Completely OT! - XBox mod chip

[Ben B]

I bought a "Matrix" Modchip for my XBox quite a while ago. Apparently it allows you to connect your XBox to a PC with a network lead, therefore allowing access to the game files (That usually a PC cannot see) so you can copy them, play copied game disks, put games on the HD of your XBox so you can play them without the disk for them, change the "dashboard" of the XBox, and load of other stuff.

The problem is apparently it only works on MK1 XBox's, so didn't work with mine, as it's newer. The site I bought it from had a "100% satisfaction guarantee" and then dissapeared off the face of the planet!
There's millions of forums about the installation and use of these chips (I printed out all instructions I could find off the net) But it does look a bit complex.

What I really want to know, is is this chip officially illegal? Does that mean I'm not allowed to advertise it on EBay? (Or talk about it on this forum!! :-/ ) I Want to get rid of it, but never see anyone else selling them on there.

Also, if anybody's interested in chipping there XBox so you can network it to a PC and get up to all sorts of mischeif, can have this good-as-new, unused modchip for a tenner! It cost me £45 and is sitting here totally useless to me!

Any advice appreciated! Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Are you sure it won't work, we have the 'mk2' with a Matrix mod chip and it works fine...?

And oh yeah...illegal? - I don't see how it can be

Daz

 

[Dan]

I would say it would be a case of not illegal to sell but illegal to use situations.
you should be ok to sell it, but ebay may not let you sell it on their site.
it is however illegal to sell ps2 mod chips in europe after SCEE took action against sellers of the mod chips and forced them to get rid of all their stock.

Dan

now sporting my GARLIC BREAD?!? t-shirt

 

[Ben B]

Hmm Daz, When I tried installing it, I think it was something to do with the sequence of flashing LEDs that signified that it was the wrong model XBox. You installed it with no problems?

Does it let you do everything it should? Copy games to your HD etc? Do you find it usefull? Or is it a bit of a fiddle to use? Was it a pain to set up (Flash its BIOS or whatever you have to do?)

 

[Anonymous]

I didnt install it myself, so i can't tell you, but i had no problem sorting it out, by following a guide on some x-box modding forum...

When you say flashing lights, is that when you turn it on? (The reason i ask, is when it was in the original state i just pressed the button and it came on, now i have to hold the power button in for a few seconds otherwise the light on the front flashes either green/orange or orange/red)

Darren

 

[Ben B]

If I remember correctly it was the main power button of the XBox that flashed, like you said. Maybe I should try again, and try holding the power button to turn it on! (Or might just stick it on Ebay!)

Cheers for the advice

I heard that the reason XBox games aren't copyable is because the game is on the second layer of a dual-layer DVD. Does this mean that simply copying the disk in a modern dual-layer DVD writer with some simple disk-duplicaor software would work? Or would Windows still not recognise the disk>

 

[Anonymous]

mate did u sort out the chip.... if not ill buy it off u and give it a go on mine

smee

 

[Anonymous]

Not sure, as i have never copied a disk...

I usually download them (i know, i know), but i do buy them if i like them...

Then use x-iso to convert them to an ISO file, then burn them to a standard DVD. Stick them in the x-box, then copy to the hard-drive...

Daz

 

[jayfish]

not illegal to sell xbox mod chips, YET.
the ps2 ones are banned because they ran in series with the original and effectively tampered with the sony OS hosted on the original chip, which is cracking and therefore illegal.
the xbox chips entirely circumvent the origianl and therefore dont affect any copyrighted code.

but software piracy is illegal and should get you tortured imho
i'd rather be friends with a pikey

 

[Anonymous]

"but software piracy is illegal and should get you tortured imho"

Agreed...

I only download them so i don't spend £40-£50 on something that could be absolute cr@p...

I usually buy the magasines to play the demo's, but not all games have demo's, so i download them, try them, then either delete them or buy them...

But to be honest i have 1 or 2 (at most) that i have downloaded and haven't bought, but thats simply because i find them to buy them... This is obviously still illegal, but hey, nobody's perfect...

Daz

 

[Jayfish]

time for a shameless plug then...
buy it from game and if you don't like it you've got 10 days to take it back
frees up your bandwith too.

 

[Anonymous]

Really?

Didn't know that...thank m8

Daz

 

[Ben B]

Perhaps tortured is a little bit strong!

Though I don't copy games yet, I have to say that even with my music downloads, I tend to just get a feel for a particular album, then go and buy it, or if it's not too good, just make do with a copied version. My CD purchasing certainly hasn't ground to a halt.

With games though it's quite an expenditure for what could be a crap game. Some older ones probably aren't even worth paying for, and I wouldn't feel like a criminal for having a few copied ones in my collection. Whenever a long awaited new game comes out, I'd always prefer to have a real copy.

Anyway, this is all immiterial, as I never got the chip to work!

 

[Anonymous]

Thank god for abandonware

Daz

 

[Anonymous]

that mean it up for grabs mate. ill give it ago in mine.

Smee

 

[Ben B]

Smee, Actually yesterday I never got round to trying again. I was too busy playing Burnout 3 to bother dismantling it again! From what Daz says about the flashing lights, it may have actually worked before, but I never held the power button in for long enough!

Email me your address, I'll mail you mine, send me a tenner and I'll stick it in the post for you, along with all the instalation info I'd printed off when I tried before. Is that cool?

 

[Ben B]

Oh Yeah, [email protected] !

 

[Anonymous]

well if u want to try it again before hand chap other wise ull be out of pocket... mine is [email protected]

also im in kent this weekend if need me ill detore back to where u live and swap cash if u cant get it to work.

have to keep me informed by text tho mate as grandad dont have interent. or a computer. infact i think he still has a mk 1 cortina and the radio in teh lounge

Smee