Overview

The Xbox is an exciting and fun video game console - but that's only half the story. Inside the case, Microsoft placed a customized PC that you can push well past the limits of Halo and NBA Live. In The Black Art of the Xbox Mods, gamer, programmer and midnight hacker Jonathan Harbour show you how to crack the case, strip your Xbox down to the motherboard, and take control from the inside out. When you're finished, you'll know how to install a mod chip, boot up in a new operating system, and run cool third-party software. You'll also learn how to trick out your Xbox with case mods, glowing lights and other features to let the world know your Xbox has come a long way since you brought it home from the superstore. With hundreds of pictures and step-by-step instructions, The Black Art of the Xbox Mods isn't for the faint of heart. But, if you want a 300GB Xbox that plays CDs, DVDs, and glows like an alien spacecraft, then this is the book for you.

Full Product Details

Author:   Jonathan Harbour ,  Whatnot
Publisher:   Pearson Education (US)
Imprint:   Sams Publishing
Dimensions:   Width: 18.00cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 23.00cm
Weight:   0.611kg
ISBN:  

9780672326837

ISBN 10:   0672326833
Pages:   336
Publication Date:   13 January 2005
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Out of Print
Availability:   Out of stock  

Table of Contents

What You Will Learn Conventions Used in This Book I. THE XBOX DEMYSTIFIED. 1. Welcome to the Xbox Scene. Getting the Xbox Breaking into an Industry Video Game Competition: The Other Side of the Coin Learning Some Hard Lessons Xbox Rumors Realized Xbox Roots Timing Is Everything The Game Developer's Dream Machine Bridging the PC/Console Gap Promises, Promises... Did Xbox Work Too Well? What Can You Do with Your Xbox? So What's the Spiel? Summary 2. Disassembling Your Xbox. Getting to Know the Xbox Hardware The Case The Motherboard The Power Supply The DVD-ROM Drive The Hard Drive The Central Processing Unit (CPU) The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Front-Side Bus (FSB) Media Control Processor (MCPX) Removing the Cover Removing the Rubber Feet Removing the Six Case Screws Lifting the Case Examining the Main Deck Removing the Hard Drive Removing the Hard Drive Tray Screw Removing the Cables Lifting the Hard Drive Tray Removing the DVD-ROM Drive The DVD-ROM Screws Removing the IDE and Power Cables Pulling the DVD-ROM Drive Removing the Motherboard Removing the IDE Cable and DVD-ROM Power Connectors Removing the Motherboard Power Supply Connector Removing the Motherboard Screws Unplugging the Controller Port Cables Removing the Case Fan Removing the Motherboard Summary 3. Identifying Your Xbox Revision. Revision Notes 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Methods of Identification Manufacturing Date Hardware Serial Number Video Chip Verification Xbox BIOS Version Number Special/Limited Edition Exceptions Halo Special Edition Limited Edition Crystal Pack Additional Exceptions Summary II. MOD CHIPS. 4. Introduction to Xbox Modding. What Is a Mod Chip? How Does a Mod Chip Work? Are Mod Chips Legal? The Modded Xbox Why the DMCA Does More Harm Than Good What Can You Do with a Mod Chip? Xbox Media Center (XBMC) Homebrew Games Overview of Available Mod Chips Xenium Xecuter SmartXX XBIT Aladdin X-Chip Before You Install a Mod Chip... Summary 5. Installing a Solderless Mod Chip. Solderless Xenium Installation Locating the LPC Fixing a Pre-Soldered LPC Locating the D0 Installing the Solderless Adapter Installing the Mod Chip Booting Up the Mod Chip Summary 6. Installing a Soldered Mod Chip. Removing the Motherboard Installing a Pin Header (All Revisions) Preparing to Solder Locating the LPC Removing Pin 4 Inserting the Pin Header Soldering the Pins Installing the D0 Wire Xbox Revision 1.6 Mod Chip Installation Double-Checking the Revision Installing the Pin Header Rebuilding the LPC Installing the LFRAME Wire Troubleshooting Problem with the D0/LFRAME Problem with the LPC Other Problems Summary III. SOFTWARE MODS. 7. The Xenium Operating System. Overview of the Xenium O/S The Xenium O/S Main Menu Launch Disk Tools EEprom Tools Settings Reboot Recovery Power Off Summary 8. EvolutionX Dashboard. What Is EvolutionX? Installing the EvoX BIOS and Dash Acquiring EvoX Installing the EvoX Dashboard Installing the EvoX BIOS Creating a Custom BIOS Using the EvoX Dash Tweaking EvoX Dash The EvoX Dash Interface Creating Your Own EvoX Skins Summary 9. Avalaunch Dashboard. Installing Avalaunch Customizing a BIOS for Avalaunch Copying the Avalaunch Files to Your Xbox Adding Avalaunch to the Xenium O/S Launch Menu Running Avalaunch Avalaunch Features The Main Menu XBox Media Player Games Applications Emulators File Manager IRC Client Telnet Client Settings Reboot Shutdown Summary 10. Xbox Media Center. Overview of Xbox Media Center Installing Xbox Media Center Installing the XBMC Files Installing a Hacked BIOS Running Xbox Media Center The Main Menu My Programs My Files My Pictures My Music My Videos Weather Settings Summary IV. MAJOR HARDWARE MODS. 11. Replacing the Xbox Case. Stock Cases Tearing Down the Old Case Replacing the DVD-ROM Tray Panel Assembling the New Case Aftermarket Cases Assembling the Aftermarket Case The System Jewel Summary 12. Upgrading the Xbox Hard Drive. Overview of the Swap The Stock Xbox Hard Drive The Replacement Hard Drive Connecting Both Hard Drives Master/Slave Settings Connecting the IDE Cable Connecting the Power Cables The Hard Drive Upgrade Wizard Running the Drive Upgrade Wizard Formatting the New Drive and Transferring Data Verifying the Upgrade Process Summary 13. Lighting Up the Case. Cosmetic Xbox Modifications Cold Cathode Lighting How About a Glowing Jewel? Removing the Cold Cathode Bulb Gluing the Light to the Case Cover Custom Lighting with LEDs Creating Your Own LED Light Show Building the Main LED Wire Loom Putting It All Together Examining the Cold Cathode Light The Custom LEDs Summary 14. Cooling Down Your Xbox. Software Cooling Solutions Setting Fan Speed in BIOS Setting Fan Speed in XBMC Active Cooling for Your Xbox Hard Drive Cooling Finding Room in the Case Installing a Hard Drive Cooling Fan Summary Appendix A. Xbox Resources. Xbox Information Sites Mod Chip Manufacturers Xbox Hardware Sites Xbox Software Sites Index.

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Author Information

Jonathan S. Harbour has been an avid gamer and programmer for 17 years, having started with early systems such as the Commodore PET, Apple II, and Tandy 1000. The first console he disassembled and tried to hack was the Atari 2600. He holds a degree in computer information systems and enjoys writing code in several languages. Jonathan has experience with several platforms, including Windows, Linux, Pocket PC, and Game Boy Advance. Jonathan has written nine books on the subjects of game programming, application development, console programming, cross-platform programming, and now console modding. He maintains a website dedicated to these subjects at http://www.jharbour.com.

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