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Sunday, May 31, 2009

Flash The DVD Drive Of An XBOX 360

By Daniel Thompson

Your XBox 360 is one of the most powerful and versatile gaming systems ever made. Not only can you play all of your favorite games on this console, but you can also go online for interactive game play, enjoy music and movies and much more besides. Even though the XBox 360 offers a lot of functionality to gamers, there are some limitations imposed by the default settings in these gaming systems.

The limitation which causes the most frustration to gamers is that the XBox 360 cannot play back up copies of games by default " nor can it play homebrewed, hacked or otherwise customized games. These limitations are in place to discourage game piracy and encourage sales of XBox games. However, some enterprising gamers have taken it upon themselves to figure out how to get around the security features of this and other gaming consoles to offer more options to gamers.

Modding the Xbox 360 is the usual way that gamers get around the limitations. All that is required is a mod chip that, although somewhat tricky, can be inserted into the system. It is not all that difficult to do, however if inserted incorrectly, it can result in the system being irrevocably damaged. Some people shy away from putting in a mod chip, though, because they are unsettled by the idea of having to open the console.

Flashing is another method which can get around the limitations imposed by your XBox 360's default configuration and while you'll still have to open up your console, you won't have to do any soldering as you would when installing a mod chip. Flashing involves hacking the firmware of your console to allow your system to play back up copies of games and customized games without taking the risk of modding your console. Flashing isnt necessarily for people trying to play pirated games " in fact, many people would like to make backup copies of their games to play so that their original copies can stay in good condition and scratch free.

You will need an Xbox opening kit. These are not expensive and can be easily obtained. Once you have this kit opening the console will present no problems. To flash means that you switch the DVD connector with the computer?s SATA port. You will use a firmware tool to flash it using a disc. Sometimes there is no SATA port. This is when you can try using a PCI SATA card on the condition that it has the VIA 6421 chipset. If it does not, it probably will not work.

Before you start flashing, write down the type of drive you have. This may be Samsung, Hitachi or Benq, each of which will require a different flashing procedure. Usually, you'll need to use the firmware tools IXtreme or Dosflash, which are run from a disc.

If you really don't want to open your XBOX 360, you can resort to an online service that provides downloadable content that can unlock your XBOX 360 without much effort. Though these services usually require subscription fee, they have the advantage of providing support, tutorials, and updated firmware to ensure your XBOX flashing is safe.

Flashing is only an alternative to modding if you want some enhancements to your XBOX 360 console. Both methods have potential risks and are not encouraged by Microsoft themselves. However, if done correctly, can be very rewarding and the freedom to play backup games and other homebrew titles is always a good thing as long as it's legal in your area. - 18418

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