This thread is intended to provide people with the info needed to modify their Xbox.
With a modified Xbox you have a full featured media center that can play audio, slideshows, DVDs, old console emulators, etc.

Xbox-scene.com is THE site to find info on anything Xbox mod related. Unfortunately, there is too much information there, and finding how to do something is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. There are multiple ways to do multiple things on multiple versions of the Xbox, and it takes a while to find a good tutorial that explains what you want. To save people hours upon hours of reading and the headache of trial and error, I will provide the links to instructions I have found most helpful.

There are 2 different ways to mod the Xbox, with a chip, and with a softmod. I took the softmod route, which only requires a memory card, some sort of Xbox controller to USB adapter, a network connection to your PC, original versions of Splinter Cell/Mech Assault/ or 007 Agent under Fire, and some software. In other words, no chip needed.

1. You can really mess up the Xbox and make it unusable if you do something wrong. If the power goes out in the middle of doing this, you may have serious problems. You have been warned.

2. Since many of the files required to do the softmod contain Microsoft code, they CANNOT be freely distributed. Read this tutorial: Find files (4th post down), or this page: Find files 2, on how to get these files. DO NOT post messages in this forum requesting files. I do not want to get this site in trouble with Microsoft.

3. DO NOT ask / discuss how you can make copies of games, or how to copy games to the hard drive. Once again, I do not want to get this site in trouble.

4. Using a modded Xbox on LIVE can get you banned and/or mess up your mod. People have found ways to get around this with a softmod (search on xbox-scene.com), but Microsoft can/has changed LIVE at any time to thwart this. See the hardware post below for the only sure way not to get banned if you have a softmod. Unless you do this, I suggest DO NOT GET ON LIVE


This page: Modding tutorial is the best tutorial for softmodding the Xbox.

One note: after you have softmodded using the tutorial, I HIGHLY recommend you copy the contents of the "backup" folder you made in step 3 a. to your PC. I also recommend copying the entire Xbox C drive to your PC, but the "backup" folder is the most important. This can be a lifesaver if you mess something up in the future.

- If you know what you are doing and have installed softmods before, I recommend the latest UXE softmod. It is compatible with all Xbox versions, has the least drawbacks, and is the one I used to mod several Xboxes. The one I used is called "uxe-complete-v0.2.1.bz2.rar". The instructions are in its readme.

If you installed UXE and want to get access to the original Xbox dashboard, read this:

Get original dash to work as option in Evox, assuming original C drive was backed up to PC:

1. Hex edit original xboxdash.xbe and change every instance of fonts to f0nts (with zero). Then save. (fonts is 666F6E7473)
2. Then rename this file to "MODxboxdash.xbe" and FTP it to wherever the original
xboxdash.xbe was in the original C: drive (usually just in root of C:)
3. Copy the contents of original fonts folder to a new folder called "f0nts" and FTP this to C:
4. FTP the rest of the dash files and folders (except xboxdash.xbe) to the C: drive where they were originally stored.
5. Add this line to Evox.ini:
Item "Original Microsoft Dash","c:\MODxboxdash.xbe"
6. Run "backup" in Evox, and get a copy of "eeprom.bin" from the backup folder evox creates (c:\fonts\dashboard\backup). Then copy the "eeprom.bin" file to "e:\shadowc" directory on your Xbox. If there is no "shadowc" directory, then create one.

If you don't know what an option in Evox does, then DO NOT do it. "Unlock hard drive" and the "Virtual drive" programs are dangerous to play with.

- If you want to delete or add menus or features in Evox, read this: Evox tutorial

.............Please - before responding to this thread or e-mailing me with a technical question of why something did not work, post the question on that tutorial's forum, or do a search on xbox-scene.com. I did not write any of these guides, I merely found what I thought were the best ones and posted them in one place..............

