Archive:XBMC for Xbox specific FAQ

XBMC for specific FAQs about XBMC running under Windows, Windows computer hardware, and Windows operating-system squestions. Also generic non-XBMC specific FAQs about Xbox hardware, modchips/BIOS/softmods and information on some third-party Xbox software (such as emulators and Xbox games).

Hardware

Can I install a larger harddisk drive into my Xbox™ and if so how?

Yes, the original Xbox™ only has a 8GB harddrive and many people choose to replace it with a faster and larger harddisk drive. For HOW-TO upgrade/replace your harddrive see the Xbox hardware modifications sections of this manual.

Xbox limitations and rules to follow when replacing the harddrive:

• The two recommended harddrive brands that run cool and quiet in the Xbox are Samsung and Seagate.
  • A 7200rpm harddrive won't give any speed improvements over a 5400rpm, and the 5400rpm runs cooler and quieter.
  • Neither do you get a speed increase out of more harddrive cache so save money and get one with less.
• Up to 2TB (2048GB) in size. Upgrading your harddrive will also speedup Xbox loading and boot-up times.
  • Note: XBMC only supports F: and G: partitions for harddrives and 512GB per partition!
• If you want to install a harddrive larger than 137GB then you need a LBA48 compatible Xbox 'hacked' BIOS.
• If a partition is larger than 256GB, the harddrive needs to be formatted with 32k clusters, use XBpartitioner.
  • XBpartitioner is used to partition extra partitions such as F: and G: (not the default C:, E:, X:, Y: and Z:)
• Largest partition supported by a LBA48 BIOS and 32k clusters is 512GB, so 512GB+ need G: partition.
• If you want to continue to play on Microsoft Xbox Live online-gaming service then you must lock the harddrive.

Can I install a PC DVD-ROM Drive into my Xbox™ and if so how?

Yes, since most original DVD-ROM drives that comes with the Xbox™ have problems reading CD-R media, a few people choose to replace that DVD-ROM Drive with a PC DVD-ROM Drive, which enables better compatibility of home-burned media like CD-R/RW, DVD+/-R/RW, and also allows faster loading times. For HOW-TO replace your DVD-ROM Drive see the Xbox hardware modifications sections of this manual.

Xbox limitations and rules to follow when replacing the DVD-ROM Drive:

• Only very specific PC DVD-ROM drives manufactured by Samsung and also LG can be flashed with a hacked Xbox DVD-ROM firmware that allows it to read/play original Xbox games.
• No other PC DVD-ROM drives can read/play original Xbox games, instead you can only use them to play original DVD-Video movies and home-burned media like CD-R/RW, DVD+/-R/RW (including backed-up Xbox games).

How do I enable High Defintion (HD) output?

In order for the Xbox to be able to output HD (720, 1080), you need to have a special HD A/V connector from the Xbox to your display device and it needs to be set to NTSC.

So even if you have a PAL Xbox it needs to be set to NTSC for any HD modes to be available. Enigmah-X PAL-NTSC Video Selector is an example of a program that can switch between the Xbox video modes.

Any new(ish) PAL TV will accept NTSC input.

What is the Q: drive?

The Q: drive is simply a virtual pointer or substitution towards your XBMC installation location. So if you change somehting in Q:, you are actually changing it in the installation folder.

Does XBMC for Xbox support Blu-ray or HD DVD playback without menus?

No. The Xbox hardware is too old and slow to ever support Blu-ray or HD DVD playback, and even if that was the case there is not yet any C/C++ open source software out there yet capable of fully playing back Blu-ray or HD DVD so we can not add the code from somewhere in any case.

Can I listen to MP3 music while playing Xbox game?

No, XBMC can not run in the background of Xbox games, (nor any other Xbox applications, emulators, dashboards or tools).

When you launch/start a game (or other applications, etc.) XBMC gets completely cut off so you can not continue using any of XBMC features or functions. Reason for this is that the Xbox can only run one executable/process at a time (so two executables can not share resources on the Xbox), this is a limitation in the Xbox BIOS that we/you can not do anything about. A workaround to this is to use third-party homebrew software on your computer that can converts MP3 files to WMA then transfer those to the Xbox (under "E:\TDATA\FFFE0000\MUSIC\") plus updates Microsoft's soundtrack database ("st.db"), that way it will be just like you ripped those songs from an AudioCD with the Xbox using Microsoft original Xbox dashboard and you will be able to play the songs in all Xbox games that support such Xbox soundtracks. Some application that can do that are; Virtual Xbox CD Ripper, Xbox Soundtrack Manager and Soundtrack Editor.

Can XBMC run in the background of a game?

No, The Xbox is only capable of running one executable process at any one time (including any other Xbox applications, emulators, dashboards or tools), and thus XBMC can not be running at the same time as a Xbox game on an Xbox. When you launch/start a game (or other applications, etc.) XBMC gets completely cut off so you can not continue using any of XBMC features or functions. Reason for this is that the Xbox can only run one executable/process at a time (so two executables can not share resources on the Xbox), this is a limitation in the Xbox BIOS that we/you can not do anything about.

Can I start games, applications or emulators from the network?

No, The Xbox is only capable of running one executable process at any one time (including any other Xbox applications, emulators, dashboards or tools), and thus XBMC can not be running at the same time as a emulator software on an Xbox. When you launch/start a game (or other applications, etc.) XBMC gets completely cut off so you can not continue using any of XBMC features or functions. Reason for this is that the Xbox can only run one executable/process at a time (so two executables can not share resources on the Xbox), this is a limitation in the Xbox BIOS that we/you can not do anything about.

Can I start games, applications or emulators from an ISO/IMG image?

No, The Xbox is only capable of running one executable process at any one time (including any other Xbox applications, emulators, dashboards or tools), and thus XBMC can not be running at the same time as a Xbox game on an Xbox. When you launch/start a game (or other applications, etc.) XBMC gets completely cut off so you can not continue using any of XBMC features or functions. Reason for this is that the Xbox can only run one executable/process at a time (so two executables can not share resources on the Xbox), this is a limitation in the Xbox BIOS that we/you can not do anything about.