What to do before I RGH3 my console?

[Blythe93]

I've recently purchased an XBOX 360 S (Trinity) and it came with the 2.0.17349.0 dashboard. I've formatted the storage and created a few profiles that I will be using(?) and now I have a few questions:
1) Should I update to the latest version? I don't think I'll ever play online or anything, therefore playing backups via Aurora dashboard is probably what I'll do.
2) Is there anything else that I need to do before I RGH3 my console? Any do's or don't's in order to avoid getting my console banned?
3) Do I loose anything important if I hack my console? I believe that with it going online on stock firmware is out of question?

I'm new to the XBOX 360 hacking scene so I'd appreciate any tips, tutorials and alike that you can share with me. I'm somewhat familiar with the guides on the ConsoleMods Wiki and I'll follow the MrMario2011's guide on how to mod my console, but I still wonder if I've missed something or not.

Thank you for your time!

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I've recently purchased an XBOX 360 S (Trinity) and it came with the 2.0.17349.0 dashboard. I've formatted the storage and created a few profiles that I will be using(?) and now I have a few questions:
1) Should I update to the latest version? I don't think I'll ever play online or anything, therefore playing backups via Aurora dashboard is probably what I'll do.
2) Is there anything else that I need to do before I RGH3 my console? Any do's or don't's in order to avoid getting my console banned?
3) Do I loose anything important if I hack my console? I believe that with it going online on stock firmware is out of question?

I'm new to the XBOX 360 hacking scene so I'd appreciate any tips, tutorials and alike that you can share with me. I'm somewhat familiar with the guides on the ConsoleMods Wiki and I'll follow the MrMario2011's guide on how to mod my console, but I still wonder if I've missed something or not.

Thank you for your time!

It's probably a good idea to make sure the system is fully updated, since it's easier to update it while you have Xbox Live access.

Just make sure you enable all the Dashlaunch settings for blocking Xbox Live access (mainly liveblock and livestrong), there are other recommended patches too, this has a list of recommended patches: https://consolemods.org/wiki/Xbox_360:DashLaunch
Keep it disconnected from the network after flashing until that's done.

This guy has good tutorials:

I used his phat tutorial but for the soldering itself I just used the images on Xbox 360 Hub as reference since it's hard to follow along with a video while soldering.

 

[Blythe93]

It's probably a good idea to make sure the system is fully updated, since it's easier to update it while you have Xbox Live access.

Updated to the latest version and, as far as I can tell, it was successful. No issues whatsoever.

Just make sure you enable all the Dashlaunch settings for blocking Xbox Live access (mainly liveblock and livestrong), there are other recommended patches too, this has a list of recommended patches: https://consolemods.org/wiki/Xbox_360:DashLaunch
Keep it disconnected from the network after flashing until that's done.

Gotcha. Should I remove WiFi settings before i do RGH3? I had to connect to my WiFi in order to update the system to the latest version previously.

This guy has good tutorials:

I used his phat tutorial but for the soldering itself I just used the images on Xbox 360 Hub as reference since it's hard to follow along with a video while soldering.

Understood. Yeah, I've run into his guide on setting up RGH3 on Slim model with a Trinity motherboard and it looked simple enough, I guess. I've ordered the stuff I need for RGH3 and, in the meantime, I'll practice the soldering on some of my old boards and pray for the best. I'm new to soldering so this will be a fun project to begin with.

Anything else I should know about?

 

[Slavaka]

Updated to the latest version and, as far as I can tell, it was successful. No issues whatsoever.


Gotcha. Should I remove WiFi settings before i do RGH3? I had to connect to my WiFi in order to update the system to the latest version previously.


Understood. Yeah, I've run into his guide on setting up RGH3 on Slim model with a Trinity motherboard and it looked simple enough, I guess. I've ordered the stuff I need for RGH3 and, in the meantime, I'll practice the soldering on some of my old boards and pray for the best. I'm new to soldering so this will be a fun project to begin with.

Anything else I should know about?