Now for the hardware:

- To install a new hard drive read this: HDD guide

- If your Xbox will not read CDRWs (older Xboxes) and you want to still upgrade the hard drive, then follow this tutorial: HDD guide 2
I used this guide, and wanted to clarify a few things in it:
1. Just to be safe, write down EVERYTHING the "liveinfo" program gives you.
2. Do step 8 in the tutorial for both the new AND original hard drives.
3. In step 12 it says type "cd hddunl~1" depending on which version of software you installed, you may have to type "cd hdunlock" instead.
4. Also for step 12, if the original hard drive will not lock with the code from hddkey.txt, try the code from liveinfo obtained in step 8.
You can also use this guide if you want to swap in a new hard drive, and want to keep all the mod stuff you installed in your original hard drive.

- On the Xbox, if you do not see the extra space with the new hard drive, and do not see an F drive, here is how to add one:
1. Enable F drive in Evox.
2. Ftp PC to Xbox using a ftp program, then open a window to input raw ftp commands (usually press Ctrl R).
3. Type "formatpathdevice/harddisk0/partition6" hit enter, and a number will be given back.
4. Type "formatdrive#" with # being the number given in step 3.

- The only sure way to use a softmod and not get bannned from LIVE is to install a new hard drive ALONGSIDE your existing hard drive. The original hard drive will not be modded, and the new hard drive will be softmodded - then you can use a physical switch to switch to the original hard drive for playing on LIVE. Instructions are here: http://how2xbox.com/dualharddrive.htm

- To swap in a DVD reader that is not picky about what kind of CDs/DVDs you put in it read the tutorials here: DVD swap

- To add various audio/video outputs to the Xbox by soldering in connectors and switches to the motherboard read this: Audio/video outputs

Software:

Want to know what software to install on the Xbox?
- Just remember, use one of the guides in the 1st post to find these files. Do not ask for or provide links to these programs in this forum.

- Above all else XBMC (Xbox Media Center) is THE best media program. It can display photos, play PC video files, play DVDs (not the best though), play music (with a lightshow), etc. You can also use it to manage files on the Xbox if you know what you are doing.
Right now XBMC cannot display DVD menus, and locks up when trying to play many DVDs. The authors are working on this.

- The best DVD player to use is DVDX2. You can use this without the official DVD playback kit. See the link in my 3rd post to enable pregressive scan.
The official Xbox DVD kit and the "dvdx2" program are not enabled for progressive scan.
Want to enable it?
Read this: Enable progressive scan
I have 2 versions of "dvdx2" on my Xbox. One for progressive scan, and one without.

- Read this for console emulators: List of emulators

- You can also download different skins (desktop backgrounds) for Evox. Try here: Skins and here: Skins 2

There are many other usefull programs you can install on a modded Xbox!

Holy awesome post batman!
This will take a bit to sink in (lite bedtime reading)

I'd just like to add;
1.) how & where to get the secret files #xbins on EFNet
2.) Xecuter3 Chip hardware install by Falc0 (not necessary for the softmodders)

edit:
a whole bunch of those tedious HDD building tasks can be eliminated IFF you have access to another chipped xbox. X3 can netflash, partition, format & FTP on the fly (like evo-x or Slayers 2.6 CD)

shaweet. you confirmed my suspiscions on the HDD upgrade. I look forward to much more voiding of warranties.

id advise people not to use the softmod exploit, so much can go wrong, and then you have a paperweight unless you buy a chip to fix it. plus you have a hell of a time an getting upgraded hd into it. the chips are cheap, x3 are nice and considered by many to be the best, but they range from 40-65, for $15 you can get a sunday chip at clevermod.com that is essentially the same thing, only simplified with better thought in the design. plus you dont need a black switchbox on the front of your xbox. pushing the power button boots normally, pushing eject boots your hacked dash.
Update on XBMC, dvd playback has been finallized and is now stable.
and if anyone doesnt feel comfortable taking a soldering iron to their xbox, ive modded 50 or so and can do it for you