Can You Use M$ Dash on Softmodded Xbox?

[jkrell]

I have softmodded my xbox. I am using NK Patcher with Shadowc (I think; it is hard to tell if the last part is working). My question is, is there a way to go to the old M$ Dashboard? I have msxboxdash.xbe on my C: drive, but if I execute it I get error screen 21. Any ideas?

[NutKase]

Yes. You can.


NutKase

[jkrell]

Yes. You can.

I think in that case I am just missing the "support files" that the M$ Dash needs to run. Can anyone tell me what I need in addition to msxboxdash.xbe?? Thanks!

[kungpaomaster]

Not so sure it can be done with a SOFTMODDED xbox. I am sure that it can be done with a TSOP'd or modchipped xbox.

Just curious... why would you want the original MS Dash on there? There's plenty of skins that come close or IMO are better than the original dash.

[jkrell]

Not so sure it can be done with a SOFTMODDED xbox. I am sure that it can be done with a TSOP'd or modchipped xbox.

Just curious... why would you want the original MS Dash on there? There's plenty of skins that come close or IMO are better than the original dash.

I am not REALLY sure exactly why I want it. The only things that come to mind are being able to enable/disable hi def output and dolby digital sound.

I gave up after messing with this a bit -- I don't think you can do this on a softmodded xbox (at least I couldn't).

[rc3105]

can run whatever you want on a softmodded xbox

as with anything, won't work if you don't configure properly


see www.xbox-scene.com/tutorials (http://www.xbox-scene.com/tutorials.php) and forums.xbox-scene.com (http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php) for info and examples


*make sure your pc is properly immunized first via firewall, virus checker and script blocking - lotta cruft attached or linked to in those forums

[jkrell]

can run whatever you want on a softmodded xbox

Then I am missing something. I've got msxboxdash.xbe and what I think are the required files/folders in the root of the C:/ "drive" -- but the problem is I don't know *exactly* what the required files are. If I do have the required files, shouldn't this be as easy as executing msxboxdash.xbe?

When I do that, I get the Error Screen w/code 21.

[jkrell]

OK, I've tried this about every way possible, and cannot figure out how to get the M$ Dash to run. I've got it saved as msxboxdash.xbe, and I've got all the files/folders it needs to run (I wan't sure of this in my last post, but I have since verified). If I execute msxboxdash.xbe, it goes straight to the error screen with code 21.

Only thing I can think of is that I think I am using a ShadowC drive -- but I have never been clear on what that is and how it works (all the things explaining it assume you have a hardmodded xbox, not a softmod). Would this affect my ability to execute msxboxdash.xbe??

[kungpaomaster]

Light just came on! And you pointed me in the right direction.

The shadowc is implemented after boot. A 500MB image is created on your E: drive that is meant to fake the xbox into thinking it's the C: drive after it has loaded the original C: drive. So any games that try to patch/update the C: drive will be updating the shadowc and not messing up the softmod.

I think what you need to do is to restore your original C: drive to your shadowc drive. Just FTP all files over to your shadowc. Once you've implemented the use of shadowc, the only way to access the real C: drive is to use a gamesave exploit or load a bios using the pheonix bios loader or something like that. Nkpatcher will look to see if you have a shadowc drive after it boots. I'm guessing the reason why you're getting the errror 21 is because the original msxboxdash.xbe doesn't see the original files (mainly the unmodified fonts files) in your shadowc drive. You'll need to keep the modified font files in the folder (bert and ernie) on the shadowc drive. It has been my experience that it's okay to overwrite the dash file on the shadowc drive since that gets loaded from the nkpatched original c: drive. Hope my thought process was clear. Give it a shot and see if it works. I never had to use the original dash so never tried it. I'd try it if I was at home... let us know.

One more thing. You have to have implemented the shadowc from the Evox menu. If you haven't done it, you're modding the original c: drive (not good). It can be confusing which one you're playing with at times. And depending on which FTP client software you use, you have to manually refresh the directories or it will load from cache and seem like you're still in one or the other drives (original c: or shadowc). One way to tell which drive your actually in is to create a dummy file labeled shadow.txt in the root of your shadowc drive. Hope that helps.

