About Xbox360 Modification
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First of all, the Xbox360 system has not been fully cracked so far. As a result, unlike current Xbox1 system, no homebrew applications can be run
neither large hard drive cam be used to install and run games. This means you can't get the same features as what is possible with Xbox1.
What’s the current state of Xbox360 hacking?
Commodore4Eva has developed a DVD firmware hack that will allow the Xbox360 to play unaltered back up games. Most of the Xbox games are not
region locked. Region locked games of original / back up can only be played on the xbox360 that was released in the same region as the games.
What’s involved?
The current modification involves DVD drive firmware patching only. The patching can be done either by flashing the actual EEPROM in the DVD drive
or installing a so called “modchip” to override the retail EEPROM. The current version of the hacked firmware is iXtreme 1.2C. We can do flashing on
all current Xbox360 dvd drives, including the Hitachi79FK/FL and Benq drives. With the Hitachi79FK/FL, additional installation of a hardware called
'Passkey" is required in order to get the drive in B mode and then flash it. Therefore the cost of doing this drive is a bit more expensive.
How do I back up my Xbox360 games that I’ve already owned?
There are many ways to do your own back up of games if you search Google on line. Currently the best and easiest method is using Samsung
SH-D162C DVD rom re-flashed with Kreon0.81 firmware to read 360 images via Xbox Back up Creator (XBC). Pioneer DVR-111D, DVR-112D are
highly recommended for burning all Xbox360 games. This burner automatically sets the book type to DVD-ROM for DVD+R DL discs, therefore no
more complications involved. Simply connect the modified Samsung drive to IDE channel in your PC, open XBC, insert game to be read and click read
and write.
What’s the difference between re-flashing the firmware and installing a modchip?
We found the following that was posted at www.ps3newz.com :
Advantages to Flashing:
Relatively easy and cheaper
Lets you play backups
You can still use live
Disadvantages of Flashing:
Not all computers support flashing.
Should M$ find out about the flash, they will ban you from live or maybe even brick your box (they do this often enough anyways). This has not
happened yet though. Stealth firmware with stealth backups may be undetectable.
Advantages of a DVD Modchip:
On/off switches (some models)
Original drive firmware is untouched
No need to use an sata connection (some models)
Disables live (some models)
Disadvantages of a Modchip:
Expensive.
Soldering is more difficult than flashing (hard install).
Backups must use a different security sector (NME in particular). Thus these backups are incompatible with firmware flashed drives and other chips.
Nobody has been banned yet, so there is no need.
Modchip developers aren't working on developing any REAL chips.
No stealth on most chips. The ones where it is supported would have it via flash anyways.
Conclusion: At this time, modchips are a waste of money. They are more difficult to install and more difficult to use and cost you money on top of that!
Should they create a true modchip supporting imported non region-free games and homebrew, I would throw my support wholeheartedly, but right
now they are just making a quick buck off unfounded fears.
We advise flashing and leaving the network cable disconnected when you aren't using live and never updating until you research the update on the
net and confirm its safe. Even if you don't flash I advise doing that as M$ bricks more boxes including unmodded ones every update.
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Xbox360 3 Red Ring Issue:
Microsoft has offered 3 years warranty for xbx360 that experiences 3 red rings. The cause for this problem lately has been discovered being the GPU
chip overheating causing the solder balls cracking under the GPU chip. Some use heat gun to re-heat the GPU chip making the solder balls to join
back but the results were not very ideal as some times the problem still come back after one or a few weeks time.
A new method has been developed lately called X-clamp replacement. It mainly involves 4 X M5 bolt replacing the X-clamp under the GPU. There are
about 55 pages discussion in the forum over at www.xbox-scene.com. The successful rate is much higher than heat gun fix. We use X-clamp
replacement to fix 3 red ring problem.
It is recommended to use an external cooling fan after the X-clamp replacement fix.
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What is Tool Battery?
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It is the same as Sony 's secrete Jigkick Battery used by Sony technicians when repairing bricked PSP console. The Tool Battery
is made by Datel, which is actually the same as Pandora Battery created by team C+D. It's capable of putting any PSP into
service mode in odder to repair bricked PSP or install custom firmware.
The Tool battery must be used with a Duo Pro memory stick sized from 64MB up to 4GB with some special files written. Simply
plug in the battery and the memory stick, the PSP will automatically boot to a service mode manual. Just follow the on screen
display, the PSP will be on 3.90 M33-3. This will allow you to run PSP homebrew software and UMD images from memory stick.
As a complete package, Tool Battery plus the Memory Stick is all you need for installing CFW and unbricking for both fat and slim
PSP's. The latest CFW included with the package is 3.90 m33-3. (02/04/2008) . However, in case a new CFW is released, you
can simply run the update on top of the current CFW. Most of the Dark_Alex CFW release requires current CFW 3.52 and above
to run.
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I have read reports in many forums saying that slimline PS2 will suffer from laser burning issue after being installed a modchip,
is that true? Should my slimline PS2 be modded?
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Laser burn out issue has existed since Sony released the model SCPH-50002 (v9) and the problem has been passed on to the
later revisions SCPH-50002a (v10) and SCPH-70002 (v12). The truth is not only modded v9/v10/v12 have suffered but also
the virgin unmodded ones. Lately the Matrix Infinity Team discovered the bug in Sony's hardware design which was the cause
of laser burn-out issue. According their discovery, the 'mechacon' randomly crashes when the PS2 is turned on and starts to
read the disc. During crashing the DSP sends a DC current right through the laser's driving IC and gets amplified at the output,
where the laser's tracking and focusing coils are directly connected. This excessive amount of DC current kills the coils that
control the optical lens for focusing and tracking movement in the magnetic field.
