XBox 360 Driver firmware Hacked

Lazybones · March 18, 2006, 06:47:57 PM

http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEukZpklFAhkcWwSgZ.php

Looks legit as it is on Xbox-Scene and several hackers seem to have confirmed that the info released on how it was done seems possible.

The haked firmware has not been released as its only use would be to allow the playback of retail games on burned disks.

Also there are no tools out yet that would let you do this mod without a chip programmer and some solder skills.

Shayne · March 19, 2006, 08:38:55 AM

Im glad they are not releasing it to the net, seeing is its 100% only useable benifit is piracy

Cova · March 20, 2006, 04:40:22 PM

Even if it were released, it's not really a usable modification by anyone except the few people who could probably figure it out themselves. To explain it briefly, this is a hacked firmware for the DVD drive, and currently the only way to apply it is:

1. desolder the firmware flash chip from the DVD drive

2. read the current firmware from the chip, and get your x-box's unique key code from a specific place in there

3. modify the hacked bios with your x-box's unique key from step 2

4. write the modified hacked bios into the firmware chip

5. solder the chip back onto the drive

note: steps 2 and 4 require flash reader/writer hardware, and steps 1 and 5 require the tools and experience to work with soldering surface-mount components.

Lazybones · March 20, 2006, 07:43:46 PM

It is still news.. When you look at how complex the first XBOX hacks where this seems simple.

It's a first step.. now that they know how to do it the um less legit crews will probably figure out a way to flash the drive from a PC.. There is already some work in this area.. If they make it that far then it is within the means of alot more people.

You wont see mod chips until they can run unsigned code.. Making a chip that can ONLY be use to run pirated backups would not be a smart move.

Edit: looks like it wont be long http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEuklluluFrFtUsLdW.php

QuoteWe have opened up a new forum dedicated to Xbox 360 Development

http://www.teamxecuter.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=69

We have made some progress with a new read/patch/write app and no doubt you will all be plugging in your drives to your PC and having some fun shortly - all for free too as no modchips required (and yes we still want to play!)

Here is what we envisage...

* Connect Xbox 360 DVD-ROM to PC

* App to update firmware with magic code

* Connect DVD-ROM back to 360 - and away you go

Also this site has some killer information: http://www.kev.nu/360/dvdshort.html [posted yesterday on x-s, more info on what it is here]

Cova · March 21, 2006, 09:54:06 AM

You missed one of the most important parts of that quote from xecuter, which directly contradicts your statement of "Making a chip that can ONLY be use to run pirated backups would not be a smart move."

QuoteThanks to The Specialist for reviving the scene! We understand he doesn't want to release anything due to possible backlash - but there are many of us who would - and will.

Lazybones · March 21, 2006, 10:13:58 AM

If you go and read the FULL news item you would see this right after my quoted text

QuoteObviousley the only use for this is piracy - hence you wont see any modchips (not from us at least - however they wouldn't be needed anyway - however we do have a few cheap tools to make life much easier - more on that soon). Still a long long way off from unsigned code - but it's a start....

Cova · March 21, 2006, 04:56:15 PM

QuoteWe have made some progress with a new read/patch/write app and no doubt you will all be plugging in your drives to your PC and having some fun shortly - all for free too as no modchips required (and yes we still want to play!)

Here is what we envisage...

> Connect Xbox 360 DVD-ROM to PC

> App to update firmware with magic code

> Connect DVD-ROM back to 360 - and away you go

Also this site has some killer information : http://www.kev.nu/360/dvdshort.html

Obviousley the only use for this is piracy - hence you wont see any modchips (not from us at least - however they wouldn't be needed anyway - however we do have a few cheap tools to make life much easier - more on that soon) Still a long long way off from unsigned code - but it's a start....

Thanks to The Specialist for reviving the scene! We understand he doesn't want to release anything due to possible backlash - but there are many of us who would - and will.

Keep your eyes on our 360 forums for updates.....

Thats pretty much the entire article, right from http://www.teamxecuter.com/

While they do claim that you won't see a mod-chip based on this technology (your post recent post/quote), they also say that such a chip is not required, and in the part I quoted, they do refer to themselves, "many of us who would", not "many others who would"

I think it'll still be a while before anything shows up for general public consumption that allows games to be copied, but it will happen. The ability to run unsigned code is much farther off, who knows when someone will release something that allows it to happen. But the X-Box is the only console I can think of with a significant amount of home-brew software written for it, and it is far from the first console to have a mod-chip (or some other way of pirating games) developed - I don't see why the 360 won't go the way of all the previous consoles and get a mod for game copying but unable to write custom apps.

Shayne · March 22, 2006, 12:01:06 PM

Their was a interview recently that said Microsoft COULD put in new protections starting now making the v1.0 360s a little more valuable.

Lazybones · March 22, 2006, 03:08:28 PM

Quote from: "Shayne"Their was a interview recently that said Microsoft COULD put in new protections starting now making the v1.0 360s a little more valuable.

True it is possible, but there would be a significat cost for a custom DVD drive.. Right now it's just custom firmware on up to 3 different models of drive..

Lazybones · March 25, 2006, 10:17:15 PM

Hmm not exactly a mod chip but it looks like there will be a tool for messing with the DVD firmware released rather quicly

http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEuFFpkkEZXUcwadBZ.php

Shayne · March 26, 2006, 08:46:27 AM

Well, as much as i wouldnt mind doing this for the library of free games, im sure that all it would take is microsoft to release a dashboard update that verifies the DVD-ROM firmware and bans all those with modified from live. Seeing as how Live is such an important part of the 360 strategy that could be devistating.