How to turn the original Xbox into a media center.

What this tutorial will give you?
If you follow this tutorial correctly you will take an original un modified Xbox and set it up so that it functions as a media center, allowing you to view video and listen to audio files downloaded to your PC through your Xbox on your TV. You can even add some more stuff to it to access and watch YouTube videos on your TV, play on emulators and roms from all the old consoles, and play backups of your original Xbox games on the system. All this and more without the need of a modchip, soldering or rewiring of the console.

WARNING! - This shouldn’t be attempted unless you understand everything completely and understand PC components and how PCs work, as it could potentially turn your xbox into a big useless paper weight if done incorrectly and we will not be held responsible or fix this for you. So you still want to try it?

What you need:
An Xbox Console.
Torxx screwdrivers sizes 10, 15 and 20.
A Windows PC with a CD Writer.
1 Blank CD.
UXE complete - available here.
The latest build of Xbox Media Center - available here.
A program called Xboxhdm 1.9 - available here.

Step 1 - Setting up UXE and xbmc:
- Extract UXE Complete.

- Open readme.rtf and follow the instructions to set it up for your Xbox.
- Now go in the place-on-e folder, then ROOT folder.
- Delete everything in this folder.
- Extract Xbox Media Center and open the xmbc folder.

- Copy all the files and folders from there to the ROOT folder of UXE complete.

Step 2 - Creating a boot CD:
- Go to the uxe-c-replace folder.
- Copy all these files.
- Extract Xboxhdm 1.9

- Go into the linux folder, in here you should see a folder called C, paste the files here.
- Go to the place-on-e folder of UXE complete.
- Copy all these files.
- Go into the linux folder of Xboxhdm 1.9, in here you should see a folder called E, paste the files inside that.
- Create a folder in E called TDATA
- Create a folder in E called UDATA
- Go to the Xboxhdm folder and click on make-iso-win.bat
- This will start creating the CD image.
- Burn this image to a CD when complete.

Step 3 - Getting the Xbox ready:
HDD = Hard Disk Drive.
IDE = Integrated Drive Electronics.
- Turn Xbox upside down & unscrew the 6 torxx 20 screws.
- Turn over and remove the cover of the Xbox.
- Move the cables to the HDD & remove a torxx 10 screw below them.
- Unplug the 2 cables to the HDD and lift it out with the tray.
- Unplug IDE and power cables to the DVD drive.
- Unscrew the 4 Torx 15 screws in the side of the tray to release the HDD.
- Plug the 2 cables back into the HDD.

Step 4 - Getting your PC ready:
- Boot your pc to bios and set the PC to boot up from CD.
- Save the bios settings and turn the PC off.
- Remove the side panel to access your motherboard.
- Unplug all IDE cables to HDD at the HDD side.
- Make sure your CD Drive for your PC is connected to the secondary IDE.
- The primary IDE should have an IDE cable coming from it.
- Make sure this cable can reach the Xbox HDD.

Step 5 - Bringing it all together:
This is the step where things could go wrong if you don’t follow very carefully. The Xbox locks and unlocks the HDD everytime it switches on and off and we have to get it unlocked to be able to transfer our new softmod files to it. Its pretty simple but just be carefull and make sure you always allow the Xbox to relock the HDD before turning the Xbox off.
- Power up the Xbox to unlock the drive.
- The TV that its connected to should goto a screen saying error 12.
- The instant you see this remove the IDE cable from the Xbox HDD.
- Attach the cable from the primary IDE of your PC.
- DO NOT TURN THE XBOX OFF.
- Power up the PC and XBoxHDM should boot from the CD we made.

Step 6 - Transfering the files to the Xbox:
- On the menu choose option 1.
- Let it detect the HDD.
- When it does type xboxhd
- at the prompts type yes everytime.
- This might take a while so wait.
- When it says its done unplug the IDE cable from the Xbox HDD.
- Plug the Xbox IDE cable back into the Xbox HDD.
- Turn off the Xbox to lock the HDD agian.

That should be it, put your PC back to how it was. Connect the Xbox DVD drive back up and screw it all back together and now when you start your Xbox it should boot to Xbox Media Center not to the default Xbox dashboard.

For more information on what you can do with Xbox Media Center check out www.xbmc.org To take full advantage of the Xbox Media Center you will need to have your Xbox connected to your network and the internet.

1 comment March 26th, 2008

R4DS - The only DS cartridge you’ll ever need.

The R4DS Cartridge is the current top-of-the-line in Nintendo DS cartridges. It is just an amazing little device that is the same size as an original DS cart, it is a complete solution with no need to purchase any additional components, unless you want extra memory in the form of a microSD card (4GB max) or deal with any messy software and truly the easiest media enhancer you have ever done; To simply put it, this is a must have peripheral for any regular DS owner.

I have been playing about with one of these, that I kitted with a 2gb microSD card, they are a very nifty little thing to have. I already have 40-50 games downloaded and running on the R4, it was very simple and easy to set up. You can expect to pay £25-35 (on Amazon) to get the cartridge plus however much it costs you for the microSD (I got my 2GB from eBay for £12). One of the best things about the R4 is that it enables you to listen to music and even watch videos through your DS. There is also a web browsing application available to access the internet in WIFI enabled areas.

For more information on the R4DS goto http://www.r4ds.com/r4ds.htm . If you are looking for good NDS ROM sites then head on over to http://www.nds-roms.com/ OR http://www.allnds.com.

Add comment February 26th, 2008

Polaroid Digital Mobile Photo Printer

Its great to see that a once great innovator in on-the-go photography printing (Remember those old Polaroid Cameras?) trying to lead the field once again. Ive looked at the scale of this device and its not exactly “pocket Sized”. Also, thinking about this from my perspective I never print photo’s anymore. However, I hope that this corner’s a market and becomes a popular device. The size of the photo’s that you get is an issue for me but looking at the success of those Japanese photo-booths that print a similar sized photo, this could prove to be quite a fun little gadget to have around.

GOTO: http://www.polaroid.com/onthego/home.html for more product info.

Add comment February 20th, 2008

The Bin-puter

“ARGH!!!!! Dont put your rubbish in there, its not a bin”.

I really like this idea, mainly because I live in a rough area and it would serve two purposes. Looking cool and hiding my beloved ‘puter from potential thievery. I can totally see dumb friends coming over and putting their foil crisp packets in it though!

Thanks to: http://www.thegadgetwebsite.com

Add comment February 20th, 2008

Camera-Phone? Bah! I Want a Camera-Phone-Watch

When I was in college me and a friend (being bored on the bus) we’re thinking about the future of telephones. Back then we dreamed of mobile internet access, calenders, video recording, MP3 players. We also thought it would be great if all this could happen on a watch.

The Hyundai W-100, which is a cell phone with a built in digital camera (1.3 megapixels). The gadget even has a touch screen, Bluetooth support, MicroSD support and plays MP3 music! No pricing or availability has been announced, but there is an English language version.

We already have mobile phones on the market that can be put on our wrists and smart phones, like the Nokia N95, have a plethora of functionality. Perhaps this one from Hyundai is one step closer to that dream that two college students had on a bus. I think we are still way off our idea of a phone/watch that could create a holographic girlfriend!

Via: http://www.therawfeed.com

Add comment February 20th, 2008