Hardware Core Xbox with swapped DVD Drive

[DownwardSpyral]

So I've recently come into possession of an old Core model Xbox 360. It was donated to be because it 'wouldn't play games'. After a little testing I've come to learn any attempt to launch games returns me straight to the dashboard. DVD movies play fine. Considering someone prior to me tampered with the warranty seal and stripped a few of the torx screws, I'm assuming that someone switched the DVD drive and didn't copy over the drive key.

My question is what are my options to get this thing working? If the drive was swapped, I don't have access to the original drive. Am I able to pull the drive key off the motherboard? A thread over at iExtreme mentions using RGH to get the key, but I don't quite have the tools or the knowledge to make that work.

Any other ideas?

 

[Devin]

Your only option is to RGH the 360 and pull the drive key. Then flash the 360 back to stock and flash the key to the disc drive.

 

[DinohScene]

Old core box.
It's pretty much a Xenon/Zephyr.
RGH isn't going to work on a Xenon if it's not on 14699 and even then you'll have more luck RGHing a Zephyr.
If it's a Zephyr then you'll have to refer to R-JTAG since Zephyrs just won't glitch at all if you're unlucky.
IF!! it's a Falcon then you're in luck.
Both RGH and R-JTAG works.

That are your only options.
Personally, I'd keep it RGH'd/R-JTAGged.
Homebrew, Harddisk loading, DLC, XBLA execution etc.

 

[FAST6191]

Sounds like a swapped drive.

Without the key it is only really going to ever play Games on Demand or XBLA titles, worse is modern hacked firmwares do not like being spoofed so I hope it is the same model (or at least one of broadly the same type).

Do you know what the motherboard model is ( http://www.360drives.com/howto should give you an idea on how to find out) and what kernel version it is on?

If it is a nice motherboard and an earlier enough kernel you might have. You are looking at RGH or something like it though if you want the DVD keys.

 

[tbgtbg]

Old core box.
It's pretty much a Xenon/Zephyr.
RGH isn't going to work on a Xenon if it's not on 14699 and even then you'll have more luck RGHing a Zephyr.
If it's a Zephyr then you'll have to refer to R-JTAG since Zephyrs just won't glitch at all if you're unlucky.
IF!! it's a Falcon then you're in luck.
Both RGH and R-JTAG works.

That are your only options.
Personally, I'd keep it RGH'd/R-JTAGged.
Homebrew, Harddisk loading, DLC, XBLA execution etc.

If he's on an old enough dash couldn't he just do a regular JTAG?

Probably not a falcon, they stopped calling it "core" by the time those came out, didn't they? It would be a an "arcade" wouldn't it?

 

[DinohScene]

If he's on an old enough dash couldn't he just do a regular JTAG?

Probably not a falcon, they stopped calling it "core" by the time those came out, didn't they? It would be a an "arcade" wouldn't it?

It's unlikely you'll come across a 7371 or lower dash.
Ofcourse the chance still exist but it unless the box has been in a closet or under a bed for the past 4 years, I wouldn't count on it.
RRoD machines have a higher chance of being on 7371 ;p


Yes correct.
However Core and Arcade boxes are visually the same.
And there is a possibility you'll find an early Falcon in a Core box.
Hell the first Elites where Zephyrs.

 

[DownwardSpyral]

Dash version is 14719.
It's got a BenQ drive. (at least what was swapped in)

My fault. It's an Arcade model. It looks to be a Falcon based upon the power connector, voltage rating, and MFR date of 7/1/2008. It has no onboard storage.

 

[DinohScene]

Then go for a RGH to rescue the drive keys.

However, I'd give keeping the RGH another thought if you don't care about Live.