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The X-Box Media Centre Project IV: A surprising twist

To cut a long story short – I bought the correct version of MechAssault. I borrowed a USB stick from Joel that was compatible with my X-Box. I copied the MechInstaller savegames over. I then successfully booted into linux, telneted into the X-Box hard drive, and proceeded to corrupt all the files attempting to downgrade my Dashboard to the required version.

I then decided to open up the X-Box to solder the BIOS, flash it, and perform a permanent linux install. This is where the twist comes in.

My X-Box has a mod chip! All I need to do to install linux is to insert the disk, and Voila!

Since then, I have downloaded a rescue disk, restored my X-Box drive, written over the drive with the Evo-X dashboard, and am now preparing to install Gentoo.

Hopefully this will be ready before we leave for the farm…

Foiled!

My attempt to fulfil my lifelong dream of owning an authentic Enigma machine was foiled today, when one such item was pulled off eBay at the 11th hour. I received the following email:

Dear dublidad (stu@thelyricalmadmen.com),

Thank you for your bid on the following auction-style listing:

Item number: 270146164488
Title: Legendary German WWII cipher machine ENIGMA 1938 circa

Unfortunately, eBay has removed this auction-style listing. All bids or offers on this listing have been canceled. Because the listing was ended, you no longer have any obligation to purchase this item.

Bastards! For the record, my bid was US$24,200.

The X-Box Media Centre Project III: Roadblocks

My latest project was steaming along quite nicely, but last night I hit a couple of roadblocks.

1: No controller

Still don’t have that second controller. Not a big problem – I’ll borrow one on the weekend.

2: The Big Bad Wolf

Microsoft really really don’t want people to be doing this. Gaming consoles are typically sold at a loss, with the companies making a fortune from the licencing fees associated with the games you buy. As soon as people start using these things exclusively as a PC, with free software, Microsoft starts losing money.

The first exploit was in the Microsoft game “MechAssault”. As soon as this was discovered, Microsoft fixed the bug in subsequent editions. The check which version you have, you have to look at the laser etching on the back of the disc. The original says “MS02301L”, while the patched version is “MS02308L”. Unfortunately, I have the patched version. Looks like I’ll need another visit to EB.

The second exploit was in the “Dashboard” – the software that loads in your X-Box when you don’t put a disc in the drive. After this was discovered, Microsoft patched the Dashboard. Then, it was discovered that you can downgrade Dashboard to an unpatched version. Microsoft put a stop to that as well. Basically, if you have version 4920 or less, you’re fine. If not, you need to have a kernel version below 5713, and you can downgrade Dashboard 4920. As long as you don’t buy a brand new X-Box, you should be in this boat. If you have an X-Box with a kernel version 5713 or above, you can’t do a dual-boot with Linux and the X-Box software, you need to rip open your X-Box and go straight to the BIOS flashing stage.

Luckily, I have kernel version 4817 – my X-Box was one of the first off the production line. Dashboard has been upgraded by X-Box Live to version 5960, but I can downgrade.

As promised, pictures of my adapter and controller:

USB -> X-Box adapter

X-Box USB controller

The X-Box Media Centre Project II

My trip to Warringah Mall was entirely successful. Brute Force, the game that came with my X-Box, was traded in for the princely sum of $7. I then purchased an original edition of MechAssault for $8.95 – a net cost of $1.95! With this find in hand, I headed home (via the pub).

Here I struck a problem. In order to copy the magic save game onto the hard drive, you need to make an X-Box to USB adapter, which involves sacrificing an XPad controller. You then copy the savegame from your USB mass storage device on to the hard drive. In order to do this, you’ll need a working XPad to navigate through the hard drive menu.

Clearly, I would need another controller.

Deciding to leave this problem until later, I went ahead full steam with the conversion. All you need is the XPad cable (the XPad cable is in two sections – one attached to the controller and one to the X-Box. Use the X-Box section) and a USB extension cable (I had a ~25cm one). Chop them both in half. You will now have four cables: male XPad; female XPad; male USB; female USB.

USB cables contain 4 wires: power (red and black) and data (white and green). XPad cables contain 5 wires: power (red and black), data (white and green), and signal (yellow). Ignore the yellow one, and solder the female USB to the male XPad, matching the colours.

Voila! I now have a USB->X-Box conversion cable! Photos to come. You can do the same with the male USB and female XPad, which will give you an X-Box->USB conversion cable, meaning that you can use your XPad as a USB controller in any PC.

