Modded Xbox: What exactly have I got here? :/

[C']

OK, had a PAL (unmodded) Xbox for 2 years and this morning, I was lucky enough to get a new modded machine from my parents. Had a modded PS2 for ages which is much more straightforward, just pop in an import disc, and it runs. However the modded Xbox is capable of so much more and as such, I am left rather confused as to what exactly I am supposed to do with it.

Before I start, I've been informed that the machine was purchased from Will at London Console, which means the machine is fitted with an Xecuter 2.6 Lite chip and no doubt the modification is of tip-top quality. However, it is my denseness on matters such as these that my problem lies.

The main reason for getting the machine was for better compatibility with our Plasma Screen. Obviously, the PAL machine won't output 480P etc. unless it is modded.

Firstly, the machine has a row of 3 switches labelled 'Chip Enable', 'Flash Protect' and Bank 1 or 2'. Obviously I can figure out what 'Chip Enable' does but the other 2 leave me blank.

Is it safe to switch any of these to the other setting whilst the machine is powered up?

Can import software be run without any further changes to the machine simply by popping the import disc into the drive whilst the chip is enabled?

I've tried reading up guides over at Xbox Scene but they've just left me even more confused. I appreciate that things are likely to get a lot more complicated once it comes to trying to enable the HDTV settings but if I take it a step at a time, i should be ok. I just want to get a firm understanding of what I have atm, and what can, and cannot be done.

Thanks

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

Hey mate,

Dont worry about the other 2 switches, you dont have to mess around with them, leave them as they were!

Import software can indeed be played without any other further tomfoolery, simply switch the machine on with the chip enabled, and play!

As for HDTV settings, all you do is simply go into "Enighma Video Settings", and change the video output from PAL to NTSC. From there, switch off the chip and go to the main Xbox menu, there should be a new sub-menu here asking you which HD modes your screen supports - tick the boxes that your plasma supports (IE 480, 720 and 1080) and thats you finished!

By the way, if you wish to view the menu in progressive scan, you simply push in the two analogue sticks while in the main menus of the console (been a while since I have done this, you might have to hold the trigger buttons as well), and you can switch to progressive mode - it makes a huge difference in even the menus.

[C']

Cool for that, i will ignore the other 2 switches from now on.

A bit confused by your explanation of enabling HDTV support tho. You mention going into Enigmah Video Settings but all I get is the regular Xbox dashboard when I boot with the chip on (although Xecutor2 does appear at the bottom when booting).

I thought the Enigmah software was something extra I would have to download?

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

Ah, ok I thought Will would have loaded it on with modded Xboxs...

[huxley]

you need and installer disc like Slayers - full of funky apps.
If you cant track one down pm me and I`ll be santa for ya lil fella ho ho ho yaaarrrrrrr lol

[sj33]

Sounds like you've only really scratched the surface of what a modded XBox can do.

What you should really do is install a new dashboard. EvolutionX is a nice one to start off with, though you might want to check out other dashboards when you get more into it, such as UnleashX.
I know for sure UnleashX lets you enable all the screen modes, and I'm 99% sure EvolutionX can do too.

There's a guide on properly installing EvolutionX onto your XBox here http://www.xbox-scene.com/articles/evox-install.php

You could do what other posts have suggested and use the Slayers installer disc... works just fine, it just adds a load of other stuff onto your machine that you might not need... I prefer to do it manually.

Be careful with Enigmah btw... I hear that actually makes modifications to the EEPROM to make the screen changes, unlike the dashboards... use your imagination on the risks.

[C']

>_<

Sorry Shakey but you're gonna have to spell it out to me with regards to risks of using Enigmah due to changes to EEPROM. I have absolutely no clue about any of this stuff whatsoever.

Here is what I want from my machine:

I want to be able to play my current PAL games in 480P, 720P and 1080I, be able to play import games and still access Xbox Live.

What is the best (i.e most idiot-friendly) way for me to achieve this?

[sj33]

Hmm... problem you'll have there is that you have to disable your modchip to go on Live (or else you get automatically banned). So enablling 480P et al via hacks isn't going to help you, as your XBox basically goes back to stock when you disable the modchip.

I really don't know if Enigmah will help you here, as I've decided to shy away from the thing! Can anyone else comment on this?

Installing a new dashboard would allow you to use 480P and all the other screen modes, as well as boot homebrew apps and emulators from HDD... but any changes you make here will mean squat if you want to use Live =/

[Valken]

So enablling 480P et al via hacks isn't going to help you, as your XBox basically goes back to stock when you disable the modchip.

What do you mean by this? If you enable NTSC video mode with the videomode switcher app the change persists if you start the system with the chip off.

And you can go online after changing the videomode without getting banned.

[sj33]

What do you mean by this? If you enable NTSC video mode with the videomode switcher app the change persists if you start the system with the chip off.

And you can go online after changing the videomode without getting banned.

That's good to know. Sounds like it is editing the EEPROM after all.

Well C', if that's all you wanna do, sounds like the way to go!

[Salsa Party Animal]

If you change Hard drive or EEPROM number or play on XBOX live with chipped switched on you will get banned.

So basically you need to

leave alone your hard drive (no upgrading after going on live), eeprom number (ie serial number) and remember to switch off the chip for live.

If you want to use American games on live you need to change the region to Region 1 and for european games on live you need region 4. And don't forget to unlock the hard drive to change region, then save it, then lock it. You use configmagic for changing settings.

Enigma Screenmode is for changing display from NTSC to PAL or via versa.

[C']

OK I seem to be getting somewhere with this.

I downloaded Enigmah Video Selector thingie for #xbins (was amazed I was able to figure out how to get to their files) and burned it to DVD-RW.

Ran it with chip enabled and it booted fine and I was able to change the video mode to NTSC. Rebooted machine and it looked like I had an NTSC dashboard (the PAL-60 option was gone) so I presume once I hook up the HDTV pack (when it arrives ><) the 480P options etc. will appear.

Now for a bit of clarity on the Xbox Live issue before I hook up the network cable. I know that if I ever go online with the switch on, that is it, the machine will be banned. However can I swap between PAL and NTSC video mode at will and go online with either as long as the chip is switched off, or once I have gone online with either mode, I cannot go onto Xbox Live with the other?

Oh and one last question. Can emulators be run from DVD as well rather than the hard drive?

[Owain]

If you go on xbox live with your machine set to NTSC dash it'l ban you, it will see that your bios have been changed.

[Ciaran]

Once you plug the HD pack into the xbox the 480p, 720p and 1080i options will appear in the video settings.

Emulators can be run off the DVD but you will either have to go to them using boXplorer (or anything similar) or but a dashboard on the DVD so it picks up all the emulators. There is probably other easier ways.

[Number45]

If you go on xbox live with your machine set to NTSC dash it'l ban you, it will see that your bios have been changed.

Surely you're OK if the machine itself is set to PAL, but the video output set to NTSC?