QJ.net Game Discussion - PSP, Xbox, Wii, PS3, PSP Homebrew, and PSP Guides

**Mike** · 03-18-2006, 10:39 PM

Article from: http://xbox360.qj.net/Xbox-360-Hacke...g/49/aid/11334

Nytrix from our forums has made an earth shattering break through in the Xbox 360 hacking scene today. As you know we, earlier, reported on the issue of backup games being playable on the Xbox 360. The author of the video was unwilling to give out the technique that he used to accomplish this feat. However, Nytrix has gone above and beyond and determined the methods used. Apparently this is only applicable (at this time) on the Hitachi drives that come with the Xbox 360, however we expect to see breakthroughs in all drives very soon. Here is a quote from our forums from Nytrix.

I have figured out how it was done in the video. (the video of the guy playing the PGR3 backup) here's the instructions, I am currently playing Full Auto (Backed up).

It's a modified firmware of the Xbox 360 DVD-ROM drive. As you (should) know, all Xbox 360 executables (XEX files) are signed by Microsoft (with a private key only MS has). This means that if you try to change anything to the XEX file, the signature will be wrong and the file will not boot.

Now ... to protect from booting an exact 1:1 copy of a game from a DVD-+R, microsoft gave each XEX file a 'mediaflag'. This mediaflag tells the Xbox 360 from which media (cd-r, dvd-r, dvd+r, dvd-rw, hdd, dvdxbox, dvdxbox360, ...). Changing this mediaflag in XEX is not an option as it'll break the signature (see above), so ... what's done in this firmware hack is breaking the detection of the disc.

As you can see, he has found the flaw in Microsoft's self professed "bullet proof security" by simply modifying the firmware of the DVD drive to allow backup copies of official games to boot. Now as simple as this may sound, it does require some advanced soldering skills, and will probalby not be within the means of the average person. However, with this astonishing breakthrough, we do fully expect to see Xbox 360 DVD ROM's for sale on ebay with the hacked firmware soon.

Check out our previous coverage of this topic with a video of it in action [here].

[While we do not support piracy here at QJ.NET, we will always cover the news. Reporting on something is not the same as encouraging it - just like reporting a murder on the 10 o'clock news does not encourage you to kill people. A member of our forums has confirmed what was shown in the previous;y released video and shared the resources he used to do duplicate it - without giving an indepth "how-to" that might be construed as encouraging the piracy of Xbox games. It is our belief that this breakthrough is the first step in getting unsigned code and homebrew programs to be executed on the Xbox 360 and is a valuable piece of information that could positively benefit the Xbox 360 Community.]

**Ten_In_2010** · 03-18-2006, 10:43 PM

Wow, someone from here actually did this? Awesome!

**Crimson_Tears** · 03-18-2006, 10:48 PM

Yeah that is awsome what hackers can do lol!

**aasp** · 03-19-2006, 02:49 AM

awesome

**Klarth** · 03-19-2006, 05:52 AM

Ahhh, Microsoft... For Bill Gates, security is synonymous with Swiss cheese.

**Ztype** · 03-19-2006, 06:03 AM

Time to get an Xbox360

**FrozenIpaq** · 03-19-2006, 06:07 AM

Slight correction we need... http://www.teamxecuter.com/

Nytrix did not find this out, it would've been too good to be true for a person like him to do so. Xecuter has posted the news as it was originally written in the correct context.

Pure speculation on my part, this is just what I have seen so far

**Ten_In_2010** · 03-19-2006, 06:30 AM

Oh, too bad. Anyway, yeah, piracy!

chapuchi · 03-19-2006, 07:19 AM

aw, for some odd reason im quite bummed about this, i dunno why. it just felt good owning a 360 and buying legit games for a change.

**Nytrix** · 03-19-2006, 07:31 AM

TO EVERYONE:

Sorry For this confusion. I did NOT come up with this hack. I recreated the hack using the instruction i provided. and what I did on my own was install the modified firmware on my hitachi drive. So YES it does work, I've tested it. And NO i did not make this hack. I'm just confirming it. Once again sorry for the confustion.

**MasterMagneto** · 03-19-2006, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chapuchi

aw, for some odd reason im quite bummed about this, i dunno why. it just felt good owning a 360 and buying legit games for a change.

I'll still be buying games. Modifying a $400 device just isn't my thing. And i find that I appreciate games alot less when i pirate them instead of going into the store and buying that fresh new case.

**Nytrix** · 03-19-2006, 07:48 AM

I just did it because i like a challenge.

chapuchi · 03-19-2006, 07:53 AM

yeah, your right it does make you appreciate the games you have a lot less by not playing them to their full extent. Also i was wondering, since many people are complaining abut 360's and their problems...why would they void their warranty just to play backups?

**Snicks** · 03-19-2006, 08:02 AM

Can we still have the interface/play on LIVE? basically what im asking is will it still seem normal?

XSAVAGE · 03-19-2006, 09:04 AM

release it , people still have to find out the key to make it work on theirs , each DVD drive haves its own key just like the XBox1 HDD.

**soccerPMN** · 03-19-2006, 09:07 AM

So does some special patch need to be applied to the image?
"From what we can tell so far is that the game image will have to be patched
too - We can smell a new feature for Qwix 2 Wink"
??? I don't even own a 360, I'm just wondering.

**vecha** · 03-19-2006, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shnizzle66

Can we still have the interface/play on LIVE? basically what im asking is will it still seem normal?

