Hacking the Xbox

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52 Hacking the Xbox: An Introduction to Reverse Engineering Finally, it is interesting to note that the Gamecube uses proprietary I/O interfaces everywhere. The game disk format is a mini-DVD format, and the DVD reader connects to the motherboard through a proprietary connector. Using a smaller DVD media allows Nintendo to reduce the latency of data seeks, which means shorter game loading times. The game controllers and memory cards also use a proprietary signaling format. Everything in the Gamecube is somewhat similar to our familiar PC, but nothing was directly incorporated into the design unchanged. In addition to optimizing the manufacturability and cost of the Gamecube, the use of mostly proprietary chips and standards makes the console much more difficult to reverse engineer than the Xbox. For example, note that in Figure 2-8, there is no obvious ROM chip in the Gamecube. Thus, in order to even start looking at Gamecube code, one has to hunt down and extract a ROM hidden somewhere in one of the chips on the motherboard! This is one of the rare times where security through obscurity works. Even if there were no security at all on the Gamecube, the cost and effort of trying to burn your own code onto Nintendo’s custom DVD format is just not worth it for the individual enthusiast.
CHAPTER 3 Installing a Blue LED Now that you have taken the cover off of your Xbox, it is time to do a couple of starter projects. The next chapters walk you through some elementary modifications and repairs that you can perform on your Xbox. These projects are designed and written for readers who have little or no experience with hardware hacking. More advanced topics on the Xbox can be found in later chapters. In this chapter, you will learn how to replace the normally green LED in the Xbox front panel with a blue LED. This project requires minimal soldering; most of the effort is in removing the front panel and the LED circuit assembly. Let’s get started! Note A stock Xbox uses a green/red combo LED, but the red LED is only used to indicate error conditions. The procedure described in this chapter will convert your Xbox front panel indicator into a blue-only LED. The proper substitute would be a blue/red combo LED (T-1, 3mm diameter lens). However they are difficult to find, so the instructions here do not use them. The instructions will give the necessary background knowledge for you to improvise and incorporate your own LED solution if you are so inclined.
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Hacking the Xbox An Introduction to
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The US government is far and away t
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In memory of Aaron Swartz
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x Hacking the Xbox: An Introduction
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xii Hacking the Xbox: An Introducti
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Acknowledgments I would like to tha
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CHAPTER 8 Reverse Engineering Xbox
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Chapter 8 - Reverse Engineering Xbo
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clearance for motherboard component
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CHAPTER 9 Sneaking in the Back Door
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CHAPTER 11 Developing Software for
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CHAPTER 12 Caveat Hacker Reverse en
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APPENDIX D Getting Started with FPG
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Appendix D - Getting Started with F
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APPENDIX F Xbox Hardware Reference
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Appendix F - Xbox Hardware Referenc
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Appendix F - Xbox Hardware Referenc
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DVD-ROM Power Connector Appendix F
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Fan Connector Appendix F - Xbox Har
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268 continuity mode, in DMMs 19 Cop
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270 Molex 76 Moore’s Law 5 Mosis
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272 Virtex-II FPGA 123 Visor 139, 1
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Hacking the Xbox

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