Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 9:41 pm Post subject: The Mac Guide to Softmodding an Xbox
Hi all ... I am posting here to announce I am trying to compile a guide for Mac users to soft modding and installing XBMC on an Xbox. I have posted the first (very incomplete!) draft to the Downloads section. I would like some feedback from people about questions I still I have before I can complete the guide. (I have uploaded the draft but it has not appeared yet, I will post an update once it's been approved and made available) The main questions (main, there's more!) I have at this point are:
- Can anyone confirm it is possible to get the game save exploits on an Action Replay using Virtual PC?
- How do I properly burn Xbox ISO files using a Mac? I have seen a number of guides for burning with a Mac, saying you need to use Toast and tell it to NOT do an "Auto Detect Format", but manually set pregap to 0, block size to 2048 and scramble off. But the newest version of Toast doesn't offer an option for turning off "Auto Detect Format" anymore. If I use Toast 7 to burn the ISO, will it work? If not, does anyone know of another option that doesn't require Mac users to have an old version of Toast?
I am trying to write the guide from the viewpoint of Mac users like myself, who are interested in XBMC but may not even own an Xbox yet. I found that there is not so much Mac-specific information and/or it is not always easy to find. I've gotten an Xbox already but am still waiting for my Action Replay to arrive, so I decided that in the mean time I would help other Mac users by writing the "missing" Mac XBMC guide. And this also helps me out: I can ask you guys to verify that what I've written is correct, before I start blowing up my own Xbox
PowerBox Xbox-HQ Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 24, 2006 Posts: 32
Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 9:45 pm Post subject:
Oops, should have known there's an attach function ... here's the draft guide ...
EDIT: draft removed, a newer version of the guide has been posted.
Last edited by PowerBox on Mon Jan 01, 2007 3:34 pm; edited 1 time in total
PowerBox Xbox-HQ Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 24, 2006 Posts: 32
Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 8:27 pm Post subject: Virtual PC Failure
An update: just got the Action Replay card. Tried getting the game save files on it via Virtual PC. Didn't work So I'll have to find another way to get the files on
wil87 Xbox-HQ Enthusiast Xbox Version: 1.0 Modded: SID 3.1, XBMC
Joined: Feb 15, 2006 Posts: 27 Location: Toronto, ON. Canada
Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 6:30 am Post subject:
I saw in your guide that you need a way to burn an xiso in mac.
I just figured out how to do it a couple of days ago (finally!).
I used "Xbox Browser"(Home Page: http://softwareelves.com/index.php).
It's not free software but it does lots of cool stuff. Hope that helps get you guide finished (It's an awesome idea!).
Jackaniny
PowerBox Xbox-HQ Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 24, 2006 Posts: 32
Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:31 am Post subject: Xbox Browser and Disk Utility
Thanks for the tip!
Too bad the software is not free In the readme it says you can use the program's built in burner or MacOSX's Disk Utility to burn the iso (but not Toast).
Can you confirm it works with Disk Utility? Would be really great if the necessary software is already just installed on everyone's mac!
roo465 Moderator
Joined: Apr 29, 2005 Posts: 982 Location: ACT, Australia
Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:05 am Post subject:
Hi mate, this sounds like a good idea I can't really give you any feedback though as I'm not using/familiar with a Mac.
Perhaps once you get it all sorted, you could submit your guide/tutorial in our Tutorials Section.
Cheers, Roo _________________
wil87 Xbox-HQ Enthusiast Xbox Version: 1.0 Modded: SID 3.1, XBMC
Joined: Feb 15, 2006 Posts: 27 Location: Toronto, ON. Canada
Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 10:47 pm Post subject:
I can't confirm that Disk Utility works yet, I'll give it a try though.
And to any mac programers out there, it would be awesome to have some more variety for mac/xbox users. As far as I've found, Xbox Browser is the only xbox app for mac that's still being updated!
PowerBox Xbox-HQ Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 24, 2006 Posts: 32
Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 11:31 pm Post subject:
Thanks! Let me know when you gave it a try ... and hear hear, I would also appreciate more mac Xbox applications
To everyone reading this: I am still looking for someone with an already modded Xbox (or PC), a Mac and an Action Replay. What I need you for: to put the SID 3.1 game saves for Splinter Cell (PAL version) on the Action Replay, plug the Action Replay into your Mac and make a copy of its memory contents (this is really easy to do with the Terminal, just one command, takes like 5 minutes of your time ...). I struggled with Virtual PC to put the saves on my own AR and it didn't work so now I have to find a PC somewhere (harder for me than you might think!), unless someone can send me the raw memory contents of an AR that I can dump on my own card ... (and then other Mac users will be able to use it too!)
PowerBox Xbox-HQ Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 24, 2006 Posts: 32
Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 11:46 pm Post subject:
I forgot the instructions
- Put SID31 softmod files onto AR (SID31 for Splinter Cell PAL please)
- Plug AR into your Mac. You will get a message saying you inserted a disk MacOSX can't read. Just click Ignore.