[jkrell]

The shadowc is implemented after boot. A 500MB image is created on your E: drive that is meant to fake the xbox into thinking it's the C: drive after it has loaded the original C: drive. So any games that try to patch/update the C: drive will be updating the shadowc and not messing up the softmod.

I think what you need to do is to restore your original C: drive to your shadowc drive. Just FTP all files over to your shadowc. Once you've implemented the use of shadowc, the only way to access the real C: drive is to use a gamesave exploit or load a bios using the pheonix bios loader or something like that. Nkpatcher will look to see if you have a shadowc drive after it boots. I'm guessing the reason why you're getting the errror 21 is because the original msxboxdash.xbe doesn't see the original files (mainly the unmodified fonts files) in your shadowc drive. You'll need to keep the modified font files in the folder (bert and ernie) on the shadowc drive. It has been my experience that it's okay to overwrite the dash file on the shadowc drive since that gets loaded from the nkpatched original c: drive. Hope my thought process was clear. Give it a shot and see if it works. I never had to use the original dash so never tried it. I'd try it if I was at home... let us know.

One more thing. You have to have implemented the shadowc from the Evox menu. If you haven't done it, you're modding the original c: drive (not good). It can be confusing which one you're playing with at times. And depending on which FTP client software you use, you have to manually refresh the directories or it will load from cache and seem like you're still in one or the other drives (original c: or shadowc). One way to tell which drive your actually in is to create a dummy file labeled shadow.txt in the root of your shadowc drive. Hope that helps.


OK, lots and lots of questions. I don't understand how the ShadowC thing works. I've done Google searches and searched xbox-scene.com. I know that it creates a ~500MB file on the E:\ drive. I know it "fools" the xbox into thinking that it is the real C:\ drive. I am not really clear on why. I just set it up because it seemed to be the recommended approach for protecting your softmod from being nuked by update.xbe. All this you covered in Para. 1 of your response.

I am not even sure I set it up correctly (although I did set it up from the EvolutionX dash -- going into Launch Apps, then System Utilities, then "Make ShadowC drive" -- or whatever). Is there a way I can tell if this is working? And how do I FTP files into the ShadowC drive?? Isn't it just a ~500MB file in E:\ShadowC?? I'm utterly confused. I cannot use a game save exploit (don't have any of those games and don't want them) -- how do I load a BIOS by using Phoenix Bios Loader? What do I do then??

If I knew how to FTP into the ShadowC drive, couldn't I just put the necessary files there too -- that way the M$ Dash would think the necessary files were there, right? I'm just really confused by all this "shadow" drive stuff and how you access a drive that does not really exist.

I am not even sure how to do as you suggest and create a dummy file in the root of the ShadowC drive, because again I am not sure how to access it.

Sorry if these are n00b questions. This all seems too theoretical for my analytical mind.

[kungpaomaster]

No worries. Took me awhile to figure it out. And I did it mostly by piecing stuff together on XBS and trial and error.

When you selected the "Make Shadow C drive" from the Evox menu, it copied your current C: drive to the image file on the E: drive.

This is all from memory so there may be some gaps in my knowledge. But this is how I believe it works. The more recent versions of Nkpatcher (I think 10 is the most recent) looks to see if the image file exists upon xbox boot up. Of course your softmod will load first from the orginal C: drive. Then if the image file (ShadowC) exists, nkpatcher will unmount the original C: drive and mount the image file as the C: drive. This is all done at boot up. So, since you've executed the ShadowC menu item already you have an image file on E. And now when you boot, what you see is your ShadowC drive. If you FTP to your xBox, you're C: drive is really the ShadowC drive. You can no longer access your original C: drive unless you use an exploit or the Pheonix Bios Loader. The latter I'm not too familiar with because I just use a gamesave exploit to access my original C.

