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The topic of softmodding the Xbox is covered extensively by [http://www.xboxscene.com Xbox-Scene], and most of the tutorials available there are still relevant. However, most of the guides are nearly a decade old: the Windows of the time was XP, most hard drives used IDE cables, and floppy drives were common. Several of the programs used for softmodding, especially those used to upgrade the HDD, will not work properly on modern OS's. The purpose of this guide is to walk you through the entire softmodding process using modern hardware.
 
The topic of softmodding the Xbox is covered extensively by [http://www.xboxscene.com Xbox-Scene], and most of the tutorials available there are still relevant. However, most of the guides are nearly a decade old: the Windows of the time was XP, most hard drives used IDE cables, and floppy drives were common. Several of the programs used for softmodding, especially those used to upgrade the HDD, will not work properly on modern OS's. The purpose of this guide is to walk you through the entire softmodding process using modern hardware.
  
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==Overview==
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==Upgrading the HDD==
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Softmodding works by exploiting flaws in the MS Dashboard and certain games. By transferring a hacked save file to an Xbox memory card through a USB device and then loading the file from the game, a program which allows full access to the Xbox, called a '''Dashboard''', can be booted. From there, an FTP connection can be established between your PC and Xbox, allowing you to modify system files on the Xbox HDD, which will enable you to boot the Dashboard of your choice either upon boot or from the MS Dashboard, without the need for the game whose save file had been exploited.
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The Xbox comes packaged with an underwhelming 8GB HDD. 8GB is plenty for game saves, but if you plan to take full advantage of your softmodded Xbox, you're going to need extra space to store games and media files.
  
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The entire process should proceed in three phases:
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===Overview===
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* 1. Get a hacked save file onto a memory card and confirm you are able to trigger the exploit by loading the file from the game.
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The Xbox uses a standard 3.5" IDE HDD, the same type you would find in a desktop computer back in the day. Finding a replacement HDD is easy, but preparing it for use as an Xbox drive is a long, tedious process due to a few caveats:
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* 2. Backup the original HDD and prepare a new one (not required, but highly recommended).
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* The Xbox uses a unique file system that neither Windows nor Linux can recognize. Special software must be used to read, backup, and prepare an Xbox drive.
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* 3. With the new HDD in the Xbox, use the game save exploit to install a permanent exploit.
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* The HDD is locked with a key generated from the Xbox's EEPROM data that is changes from Xbox to Xbox and HDD to HDD. This means you need a HDD that is lockable (most are), and you need extra software to generate a new key. The software used to lock/unlock the drive must be run from a bootable MS-DOS disk.
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* Extra steps must be taken to use a drive larger than 137GB.
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* Although you can upgrade the HDD without having already softmodded the Xbox, you must be able to boot EvoX using either '''007 Agent Under Fire''' or ''MechAssault'''.
  
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==Preparations==
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Before getting into specifics, I will outline in general the steps needed to upgrade the HDD:
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Softmodding an Xbox is... involved (unless you use the hot-swapping method, which has no special requirements apart from a PC with PATA interface). You need a few pieces of equipment that may be hard to come by (i.e. an Action Replay), several programs, and a suitable PC environment to go from start to finish. To make things easier, you should ensure that you have everything you need before you get started. You should also be comfortable with some technical tasks, such as using an FTP client, adding/removing and setting jumpers on IDE HDD's, using command-line programs (nothing too complicated), and accessing xbins (see the next section).
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* 1. Dump your Xbox's EEPROM data using EvoX.
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* 2. Unlock the original HDD in DOS and use Windows to make a backup.
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* 3. Lock the original HDD and set it aside.
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* 4. Connect the new HDD and use LiveInfo in Windows to generate a new key.
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* 5. Restore the backup of the old drive to the new one.
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* 6. Lock the new drive, connect it to the Xbox, and hope for the best.
  
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===Phase 1: Game save exploit===
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===Requirements===
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====Equipment====
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====Hardware====
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* A legitimate copy of '''007 Agent Under Fire''', '''Mech Assault''', or '''Splinter Cell'''. (Note that not all versions of these games support the exploits.)
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* '''IDE connection on motherboard'''
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* An '''Action Replay''' or some other method of transferring save files to an Xbox memory card
 
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* An official, Microsoft-branded memory card (while the Action Replay does come with a memory card, it's cheaply made and is likely to become corrupted)
 
 
====Software====
 
====Software====
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* UXE installer by Krayzie (xbins: /XBOX/Console Based Applications/exploits/_Packages/Krayzie Uxe Installer/)
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* '''Windows XP (32-bit)''' - This must be a real installation of XP; a virtual machine will NOT work. The reason is that you must use software which directly accesses your motherboard's IDE controller, which is not possible with a virtual machine.
  
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===Phase 2: Upgrading the HDD===
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====Tools====
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====Equipment====
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* '''T20 screwdriver''' - Used to open the Xbox's case
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* A computer with at least one IDE port.
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* '''T10? screwdriver''' - Used for the screws which hold the Xbox's HDD in place
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* A new HDD. It must be lockable (I'll explain this later).
 
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====Software====
 
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* Lots of stuff...
 
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===Phase 3: Installing the exploit to the HDD===
 
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==Xbins==
 
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[http://www.xbins.org Xbins] is a website which serves as a stockpile of all the exploits and apps you need and want for your softmodded Xbox. You won't find any of the files on the site, though; they are located on an FTP server to which you must obtain a temporary username and password by visiting the #xbins IRC channel. It is very important that you learn how to use xbins.
 
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To access xbins, you need an IRC client and an FTP client. Just about any IRC client will work (I use mIRC in Windows and Konversation in Ubuntu), but xbins is very particular about the type of FTP client you use: it requires an FTP client that does not attempt to use multiple connections to download files. It recommends FlashFXP, SmartFTP, and CuteFTP.
 
  
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==Game save explot (007)==
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====Future goals====
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I only have access to '''007 Agent Under Fire''', so that is what I'll assume you have for this section. The steps for '''Mech Assault''' and '''Splinter Cell''' should be very similar, differing only in how you boot the exploit from the game, but you will need to locate another source for specific instructions for those games (for now).
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* '''Remove the need for Windows XP''' - Currently, XP is required to use the LiveInfo and HDD_Driver software. The only other Windows I've tried is Windows 7 Professional (64-bit), but no matter what I did, I could not get those programs to recognize any IDE drives. For now, XP is necessary to generate HDD keys and to backup the Xbox HDD.
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* '''Allow the use of an external HDD enclosure''' - This, in my opinion, is the holy grail of simplifying this process.

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