A couple of Xbox questions..

**flipper321** · 27th September 2004

...before I go and buy one.

I'm probably going to for a pre-modded one (don't trust myself to solder) - but before I do can someone please explain the following:

Do I need to have a mod, can I just do the TSOP flash. The things I would like to be able to do are.

1. Play Back-ups of my games
2. Play DVD's / Divx's
3. Change screen modes to NTSC to use the X2VGA+
4. Use my PC to connect to XBConnect / XBLink

Also what advantages are there of the increased hard drive. I know I could store back-ups / media there but am not too fussed about just burning things on RW disks.

Thanks in advance.

**Goldberg** · 27th September 2004

On my first Xbox I flashed the TSOP, I believe that you have to have the mod chip to be able to load the software that flashes the TSOP (seems a bit silly chipping a machine just to flash the TSOP I know).

Once flashed it works as it would if it were modded

, however you wil NEVER EVER be able to go live then.

Please correct me if I am wrong folks. Please do it nicely and none of this shooting people down for making a mistacke (see what I did there!) attitude that is currently kicking about! I am only trying to help at the end of the day

.

I thank you

**CaptainRizla** · 27th September 2004

You could get a no solder X-ecuter and fit a switch.
Just turn it off for Live.

**flipper321** · 27th September 2004

Not too fussed with Live - especially seeing as XBLink / XBConnect are about. I believe that the TSOP flash can be done as long as you have access to another machine that has been chipped - which I do.

Still willing to hear other peoples opinions.

**Goldberg** · 27th September 2004

When I flashed my TSOP it was on a V1 machine. It may have changed since?

**fe_man2000** · 27th September 2004

You ask about the HDD - do you have a DVD burner ? I ask beacause you mention burning the discs to RW which made me think you are taking about CDRW's.

Cheers
Ironman

**flipper321** · 27th September 2004

Yup got a dvd writer -does the xbox not accept dvd-rw's?

**keyamon** · 27th September 2004

Originally Posted by flipper321

Not too fussed with Live - especially seeing as XBLink / XBConnect are about.

I would never chose those two over Live. they are good for what they are, but IMO they don't come close to the real thing.

**Goldberg** · 28th September 2004

Originally Posted by flipper321

Yup got a dvd writer -does the xbox not accept dvd-rw's?

All depends on what Drive you get in the machine (not my area so cant say which is best.)

My Green Xbox hates DVD-R but seems to be ok with CDRW (not an alternative however!)

I have been told to try DVD+R so will try next time I get the chance.

**fe_man2000** · 28th September 2004

Depends - I have never had a problem with DVD-R's or RW and neither has the 6 or so other xbox's I have access to. I havent used +R much but when I have they have been fine.

The main arguement for the HDD has got to be speed. The loading time is usually cut in half when you access a game on the HDD instead of the disc - some games are better than others but its generally a much better experience esp. on games with lots of changing levels (e.g Fable). If your like me and you tend to play only a couple of games at once thena 40 or 60gb hdd is fine - I get round 12 games on it at any one time.

Other advantages as you would expect are that if you move your xbox around you dont need to take the discs and also you dont have to get up to change the game disc when you want to play somthing else - simple reboot using the controller and then when Evox comes up select the next game to play.

Cheers
Ironman

BM · 28th September 2004

I also find that due to the amount of crap games that come out for the xbox, I dont find myself wasting dvdr . I will always test the game by installing on the hdd, if its crap, i can just delete it.

**abrocky** · 30th September 2004

i guess u want to make backup copies of your games so that they do not scratch....

to be able to play live you need to be able to have a chip that has a switch.... then an illegal bios (Ie 4983) because the standard cromwell bios on the chips does not allow 'backup' gamesto be played. Then a dashboard needs to be installed such as Slayers in order for the included software for installing games to the HDD drive for the transfer to the PC.

A larger harddrive is advisable because in order to make a backup of your disks, a computer cannot read them, so you install them on the Xbox harddrive and ftb then ISO image across to a PC and burn that ISO image to disk...

**Goldberg** · 30th September 2004

I seen an interesting piece of kit is Gamestation today. It consists of two Ethernet Cables, DVD Disc and a 'Hub'.

Not mush in the way of exactly what it does but basically it is used to link machines together. The screen shot on the back of the box showed 'Xbox Live' multiplayer option. No is this so you can link 2 Xboxes together and play multiplayer 'Live Only' games between the boxes?

I obviously need to ask the guys in the shop about this but if it does allow 2 machines (more if through a router etc..... which you can do as it states on the box) to play live only games over a network then i'm sure the guys at XBC etc... will be interested! I did also see that it has Action Replay on, does action replay make it think it has connected to live?

So many questions and I hope I get the right answers! But burnout 3 and the likes could be playable online to people without buying live. (You wont be able to play against people with Live but still if it works then!!! wow!)

**BLUTO141** · 30th September 2004

IMHO get it chipped and get a bigger hard drive.
being able to play any games any dvd or other video format you want, music loadsa music, and if you want, you can always deinstall the chip if you want (can't think why you would want to) i far as i am aware, once tsop done their is no going back, bigger drive makes life easier, load in various dashes and other utils that you can fiddle with. :thumbs

**MsDG** · 30th September 2004

I've said it before and I'll say it again.... I think a big hard drive is really needed just because cutting xbox DVD's can be really hit and miss!

Yes, there are some people out there that seem to get working DVD's with no problem... however, if you're unlucky (like me) you will have a few problems getting working disc's (and everybody seems to have different advice about what brand, colour, and even speed of disc to use!)

My advise... forget burning disc's & just FTP your games to the Xbox from your PC!

**flipper321** · 27th October 2004

Thought I'd update you all after the help you gave me.

Went out and bought a new Crystal Xbox and soft-modded using the new Uxe exploit (Mechassault savegame exploit)

Was going to just burn to dvd but think my new drive is somewhat "tempremental" - so last night installed a new 80gb hard drive using xboxhdm. Miles quicker than dvd-r and more reliable too.

Thanks again for all you advice.