Xbox Linux: Progress 2

Well I'm back with some updates on the Xbox Linux project.

Up until this point things have been going well enough. In a strange twist of fate the model of the new USB flash drive I tried using doesn't work. I then realized that I never tried the old red Club Live flash drive without having the controller plugged into the breakaway cable (not enough power in the USB port on the Xbox to support two devices at once). I backed up my data from the drive and tried formatting it again through the Xbox, and this time it worked (transferring files from Action Replay and all that jazz).


The necessary files being put on the USB drive from my computer

My original plan idea was to use the "emergency linux" file to boot a very small bit of linux code which would allow me enough access to be able to telnet into the Xbox from my computer and install a Linux distro from there. Unfortunately I realized that (after some troubleshooting) this method of installation wouldn't work on my Xbox because my dashboard version has been too recently updated (relatively speaking: it updated a few years ago).

I chose to opt for a slightly different method for getting any code to run on the Xbox: UnleashX. UnleashX is a dashboard replacement which allows for greater access and control to the Xbox. I copied the files via the USB flash drive to my Xbox and booted the new dashboard as a MechAssault game save, which I was then able to install.

UnleashX dashboard installing

The next step of the project will be finding the right Linux distro to install but for now, I think I'll take a break from Xbox Linux to focus on schoolwork (blah, tests everywhere!)

Xbox Linux: Progress 1

MechAssault, spliced USB cable, and the USB drive

The project is going good so far compared to my previous attempts. At first I thought it failed when I plugged in my USB drive, but then I realized that I spliced the cable so that the USB drive and the controller would be sharing one USB port on the Xbox (one USB for two devices is a no-no). Here's the shot of how the USB is supposed to look (it's actually on...) and how the screen should look (USB stick recognized as Xbox memory).




After it was recognized and formatted by the Xbox, I connected it to my computer to make the USB drive work with the Action Replay software to transfer the savegame exploit.


In theory the Action Replay software should be able to transfer files to my USB drive now, but it isn't. That's going to be the next hurtle of the project (hopefully only a small one).

Xbox Linux: The Beginning

Well, not exactly the very beginning. The VERY beginning was about a year ago when I heard that I could put the old Xbox to use by installing a Linux distro on it. From there, I spliced the controller's breakaway cable to a female USB extension cord that I had. Then I realized that I didn't have any of the games required for the savegame exploit to work (I didn't want to use a modchip since I didn't have any of the right tools for opening the Xbox up to access the motherboard), so I forgot about the project for a while. A few months ago, I found someone who had the right copy of MechAsscault and he gave it to me. THEN I realized that none of the USB flash drives I owned would work to transfer the savegame for the exploit to work. Just last week, I decided to start the project back up, so I went on Amazon and got this:


for $8 (with shipping). Now that I've got all the necessary components, I'll try, once again, to get my Xbox to run Linux.

Assuming that this USB flash drive works, and that I can get xUbuntu installed properly, I might move on to making the Xbox a more readily portable computer that I can connect to TVs (modding the case to fit a small keyboard, soldering a few more USB connecters for external storage, etc).

I'll get to work on it and share my progress later tonight.