Curse you BlingBling!!

Well adding the media center software is harder than I had anticipated. It's interesting to play with tho. The mod chip I'm using has 8 individual slots for bios'es (biosi?) and I suppose you could run a seperate app from each although that would be silly. I've got the X-ecutioner one loaded (evolutionx) which also comes with a dashboard (like when you boot the xbox with no disk loaded, that thing) but I'm having troubles with the media center software itself. I think (i'm not really sure) the stuff was formatted for PAL and that's why I can't load the damn thing. Really, the problem is that at the Xbox Media center official site you can't download a compiled version of the software, it would violate Microsoft's copyright since you have to use Visual Studio, or something else propriatary, to compile the software. That leaves you at the mercy of the open tracker sites where compiled XBMC versions roam the bits with such exotic names as Gasgiver, BlingBling and Pimped (no I'm not kidding). Anyway, once I get that loaded I will let you know how well it works and if one does indeed give away gas.

Xbox = Modded

Well what do you know. I didn't brick the thing after all. After
spending my lunch hour (and some change) resoldering my modchip I got
back home and plugged everything in and it works!! I then installed
the new faceplate for the xbox and that is working swimmingly as well.
See the attached photo as proof. Anyway, all I
should have to do now is get the Xbox media center software loaded
(which should be easy enough, there's a ftp server program installed
in the modchip) and I should be enjoying mp3s and downloaded tv shows in no time.

Next comes the much delayed server LCD project. I got the serial
backpack kit in the mail yesterday. I think I'm going to need a lower
wattage / smaller tipped soldering iron as this one felt to cludgy and
seemed to evaporate a good bit of solder before it actually got a

chance to set.

Hopefully I will get a chance today or tomorrow to update my blog with the photos I FINALLY managed to get off of my phone. They are all silly and great. You can check my Flickr account if you need to see them now.

technorati tags:mod, xbox, photo

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Nothing?

Not much new to report.  No work progressed on the Xbox mod.  I thought about bringing it into work and soldering on my lunch hour.  However, I forgot to bring it in and I've been doing wedding stuff then so that might not be such a good idea.  My serial backpack for the server LCD project has shipped.

I have a couple of pictures that I took at various points over the past couple months that I need to post to Flickr.  They are of a variety of interesting objects I've seen.  Unfortunately I don't have a memory stick adapter at work or I would have uploaded them long ago.  Oh well, they shall be up soon.

technorati tags:lcd, xbox, mod

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Morning News

In hacking news I started work on my Xbox.  I spent about half an hour last night de-soldering the soldered-in holes that the mod-chip must occupy (an oddity that only the v. 1.0 and 1.1 Xbox'es possess. For the record, mine is a 1.0 bought used from EB Games in 2003.)  The rest shouldn't be hard at all. (I say now.)  I'm wondering if I should try and document the process but it seems as if there are plenty of resourcess out there for those interested in mod-chipping an Xbox.  I found what I was looking for anyway...

Other news: I tried to install RC1 of Vista last night since I'll inevitably have to deal with it at work at some point in the future.  It BSoDed me on the install.  Go figure.  I gave up after two tries.

Soon.  So soon I will start work on hacking my WRT54GL router.  Adding LCD goodness is a must.  Lord knows I have enough of them to work with.  Thanks fone!  Of course, this comes after I install the LCD in my headless server.  Busy busy busy.

technorati tags:lcd, xbox, hack

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Where did I go?

An excellent question.  Between the move, the new kitten, the new job and the marriage preparations my blogging has fallen by the wayside.  Hopefully I will be able to pick it back up.  I want to blog about some fun hardware hacks I have planned and hope to do soon.  First up will be: adding a modchip to your Xbox.  At least I think that may be first.  In any event I will endeavor to post more here than I have in the past few months.

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