XBox - games on HDD

[fallenangle]

I'm know others here have heard of or use HDAdvance 3 or something similar with the PS2 to run games direct from the hard-drive. The thing I like about it is that apart from requiring a PS2 network adapter and hard-drive you don't need anything else. It's all done, as I understand it, just using the PS2.

I'm interested in the same thing for the old XBox but can't find anything of the shelf. I want a simple all in one disc solution that will work and operate as HDAdvance 3 seems to. The main criteria is it not requiring any downloaded PC programs or PC connection to run/transfer the games to the hard-drive because I don't have a PC.

Surely there is something like this out there - any advice/info appreciated.

[Pavey]

Get it chipped?

[sj33]

There's no disc solution for the XBox without some kind of modification, I'm afraid.

[fallenangle]

My XBox is chipped with the E2.6 thingy - should have made that clear. I've just been using it with Engimah (supplied on disc by the chipper) for a few NTSC imports and getting prog scan from PAL games. I know my chipped XBox can do loads of other stuff but it all seems to need an attached PC or downloaded additional software.

As said I don't have PC (or broadband) so all that sort of malarky isn't really an option and the main reason I've been looking for an XBox version or similar off the shelf disc to the PS2 HDAdvance.

[usman]

Wouldn't softmodding be an option?

[smouty]

Wouldn't softmodding be an option?

Yeah, to get 1 or at most 2 games on the 8gb HD.
It is possible to upgrade the HD in a softmodded box but it's not easy. A £20 chip is well worth it just to reduce the hassle.

Oh and a look over at xbox-scene might help.

[CMcK]

fallenangle, which front end does your Xbox use?

You may already have something on the system that allows you to copy you games onto the HDD.

If not might I suggest taking a look at http://slayer.xbox-scene.com/
I realise you don't have a PC but ask a friend to download it for you from a bittorrent site.
It's basically a whole new front end and some applications for a chipped Xbox.
I used it on my old Xbox to copy my games to the HDD. Speeds up the loading times and keeps your original discs in good nick. Plus being able to import games and use prog scan was great as well.

If you don't already have a larger HDD in the Xbox it's probably not worthwhile. Also you really need a computer with FTP software to move all your save games from the old HDD to a new drive.

[Salsa Party Animal]

Also worth remembering you can't use it on XBOX Live with new hard drive (unless you never use it before)

But I suppose it wouldn't be a major problem these days.

[fallenangle]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll look into it more.

But it seems to me what you're all saying is that getting hold of any XBox software application needed to do what HDAdvance can do with the PS2 ie. transfer games directly to a hard-drive and run them is only available via specialist web sites/PC downloads. So there's no commercially available option - disappointing and surprsing.

[sj33]

Sounds like your still using the normal MS dashboard - that's really not using the mod to it's potential at all.

The above mentioned Slayers disc is the simplest method, which will install a new dashboard and loads of the best apps.
It's all automated, will do it for you.

Most custom dashboards have a function which will allow you to copy an inserted game straight to HDD.

So there's no commercially available option - disappointing and surprsing.

Well, note how there was no 'true' AR for the XBox either - no-one was ever able to make commercial unofficial discs because of the encrypted signed executables.

[fallenangle]

Oh, as said, I know I'm not using the chip to it's full potential. It's doing to stuff to the console I can't undo without a PC I'm really worried about. That's why I've been looking for the most simple solution. All the mod-forums I've been to are filled with people having to (re)flash their bios or downloading things to change the dash and turn the XBox into some sort of media hub.

This is all foreign territory for me and quite how people work out or know how to do all these things is a mystery. The mod-world always seems to assume a certain level of knowledge about all this stuff. You can easily get a XBox chipped and, because it doesn't come with any detailed instructions, not have the faintest idea what it can do apart from play imports. And, even when you do, finding out actually how to do it is a information hunt game in itself.

This seems to be the case with so much console mod-stuff - I remember when I bought my PS XChange years ago now I had no idea you had to fix the PS lid/catch to be able to swap the disc without resetting the console. Sounds silly now but there was nothing in the instructions about that - they just assumed you knew what to do and how to do it.

[sj33]

You really just burn the disc and run the disc though, it does it all for you. It's an auto-installing disc.
You then never have to use the disc again.

You won't be able to fit many games on the XBox HDD anyway, the standard one is only 8GB and I think a lot of that is reserved anyway.

[Yoshimax]

Yep you should buy an 80 gig HDD if you want to do this.

After that, get hold of Slayers Auto-Installer Deluxe (v3 I think) and it'll run itself and self install (for 80g HDD) via a few prompts from you.

From there, run the software DVD2XBOX (comes with it) or HDD Loader and install them from there.

It's really XBMC you're missing out on - installing games to HDD is convenient but no biggie - it's the emulators you're wanting to get in about

[smouty]

You may need to do a bit of reading but the results are worth it.
Link1
Link2

[fallenangle]

Thanks again. I think I'm going regret not having fitted a larger HDD which was an option when it was chipped. It may be a bit a late to do anything like having one fitted now but the other stuff, if it's as simple as loading just a few bits of easily obtainable software, I'm certainly going to consider.