines of some hacks only working with some adapters. Swapping the connector on the Special Edition allowed the exploit to run and the machine appears to work correctly with the component reconnected.

So, just allow Google to grab the solution:

Softmod will not work with component video connector on original xbox; use coax video.


Now to swap a 250 GB into each machine and then figure out how to load the maps for Halo 2.


Andrew
 
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AndyInNYC

Junior Member
Aug 24, 2015
17
0
I understand they are to be treated as DLC. I even know that DLC is downloadable content. And there, alas, my knowledge ends.

I have downloaded a compressed file with the mappacks to my PC. Given that I should (assuming I get CHIMP to work) have a 250 GB in each of the drives I can take the 'easy' way out for installation per one set of instructions I have seen.

I'm Linux familiar and XBox ignorant.

Having never used DLC/XBox Live/anything more than very light playing, any detailed guide you can point me to for the mappack installation?

Directions like just run 'blah against blah' will have me lost at step 1, having never done it nor having any familiarity with either of the 'blahs' in this sentence <g>.

I can burn an ISO to disk, but can't repackage files to create that ISO (for example).

Appreciate the help - my son is desperate to kill me in Halo 2 using new landscapes.


Andrew
 
A

AndyInNYC

Junior Member
Aug 24, 2015
17
0
So, I now have two modded xboxes with XBMC as my front end - one has a 250GB PATA and the other a 400GB PATA. This should be plenty of space <g>.

I'm terribly lost on how to install the mappacks I have downloaded. The directions don't seem to agree with the layout/actions of the xbox.

When I unrar the killtrocity download it creates several items:

directories for:

Quix 1.01
Instructions
Serenity V3.2
Serenity Patches
and Serenity Auto-Patcher.exe

The Serenity Patches directory has 44 files which I'll assume correspond to the new maps.


The directions in the Instructions directory speak of "every old and new map" in the original maps directory ...
I don't have an original maps directory (i can obviously make one), and I can't find any map files via ftp on my xbox.

So, clearly I'm lost.

Is there a guide for complete idiots (instead of the regular kind) which will allow me to get started here?

This really shouldn't be so difficult, but it's got me stumped. I'm assuming after I do it once I'll be set (just like modding the boxes).

Thanks for any assistance.


Andrew
 
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AndyInNYC

Junior Member
Aug 24, 2015
17
0
Well, I tried to install the XBOX DLC for offline (contains 4 maps plus Halo 2 updates).
The Maps all claimed to install, but they weren't visible (program stated the maps were copied to the hard disk).
I then tried again - it won't 'recopy' them which I read in the instructions, so I installed the game variants which claimed to copy (but again nothing happened when I started Halo 2).
So I last tried to use the game updaters which blew out my softmod.

Fortunately I had already changed drives to the 250GB, so I only need to pull drives and reclone (i.e. no lasting damage, just time lost).

So, I'm really still lost and need help.

Anyone?


Andrew
 
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AndyInNYC

Junior Member
Aug 24, 2015
17
0
Well, to continue my saga ...

I was able to install the 1.5 Halo 2 update and the bungie maps on both machines. I even copied the Halo 2 disks for each machine using DVD2XBOX and can put the originals away.

I would still like to install the Killtrocity mappack, but have no idea how to follow the directions available.

Anyone remember how to do this and available to give me a few pointers?


Andrew
 
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