Now, I need to find another controller, and then on with the fun!

The X-Box Media Centre Project

For a while I’ve wanted to build a media centre – basically a PC with a TV out card that I can use to download and store video and music, and playback directly to my TV (which is linked to my stereo). No more watching downloaded shows on my crappy laptop screen with crappy laptop speakers, just switch the telly over and bang!

Problem: a PC is bulky and ugly, my laptop is buggered, and TV out cards cost at least $50 (and probably aren’t compatible with my old PIII motherboard).

Solution: convert an old X-Box!

Goodies – an X-Box, and a cheap USB hub

Today I purchased an X-Box (from eBay) for $91, and a crappy 4 port USB hub for $12. I will modify the USB hub so that it plugs directly into a controller port, enabling me to use my USB mouse and Keyboard with the X-Box. Then all that remains is to override the write protection on the BIOS, flash in a new non-Microsoft BIOS, and install Linux!

At the moment I’m only missing one key piece of equipment: the game MechAssault. It contains a software exploit which enables you to load an emergency linux system hidden inside a save game file, from which the BIOS can be flashed. Will head down to the mall and see if I can trade in Brute Force, the game that came with the X-Box.

Updates and photos to come!

Australia vs Thailand team

We all know that Arnold’s strategy is to try and do what Guus would have done. Only problem is, Guus wouldn’t have been beaten 3-1 by the Iraqis. With a few notable exceptions (Schwarzer), the players aren’t really to blame – with a decent coach the same team made it to the second round of the world cup.

Right now, we need some changes. Here’s my team:

• GK – Michael Petkovic. You know, the guy who hasn’t let in any easy chances.
• Defence – Beauchamp, Emerton, Milligan.
• Midfield – Cahill, Culina, Bresciano (c), Grella.
• Attack – Thompson, Kewell, Aloisi.
• Bench – Schwarzer, Viduka, Sterjovski, Wilkshire, Holman.

Yes, Viduka is a chump.

Ten people who would make a better coach than Graham Arnold

1. Michael Jackson
2. Frank Farina
3. Guy Sebastien
4. The Yellow Wiggle
5. Paul Keating
6. Rodney Adler
7. Con the Fruiterer
8. Margaret Thatcher
9. Sir Nicholas Shehadie
10. Tim Flannery

God to be drinking down at the Sandringham?

Robbie Fowler, aka God, could become the next ageing superstar to join the A League, as he arrives in Australia to check out Sydney FC’s facilities.

My question is: why do our clubs waste all their money hiring Premier League has-beens, instead of sending out talent scouts to find exciting young players? There’s a reason that Liverpool don’t want Fowler any more. 3 goals in 12 premiership appearances last year isn’t exactly a sparkling performance, especially for a side which finished in third place.

I guess he’ll bring in the crowds. Hopefully he’ll fare better than Romario did in his cameo for Adelaide.

Keating for President

I’ve finally figured it out. Paul Keating is making an early run to be Australia’s first president. At first I thought that he was angling to make a shock comeback and sweep in as PM at the next election, but that’s a little too predictable for the man who made “recalcitrant” a household word. His latest outburst attacks Howard’s immigration policy.

“When John Howard famously advertised his wares in the 2004 election his advertisement said ‘we decide who comes here and when they come’,” Keating said.

“The we, of course, does not mention all of us but only some of us and the some of us are the people Howard believes are the keepers of the Holy Grail, the sentries of the gate of the true Australia, not the cosmopolitan one of the so called elites.”

Meanwhile, with Rudd looking more and more like a carbon copy of Howard, us poor voters aren’t left with much of a choice. I would seriously consider voting for Keating if he sprung forth with the “Keating’s Australia” party, but I’m pretty sure he’s positioning himself to be swept into office as president as soon as QEII kicks the bucket and we become a republic.

Of course, by the time this happens, Howard will have been out of office for a few years, and will probably make an ideal candidate for the role of cheif rubber-stamper. Keating, still steaming from his ’96 defeat, simply won’t allow that, and hence his recent spate of attacks on our PM.

So Mr Keating, you have my vote. Keep up the good work. I especially liked the way you made sure that all the media reports compared Howard to Hitler, by saying “I say this not to suggest or to align, in any way, … John Howard with Adolf Hitler.” I hope that you are forever remembered as “the President we had to have”.