Xbox 360 Mod/Hack Rating:

Difficulty Level:         2 out of 5

Skill Level Needed:   2 out of 5

Personal Risk:            2 out of 5

Equipment Risk:         2 out of 5

Duration:                     1.5 out of 5

Cost:                            1.5 out of 5

Satisfaction:                3 out of 5

Bottom Line:        2.5 out of 5

Expensive Memories

Data storage in video game consoles have always been a premium commodity since game data saving became possible.  But this was only understandable and acceptable during the early days of disc-based consoles.  Now, advances in the mass storage industry made economies of scale possible on a priced resource in computing – storage capacity.  A closer look will show that video game console are now riding the hardware and software advancement of personal computers.  In fact, the latest generation of Xbox and other consoles are more of a Personal Computer than a Video Game Console!

There’s a PC in your Xbox 360!

If you try opening any of the three 7^th Generation video game console, like the Xbox (warranty voided!), distinct PC-like components may be found: CPU, GPU, RAM, HDD, Audio Chip, MoBo & Chipsets, Optical Disc Drive, Network Adapter, USB Ports, Video Ports and more.  This means that with the right motivation, equipment, materials and skills, you can safely extend and expand the functionality and performance of the gaming platform.

Do-it-Yourself Xbox 360 External Hard Drive

Instead of buying a $149.99 120GB Xbox 360 Hard Drive from Microsoft, you could safely and easily add one on your own externally.  You could revive that old 80/120/160/200GB ATA/IDE Hard Drive that’s collecting dust in your drawer.  Imagine viewing your precious media files through your shiny Xbox 360.  Cool huh?  Yeah!

 

Hardware Needed:

   Xbox 360 System (Power Adapter, Video Cables, Controllers, Video Display & Games)

   3.5” ATA(IDE) Hard Disk Drive (preferably 60+GB Storage Capacity)

   3.5” ATA(IDE) Hard Disk Drive USB 2.0 External Enclosure Unit (w/ Fan):  $10-$30

   USB 2.0 Data Cable – Standard A/B Plug (usually included with the External Enclosure Unit)

   5V/12V AC/DC Power Adapter (usually included with the External Enclosure Unit)

Software Needed:

   Microsoft Windows XP or later Operating System

   FAT32 Formatting Software (Paragon Partition Manager, Partition Magic, Win98 FDisk/Format)

Tools Needed:

   Philips-Type Precision Screw Driver Set

   Mini Screw Driver or Small Tweezer (for changing Hard Drive Jumper Pins)

   Dry Cleaning Cloth or Dry Tissue Paper (for dust cleaning)

Skills Needed:

   Basic Hardware Assembly Skills

   Basic Electronics Skills

   Basic PC & Windows Operating Skills

Alternative Hard Disk Drive & External Enclosures:

   3.5” SATA Hard Disk Drive w/ corresponding HDD USB 2.0 External Enclosure Unit (w/ Fan)

   2.5” ATA(IDE) Hard Disk Drive w/ corresponding HDD USB 2.0 External Enclosure Unit

   2.5” SATA Hard Disk Drive w/ corresponding HDD USB 2.0 External Enclosure Unit

The Main Phases & Individual Steps:

1. Avoid transferring static electricity to any electronic devices.
   1. Attach a grounding cable to your wrist whose other end is connected to a grounded metal or outlet.
   2. Or firmly hold a grounded metal surface to dissipate any static electricity in your body.
2. Install the Hard Disk Drive in a compatible USB 2.0 External Enclosure Unit.
   1. Back-up important files from the old hard drive that you wish to use.
   2. Use a dry cleaning cloth or dry tissue to remove any dust or debris from the old hard drive (be careful not to break or scratch any component).
   3. Refer to the user’s manual in the External Enclosure Kit that you will use for more detailed instructions on how to install your HDD in it.
   4. The HDD must be set as “Master,” if not, configure it to “Master” by moving the jumper pins with a pair of tweezers.  Refer to the instructions on the drive’s label,  manual or website.
   5. Firmly attach the HDD to the connector(s) of the External Enclosure Circuit.
   6. Enclose the HDD and the Circuit with the External Enclosure.
   7. Firmly place the screws to secure the new External USB Hard Drive.

