Gaming Some n00b questions...

[AaronUzumaki]

Hello, I have recently been thinking about modding my console, but would first like to know:

1. I DO have to have a mod chip right? Or can I just soft mod it like my Wii, PS2, and PSP?

2. If I do need a mod chip, which is the best to get?

3. Do you have to burn games, or can you load them off of a hard drive?

4. If you do have to burn, do all games require Dual Layer discs?

5. If I play a burnt or HDD game while signed in to LIVE, but NOT for online multiplayer, can I still get banned?

6. If I play a burnt or HDD game while signed out of LIVE, but sign on later with a legit game, can I get banned?

7. Last one. Are all games compatible with being burnt or loaded from an HDD?

 

[FAST6191]

1) It is a halfway house- you do a hardmod of the DVD drive. This is unless you are lucky enough to have a JTAG capable box (not updated past the August the 11th 2009 update and made before mid June 2009*) in which case you will be soldering stuff in.
http://www.jungleflasher.net/downloads.html has a good guide to the drive modding side of things.

*cut off dates are not set in stone so go with an earlier one if you want to go down this path and have the option.

2) See 1

3) If you have a JTAG box you can run them from the drive but otherwise it is discs only. Note this does not stop you using the NXE install to dash function and only having the disc in to pass the "check".

4) If you have a JTAG box then you can fiddle around with things and run stuff from a single layer disc but if you are modding the drive then yes you need to use dual layer discs. The people behind the WODE have recently threatened a 360 equivalent at some point but at this time there is nothing like that on the 360 and there is nothing resembling a timeframe for the WODE like device.

5) and 6) Banning arises from several causes which are still hotly debated to this day but as best we can tell including bad rips, bad drive firmware and a few other things- no sure fire way to prevent a ban but done properly (and assuming no faults in the hacked DVD firmware) then you should be good. As far as you are concerned offline/online does not matter and if you have a JTAG box do your very best to keep it from speaking to microsoft's servers.

7) There is no AP if that is what you are asking- you download an iso, check it (fix it if necessary- most of the older rips will need a minor tweak or two to bring them in line with the modern hacked firmwares) and burn it (then check the burn).

 

[AaronUzumaki]

Thank you very much. I found your reply VERY helpful. However, I have come to find that my computer's SATA is incompatible for mid-modding. I don't feel like buying any converters, external flashers, or whatever else may be available right now. Looks like I won't be modding my Xbox 360 anytime soon. Thanks for the loads of helpful info anyways.

 

[FAST6191]

Depending on the drive you might get away with it- on the other hand compatible sata cards are all of $15.

You can power a drive with a 360 as well if you want and if you are slightly less lazy then the pinout of the power cable exists: http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=668247

 

[Esjay131]

XeDKs ftw.

On topic: if you want to just be able to use homebrew and play 'backups', you can buy a pre-jtag'd console from grim187, a moderator of Xbox-Scene, for $150 + $25 for shipping with all cords. He reflows the RRoD consoles, and you can view his thread here: http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=694052

 

[PanzerWF]

Semi threadjack:

What burner do you guys recommend using? Does it make a significant difference, or is it just mostly the disc itself?