[Nottingham] Xbox Linux Question

[James Moore]

On 29/11/2011 18:15, Kurtis Brown wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I have just found this list, having just got into using Linux. I have 
> had to use Linux as my laptop got fried and am using a old one with 
> just 120MB ram so decided to install Debian.
>
> I have to say I'm pretty much converted and have enjoyed finding tools 
> like centerim for the console.
>
> I have read that it was possible to install Linux onto the old xbox if 
> it has been modified, but I cant seem to find much info about it I 
> have one laying around and fancy having a mess around with it anyone 
> got any experience or any links to check out.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Kurt
>
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> Nottingham at mailman.lug.org.uk
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You don't need to spend out on a chip modification on an XBox to run 
your own software. The easiest option(!*) is a softmod, which allows you 
to not only run custom system software but also run the original 
Dashboard, or using a coldboot with a game disc in, still use Live 
services (are they still available for the classic XBox?). I have 
softmodded a Crystal (after a little upgrade - 10GB to 200GB) using 
Evolution-X (not to be confused with EvoX, which is a BIOS mod), with a 
little extra software I now have back catalogues from half a dozen 
different antique console systems, plus around 40 games for the XBox via 
DVD2XBox, scads of music (dropped on via FTP) and streaming video via 
ftp from my media server through the quietest XBMC HTPC (which is what 
my Crystal basically is, now) I have never heard.

*Softmodding an XBox is as easy as coldbooting the console with the disc 
already in the drive and running the installer. The hard part is getting 
hold of the softmod image itself. If you get totally stuck, I have a 
copy somewhere which also comes with a selection of dashboards including 
XBMC, Boxplorer, Evolution... which is a whole other kettle of fish - 
which dash do you want? Running Linux on XBox is as easy, just drop the 
disc in, coldboot and go. There are live CDs and there are installers. 
If you want to get really cheeky, the controller ports are just USB1.1 
ports, you can use a break cable to make a standard port adapter so you 
can plug in a keyboard, mouse, even standard USB flash drives, card 
readers, external hard drive, USB SVGA dongle, 3G cellphone...

The best hacks are often the simplest though: I have a composite USB 
capture dongle which is bus powered and allows me to use the XBox 
through my laptop. Looks and sounds great. I've had to use a third-party 
signal cable though, as the standard XBox one doesn't come with 
composite video or component audio spurs.

Mayhap a console hack meet in the offing here?

cheers,

JM