The Xbox is very unlike other game consoles, in that it’s actually a complete x86 PC. Here are its specs:

• Intel Pentium III 733
• 64MB RAM
• GeForce 3 graphics
• Ethernet port
• 4 USB ports (the controller connections are actually USB!)
• 8 or 10 GB IDE hard drive
• DVD-ROM

All this only costs $150! Here’s the bad news. In order to prevent people from doing whatever they want on the Xbox, Microsoft added a protection scheme which requires them to sign code before it can be run. However, when you unlock the full power of your Xbox, you can do so much more with it: run Linux on it, use it as a media center for your home theater, modify the games that you own for more gameplay (Halo!), use it as a web server, anything you can use a normal computer for.

There are two options: 1) buy a modchip, 2) use a “softmod”, which exploits a bug in a game by opening a tampered savegame. Both options allow you to run unsigned code on the Xbox. When I first got my Xbox a while ago, I wanted to mod it just for fun and out of curiousity. I ended up using a softmod, because I didn’t want to buy a modchip or open the Xbox at all.

Because I had a newer version of the Xbox, the long standing exploits didn’t work for me. Eventually, I found the Memcard UDE1/UDE2 Installer/uninstaller tutorial on Xbox-Scene, which installs the “Ultimate Dashboard Exploit”.

When people mention the “usual places” for Xbox binaries, they’re usually referring to xbins. I don’t know why people are so hesitant to link to it. The URL itself isn’t illegal or anything. 8-|

Next, I had to find out how exactly to get the gamesave onto a memory card. This took a frustratingly long time. There just aren’t any Windows programs that can read FAT-X, the Xbox’s proprietary file system. Here was where uk-dave’s page helped me. I didn’t need to flash my BIOS as he did–all I wanted was to figure out how to build a Linux kernel with FAT-X support.

I went out and got the materials.

• An older, exploitable version of 007: Agent Under Fire. (not Platinum Hits, or other special edition) I found this on eBay.
• A male Xbox to female USB adapter. I also found this on eBay.
• A USB flash drive. I got a 512 MB Lexar JumpDrive Secure from the local Fry’s Electronics.

I used a spare hard drive to install Slackware Linux on, and followed uk-dave’s instructions on how to build a kernel supporting FAT-X.

Then I plugged it into the USB->Xbox adapter, and ran 007: Agent Under Fire. After selecting the tampered savegame…GLITCH-FLASH-ZAP! The screen changed to the UDE installer menu. From here, things were easy. It automatically installed Evo-X, a replacement dashboard, and I could FTP into my Xbox to install programs and transfer media.

Here’s an interesting, technical analysis of the 007 hack.

Aside from using the Xbox as a media center, you can also modify games. A few weeks ago I downloaded two new Halo mapsets–CXE and NMP. If Halo is getting boring, consider trying out some mods for it. Of course, you need to mod your Xbox before you can do this.

Today, I wanted to swap the built-in 10GB hard drive with a larger one. Since I’d already voided my warranty by softmodding it anyway, I decided to open it up. Thanks to this tutorial, I was able to get a nice, (relatively) large 30GB HDD in my Xbox. When I get a bigger drive (120+ GB) I’ll swap it again.

Although Xbox modding makes it one heck of a gaming machine, it’s not for anyone besides the most technically proficient (read: geeks). If you or a friend that is willing and able to mod your Xbox, I strongly suggest you do it. It was a highly educational experience to me, and I definitely don’t regret unleashing the full potential of my Xbox.