Members over at the www.ps2-scene.org forum have developed a few fixes to conquer this issue and they have worked pretty
well. One of the fixes is called SummOne resistor fix, which is based on the Matrix Infinity Team's diode fix and it effectively
reduced the gain of laser driving IC by adding 2 resistors across the inputs of the integrated amps. The other fix is Comsoft fix,
which is also based on Matrix Infinity team's PIC fix. It automatically shuts down the PS2 when it detected the danger of crashing
is about to occur. Comsoft V4 fix is the best fix according to the reports gathered from users in major PS2 forums.
According to our experiences during the actual practice , we only have 2 out of all we modded Slimline PS2 returned with burnt
laser coils after being applied the fix. The cost of replacing a new laser is only $29 if the Slimline PS2 was modded by
Consoletronics. This is a great offer for those who have concerns for laser issues.
The good news is Sony has released two more revisions for the Slimline PS2: SCPH-70002 ( warranty sticker at the bottom )
and SCPH-75002, these two models have completely solved the problem.
There are also other factors that will contribute to the burning of laser and reducing of life time of laser emitting diode, ie: the
bad quality discs (scratched, dirty, burned with fast speed) and poor modchip installation. Excessive length of wires and
inadequate earth point could cause data patching error and result mechacon crash. Sometimes the laser driving IC such as
LA6508 also gets burnt
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Under most of the
circumstances, do not
adjust the pots. to increase
gain if the laser has problem
reading discs, or it will
reduce the life time or
simply permanently damage
the laser diode. There are
many things involved
regarding reading problem.
Sometimes the laser could
be saved if not tempered.
Tracking/Focusing coils are
normally 4.8-5.0 ohm by
multi-meter, but burnt coils
are way below this value.
left picture shown
bottom view of HD7 laser block
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What precaution should I take in order to prolong the life time of PS2 laser?
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1) Basically we suggest you always use best quality media for all your back up needs and never use scratched discs even if
they still work. Verbatim and Ritek have excellent quality according to our tests. The burning speed is also crucial. Burning at
less than 4 speed is suggested.
2) Keeping the PS2 in a relatively dust free environment. The cooling fan in PS2 will suck the dust into the DVD drive and
spread over the pick-up lens. When the dust gets accumulated, the laser diode will emit more power of laser beam to read the
disc.This will significantly reduce the life time of laser.
3) Do not drop or heavily shock the PS2 because the laser's coil assembly that sustain the focusing/tracking lens will be
permanently deformed, which will cause inaccurate focusing or tracking when reading.
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Deformed strings makes the
laser difficult to read
because focusing and
tracking is no longer
accurate as a result.
The accuracy of lens
movement for
tracking/focusing in the
magnet field is also effected
if the coils burnt out. The
driving IC such as LA6508
on the motherboard might
also have burnt out as the
same time. We have seen
quite a few of this
happened and we also
found out these PS2's have
been playing poor quality
discs and have had a badly
installed modchip.
left picture:
fully exposed HD7 laser block
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Right picture shows the badly installed
modchip that has caused data patching error
and triggered mechacon crash. The laser has
burnt out as a result. ( see above picture )
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What a modchip in Xbox can do? Why I need a large hard drive?
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If the modchip contains Cromwell bios, the Xbox will only load Linux OS or if the chip contains Xecutor or Evox bios, it supports
large hard drive upgrade when needed and it's capable of running back up games as well as home brew software such as Xbox
Media Centre, HDDLoader, DVD2Xbox. With the HDDLoader or DVD2Xbox, you can copy games/movies to the hard drive and
run from it without disc. Therefore a large hard drive may be needed.
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How do I set up FTP ( file transfer protocol) between my PC and Xbox?
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To be able to set up FTP you need a Xbox with modchip installed and Evox dashboard booted up with adequately configured IP
address and of course a crossover network cable. Ethernet connectivity at your PC side is also required.
Firstly check your PC's IP configuration: if you use Windows XP , go start > run then type 'cmd' then click ok and you will see
a DOS prompt. Then type 'ipconfig' then hit 'Enter' . Your PC IP's configuration will be displayed like this for instance: IP
address:192.168.0.100 , Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0 Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1. Secondly turn on your Xbox with the
Evoxdash booted up, go to System Setting, then configure the Xbox's IP address to match your PC's IP address. By matching we
mean to set the IP like this for example: IP address: 192.168.0.5 , Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 , Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1.
Then go to your PC and open the Internet Browser, in the address bar type: ftp://xbox:xbox@192.168.0.5 click go, you should
see some folders on your screen. These folders are the partitions in your Xbox and you can use copy paste to transfer files.
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How do I back up Xbox games?
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Setting up FTP as described above and insert the game disc you wish to copy. Once the FTP connection is established copy and
paste D drive to somewhere in your PC. Then use XISO to build the disc image. Finally open your Nero Burning Rom, click burn
image to load the image you just built. Set the speed less then x4 to insure the quality. You have almost done!
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How do I back up PS2 games?
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Using DVDDcrypter can copy most of the single layer PS2 games. However, some games are heavily protected therefore special
patch is needed. Special patches are also needed for most of the dual layer games. More info can be found in relevant websites
and forums such as www.ps2hd.com , www.ps2-scene.org, www.ps2nfo.com
Always use best quality disc to make back up and set burning speed as low as possible.
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If I was to get my console modded by Consoletronics, what are the warranty terms and period?
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Consoletronics offers 6 months warranty for all models of PS2/Xbox repair and modchip installation and 12 months manufacturer
warranty for all brands of hard drives used for modification and upgrade. We are responsible for the parts* used and labour
during the warranty period.
* 3 months warranty for PS2/Xbox dvd lasers.
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What kind of payment do you accept?
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We accept all major cards at the shop. For all online purchases preferred methods are PayPal and direct deposit..
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