Original XBox compatible USB memory stick + additional cable question

[fallenangle]

I'm collecting useful small bits and pieces for various future DIY 'projects' I have in mind and one thing I've been looking for is a USB memory stick. Specifically I want one that is known to work as is on the Xbox without any issues ie. doesn't require pre-formatting using a PC or have any re-formatting quirks etc.

There's a Wiki list of ones that do and don't work but I've had trouble sourcing any specific one from the 'good' list. There are plenty you can find on eBay/Amazon etc of course not listed at all.

http://www.Xbox-linux.org/wiki/Xbox_USB_Compatibility_List

So does anybody here know where I can buy a suitable, reliable, cheap USB memory stick genuinely known to work? Bigger the better, ideally 1GB but I'd be interested in anything.

[charlesr]

You know that you need a special cable to connect them with right?
I bought one of the "good" ones and that didn't work anyway.

I ended up with an Action replay effort that connects an official mem card directly to the PC.

If you are keen to press on, I have a usb cable you can have for free if I can find it.

[fallenangle]

Thanks very much for the offer but I already have a XBox to USB cable, one of the things that was on my to buy list long ago.

You can still find, or at least it is still advertised online, an AR kit complete with 8MB (?) (independent) memory card and XBox USB adapter. But what I'm looking for is something bigger.

Apart from the purposes alluded to my initial want is just to be able to backup, safely, all the game saves I have at the moment on three different official cards. For various practical reasons I'm always having to shuffle them around and it would make more sense just to have them on one storage device.

Although a crude solution if I knew of a reasonably priced external HDD that worked reliably with the Xbox via USB I might even consider that but I'm really looking for something smaller/portable.

[gunrock]

For backing up game saves, I use the Mech Assault softmod to run the Evox dash, then I just use FTP to back them up to my PC.

This is how I transferred them back to my newer Xbox. i had to resign some of the saves (Burnout 2 or 3, I think were the main ones) so that they worked on the new XBox, but if it's just for backup and not transferral, you should be fine.

[fallenangle]

Thanks but there's are several problems with that solution too boring to explain but the main one is I don't have or have access to a PC.

This XBox compatible USB memory stick I want, at least for the time being, would be used simply like a large memory card ie. for convenience and portability more than anything else.

[smouty]

I've found a spare 256Mb one you can have for postage. Tested and it appears to work fine on the standard dash.

[fallenangle]

I've found a spare 256Mb one you can have for postage. Tested and it appears to work fine on the standard dash.

Excellent.

PMed.

[smouty]

Cool that they work as I have an almost unlimited supply.
They are the ones we give away at work
Posting out today.

[fallenangle]

Thanks again, look foward to getting it.

Spent some of the weekend trying to find any exact matches to allegedly working ones from that Wiki list. I think the list must be pretty old because even on eBay there were few matches.

If anyone is interested best price for ones I did were at Amazon for the SanDisk Cruzer Micro 1GB and 2GB (U3) drives. The 4GB version is shown on the list as needing formatting of some sort before use but there's no indication whether that's necessary for the others.

I noticed there's a warning on that Wiki page that suggests, particularly at the budget end, different batches of even the same stick may source their components from different places. That might explain why the 'working' list isn't a guarantee of getting a suitable one.

Edit: smouty: as promised it arrived today. I tested it pretty thoroughly writing to and from the stick to the HDD and other official memory cards, disconnecting it and reconnecting with the XBox on/off etc and it works absolutely perfectly. Just what I wanted.

As I said in my PMs I'm more than happy to pay for the memory stick and postage costs so if you'd like some form of payment let me know how to get it to you. Otherwise thanks very much.

[fallenangle]

New question on a related matter:-

On my 'to buy' list of useful/potentially useful cheap cables etc is an original Xbox controller to PC (USB) adapter.

On eBay there are plenty of cheap (<?2 inc shipping) listed "XBox controller to PC adapters" which, when you read the description, often state they're for the XB360 and not compatible with the XBOX.

Thing is they don't mention anywhere this being (obviously) only for the wired XB360 controller and anyway it looks to me suspiciously like the controller end of adapter connector in all cases is actually for the original XBox controller's cable's 'safety' break-plug.