1. Connecting the External USB Hard Drive to your Windows PC.
   1. Connect the Power Cable to the Power Adapter.
   2. Connect the Power Adapter to the new External USB Hard Drive.
   3. Connect the B-plug of the USB 2.0 Data Cable to the External USB Hard Drive.
   4. Connect the A-plug of the USB 2.0 Data Cable to the USB Slot of the PC.
   5. Plug the Power Cable of the External USB Hard Drive to an AC Power outlet of the RIGHT Voltage.
   6. Switch-on the External USB Hard Drive.  The HDD inside should start to spin-up.
   7. Let Windows detect the new hardware and wait for ready to use indication.
2. Format the External HDD Unit (HDD capacity is less than 32GB)
   1. If HDD capacity is less than 32GB, open windows explorer.
   2. Right-click the drive and click format to run formatting tool of Windows.
   3. Choose FAT32 as File System, enter Label or Volume Name and leave other settings to default.
   4. Click start to format the drive.
   5. Wait for the format process to finish.
3. Format the External HDD Unit (HDD capacity is more than 32GB – Windows XP does not natively support partitioning and formatting FAT32 volumes larger than 32GB, a special Application will be needed)
   1. Run the Partitioning & Formatting Software to setup.
   2. Select the Physical HDD.
   3. Run command to Delete/Remove all partitions in the External USB Hard Drive.
   4. Run command to Create a new partition in the External USB Hard Drive.
   5. Run command to Format the new partition in the External USB Hard Drive using the FAT32 Files System.
   6. Add Label or Volume Name for the partition/drive.
   7. Run command to execute/commit the actions to the External USB Hard Drive.
   8. Wait for the partition/format process to finish.
4. Transfer your media files in the new volume in the External USB Hard Drive.
   1. Open the new volume in My Computer/Windows Explorer.
   2. Transfer you media files and organize them as desired.
   3. Wait for the transfer process to completely finish.
5. Safely Removing the External USB Hard Drive from the Windows PC.
   1. Close any open Explorer window relating to the External USB Hard Drive.
   2. Click the “Safely Remove Hardware” icon in the System Tray Notification Area.
   3. Click to Select “Safely Remove Hardware”.
   4. Wait for the “You can now Safely Remove the Hardware” notification.
   5. Disconnect the A-plug of the USB 2.0 Data Cable from the USB Slot of the PC.
   6. Turn-off the External USB Hard Drive.  The HDD inside should start to spin-down.
   7. Un-plug the Power Cable of the External USB Hard Drive from the AC Power outlet.
6. Connecting to a Xbox 360 and viewing your files.
   1. Bring the External USB Hard Drive (along with the Data Cable & Power Adapter) near the Xbox 360 console.
   2. Connect the A-plug of the USB 2.0 Data Cable to the USB Slot of the Xbox 360.
   3. Plug the Power Cable of the External USB Hard Drive to an AC Power outlet of the RIGHT Voltage.
   4. Switch-on the External USB Hard Drive.  The HDD inside should start to spin-up.
   5. Let Xbox 360 detect the new hardware and wait for ready to use indication.
   6. Run Media Center, Choose Portable Device to open the USB Storage File Browser.
   7. View your media files.
7. Safely Removing the External USB Hard Drive from the Xbox 360.
   1. Close any open File Browser relating to the External USB Hard Drive.
   2. Click the “Safely Remove Hardware” icon.
   3. Click to Select “Safely Remove Hardware”.
   4. Wait for the “You can now Safely Remove the Hardware” notification.
   5. Disconnect the A-plug of the USB 2.0 Data Cable from the USB Slot of the Xbox 360.
   6. Turn-off the External USB Hard Drive.  The HDD inside should start to spin-down.
   7. Un-plug the Power Cable of the External USB Hard Drive from the AC Power outlet.

Benefits:

   Save from $110 to $140

   Make use of your old/idle Hard Drive

   View your Media Files from Xbox 360

   Have a High-Capacity Portable External USB Hard Drive

   Have a High-Capacity Portable Back-up USB Hard Drive

   Have a High-Capacity Media File Storage for your Xbox 360

   Have a “Staging Area” for other more complicated & more exciting mods/hacks

   Personal Satisfaction & Bragging Rights (Yeah!)

P.S.: A Little more about the Xbox.

Xbox 360 was made available on November 2005 in the USA, Mexico and Canada.  It was released in Europe and Japan in December 2005, other countries followed in the following year.  The console was completely sold out  upon release in all regions except Japan.  With only a year in the market, Xbox 360 was launched in at least 36 countries, the highest first year distribution for a video game console.  As of January 2010, over 39 million Xbox 360 units have been sold.

Tags: Case, CPU, games, mod, Ram, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox 360 External Hard Drive, Xbox 360 Hacks, Xbox 360 Mods

Tags: Case, CPU, games, mod, Ram, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox 360 External Hard Drive, Xbox 360 Hacks, Xbox 360 Mods

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at 1:11 am and is filed under Guides, and is tagged with Case, CPU, games, mod, Ram, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox 360 External Hard Drive, Xbox 360 Hacks, Xbox 360 Mods. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.