What clued me into the idea of FTPing your original files back to the C: drive (shadowC) to run the original dash is the your error code. There are some new games that will patch your C: drive. But since you have the ShadowC working it will only patch that image drive. But if you don't have the original files in your shadowC the game will give an error 21 on boot. I've experienced this with the Christmas Bundled xbox DVD (Topspin and NCAA 2005 on the same disc). I fixed it by doing as I said... copying the original files over to the shadowc drive.

I'm thinking the same checks occur when you try to load the original Dash. I'm going to try it out tonight just for S&G.

Hope this helps.

[jkrell]

OK, I now need to gain access to my MS Xbox Dash, because I think that is what is causing me to have trouble loading the game Fable (I get all sorts of video problems; apparently related to my MS Xbox Dash video settings).

Can you help me figure out how to FTP to my ShadowC drive? I checked into Phoenix Bios Loader and it looks incredibly complicated. I think a game save exploit might be the way to go -- I'll just rent one of the exploitable games.

I have Action Replay for transfering the game save exploit to my memory card; however I get lost trying to figure out how to get the game save to be recognized by Action Replay. If you're not familiar with these issues, I'll keep looking through Xbox-Scene, but I thought I'd check with you first.

Then, once I get the game save exploit on my memory card, I should be able to run the game from DVD, load the saved position, and then FTP to my original C:\ drive, right?? Then I could transfer the MS Dash files to it and I'd be good to go.

I would love to resolve this. It's been nagging at me that I don't have access to the MS Dash. And now it is stopping me from playing Fable.

[Warclock]

Couple issues here

1. If you haven't updated to the last MS dashboard, then transfer back and get any games with update option, to run that first (make sure you connect to internet). When it downloads the new dashboard, then you're good to go with softmode.

2. FTP your xbox C:\ to PC

3. Transfer NK Patcher with Shadowc from PC to xbox C:\

4. It should boot up with softwmod now

5. C:\fonts\nk\apps\shadowcmaker\default.xbe <---Execute the shadowc

6. Transfer MS dashboard back to xbox

7. Delete these two files C:\fonts\bert-generic.xtf and ernie.xtf

8. Reboot, it should work with MS dashboard.

[jkrell]

Couple issues here

1. If you haven't updated to the last MS dashboard, then transfer back and get any games with update option, to run that first (make sure you connect to internet). When it downloads the new dashboard, then you're good to go with softmode.

2. FTP your xbox C:\ to PC

3. Transfer NK Patcher with Shadowc from PC to xbox C:\

4. It should boot up with softwmod now

5. C:\fonts\nk\apps\shadowcmaker\default.xbe <---Execute the shadowc

6. Transfer MS dashboard back to xbox

7. Delete these two files C:\fonts\bert-generic.xtf and ernie.xtf

8. Reboot, it should work with MS dashboard.


How do I "execute" the ShadowC? That will just make a ShadowC drive. I already have a ShadowC drive. And, correct me if I am wrong, but if I delete bert and ernie and reboot, it'll be in the M$ Dash and I will not be able to ftp to the xbox. I'd have to softmod again. Right?

[Warclock]

Do you have upgrade hard drive?

PM me your email, I will send you the file. It's about 7 mb. Make sure your email can accept this size

Wait: are you using PAL or NTSC? My files are in NTSC. Make sure I give you the correct one

[jkrell]

Do you have upgrade hard drive?

PM me your email, I will send you the file. It's about 7 mb. Make sure your email can accept this size

Wait: are you using PAL or NTSC? My files are in NTSC. Make sure I give you the correct one

I did not upgrade my Xbox hard drive. I already have EvoX and NKPatcher installed, made a ShadowC and all that. I use XBMC as my dash.

What do you want to e-mail? I guess I'm a little confused... I'll PM my e-mail to you anyway.

FYI, I use NTSC -- same as you.