You dont need to remove wifi settings. The video posted above is exactly the one I would use. A few things I will tell you, flux is a necessity so make sure to get good flux, 30awg kynar wire, and spend the couple dollars on a x clamp removal tool. Any soldering iron will work. I did my first rgh3 with a $5 walmart iron before I upgraded. One other thing that helped me was buying a cheap usb microscope for the point that you have to scrape away on(this point is a bit of a nightmare when soldering). I started off with a magnifying glass with a ring light on it, which works well, but it is noticibly easier with the microscope. If this is a one time thing for you, buy what you need individually. If you want to do this a few times, buy the wire/flux/thermal paste in bulk. If you have any want to use og xbox games you will need to have an internal hdd. If not, an external will work just fine. If you use an internal you will want FatXplorer software. It has a free trial that will suit your needs, and its worth the money to buy IMO. I have recently started using a pico flasher also. Im sure theres a whole other debate on using that as some have said it fails, but its literally like $3 on amazon and I bought a couple of them and it has worked great. Weekend modder also sells a wiring kit for it for like another $5. The very last thing I will say is that while you are in there, clean the crap out of it while its tore down. As far as the online stuff, I have never used mine online, so I cant help at all in that area. The only thing ive done online with my console is getting covers. Hope this helps, and good luck. Its a good learning experience.

 

[Blythe93]

You dont need to remove wifi settings. The video posted above is exactly the one I would use. A few things I will tell you, flux is a necessity so make sure to get good flux, 30awg kynar wire, and spend the couple dollars on a x clamp removal tool. Any soldering iron will work. I did my first rgh3 with a $5 walmart iron before I upgraded. One other thing that helped me was buying a cheap usb microscope for the point that you have to scrape away on(this point is a bit of a nightmare when soldering). I started off with a magnifying glass with a ring light on it, which works well, but it is noticibly easier with the microscope. If this is a one time thing for you, buy what you need individually. If you want to do this a few times, buy the wire/flux/thermal paste in bulk. If you have any want to use og xbox games you will need to have an internal hdd. If not, an external will work just fine. If you use an internal you will want FatXplorer software. It has a free trial that will suit your needs, and its worth the money to buy IMO. I have recently started using a pico flasher also. Im sure theres a whole other debate on using that as some have said it fails, but its literally like $3 on amazon and I bought a couple of them and it has worked great. Weekend modder also sells a wiring kit for it for like another $5. The very last thing I will say is that while you are in there, clean the crap out of it while its tore down. As far as the online stuff, I have never used mine online, so I cant help at all in that area. The only thing ive done online with my console is getting covers. Hope this helps, and good luck. Its a good learning experience.

Thanks for the advice! I've already ordered the very same flux used it that video, as well as 30AWG single core wire, X Clamp removal tool. As for the soldering iron, I have a cheap one that I've used for my other mini project and it still works. Its smaller tip should be small enough, but will see when the time comes. ^^

I'll see about microscope, it should come in handy with the point that needs scraping.

As for HDDs, I've ordered a 3rd party case for it and I plan to use 1TB SSD in it. I've seen that it's possible to use any 2.5in HDD, including SSDs, once you RGH your console, but I didn't know that you need a software for that. I've recently saw that one on news here so I'll definitely check it out. ^^

I already have a Raspberry Pi Pico on hand so I'll use that instead of the other NAND programmer and see how it fares.

And yep, I'll definitely clean it up once I disassemble it. ^^ Good thing about the console I've recently acquired is that it has barely any scratches on the surface, just a couple of tiny ones. The only issue I've noticed is that the fan unfortunately absorbed a decent amount of dust and that it gets somewhat hot after a couple of minutes, even after creating a new profile and such. Probably just needs to be cleaned is all.

I've also ordered a supposedly broken XBOX 360 Slim (Trinity) as well for $8 or so in order to practice before I get to the real deal.

Thanks for the good luck, will report back once everything arrives and I'm ready to mod it.

EDIT: The supposedly broken XBOX 360 Slim is 100% working and it came with a free copy of CoD MW3. ^^ Hopefully, I won't be the end of it.