- Open Disk Utility, select the AR in the list of disks, click Info in the toolbar. In the info window it says "Disk Identifier: diskX" where X is some number.
- Open Terminal. Type "cat /dev/diskX > ARImage.data". Replace X with the right number of course. This will make a new file in your home folder with the raw contents of the AR. You will just see a blinking cursor while the command is running, but after 2 minutes it will be finished and you'll get another command prompt. The file should be around 8MB big.
- Open Disk Utility. Select AR again. Click Eject in the toolbar. You can safely unplug the AR now.
- Send me the ARImage.data file.
I would really appreciate if anyone can help with this
DJB Administrator
Joined: May 23, 2003 Posts: 4031 Location: NSW, Australia
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:51 am Post subject:
Ok, so what you guys need is for example an 8mb raw image of the Action Replay memory card in order to flash it to a USB device with your Mac. Hmm, I can't do it personally (dunno how lol) but if someone could put their hand up and help that might help.
It's a good idea that you have here, and any new Mac Tutorials are most welcome here, as we do understand that it's not only PC users that want to mod the Xbox.
As of your request via PM about the SID 3.1 Manual in Word, how about you do what you can your end with the Tutorial, and I can finish it up with the SID stuff. Then I'll PDF it once it's complete.
Anyways, good luck with your venture, and hopefully this can happen...
wil87 Xbox-HQ Enthusiast Xbox Version: 1.0 Modded: SID 3.1, XBMC
Joined: Feb 15, 2006 Posts: 27 Location: Toronto, ON. Canada
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 2:11 pm Post subject:
I can try the AR stuff a little later today. I don't really have an AR though. I made my own by modding a controller break-away cable (would that be what it's called?), but it worked the same anyway. And I had to use a friends PC for AR, Virtual PC had something not read properly or something (I used WIN 98 though so a newer WIN might work).
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Modded break-away cable
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PowerBox Xbox-HQ Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 24, 2006 Posts: 32
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:18 pm Post subject:
wil87: thanks, that would really help! Is the memory card you use also 8MB? Then transferring it to the AR should work, if not I don't know yet The Virtual PC I tried but failed with was with Windows XP btw.
DJB: we could try that, but I wrote the guide in HTML now and I'd prefer to put it online in HTML form (works well for screen reading and printing, and with all the links ...) So I don't know how that would work for you?
DJB Administrator
Joined: May 23, 2003 Posts: 4031 Location: NSW, Australia
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:16 pm Post subject:
PowerBox wrote:
DJB: we could try that, but I wrote the guide in HTML now and I'd prefer to put it online in HTML form (works well for screen reading and printing, and with all the links ...) So I don't know how that would work for you?
We could do a HTML version aswell, since once we put it in the Tutorials section it will be in HTML format. I still like the idea of PDF though for a few reasons, they're great to print from, and if you have a PSP there is a PDF reader now I believe, so it's easy just to carry that around with the PDF loaded onto it.
What I could do is give you the high quality versions of the screenshots I have for SID 3.1, and then you can resize to what suits your tutorial. You can easily copy / paste the information from the online manuals at www.aideluxe.com (or www.aid.xbox-hq.com if that fails). PM me your e-mail address and I'll send the screens off.
wil87 Xbox-HQ Enthusiast Xbox Version: 1.0 Modded: SID 3.1, XBMC
Joined: Feb 15, 2006 Posts: 27 Location: Toronto, ON. Canada
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:44 pm Post subject:
Bad news PowerBox...
The memory card (which is a Hip Gear brand, 8Meg card) doesn't register with Disk Utility. I can't mount it, but it does come up in System Profiler (see screenshot). Any ideas?
P.S. "USB Device" is the controller
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USB Profile
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PowerBox Xbox-HQ Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 24, 2006 Posts: 32
Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 5:04 pm Post subject:
DJB: I agree, PDF is a useful format to have as well! But the standard print dialog on the Mac includes an option for saving to PDF, so any Mac user who wants it can easily convert the HTML to PDF. I've PM'ed you my email address for the screenshots.
wil87: I get a lot more info in System Profiler for my card, it recognizes it as storage medium. Seems your Mac doesn't really know what kind of device your card is, just generic "USB Device" I've read on the Xbox Linux pages that their trick of directly writing to the card does not work with original Xbox Memory Cards. Maybe this is an additional security Microsoft put in, like the card not announcing itself on a computer as a memory stick. Maybe the brand of card you have does this too ...
But thanks for trying! I think I'm going to be able to use a PC to transfer the files tomorrow. I will keep you posted on how the modding went and whether I can make raw images of the AR card!
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So I'll have to find another way to get the files on 
I can't really give you any feedback though as I'm not using/familiar with a Mac.
And I had to use a friends PC for AR, Virtual PC had something not read properly or something (I used WIN 98 though so a newer WIN might work).
The Virtual PC I tried but failed with was with Windows XP btw.
