Hacking the Xbox

24
Hacking the Xbox: An Introduction to Reverse Engineering
Figure 1-4: Location of the screws hidden by the serial number and product
certifications labels.
about the cosmetic integrity of the labels, hold the label down while you
remove the screw, otherwise the label will peel back or tear.
Tip
Keep a small tray or plastic bag around to store your screws
so you don’t lose them. The screws that hold the Xbox
together are fairly unique and you may find it difficult to
purchase a suitable substitute at the local hardware store.
Step 3: Remove the Top Cover
You should have removed six identical long screws at this point. Turn the
Xbox right side up, and gently grasp the box by the sides using the open
palms of your hands, and attempt to lift the cover off with a gentle shake.
If the cover does not come off with this method, you may need to “start”
the cover by prying the case with your fingers from the back. In some rare
cases, you will also have to pry with a screwdriver from the front, but be
careful and gentle when you do this. Figure 1-5 illustrates some of the
points you can use to help remove the case.
Do not force the case cover off. If the prying methods described above
yield no progress on the case cover, an extra screw may have been added
since the publication of this book. Attempt to locate the screw by feeling
the labels on the back of the Xbox.