Transform Your Xbox into Powerful Media Center with XBMC Hack

Forget trying to pry open your Xbox to solder on a modchip that allows you hack your classic machine. A new software modification lets you replace the Microsoft dashboard with the stunning open source Xbox Media Center Software, transforming your once discarded machine into a user friendly, and very accessible media center.

After the release of the Xbox 360 many classic Xbox’s have unfortunately been left to gather dust. With a powerful processor, a sizable hard drive and an Ethernet port your old Xbox is capable of a lot more than simply connecting to Xbox Live or playing Halo 2. With the new XBMC software installed on you Xbox, you will be able to:

• Access and play videos, music and photo slideshows located in any shared folders on your network.
• Transfer files to and from your Xbox hard drive.
• Rip DVD’s (or any file) to a shared folder for later use: burning, back up etc.
• Watch Apple movie trailers, YouTube videos, Launch.com videos and see RSS newsfeeds loaded from the internet.
• Watch DVDs “dongle” free (no more DVD Playback Kit required!)

First you will need to collect a list of software and hardware that enables the soft mod.

• Xbox Classic
• Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell must be the original un-copied version, Pandora’s Tomorrow or Chaos Theory versions won’t work
• Action Replay Kit - USB memory card that lets you load and save games, unlock games and store cheats.
• Ethernet Router - A connection to the internet through a standard network router must be established.

To comfortably install the Media Center Hack you should be familiar with concepts like IP address assignments on your home network, FTP and IRC. However, once you have gathered the required specifics, the hack is pretty quick and simple.

Acquire All-in-One Exploit Package.
First thing you need to do is acquire an All-in-One exploit package. To do this you have to log onto an IRC channel, issue a command to query the FTP server location, and get temporary login details in order to acquire the files.Using your preferred IRC chat client (any will do) type:

• /server irc.efnet.net

Once connected to EFNet type:

• /j #xbins

Then type:

• /msg xbins !list

You will then receive a private message with 2 sets of FTP login details. One is for the softmod installer, the other is for XBMC.

Once logged onto the first FTP find the location you got from xbins and download the softmod archive, this is located at:

• /XBOX/Console Based Applications/exploits/Packages/Softmod Installer Deluxe/Softmod.Installer.Deluxe.v2.0.Xbox-Hq.rar

Then, disconnect and login to the second FTP server to grab the XBMC archive:

• XBMC-2.0.1-FINAL-FAT-T3CH.rar.

Extract the files and save them to your PC.

Install the Action Replay software on your PC and transfer the files you downloaded.

From your Softmod.Installer.Deluxe.v2.0.Xbox-Hq folder, drag and drop two files:

• SID.Splinter.Cell.v2.0.NTSC.Xbox-Hq.zip
• SID.Splinter.Cell.v2.0.Xbox-Hq.zip

into the “PC Database” column of the Action Replay software.

Note: US users will need the NTSC file; UK users should go with the PAL version.

This should add a “LINUX_Profile” saved game to the Splinter Cell folder, as well as a “Linux Installer” folder.

Drag and drop the “Linux Installer” folder to the Memory Card column, as shown (click to enlarge):

Next you must transfer the Linux Installer to the Xbox hard Drive.Plug the Action Replay Card into one of your Xbox controllers. Make sure the disk drive is empty and start the Xbox.
In the Memory Area locate the Linux Installer saved game, select and copy the game to the Xbox hard drive as shown.

Then repeat the process with the second file SID.Splinter.Cell.v2.0.Xbox-Hq.zip.Plug your Action Replay card back into the PC. The 8MB of space on the card will not be large enough to store both files so delete the Linux Installer. Locate the SID.Splinter.Cell.v2.0.Xbox-Hq.zip file and transfer it to your Xbox using the same method as the previously mentioned.Using The Game Exploit.

Put the Splinter Cell disk into your Xbox and turn on the power. In the Profiles list there will be the previously saved games and an additional Linux profile. Select the Linux profile and select Check’ points (not Levels’). This is when you begin to see the magic happen.

After a few seconds, Your Xbox will display an UnleashX intro screen and control panel. This is the Linux-based Xbox dashboard, and will look like this:

First it is best to be safe, so select ‘Create MS Backup’ and when that’s complete select ‘Create Mod Backup’.Then it’s time to install modification, so go to ‘Install Softmod’ hit the button and wait for the status bar to let you know the job is done.Now choose “Install UnleashX” from the menu. This will replace the standard Microsoft dashboard with UnleashX permanently. Once complete, restart your Xbox and smile incessantly as you watch the UnleashX boot up instead of the Microsoft dashboard.

Using the UnleashX dash board and it default settings there are host of applications ready to go. You watch and burn DVD’s to the Xbox hard drive but there is a bit more to configure to get the best out of the hack.

Configure The Xbox Network Settings.

Now you have the UnleashX dashboard working on your Xbox, its time to get the network settings configured so you can transfer and share data with the other computers on your network.

Plug your Xbox into your network router. Then navigate the UnleashX menus and using the green A button select:

• System > Settings > Network.

In this menu make sure ‘Enable’ is set to ‘Yes’, ‘Type’ set to ‘DHCP’ and the ‘FTP Server’ is set also to ‘Yes’ as pictured above.

NOTE: These are the most common network settings; configuration may differ depending on your home network. Refer to the manufacturer’s handbook if problems arise.Install Xbox Media Center

Go back to your PC and start your chosen FTP client, locate and log into your Xbox. The server location will be the IP address shown on the UnleashX screen, and your username and password will be in the Xbox’s network Settings (xbox/xbox, by default.)

Navigate to /E/Apps/ folder. Back on your local machine, extract the XBMC archive you downloaded From the XBMC-2.0.1-FINAL-FAT-T3CH folder you uncared, grab the entire XBMC subfolder and FTP it to the Xbox’s /E/Apps/.

Once you restart your Xbox, you will now see Xbox Media Center listed in the Applications section. Select to launch the Application.Now you’re in business!

With the XBMC installed on your Xbox you will quickly see how user friendly and useful this application is, and because of its open source nature you can expect lots more upgrades, add-ons and install scripts to come in the near future.

Source: LifeHacker