[Warclock]

Extract my zip or look at this pix or you may already have its in the xbox same as my files

This is in my zip file
C:\fonts
C:\xboxdash.xbe

To remove Shadow C:
C:\fonts\nk\nkpatcherM8.xbe <--Execute this (this will allow you to delete shadow c image)
E:\ShadowC <---- Delete this folder

Now after you delete the Shadow C, let start again with my zip file

Did you backup your original xbox C:\ to your PC? OK I assumed you did

1. Use hack savegame(007, Mech, or SC) to boot up xbox
2. You will get IP address, connect your PC to xbox for FTP
3. Delete everything on xbox C:\
4. FTP my C:\Fonts and C:\xboxdash.xbe to Xbox C:\
5. Reboot the xbox without dvd game ---> will come upUnleashed dashboard
6. On Unleashed Dashboard --->Go to File Explorer
7. C:\fonts\nk\apps\shadowcmaker\default.xbe <---Click A to execute
(take about 10 mins to make shadowc)
8. Reboot xbox
9. FTP your original MS Dashboard to xbox C:\
10. C:\fonts\bert-generic.xtf <--- Delete
----C:\fonts\ernie.xtf <---Delete
11. Reboot xbox
12. Click on MS Dashboard (It should work)

[jkrell]

Am I dense? Stupid? I am confused and I don't really know why!?!?!?

I am confused about this whole process, and what you are telling me to do, and why. Right now, I have my Xbox exactly the way I want it, EXCEPT that I cannot run the M$ Dash -- even if I FTP those files over to the Xbox C:\ drive, I get an error message when I run it.

When I initially installed the softmod, I created a ShadowC drive; the problem is that when I created the ShadowC, I had already deleted the M$ Dash files from the Xbox C:\ drive.

I did not get an e-mail from you. Did you get a bounceback? Please note that I still do not know what you are attempting to send me -- I've probably got everything you are trying to send. I've got ShadowC maker, and I've got the M$ Dash files. I just do not know how to get them onto my "real" C:\ drive -- i.e., not my ShadowC drive.

One of the key problems I have doing what you suggest is that I don't want to replace my current dash. I've worked a long time to get it working like it does.

Can't I just use a game save exploit to get into the "real" C:\ drive (again, not the ShadowC drive) and put the M$ Dash files there? Won't that be enough to "fool" the Xbox into thinking the M$ Dash is there? I should then be able to run it, correct?

Why delete Bert and Ernie? Won't that disable my softmod??

Can you please be a bit more clear/explanatory? Try to make it an idi0t proof explanation -- clearly I fit the bill when it comes to this subject!!

[Warclock]

Your email rejected the file because too big.

The way I explained for using with my zip file. If you want to keep everything lilke that, then fine, do it that way

all my files(dashboard, ntkpatcher, etc..) are in C:\ , Shadowcmaker is on E:

Is it what you have too? If Yes , do the step below

Backup these two files to your pc first, you can put it back later.

C:\fonts\bert-generic.xtf <--- Delete
C:\fonts\ernie.xtf <---Delete

Then try to see if your MS Dash work or not, if not work, it means you have an old dashboard, then you need to to update your dashboard.

[jkrell]

OK, so you seem to be saying that, in order for the M$ Dash to work, the Bert and Ernie files have to be deleted. If that is the case, and I delete those files, then how do I enable my softmod after that -- do I have to use a game save? To reiterate my earlier question, won't deleting the Bert and Ernie files disable my softmod? If not, why are they there to begin with?

I have shadowcmaker on my C:\ drive, in the /fonts/nk/apps directory. I know for a fact that my M$ Dash is the not old -- I cannot remember the build/version number because I am at work, but it is the most recent.

What does any of this have to do with the ShadowC drive? If I delete my C:\ drive, won't I be able to put the M$ Dash files on the "real" C:\ drive and then make a new ShadowC drive (that would include copies of the M$ Dash files)?

FYI, I have backups of the original C:\ drive (after softmodding) as well as about weekly backups of C:\ and E:\ since then. I'm very cautious about that stuff.

[Warclock]

------------
FYI, I have backups of the original C:\ drive (after softmodding) as well as about weekly backups of C:\ and E:\ since then. I'm very cautious about that stuff.
------------

no no no, you don't back up after softmod because your ORIGINAL MS D. has changed by the softmod. You MUST backup the xbox C:\ the first time you boot up the hack savegame. Then you can install softmod and whatever after that.

