Xbox 360 Hacks - News, Hacks, Cracks, Mods.

An Xbox Live! update is coming — tomorrow morning actually…

Beginning the morning of Tuesday, October 31, you’ll be able to download a free system update that provides more than 85 new features and enhancements, including support for native 1080p games and movies, faster Arcade game list display times, and even more choices when it comes to video playback options.

Check out the complete list of updates here.

Also, apparently Microsoft is beginning to ban [firmware] modded 360s; potentially this may be included with the update. Find out shortly, I guess.

In the meantime, read more about that.

I seem to have missed this… Released on October 23rd was Commodore4Eva’s Xtreme Firmware 4.2A & 4.2B. Not much is new; however, the Security Sector read order is now based on actual PFI from the disk. This results in faster and better booting backups. Just like any other Xtreme Firmware release; the technical details can be found inside “ReadMe.txt.”

Note: Xtreme FW 4.2A and 4.2B is only for TS-H943 DVD-ROM drives.

Download: Xtreme Firmware v4.2A & v4.2B

Redline99 has released yet another version of his Xbox Backup Creator. Along side that, just a few days ago, Kreon released a new version of his alternative FW for Samsung SH-D163A/TS-H353A drives.

Xbox Backup Creator v2.3 additions/changes:

• Added - Support for SH-D163A using Kreon’s firmware
• Changed - Get Security Sector precedure to retry upto 5 times on failure
• Changed - Stealth Check to include Security Sector. It also will do an additional check for Xbox One 0×0200 - 0×02CF

Kreon’s alternative firmware is identical to the previous SH-D162C release; however, this time its been directly ported to the Samsung SH-D163A S-ATA drive.

Download:
Xbox Backup Creator v2.3
Alt. Samsung SH-D163A/TS-H353A FW v0.80

- source: xboxhacker

Commodore4eva has improved the “FirmGuard” feature initially introduced in Xtreme 4.0A/B. According to the ReadMe it is now impregnable, thus Xtreme Firmware 4.1A & 4.1B! To quickly note: this is only for Samsung TS-H943 DVD-ROM drives.

What does it do?

FirmGuard disables reading/writing of drive firmware. This is always on. Can only be turned off via Enable0800 mode. Do not have SATA cable plugged into Xbox 360 console when in Enable0800 mode.

Download: Xtreme Firmware 4.1A & 4.1B

Use at your own risk!

Redline99 with a new version of Xbox Backup Creator allowing you to easily create Xbox & Xbox360 backups. What’s new in v2.2:

Fixed:

• Some drive/media combinations didn’t report Available bytes correctly

Added:

• Option to Perform the OPC or not, Default = True
• Option to Perform the Track Reservation or not, Default = True
• Fix for Invalid Xbox One Security Sector (Kreon pre .81 and Hitachi F900)
• Support for Maximus-Garyopa Hitachi-LG Xtreme v2.2 Stealth 8in1 (limited)
• Support for Frog Aspi v0.29.4, http://www.frogaspi.org/index.html
• Support for TS-H943A Xtreme v4.0 Game Partition Unlock command

Changed:

• Set Write Speed, Hopefully more compatible
• New method of monitoring the tray status
• GetMediaStatus routine, to allow for more waiting after closing a disk
• Increased the File IO read timeout, this puts more responsibility on the burners buffer-underrun tech

Download: Xbox Backup Creator v2.2 Build: 0180

Commodore4Eva has released a new version of his Xtreme Firmware for Samsung TS-H943 drives. It is the world’s first FirmGuard, Dual Speed, Media Stealth, One Firmware, Xbox 360 backup and extraction firmware modification!

What’s new?:

• MS28 core firmware. Also better and faster media detection.
• FirmGuard added. On by default. Firmware cannot be Read/Written by 360 console. Can ONLY be turned off (Read/Write enabled) via Enable0800 mode.
• 4.0A firmware. 4.0A is default Fast Read Speed mode. Quite/Slow Read mode for backups activated via any Xbox 360/Xbox 1 Original game disk.
• 4.0B firmware. 4.0B is default Quiet/Slow Read Speed mode. Fast Read mode for backups activated via any Xbox 360/Xbox 1 Original game disk.

