Install a new Xbox HDD tutorial

**maltloaf** · 11th July 2002

I put a 40Gb maxtor hdd in my xbox using the info below so i know it works !!

thanks to opcode from xboxhacker for making this, I hope he doesnt mind us nicking it !!

1. Boot evolutionx with your OLD hard drive still in the xbox. FTP to your xbox copy your C:\ and E:\ partitions to somewhere, you'll need them later.

2. From your PC format the new hard disk to fill it with all zeroes (THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT)

**extra from maltloaf ** I only did up to 1100(Hex) on mine and it works fine.. I think its important to blank the area where the master boot record goes to allow the new TOC to be formed.

3. Write the following hex values at the offsets given to your drive, I recommend using winhex to accomplish this. This will create empty C:\ (system) and E:\ (saves) partitions. If you are using winhex paste the hex values as 'ASCII Hex' if it ask you.

Start Address HEX Values
====================================
0x8ca80000 4641545840F0484D2000000001
0xabe80000 4641545850D2154D2000000001

4. Hook the drive up to your xbox and boot off the evolutionx CD/DVD -

**from maltloaf ** you must use the evolution-x bios for this.

5. Format the C, E, and F partitions using evolutionx by sending 2 raw FTP commands to the xbox (I used FlashFXP for this) for each partition to format. The commands are as follows:

a. Formatpath \Device\Harddisk0\PartitionX

Where PartitionX is either 1 (E), 2 (C), or 6 (F)

This will give you a key, something like:
200 FormatKey key for '\Device\Harddisk0\PartitionX'. Where key will be a 4 byte value in hex (8 characters)

b. FormatDrive key

**from maltloaf **this takes no time at all.. it isnt a real format.

Where key is the key returned from command a.

NOTE: To successfully format partition F use must be using the evolutionx bios and have your xbox booted with that bios.

6. FTP the C:\ and E:\ contents you saved in step 1 back to your xbox to their perspective partitions. (note if using FlashFXP you should refresh both the C and E directories when you change to them on the xbox, otherwise FlashFXP seems to cache the old directory/file structure from the old drive).

7. Your done!

thanks again to op-code.. great info

maltloaf

**Proff Klump** · 11th July 2002

Thanks for this m8

**DoctorX** · 11th July 2002

do you have to make all the partitions equal or can you make the games partition really big?

excellent post btw

**f1kid** · 11th July 2002

so you saying iv got to rip me enigma beta chip out or not

i want to fit an 80 gig hd in iv got the program working on 8 gig xbox one with f1 2002 and bruce lee on it

will there all so be a app to do all this for you im not that good with hex editers thxs for any help

**maltloaf** · 11th July 2002

the partitions are pre-set apart from the F drive which is the spare space on your hard disc after the others have been formed

maltloaf

**f1kid** · 12th July 2002

so can i leave my enigma chip in

or as this got to be taken out as you say use the evolution-x bios

on a chip or flash the xbox bios

**Men@cer** · 12th July 2002

sound a bit to much for me maltloaf but i will have a go at it

**maltloaf** · 12th July 2002

Originally posted by f1kid
so can i leave my enigma chip in

or as this got to be taken out as you say use the evolution-x bios

on a chip or flash the xbox bios

you need to use the evolution X bios(perhaps installed as a homebrew) for the HDD swap but you could go back to your enigmah afterwards, for the reliability of booting games.

maltloaf

**f1kid** · 12th July 2002

ok seems a bit to much for me all so not had this chip in long

there is no other way to get this new hd in thxs

**DoctorX** · 12th July 2002

Maltloaf after successfully installing a new hard drive can you still use the original MS Dash?

Say you took out your modchip and used original MS Dash would the X-box still work?

**maltloaf** · 12th July 2002

i believe that the new hdd will only work with the evo-x bios

**DoctorX** · 12th July 2002

I would be curious to try it out

I would think if it was formatted the same way as original it would work except it would hide the f partition

**calvin940** · 13th July 2002

I have done 3 drive upgrades on trhee different xboxes, 120, 80, and 60 by reburning my homebrew mod eeprom with with evox bios (formerly xtender 1.1). All worked (and are working) perfectly.

However, the evox bios needs to stay in. Otherwise, when you try to switch back to another chip (I switched back to extender1.1), the F drive goes back to being 0 bytes (unaccessible).

I have not had a problem booting any games with evox bios. I don't find that there are any stability issues that I have encountered on any of those upgrades.

My xbox is the one with 120gig and the F partition turned out to be 114Gig. I have thrown all kinds of games on that partition that I plan on laying regularly and with the evox dashboard and the autoaddtiem option, it rocks.

I use the xbcopy xbe now to copy games right to the xbox hd. That software rox too.

Cheers
Calvin

**f1kid** · 14th July 2002

this ex bios chip is the wires on the same as the enigmah

same spots

if not where is a digram for this id love to put a 80 gig that iv got here

please post it or tell me where it is

iv got bios need the wire points

sorry i see web site is back got pics from there

what id like to know is how big are each partions on the new hd

**Deceptikon** · 14th July 2002

Calvin, which method do you use when swapping hard drives? The swap or winhex method? Thanks....

**benji** · 14th December 2004

good guide mate

**DoctorX** · 17th July 2002

what kind of hard drives are you guys putting in?

also what are the specs on the X-box hard drive ie RPM and ATA

**calvin940** · 17th July 2002

Make it 4 upgrades, 2 60s, an 80, and a 120. All were maxtors. 2 5400 and 2 7200.

I used the cable swap method. The winhex method was posted before I did the cable swap, but the sable swap worked flawlessly and I have heard people having problems with winhex.

Calvin