 

[Slavaka]

Thanks for the advice! I've already ordered the very same flux used it that video, as well as 30AWG single core wire, X Clamp removal tool. As for the soldering iron, I have a cheap one that I've used for my other mini project and it still works. Its smaller tip should be small enough, but will see when the time comes. ^^

I'll see about microscope, it should come in handy with the point that needs scraping.

As for HDDs, I've ordered a 3rd party case for it and I plan to use 1TB SSD in it. I've seen that it's possible to use any 2.5in HDD, including SSDs, once you RGH your console, but I didn't know that you need a software for that. I've recently saw that one on news here so I'll definitely check it out. ^^

I already have a Raspberry Pi Pico on hand so I'll use that instead of the other NAND programmer and see how it fares.

And yep, I'll definitely clean it up once I disassemble it. ^^ Good thing about the console I've recently acquired is that it has barely any scratches on the surface, just a couple of tiny ones. The only issue I've noticed is that the fan unfortunately absorbed a decent amount of dust and that it gets somewhat hot after a couple of minutes, even after creating a new profile and such. Probably just needs to be cleaned is all.

I've also ordered a supposedly broken XBOX 360 Slim (Trinity) as well for $8 or so in order to practice before I get to the real deal.

Thanks for the good luck, will report back once everything arrives and I'm ready to mod it.

EDIT: The supposedly broken XBOX 360 Slim is 100% working and it came with a free copy of CoD MW3. ^^ Hopefully, I won't be the end of it.

Sounds like you got it all covered. Awesome on getting a working one for $8. If you want to find something else to practice on hit up a thrift store and grab any old junky electronic device.

 

[BigOnYa]

I suggest cleaning and using some good new thermal compound (ex: arctic silver) on the cpu/gpu also. Also having a external HD to transfer games from pc to 360 is handy. Good luck and have fun!

 

[TheStonedModder]

Thanks for the advice! I've already ordered the very same flux used it that video, as well as 30AWG single core wire, X Clamp removal tool. As for the soldering iron, I have a cheap one that I've used for my other mini project and it still works. Its smaller tip should be small enough, but will see when the time comes. ^^

I'll see about microscope, it should come in handy with the point that needs scraping.

As for HDDs, I've ordered a 3rd party case for it and I plan to use 1TB SSD in it. I've seen that it's possible to use any 2.5in HDD, including SSDs, once you RGH your console, but I didn't know that you need a software for that. I've recently saw that one on news here so I'll definitely check it out. ^^

I already have a Raspberry Pi Pico on hand so I'll use that instead of the other NAND programmer and see how it fares.

And yep, I'll definitely clean it up once I disassemble it. ^^ Good thing about the console I've recently acquired is that it has barely any scratches on the surface, just a couple of tiny ones. The only issue I've noticed is that the fan unfortunately absorbed a decent amount of dust and that it gets somewhat hot after a couple of minutes, even after creating a new profile and such. Probably just needs to be cleaned is all.

I've also ordered a supposedly broken XBOX 360 Slim (Trinity) as well for $8 or so in order to practice before I get to the real deal.

Thanks for the good luck, will report back once everything arrives and I'm ready to mod it.

EDIT: The supposedly broken XBOX 360 Slim is 100% working and it came with a free copy of CoD MW3. ^^ Hopefully, I won't be the end of it.

Tbh you don’t really need a microscope for the 360

The points are small but they are doable. In case you want to save some money

 

[Blythe93]

Tbh you don’t really need a microscope for the 360

The points are small but they are doable. In case you want to save some money

Gotcha. I've already ordered a cheap microscope ($10 or so, shipping included) so I'll report back when everything arrives and I disassemble my spare XBOX 360. ^^

 

[TheStonedModder]

Gotcha. I've already ordered a cheap microscope ($10 or so, shipping included) so I'll report back when everything arrives and I disassemble my spare XBOX 360. ^^

Good luck! Be careful with the ribbon cable on the back of the slim faceplate

Maybe it’s because I got meatball fingers but it’s hella fragile. One bad scratch and you will render the power button or dvd drive button useless