The Black Art of Xbox Mods [Paperback]

I am a lifelong gamer and programmer, having working with old-school systems like the Commodore PET, Apple II, and so on, so I naturally gravitated toward the Xbox when it was first released, seeing it as a solid, powerful, low-cost "Windows Game PC" with dedicated hardware. The first console I ever disassembled was the Atari 2600--back when I was only 10. I have experience programming games on several platforms, including Windows, Linux, Pocket PC, and Game Boy Advance, so my real forté is in software--and although this book is mainly about modifying the Xbox, I believe it is just as interesting to programmers as it is to gamers--and of course, all of the Xbox fans in the world! If you love your Xbox, and want to get the most out of it, then you need this book.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I: The Xbox Demystified

1: Welcome to the Xbox Scene

2: Disassembling Your Xbox

3: Identifying Your Xbox Revision

Part II: Mod Chips

4: Introduction to Xbox Modding

5: Installing a Solderless Mod Chip

6: Installing a Soldered Mod Chip

Part III: Software Mods

7: The Xenium Operating System

8: EvolutionX Dashboard

9: Avalaunch Dashboard

10: Xbox Media Center

Part IV: Hardware Mods

11: Replacing The Xbox Case

12: Upgrading The Xbox Hard Drive

13: Lighting Up The Case

14: Cooling Down Your Xbox

INTRODUCTION

The Xbox might be described as a powerful, proprietary PC that has been customized exclusively for running games. This book will help you to maximize the potential of your Xbox video game console by showing you how to modify your Xbox in various ways. You will learn how to disassemble your Xbox, right down to the motherboard, and you will learn about each component inside the Xbox case.

Several chapters are devoted to the most important part of Xbox modding: choosing a mod chip and then learning how to install it in your Xbox. The mod chip allows you to run third-party software on your Xbox that is normally limited exclusively to licensed retail games. By being able to run customized software on your Xbox, you will be able to transform it into a powerful media center capable of playing music files (such as MP3) and video files (such as MPEG2, Divx, WMV, and Xvid). All of the Xbox mod chips currently available work on the same principles, so you will find the coverage of the material applicable to whatever mod chip you use (or plan to install while reading this book). Although this book addresses several of the major mod chips currently available, it focuses primarily on the Xenium mod chip.

I chose this mod chip because it comes with an excellent operating system with features that will assist with upgrading the hard drive and installing your favorite Dashboards and software. All of the mod chips currently on the market are similar, so even if you are using another mod chip (such as SmartXX, Xecuter, X-Bit, X-Chip, or Chameleon), you will find the topics relevant and helpful because the focus is mainly on the Xbox itself, not on any specific model of aftermarket hardware.

Several chapters are devoted to the installation and use of custom Dashboard software--which is somewhat like an operating system for your "modded" Xbox, allowing you to take advantage of software you have installed. For that matter, the new Dashboards provide a way for you to copy software to your Xbox from your PC using a local area network (LAN) connection. Most custom Dashboards come with an FTP server, so you will be able to log on to your Xbox as if it were a computer on the Internet and then transfer files to your Xbox hard drive. Some Dashboards also provide a SAMBA/SMB server that allows you to treat the Xbox hard drive like a shared network drive.

To get the most out of your Xbox, this book will also teach you how to upgrade your hard drive. You will be able to install a new hard drive in your Xbox--replacing the original hard drive--with up to 300GB of storage space, which is plenty of room for anything you want to do with your Xbox.

The hundreds of photos in this book will help to guide you through each subject area--from identifying your particular revision of the Xbox to installing a mod chip to upgrading your hard drive. Everything is fully explained, and each subject area includes dozens of photos that illustrate each step of the process of modding your Xbox.

No matter what you plan to do with your Xbox--from turning it into a monster gaming rig or media center computer to acting as a hub for your big-screen TV and entertainment center--you will find the information you have been looking for in this concise, fully illustrated, thorough, and step-by-step guide to Xbox mods. This book is part hardware and part software, and there is equal treatment of both. You will learn how to fully customize your Xbox from a functional perspective, as well as from a costmetic one. And you will learn how to modify the software to match the exotic changes you have rendered on the physical appearance and functionality of your new "super" Xbox.

If you are an avid gamer, hacker, or hardware junkie, I'm sure you will find this book an excellent addition to your library and an indispensable reference. This book is not just a guide; it is a reference, with all the major features and specifications of each revision of the Xbox, as well as all the major mod chips at your fingertips.

Jonathan S. Harbour

I get a kick out of Jonathan S. Harbours books. I enjoy reading them and I own several of them. He seems to really enjoy his job and that makes for a good read. He also seems to know quite a bit about what he's doing, which lends the reader confidence. Confidence enough to try things that may cost you money? We'll see...

This book is about modding your XBOX. There are several reasons someone would want to do this, and the author covers most of them. The primary reason is to run import DVDs and to install software on your XBOX harddrive. Other valid reasons include increasing the hard drive capacity and turning your XBOX into a Media Center. One reason that isn't valid is software piracy. Unfortunately 95% of the people who see this book on the shelf will assume that's what it is about. Those people are wrong. Fortunately the author doesn't dwell on that topic for long.

The primary focus of this book is around the Xenium mod chip, although others are mentioned. The author provides tons of photos and references to help you determine which version of the XBOX you have (who knew there were so many??) and includes detailed instructions for installing both soldered and solderless modchips. The is relevant because certain versions will only allow one or the other.

I have to admit I've been leary of cracking open my XBOX but after reading this book, I've changed my mind. After all, as the author states repeatedly, it's just a PC and my 90 day warranty ended well over a year ago. Even if I don't mod my XBOX, I should at least take a look under the hood.

Will I be adding a mod chip to my XBOX? No comment. Will I be following some of the tips and suggestions for tricking it out and adding cool stuff like lights or a new case skin? Probably. Even if you never crack the case, this is a book worth reading. I read it over a couple days and really enjoyed it.

The book also discusses flashing your XBOX bios, dissassembly (step by step WITH photos), upgrading your hard drive (with more photos) and installing various after market software.

At $25 the book is reasonably priced, although you can find it cheaper at Amazon. ($17 last time I checked)

I recently purchased this wonderful book and let me say if you are into modding and have an Xbox then this is for you. It is aimed toward newbies and it is very detailed without becoming overwhelming. Detailed pictures are provided as is alot of walkthrus on everything from picking the right mod chips to opening your Xbox to finding the right software. Well Done!!!!!!!!