It won't hurt anything if it won't boot up after you delete those files. Just pop in the dvd game and boot up back the hack savegame, then transfer the files back to where you delete.

You don't understand completely of softmod, I recommend to read in www.xbox-scen.com forum, too many things to explain since you don't have any idea of what shadowc stand for. You will find all the answers in the softmod section in that forum.

If you want to do by my way, uninstall your softmod, then I will show you where to download the file (save your own dashboard and config so you can use it after you install my files)

[jkrell]

I *do* understand what I am doing, and Softmodding and ShadowC making, etc. What I don't understand is your incomplete sentences, spelling errors and stilted descriptions. If you cannot write complete thoughts, how do you expect people to understand what you are saying.

I could not back up my C:\ before doing the softmod, because I did not use a game save exploit. I went about things a different way. I do not really see the point of having a backup before making changes, as it is easy enough to replace everything and go back to an unmodded system. I've got zip files with all the "original" Xbox files in them in case I ever wanted to do that (which I won't).

If the only way I can use the M$ Dash is by disabling my softmod, and then I'd have to reload an exploit to get it back, well then that's just too much trouble. I don't really see the point anyway, now that I've got things working the way I want.

Thanks for trying to help, but you are not understanding what I would like to accomplish.

[lain]

I don't even have an xbox (yet) so this probably won't help, but after reading this thread its got me thinking...

To my understanding, the dashboard is a program that runs at boot up if you don't have an xbox game or dvd inserted. (correct?) In order to fake out M$, the original C drive is copied to an image (shadowC) which replaces your real C: drive. Then when M$ tries to update your dashboard, the updated version gets written to the image on E: instead of to your physical C: drive.

Wouldn't it be possible to leave the softmod loaded, and then after you've booted ftp into the shadow drive and run the "original" dashboard from there? Just a thought...

[jkrell]

Wouldn't it be possible to leave the softmod loaded, and then after you've booted ftp into the shadow drive and run the "original" dashboard from there? Just a thought...

That won't work. You cannot execute a program on the Xbox through FTP. Even if you telnetted in, that wouldn't be any different than executing the Xbox dash from EvolutionX (which does not work, at least for me).

I am still trying to FTP into my 'real' C:\ drive to put the M$ Dash files there; I just have not gotten around to setting up a game save exploit. Once I do that, I'll test this out again, but (per my earlier posts) if you have to remove bert and ernie in order to run the M$ Dash, it is not worth it to me.

[wsly]

I don't use shadowc... but out of all the softmods I've done (that's alot) I've never had this problem.... what exploit are you using?

from what I've read it sounds like you tottally deleted the dash msdash files. Do you have a backup?

[Warclock]

"game save exploit" <--- Interesting, you put yourself more work without using Game Save Exploit. Why don't you buy 007 AUF for under $10 and a Xbox memory around $10, then it just takes you 15 mins do to the softmod.

If you put your xbox hd to PC and transfer exploit files, then you haven't learned much about softmod because one mistake, your HD is gone and locked up. The only way out is Modchip if the HD won't boot up.

[jkrell]

I don't use shadowc... but out of all the softmods I've done (that's alot) I've never had this problem.... what exploit are you using?

from what I've read it sounds like you tottally deleted the dash msdash files. Do you have a backup?

"Never had this problem." What problem? What are you referring to? I am not aware of a particular problem I have had, other than that I do not have M$ Dash installed on my system. Is that what you are referring to? To be honest, this whole thing has lost priority for me, because I've got my Xbox running the way I want it to. However, if possible, I'd like to get it running so that I have a "polished" system.

Wsly, can you run the M$ Dash without deleting the Bert and Ernie files that Warclock refers to?

I am thinking that I may disable my ShadowC. Quite frankly, I do not really see a huge benefit from using it. As far as I can tell, the only benefit is knowing that a LIVE update will not destroy your softmod -- if this happens, I will just fix it. This does not seem to be a big deal.

