Hacking the Xbox

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Hacking the Xbox: An Introduction to Reverse Engineering
Reattach the front panel wire connector to the Xbox motherboard. The
connector is shaped so that you can only insert it in one direction, but the
plastic used in the connector molding is soft and you could insert it
backwards if you push hard enough, possibly causing irreversible damage
to it. Verify the correct orientation by lining up the missing pin on the
board receptacle with the missing wire on the connector header, as shown
in Figure 3-12.
If you have an older Xbox, re-attach the vertical circuit board assembly
by pushing it into its sockets. This circuit board is the interface card for
the Xbox game controllers, so you’ll definitely want that installed
correctly.
Now, you are ready to test your newly modified front panel assembly.
Replace the disk drives in their bays and verify that their power cable and
ribbon cable connections are secure. Plug the Xbox in and you should be
treated to a blue glow coming from the Xbox front panel. (If you don’t
see what you expect, don’t panic. The next section, “Debugging,” offers
solutions to some possible problems.)
Once you are satisfied with the modification of your Xbox, turn the
Xbox off and replace the four retaining screws on the front panel
assembly. (You will need to remove the disk drives again to access the
screw holes.) Replace the disk drives, power up the Xbox one more time
to verify that everything is working fine, and then reassemble the rest of
the Xbox as described in Chapter 1.
Figure 3-12: Orientation features of the front panel wire connector. The
arrows indicate the position of the empty polarizing pin.