Softmodding an Xbox For FreeDale Swanson 0. The original Xbox can be turned into a media center that can play classic video games, videos and music. Xboxes are very cheap 3. Craigslist, or even free from someone that doesnt want it anymore. In order to use the Xbox in these ways first it must be modded. There are a few ways of doing this, but here I will describe a way to softmod without needing anything else using the hotswap method. Terms. HDD Hard Disk Drive. Softmod Software only Xbox mod. Hardmod Mod that requires a chip. Dashboard The main program that the Xbox runs when you first start it. Similar to an operating system for a PC. Unleash. X, Evox Two common Dashboards. Ndure Program that softmods. Xbox. HDM General Xbox modding tools. IDEPATA Older hard drive connector, used by the Xbox. Overview. So why do you want to mod an Xbox How should I knowWhy do I mod Xboxes Because it turns a crappy 3. A modded Xbox will be able to play classic games Atari, NES, SNES, Sega, Game Boy, N6. Xbox games directly off the HDD. Those are the main features, but you can also browse the web, play other games, and run various other programs. You have a couple options that will depend on what features you want. The ability to run emulators classic games, will come with any modded Xbox. However, if you want to play Xbox games from the HDD or watch videos and listen to music the stock 8 GB HDD wont be big enough. If you dont care about Xbox games I recommend you simply put your videos and music on your home network and share them. The Xbox will be able to play them from the network quite easily. You just bought a new Nintendo Switch. First of all, good job Theyre still kind of hard to find. Now its time to figure out what games you want to play. We. Xbox games though cant be played over the network at least I havent been able to get them to work. Estimate about 3 gigs per game, to figure out how much room you will want. Also remember you can keep the games on your PC and swap them out on the Xbox, although this takes a bit of time. If you choose to install a large HDD, it must be IDE, not SATA, and slower speed drives are actually better since they are cooler. L.png.1b8558e1a16de7448620d03f0b1f097a.png' alt='All Nes Games Zip' title='All Nes Games Zip' />Personally I have an 8. HDD in the Xbox with about 1. I have my video on the network. Now to review the ways of doing this. The first method was the hardmod. This involves buying a mod chip for around 3. Xbox and soldering it in later solderless adapters were made. This method has the benefit of giving you the most freedom to use your modded Xbox how you want. However, progress was made and now almost anything that can be done with a hardmod can be done with a softmod. The softmod doesnt involve any hardware changes, everything is done in software, hence the name. There are two types of softmod, the first requires you have one of three specific games and a way to copy files from your computer to the Xbox either memory card Action Replay, or USB drive USB to Xbox adapter. Youll likely have to buy these items. However the benefit is you dont have to open the Xbox at all, so if you are scared of releasing the demons that live in your Xbox this is probably the best bet for you. We already knew that you could basically tweak the NES Classic Edition to hold more games than it launched with, but we didnt know until now that you could basically. All Nes Games Zip' title='All Nes Games Zip' />The last method is the one I prefer. Perfect Driver Tip Size. Its the hotswap softmod. You have to open the Xbox and unplug the HDD and plug it into your PC while they are both running. Thus it can be rather risky, particularly if you preform the operation in a bath of salt water and shake uncontrollably. The benefit is that it only requires the Xbox, and a PC, you dont have to buy anything else. You will need. Some blank CDsDVDs. Torx 2. 0, 1. 5, 1. PC with IDEPATA ports. Larger HDD if you want to be able to play Xbox games from the HDD. Desire to work on insides of PC while powered on. Oxygen to breath while conducting mod. Prep Xbox. Before you begin you have to do some stuff in the stock Microsoft Dashboard to prepare. First turn on the Xbox and go to the time set up, make sure your time zone is correct. Next go to the game save manager and delete all the game saves to free up room you dont have to do this, but if you bought the Xbox used you probably dont want the saves anyway. Then you need to rip at least 1 song to the Xbox HDD. I use The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time Original Soundtrack, you can probably use something else. Then you need to find out what version dashboard and kernel you have. Go to Settings System Info and wait for the text to scroll, at the bottom of this text is the versions K 1. D 1. 0. 0. 5. 96. The above dash is 5. I havent seen one since I started modding again that wasnt. Ive heard you can simply play any new game or log on to Xbox Live to update the dash. The kernel above is 5. The kernel is based on when the Xbox was made, and wont change for any one Xbox. Youll need to know what kernel you have later so write it down. Make Disk. Youll need Ndure 3. Auto Xbins is a good tool to use to find Xbox software. Ndure is the actual softmod, and xboxhdm is a general program for Xbox stuff. Youll use xboxhdm to run Ndure. First start up the Ndure program and select your options. For the most part the defaults are fine, however, there are two key changes. First you must select your kernel, second you must select Create XBOXHDM Installer. After you do this finish the steps to build your Ndure files. When the program is done you should have a folder called ndure, you have to copy that folder into your xboxhdmlinux folder. See my screenshot for clarification. Now you go to the base xboxhdm folder and run the file make iso win. This will create a file called linux. CD you will use to mod your Xbox. Burn this iso and youll be ready to open your Xbox. Opening the Xbox. The Xbox is fairly easy to open, once you know where the screws are. There are 6 long T 2. They are all on the bottom under the feet and stickers. Youll have to pry the 4 feet off I use a small flat screw driver, they can be quite hard to remove. You can feel around for the holes under the stickers for the other two screws. Once you find them punch a hole through with your screwdriver and remove them. See my picture for locations. Remove the case lid. Inside you will find a bounty of candy and happiness. After you finish the candy you will see the gray ribbon cable, hidding underneath it is a single gold T 1. Now you should try to unplug the power and IDE cable from the back of the HDD. They sometimes are quite hard to remove, wiggling may be necessary. Then you can lift the whole black plastic HDD tray out. The HDD power cable is routed through it to make your life harder. Lastly there are four T 1. HDD tray, they will have to be removed to remove the HDD from the tray. The Hotswap and Softmod. Now that you have your modding CD and your Xbox HDD it is time to begin the actual modding. All Xbox HDDs must be locked in order for the system to boot. Locking is a rather obscure HDD feature which I dont think Ive ever seen used for anything other than Xboxes. When the system is first powered on the HDD asks it for a a key. If the system provides the correct key then the HDD is unlocked. It will remain unlocked for as long as its powered, and will return to a locked state as soon as it loses power. Its important to note that any loss of power will cause the HDD to relock, the system doesnt have to tell it to or anything. Luckily relocking isnt really a big deal, since the Xbox has the key to unlock it again. If something goes wrong during the hotswap for instance the CD times out before you complete the hotswap you can simply turn everything off and start over. Ok, so now you will want to remove any HDDs you may have in your PC so they dont get messed up.