Xbox forum - xbox after linux

Author

xbox after linux

geeezle@yahoo.com

2006-08-03, 6:14 am

my son tried to put linux on his xbox now it wont play his games. I
want to get it back to the original state. How do I do this?
I'm not real techy, so please type slow so I can understand.

thanks
:0)
Geeez

Kendrick Kerwin Chua

2006-08-03, 6:14 am

In article <1152731103.714211.176890@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups.com>,
<geeezle@yahoo.com> wrote:

quote:

>my son tried to put linux on his xbox now it wont play his games. I
>want to get it back to the original state. How do I do this?
>I'm not real techy, so please type slow so I can understand.

Software mod, TSOP flash or mod chip? We need more information about the
method used before we can say if it's reversible. Based on your short
description, I'm guessing that the Cromwell BIOS was loaded on the TSOP
chip. This is great for running Linux, but the Cromwell code doesn't run
any native Xbox boot code.

If your Xbox won't boot to the dashboard at all, then it's possible you've
got a botched software mod. This can happen if you unplug your XBox when
not in use, causing the clock battery to run out. The only good fix for
this is to remove the hard drive and install it in a machine that can
submit the IDE unlock code. Here's hoping your son wrote down the hard
drive serial number and access code before crashing the box, if that's the
case.

The more info you have, the more helpful we can be. What else do you know?

-KKC, looking at robotic disc changing arms for a rack-mountable Xbox 360
mod. Hey, the controller's already wireless. Why shouldn't the whole thing
be in another room?

--
"These are the good years for Barb and me. We installed a bible - kendrick
detector at the front door. And now when the doorbell rings and - @io.com
the red light flashes, we know we have to sit very quietly and -
wait for them to go away." Catchup Advisory board, A Prairie Home Companion

geeezle@yahoo.com

2006-08-03, 6:14 am

Sorry it took so long to get this answer.
Someone gave him a memory card with linux on it and he installed it
from there. And it was in dutch. Thats the best he can tell me.
I don't think it gets to the dashboard, I'll have to have him power it
up and let me see.
He tried hooking it to his laptop but we can't see it as a device (not
sure we would be able to?).

I called Xbox support and they said we would have to send it in for
repair, there is no local authorized dealers that can get it back to
factory spec. AT this point I guess I do't care if they are authorized.
I'm not sure what the warranty was on this, but I guess its good for a
boat anchor right now.

Kendrick Kerwin Chua wrote:

quote:

> In article <1152731103.714211.176890@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups.com>,
> <geeezle@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Software mod, TSOP flash or mod chip? We need more information about the
> method used before we can say if it's reversible. Based on your short
> description, I'm guessing that the Cromwell BIOS was loaded on the TSOP
> chip. This is great for running Linux, but the Cromwell code doesn't run
> any native Xbox boot code.
>
> If your Xbox won't boot to the dashboard at all, then it's possible you've
> got a botched software mod. This can happen if you unplug your XBox when
> not in use, causing the clock battery to run out. The only good fix for
> this is to remove the hard drive and install it in a machine that can
> submit the IDE unlock code. Here's hoping your son wrote down the hard
> drive serial number and access code before crashing the box, if that's the
> case.
>
> The more info you have, the more helpful we can be. What else do you know?
>
> -KKC, looking at robotic disc changing arms for a rack-mountable Xbox 360
> mod. Hey, the controller's already wireless. Why shouldn't the whole thing
> be in another room?
> --
> "These are the good years for Barb and me. We installed a bible - kendrick
> detector at the front door. And now when the doorbell rings and - @io.com
> the red light flashes, we know we have to sit very quietly and -
> wait for them to go away." Catchup Advisory board, A Prairie Home Companion

Kendrick Kerwin Chua

2006-08-03, 6:14 am

Hey, mercy for text-based newsreaders. Don't top-post, please.

In article <1153417037.067459.58920@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
<geeezle@yahoo.com> wrote:

quote:

>Kendrick Kerwin Chua wrote:
>
>Sorry it took so long to get this answer.
>Someone gave him a memory card with linux on it and he installed it
>from there. And it was in dutch. Thats the best he can tell me.
>I don't think it gets to the dashboard, I'll have to have him power it
>up and let me see.

Sounds like the software-only mod. You can't just load Linux from a memory
card, you have to use one of the software exploits. That would be one of
the two games with the save hack, or the use of an audio CD to replace
some of the files on hard drive. Definitely, you've got the documented
clock loop problem that keeps your Xbox from booting because it recognizes
some of the files on the hard drive have been changed.

quote:

>He tried hooking it to his laptop but we can't see it as a device (not
>sure we would be able to?).

The Xbox hard drive is secured in two ways. First, you need to transmit
the IDE unlock code to it when it powers up, otherwise you can't read data
off of it. Second, you need to have an operating system that can read the
XFAT partition system. Windows drivers for XFAT have been notoriously
unreliable in my experience, so it's generally best to boot a Linux
machine to read the hard drive.

The IDE unlock code is unique to every Xbox, and is based on the hardware
serial number on the Xbox ROM. If you didn't write this down somewhere
before the Linux installation crashed, then you're out of luck being able
to read the hard drive in any other device unless you're comfortable
dumping the ROM. You generally also need a backup of the files that were
changed in order to restore them.

quote:

>I called Xbox support and they said we would have to send it in for
>repair, there is no local authorized dealers that can get it back to
>factory spec. AT this point I guess I do't care if they are authorized.
> I'm not sure what the warranty was on this, but I guess its good for a
>boat anchor right now.

The repair cost will be around $100 or so, including shipping. Unless it's
important to you to get the saved game data off of it, the best thing for
you to do with that money is buy another Xbox. That also doesn't count the
effort you might expend fixing the problem, or the humiliation your kid
feels for breaking the Xbox. Sorry I can't be more help.

-KKC, who has memories of people installing K&N air filters in their cars
and not understanding why it screws up their air intake sensors...
--
"These are the good years for Barb and me. We installed a bible - kendrick
detector at the front door. And now when the doorbell rings and - @io.com
the red light flashes, we know we have to sit very quietly and -
wait for them to go away." Catchup Advisory board, A Prairie Home Companion

geeezle@yahoo.com

2006-08-03, 6:14 am

What does that mean "top-post?"....

Anyways, thanks for replying and your input. I think he will have to
save up his lawn mowing money for a new one. :0)

Piotr Gnyp

2006-08-03, 6:14 am

..::On 21 Jul 2006 04:20:05 -0700, in <1153480805.429275.154730@75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>
..::geeezle@yahoo.com wrote:

quote:

> What does that mean "top-post?"....

http://www.caliburn.nl/topposting.html

--
Toread@IRCNet::GT#Toread PL::gg#23475::DSA#BEC9A444::http://42.pl/u/hjF
"'Better to rule in hell, than serve in heaven.' Eh, little brother-killer?"
"Suh-certainly, Lord Lucifer. Whatever you say, Lord Lucifer."
"We didn't say it. Milton said it. And he was blind."
* Lucifer and Cain, in SANDMAN #22: "Season of Mists", episode 1

geeezle@yahoo.com

2006-08-03, 6:14 am

When I reply, I don't see the quoted text at all. All I see in my reply
box is my text that I type.
Is this a setting in google groups?