Several of these listings use similar or identical pictures and yet state they're for the XBox and don't mention the XB360 at all. I've also found one recent Buyer who's negative feedback suggests the adapter does not work with the (wired) XB360 controller.

So are these listing wrong or does the wired XB360 controller use a very similar looking but incompatible 'safety' break-plug system?

[Link83]

Coincidentally I have been looking into exactly the same thing this past week!

After looking closely at the plug pictures in some of the auctions and comparing them to the breakaway plug on one of my official Xbox controllers it does appear that they are ever so slightly different, as the Xbox 360 breakaway plug has extra 'notches' in different places I cant confirm this for sure though as I dont own a wired Xbox 360 controller, so hopefully somebody else can double check.

It looks like the only other option is the original Xbox controller to USB adaptors that connect directly to the end controller plug:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130260984132

Which personally I feel will be a bit 'kludgenly' given the size of the Xbox controller plug/port, plus they are a bit pricier than the Xbox 360 breakaway cables when you factor in shipping (There does not seem to be any UK sellers)

As an alternative I am considering buying an Xbox controller extension cable like this one that has the correct breakaway plug:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200431767039

and then cutting it up and soldering a USB plug to the end - hopefully it will be a much neater solution

I am surprised that the manufacturer who is making these Xbox 360 breakway cables have not started producing ones for the original Xbox aswell (I cant imagine there being all that many people who still have/use wired Xbox 360 controllers, and have lost the breakaway cable) Maybe we should email some sellers and recommend they ask the manufacturer to make some for the original Xbox as well

----------------------------------------------------------------

On a somewhat related matter, is there only one 'style' of USB to XBox adaptor, like these?:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270521988814

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200399769082

I have one of these but would just prefer one that has an 'enclosed' USB port if possible, rather than exposed bare metal.

Oh, and just after you first made this thread I tested a SanDisk 2GB Cruzer Micro USB memory stick on my Xbox, the same one sold by Play.com here:-

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/904314/SanDisk-2GB-Cruzer-Micro-USB-2-0-Memory-Flash-Drive/Product.html

Although its recognised as a 'memory card' by the Xbox, it does not allow you to copy any saves files. Even after being 'formatted' by the Xbox the 'copy' option does not appear.
<EDIT - The SanDisk 2GB Cruzer Micro I own is working fine with the Xbox, please see my later post>

I am not sure if this model is supposed to be one of the memory sticks that are compatible with the Xbox, but if it is then I guess there are different hardware revisions which will make it very difficult to find compatible USB sticks nowadays, expecially given that the list you previously linked to is quite a few years old.

[smouty]

I bought a three pack of multicoloured controller break away cables back in the day for this reason from EB as it was then.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BREAKAWAY-Cable-cord-for-Orig-XBOX-Controller-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ200432495822QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20100126?IMSfp=TL100126183001r28894

Cut the cable in half, use one end for Xbox to USB socket so you can plug mem sticks in and the other for Xbox controller to USB for use on PC.

I don't have a wired 360 controller so can't answer your query.

[fallenangle]

Both interesting/useful posts.

Link83 - the Sandisk Cruzer Micro 1GB and 2GB are both on the Wiki 'working' list without any additional notes. But the 4GB version is shown as requring formating in a PC to FAT32 before working. Maybe the other two are the same.

I don't know about the other matter but I'll look into it and see if I can find an answer.

smouty how easy is it to solder a USB plug or socket to a breakaway cable? I actually have a non-working Controller-S (the only one that has ever failed on me) so I could easily use the cable from that if it's a simple job. Can you get USB sockets and plugs for this purpose or do you have to canabalise existing cables?

[smouty]

You can get the parts in maplins or use a USB extender cable that you get with some items and 'bodge' them together

[fallenangle]

So the usual places then, thanks.

I recomend a small web site as an alternative for some types of more specialist electronic bits and pieces:

http://www.bitsbox.co.uk

I've used them several times as they're are usually far cheaper than Maplins. Not sure if they do raw USB plugs/sockets though.

Edit: I certainly can't find any cables with 'enclosed' USB sockets.

On the other matter personally I'd go for that eBay.com off the shelf USB to main XBox controller plug adapter socket. It may be clunky looking but it's going to be a). cheaper unless you have existing cables and b). prettier than splicing together two unmatched cables or attaching that rather crude looking Maplin USB male plug.