Xnsd, Bringing Back The Xbox

[Squaresome 26]

So, many of us still have our Xbox laying around unused, (Xbox as in Xbox, not Xbox 360) gathering dust for many years until the metals inside of them are worth more than we paid for the Xbox. I was thinking that we should put these consoles to use.

I have seen on YouTube the first videos where people manages to boot the Xbox to Linux later on loading up Windows 98 to these consoles through Linux. This is slow and painful and really serves no point because what can you really do with it other than the short 5 minute wow factor?

Thus, I want to create a new project that finally extended this and puts the original Xbox back into use for gaming.

I present XNSD, Xbox Not So Dead

The goal of this project is to soft mod the Xbox and boot Windows 98 to it.

We all loved Windows 98 but its going to take a little more than just installing a copy of Windows.

What is this project supposed to offer over other projects?

Stage 1:

Load Windows 98 seamlessly onto an Xbox.

Give access to USB interface on the Xbox.

Give access to the internet on the Xbox.

Use a higher quality video connection. (VGA,HDRGB)

Stage 2:

Create a theme for Windows 98 using Windows Blinds. Faster, Cleaner, Sharper, Smaller.

Support 1920x1080 Resolution. (FHD)

Load a game on the Xbox.

Use USB to connect a solid state drive.

Stage 3:

Obtain modern codec capable of playing movies.

Use an external DVD drive to create a media center.

Stage 4:

Who knows? There are 23 Million Original Xbox's created. I think this is better than letting them all go to waste in landfill!

MISC Stages:

Custom Xbox Boot: XNSD (

)

Custom Xbox Dashboard Optimization: Create an almost BIOS type dashboard that will load fast and boot into XNSD fast.

I understand that some of these things are not possible at this time. Its not a straight path to follow it but I am sure that the simple face people managed to boot Linux means that other operating systems are possible.

Remember how they said the Xbox Slim couldn't be JTaged?, well they were wrong weren't they. Nothing is impossible, everything just takes perseverance, time and a couple of Xbox consoles.

Xbox Specs:

Processor: Intel Pentium III 733MHz

Cache: L1: 32KB, L2: 128KB

Memory: 64MB, 200MHz, 64bit

Video Card: Nvidia+Microsoft NV2A

Video Resolutions: 480x320,576x432,720x480,1920x1080

Video Output: Analogue : HDRGB,VGA

HDD: 8-10GB

Optical Drive: CD+DVD-SL

The Xbox can be upgraded with another chip of ram totaling 128mb. This doesn't seem like a huge improvement but the biggest difference is that with a second chip the console has support for dual channel memory, subsequently double the ram, double the bits which doubles the total capability.

2x Size, 2x Speed, 2x Bits

When loading intensive application this will reduce the stress on a single ram chip and what I would guess is a page file system present on the Xbox itself. I am unaware of any information regarding exactly how the Xbox handles the memory within its own games because I have read reports that adding extra memory hasn't helped the performance of games. However this project should be able to take the benefits of the extra ram.

Now, the recommended specifications required to run Windows XP. I have highlighted recommended because Windows XP can be reduced to run much more efficiently by removing many features.

Requirements Minimum:

Processor: 66mhz (Xbox is 11.1x Faster)

Memory: 16MB (Xbox has 4x that, maximum 8x than)

Video Card: VGA (Xbox has a vga card)

Optical: CD-R (Xbox supports CD+DVD)

Input Device: Mouse+ Keyboard (Xbox will require a Usb mod)

Sound Card: Sound Card (Xbox has a sound chip set)

Notes:

Windows 98 can run with a minimum 8mb ram. Using a a form of flash memory I can see the XNSD taking place with a reasonable page drive of about 512mb, plenty of room for any game to store information as well as unload any un-used system components.

Using 98Lite, Windows 98 could be further optimized and making it more efficient. http://www.litepc.com/download.html

Removing the Windows 98 login screen will increase the speed that Windows 98 will be able to boot. Without having to load and unload this code, every little bit counts as well its easier to use that way.

Yes the Xbox is capable on HD resolutions believe it or not, they released at one stage a HD Video cable for the old Xbox.

Do note however, only a NTSC Xbox is capable of these HD resolutions. The video recognizes this.

NOTE: This video also features a 1GHZ, 128MB Ram, 720p. All of these will be useful for a more powerful system!

So, from this information the Xbox should be able to run Windows XP just fine. I personally have run Windows XP on even slower 32mb machines just fine, even playing a game called Zeus: Master of Olympus.