For Xtreme 4.0A default backup Read Speed is same as original game disks 12x. When Original Game disk is booted, all subsequent backup loading will be at Quiet/Slow Read mode, Original Game disks are unaffected. Turn console off/on to reset back to Default backup read speed (12x). Quiet/Slow Read Speed is for quiet operation and/or cheap DVD+R DL media.

For Xtreme 4.0B default backup Read Speed is Quiet/Slow 2-4x. When Original Game disk is booted, all subsequent backup loading will be at Fast Read mode 12x, Original Game disks are unaffected. Turn console off/on to reset back to Default backup read speed for backups (2-4x).

FirmGuard disables reading/writing of drive firmware. This is always on. Can only be turned off via Enable0800 mode. Do not have SATA cable plugged into Xbox 360 console when in Enable0800 mode.

…More technical details can be found inside the RAR archive.

Download: Xtreme firmware 4.0A and 4.0B for TS-H94

Use at your own risk!

- source: Xboxhacker

Well evidently at midnight Pacific Time on Tuesday October 17, the Xbox Live! service, along with Xbox.com will be going down for exactly 24 hours (a full day). Their reasoning for this is because they will be adding “cool and secret stuff.” There’s a Q&A on the webpage to explain a couple of things, and the Q&A can be found here.

Maximus with a new version of the 360 Firmware Toolbox for Windows. v1.2 now includes support for Hitachi GDR-3120L FW 0078.

And if you don’t know… 360 Firmware Toolbox is capable of the following:

• Allow copy/paste of the keys between firmware — no matter if they are encrypted or not, or if they are a different vendor, or the FW version differs (46, 47, 59, 78, etc…)
• Do common firmware tasks with a mouse click
• Supports Samsung and Hitachi firmwares — All Versions!
• Displays Vendor, ROM version and also if it’s encrypted or not
• Allow encryption or decryption of the files
• Show the 16 byte keys no matter if the file is encrypted
• Allows adding of TAGS to a KEY like “Owner”, “Serial No”, “Date.” (the tags are not saved to the firmware file)
• Fully integrates with Windows Context Menu
• Supports 512KB firmwares (2 banks)

Download: 360 Firmware Toolbox v1.2

Here’s the download for Maximus’ modified Xtreme Firmware working on Hitachi DVD-ROM drives. Most of the work is from Garyopa’s original developments; however, this includes some additional goodies:

• Removed old media detection and replaced with better media detection (media detection ver 2) from Geremia;
• Incorporates Maximus Firmware Stealth (Full Firmware Stealth);
• Added support for 59b firmware (what a stupid fw).

Three Commands (for flashing use only one: Flash15s or Flash22s, no both):

FLASH22S.BAT: Flashes your drive with 2.2 Fw Stealth (Media Detect 2, F900 core and Firwmare Stealth

FLASH15S.BAT: Flashes your drive with 1.5 Fw Stealth (Media Detect 2, and Firwmare Stealth, (NO F900 Core)

RESTORE.BAT: Return your drive to original State, even if you have firmware stealth in your drive

*RECOMENDATION: If you have flashed your drive in the past use RESTORE first. If it is a brand new drive use directly the Flash command you like. If you dont plan to use your drive to dump games use the flash15s.bat

This has been tested on v46/47/59/59B Hitachi drives.
Use at your own risk!

Download: Maximus/Garyopa Xtreme Hitachi v2.2 Stealth

Redline99 has released a new version of his Xbox Backup Creator — the name says it all.

It should be pretty straight forward. Read your disk then write it to a blank DVD+R DL. Since this application is not multi-threaded, please do not disturb it while writing.

After inserting a disk it may take a few seconds for it to be recognized. If it does not populate and enable the buttons after more than 30 seconds press CTRL-R to force a refresh.

Remember, you must use one of the supported drives for READING Xbox disks. The drive will ALSO need the modified firmware.

A large changelog is included; it’s recommended you read over “ReadMe.txt” before proceeding. Enjoy!

Download: Xbox Backup Creator v2.1 Build: 0175

- source: xboxhacker