I did not backup my original retail C:\ drive, however I do have all the M$ Dash files in a zip file on my PC. This is what I have used in trying to get the M$ Dash to work on prior attempts. Everybody here acts like I committed some heinous act by not backing up my retail HDD. Who cares? I did not buy the Xbox for its retail capabilities, and would never want to go back to that. In the rare instance I would want to return to that, I can via a restoration. I'm not worried about this at all. And this isn't the point of this thread.

I used XboxHDM via the UXE exploit.

P.S. (to Warclock) -- my HDD is not locked up; in fact I can lock/unlock at will. The HD boots up fine -- I've had this up and running for several months now without any problems.

[Warclock]

" I used XboxHDM via the UXE exploit. "

I believe you do have the same folders and files structure as I do, I have been tested mostly all of softmod version out there.

I thought the way of XboxHDM is you put the xbox HD in PC to do all the file exploit.

Is it the step its support to be?
Backup xbox C:\ to your PC
Delete every on xbox c:\ then transfer exploit to xbox C:\
Put HD back to xbox and boot up
Execute the Shadowcmaker
Put xbox hd back to pc
Transfer the xbox original backup to xbox C:\
Delete Bert and Ernie files
Put HD back to xbox, MS Dash should work after that


ps: What I mean lock up HD is if files corrupt, then you have to restore from the PC again.

[wsly]

Wsly, can you run the M$ Dash without deleting the Bert and Ernie files that Warclock refers to?

I am thinking that I may disable my ShadowC. Quite frankly, I do not really see a huge benefit from using it. As far as I can tell, the only benefit is knowing that a LIVE update will not destroy your softmod -- if this happens, I will just fix it. This does not seem to be a big deal.



deleting the bert and ernie fonts will cause the soft mod to no longer work. so don't do that. what you should probably do is start from scratch.. as the exploit is whats forcing the shadowc, we need to remove the exploit and reinstall the exploit without shadowc. This time use "Softmod Installer deluxe v2". If you just cannot use a save game exploit to do this for whatever reason I can try to talk you thru it by copying the files from the savegame exploit to xb hard drive manager...

[mateom199]

its been a while, but don't you need to patch the ms dashboard to run from another dash? I thought thats what I did....

[jkrell]

deleting the bert and ernie fonts will cause the soft mod to no longer work. so don't do that. what you should probably do is start from scratch.. as the exploit is whats forcing the shadowc, we need to remove the exploit and reinstall the exploit without shadowc. This time use "Softmod Installer deluxe v2". If you just cannot use a save game exploit to do this for whatever reason I can try to talk you thru it by copying the files from the savegame exploit to xb hard drive manager...

I don't think the exploit is *forcing* the shadowc, as I softmodded my Xbox and then after I was in EvolutionX, I ran the shadowc maker and it made it. So couldn't I just go in through a game save exploit, delete the shadowc directory and then proceed?? On the next reboot, NK patcher would not find shadowc and would proceed with the boot, right?

[wsly]

hmm... I don't think so... I think you might end up in either a boot loop (only displays the big green x) or a possible error 21 (missing files). But then again I have not ever used shadowc in any of the mods I've done, so I could be wrong. However my experience with nkpatcher and uxe is that the xbe is actually patched so just deleting the shadowc folder may cause the xbe to just error out to an error code screen.

I'll look more at the files in a shadowc exploit tomorrow and let you know for sure....

[lain]

I know I read a solution to a similar problem on another forum a few days ago. (just can't remember where...)

The softmod works by replacing the real fonts with hack3d ones. If you delete the modified fonts, the softmod won't work. As long as the modified fonts are there, the real dash will attempt to use them and run the mod instead of the original dash.

The solution that was talked about was to rename a copy of the real fonts and put them back on the drive with their new name. Then patch a copy of the original M$ dashboard so that it has the extension of the modified fonts in it. Finally A patch was made to the dashboard replacement so you can execute the original dash from the hack3d one.

It seems to me that the first step would be to get rid of the ShadowC so you can modify the real files.

[jkrell]

Agreed, I have to get rid of shadowc.