One of the biggest problems of programs made today are they are getting increasingly bigger. Programs used to do much the same as what they are doing today all the way back before Windows was invented, this includes gaming. With many programs now becoming larger and larger they become slower.

About the difference in programming, then to now.

More technically, back in 1995 - 2002 programs were written with some of the most innovative, clean, understandable, simple and fast code imaginable. Some was also extremely complex but still fast, other complex and slow but still did their job much as they do today. We used to have the ability to run a good looking game with only 256mb ram, single core processors just touching a ghz and old sound blaster cards.

Since then programmers now try to push the limits of what is created by using what somebody else has created to create what they want. An example of this is using Visual Studio or Eclipse and Java. Creating applications based on other peoples work becomes large, you might only want to use a small piece of code but the rest of that code is bundled in with a larger and more slow code which the computer then has to find. This process is slow but easy and allows designers to create larger scaled applications easier and faster. This code that people use is often referred to as a library. The less library's used, or the more optimized library's the better, this includes the size of the programs used.

Where this is relevant to the WXB is that older programs will have to be used on the machine. Examples are old games, Office 2000-2003 and not Battlefield 3

This can't be the hardest thing to do, as a community lets have some fun and put Windows 98 onto an old Xbox. At the same time we could save many more Xbox's being trashed into landfill.

Lets create the XNSD, Xbox Not So Dead!

Edited December 14, 2012 by AussieBacom

[Ririe 2]

Just gave my old one away to....

[AMD 885]

I apologize if I'm asking a stupid question because I never had an original Xbox (I opted for a PS2 instead), but does the Xbox even have any sort of PC BIOS on it? You aren't going to get very far if you can't even get Windows's bootloader working.

[Squaresome 26]

I apologize if I'm asking a stupid question because I never had an original Xbox (I opted for a PS2 instead), but does the Xbox even have any sort of PC BIOS on it? You aren't going to get very far if you can't even get Windows's bootloader working.

Currently the method id to:

1. Change the TSOP chip with the "Cromwell" BIOS.

2. Boot Xbox and load C, setup system.

2. Boot Linux.

3. Emulate Windows 98 Inside of Linux.

Currently the method id to:

1. Change the TSOP chip with the "Cromwell" BIOS.

2. Boot Xbox and load C, setup system.

2. Boot Dos.

3. Load Windows 98.

XNSD will be able to run native on the Xbox and not behind the requirements of another operating system.

The currently problem is that Windows 98 needs DOS to boot and the Xbox by default won't load DOS, other methods for different operating systems.

To implement these changes, a modified version of the default.xbe called Xromwell must be created "common distribution now of Cromwell". The Xbox then loads up this file and executes the code required to load the Cromwell BIOS.

Just to add, Cromwell is legal because it doesn't use any part of Microsoft code to boot, its completely independent.

Cromwell : Modified Xbox BIOS for loading Linux

Xromwell : Xbox default.xbe containing code to load the Cromwell automatically on the Xbox.

The Xbox firmware is also the operating system. The original Xbox firmware is apparently a broken down and modified version of Windows 2000. If this is correct then its possible to create a small operating system that will tell the Xbox to load up the launch files for Windows 98, maybe even other operating systems.

If I get this correct, the BIOS is the operating system. So create a simple BIOS that loads up the Windows 98 Boot Files. To begin with I will probably have a look at the Cromwell source (not steal but see what is required to write the custom firmware).

^ As writing this I am looking at the source for 2.31 btw : )

[FlyingPoo 0]

Hmm.. I have my xbox in a bag somewhere. it was an original v1.0 box. onboard chip was flashed. I fried the harddrive in it so now its collecting dust. Time to dig it out. I dont know how much I remember of the old xbox modding.

Update: It still works! Has XBMC installed with Xecuter2 Debug I believe. Looks like I consolidated the modchip to use the full 1MB bank permanently.

the Xen Hypervisor may be even better if you can write one that will run on the xbox hardware.

Edited December 16, 2012 by FlyingPoo

[Squaresome 26]

Hmm.. I have my xbox in a bag somewhere. it was an original v1.0 box. onboard chip was flashed. I fried the harddrive in it so now its collecting dust. Time to dig it out. I dont know how much I remember of the old xbox modding.

Update: It still works! Has XBMC installed with Xecuter2 Debug I believe. Looks like I consolidated the modchip to use the full 1MB bank permanently.

the Xen Hypervisor may be even better if you can write one that will run on the xbox hardware.

I am going to use an Xecuter X3

http://x3.bustedchai...stallation.html

Edited December 16, 2012 by AussieBacom