Trying to troubleshoot BadBuilder and BadUpdateUSBFormatTool on Linux [Ubuntu-based KDE Neon]

[SoggyCereal]

Hey all, I just recently bought a "brand-new" Xbox 360 off Craigslist and was looking to get it modded with the new ABadAvatar exploit, but have been running into a ton of red tape getting the exploit to work.

Instead of finding all of the required files in the wild and risking my Xbox being bricked through wrong file placements, I was looking into the programs mentioned in the title, BadBuilder and BadUpdateUSBFormatTool, which automate everything, even file paths, to streamline the exploit and save me more than a few headaches.

However looking at both of these programs, it looks like they only are built for Windows [.exe format], meaning they won't natively run on Linux without special software. Not an issue I thought, I can just get that special software and it should work fine.

But after I installed Wine and WineZGUI through Flatpaks to try and run both .exe files, I ran into a brick wall. BadBuilder won't even launch at all, and BadUpdateUSBFormatTool launches but won't read the USB I have plugged in.

I tried running the .exe files on a computer at my local library since they're all on Windows, but of course I need admin priveleges to run any .exe files on there. I'm a little afraid to ask them for help bc it might get me banned from my library lmao. Plus let's be honest 1/2 of the staff there probably don't even know what a .exe file or Linux even is (no shade).

I'm not a master of Linux or modding really, only done a modded Wii and Nintendo DS but you can do those with your eyes closed at this point. Last resort I could just ask someone I know to borrow their Windows computer, but pretty doubtful anyone I know would be game for that. So yeah, anyone else that tried to do this on Linux lmk of any tips you got, thank you!

 

[EvilJagaGenius]

@alexfree 's Hack Pack has got you covered, just extract to the USB drive and you're almost good to go. https://alex-free.github.io/360-hack-pack/
I recommend using XeUnshackle instead of FreeMyXe.
To use ABadAvatar instead of Rock Band Blitz, download the ABadAvatar-publicbeta1.0.zip file from here: https://github.com/shutterbug2000/ABadAvatar/releases/tag/vPB1.0
Copy the BadUpdatePayload and Content folders to the USB drive, replacing any files.

This video walks you through the process as well.

 

[SoggyCereal]

You're a lifesaver, thank you so much. Just extracted the files and set everything up, fingers crossed!

Post automatically merged: Mar 3, 2026

So I got the exploit to work, but after I ran the exploit I can't seem to get the eject button to work. It just won't eject the disk in there, even when I turn on the 360 without the USB plugged-in it won't work anymore. It makes a subtle noise before not doing anything. I'm thinking it's the hardware on the xbox since I got the oldest one. I have a copy of Halo 2 in there that isn't mine, so ideally I want to get that back lol.

[UPDATE]
I forced open the disk tray with the paperclip method, it was probably stuck or something

 

[EvilJagaGenius]

So I got the exploit to work, but after I ran the exploit I can't seem to get the eject button to work. It just won't eject the disk in there, even when I turn on the 360 without the USB plugged-in it won't work anymore. It makes a subtle noise before not doing anything. I'm thinking it's the hardware on the xbox since I got the oldest one. I have a copy of Halo 2 in there that isn't mine, so ideally I want to get that back lol.

[UPDATE]
I forced open the disk tray with the paperclip method, it was probably stuck or something

My 360 had a stuck drive too, I had to open it and the disc drive up and replace the little rubber belt inside. It's a little intimidating but there's tutorials online that can help you. I just took the rubber belt to the hardware store, bought a couple different O-rings that looked similar, then tried them on until the drive worked like normal again.