I highly, HIGHLY, doubt it...but you never know.

I suspect in a few months a fully modded 360 will be possible...

**soccerPMN** · 03-19-2006, 10:14 AM

I think it will play on Live still, because the entire system besides the drive thinks that it is definitely using a stamped disc. But its not!!! Unless Xbox Live can check the firmware of the drive, I'd say it will work.

**momagic** · 03-19-2006, 10:19 AM

soon the psp will be hacked.

**torrobinson** · 03-19-2006, 11:41 AM

I don't get it... is this out? Does it need some stupid hardware mod, or can it be done right now, by anybody???

FatBoyJ · 03-19-2006, 12:13 PM

Anyone with a soldering iron, a masters in computing, and the ability to run the 100m in 10sec flat can apply this hack

**Synyster gates** · 03-19-2006, 12:20 PM

my gamefly membership just gained a purpose.

**Xtreme_Phil** · 03-19-2006, 12:41 PM

Great news for Sony..

mvickers03 · 03-19-2006, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momagic

soon the psp will be hacked.

Do u live under a stone??

mvickers03 · 03-19-2006, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shnizzle66

Can we still have the interface/play on LIVE? basically what im asking is will it still seem normal?

I think if you get it going it will work for on live for a short period of time until microsoft update the xbox software to detect modded firmwares then we will be banned

**vecha** · 03-19-2006, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xtreme_Phil

Great news for Sony..

I don't think this is great news for sony...

This hack could very well increase console sells for the 360...may reduce game sells...but they need a console to paly ripped games...

**Art** · 03-19-2006, 06:19 PM

The particular DVD ROM drives in question might become saught after soon.

So it doesn't look like a means to run arbitrary code, just a means of running backups.
No wonder it was kept hush hush..
Art.

**MasterMagneto** · 03-20-2006, 09:40 AM

The hacking wont affect sales. Only a very small group of people took part in modding their xboxes.

**C.in-fvr3** · 03-23-2006, 07:57 AM

Is team xecuter gonna release software any time soon or is it gonna take a while?

**Shatterdome** · 03-24-2006, 01:43 PM

Probably the easiest they can make this (and I think they mentioned it in their release) is to be able to hook your 360's dvd-rom to your pc, then run an update on your pc that will flash the firmware, just like when you flash the firmware of any pc dvd-rom, I had to flash mine so that it would write full speed to certain brands of media...but that is probably a ways off, but i'm patient :P

03-18-2006, 10:39 PM	#1
Mike Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 272 Trader Feedback: 0	Xbox 360 Hacked! - Backup Discs Now Playable! Article from: http://xbox360.qj.net/Xbox-360-Hacke...g/49/aid/11334 Nytrix from our forums has made an earth shattering break through in the Xbox 360 hacking scene today. As you know we, earlier, reported on the issue of backup games being playable on the Xbox 360. The author of the video was unwilling to give out the technique that he used to accomplish this feat. However, Nytrix has gone above and beyond and determined the methods used. Apparently this is only applicable (at this time) on the Hitachi drives that come with the Xbox 360, however we expect to see breakthroughs in all drives very soon. Here is a quote from our forums from Nytrix. I have figured out how it was done in the video. (the video of the guy playing the PGR3 backup) here's the instructions, I am currently playing Full Auto (Backed up). It's a modified firmware of the Xbox 360 DVD-ROM drive. As you (should) know, all Xbox 360 executables (XEX files) are signed by Microsoft (with a private key only MS has). This means that if you try to change anything to the XEX file, the signature will be wrong and the file will not boot. Now ... to protect from booting an exact 1:1 copy of a game from a DVD-+R, microsoft gave each XEX file a 'mediaflag'. This mediaflag tells the Xbox 360 from which media (cd-r, dvd-r, dvd+r, dvd-rw, hdd, dvdxbox, dvdxbox360, ...). Changing this mediaflag in XEX is not an option as it'll break the signature (see above), so ... what's done in this firmware hack is breaking the detection of the disc. As you can see, he has found the flaw in Microsoft's self professed "bullet proof security" by simply modifying the firmware of the DVD drive to allow backup copies of official games to boot. Now as simple as this may sound, it does require some advanced soldering skills, and will probalby not be within the means of the average person. However, with this astonishing breakthrough, we do fully expect to see Xbox 360 DVD ROM's for sale on ebay with the hacked firmware soon. Check out our previous coverage of this topic with a video of it in action [here]. [While we do not support piracy here at QJ.NET, we will always cover the news. Reporting on something is not the same as encouraging it - just like reporting a murder on the 10 o'clock news does not encourage you to kill people. A member of our forums has confirmed what was shown in the previous;y released video and shared the resources he used to do duplicate it - without giving an indepth "how-to" that might be construed as encouraging the piracy of Xbox games. It is our belief that this breakthrough is the first step in getting unsigned code and homebrew programs to be executed on the Xbox 360 and is a valuable piece of information that could positively benefit the Xbox 360 Community.] __________________ [font=Arial][size=2][color=DarkOrange]"A stand can be made against invasion by an army; no stand can be made against invasion by an idea." --Victor Hugo [/color][/size][/font] Last edited by Jake; 03-19-2006 at 12:23 AM..

03-18-2006, 10:43 PM	#2
Ten_In_2010 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 3,375 Trader Feedback: 0	Wow, someone from here actually did this? Awesome! __________________ [CENTER][img]http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/2488/sigdx8.png[/img][/CENTER]

03-18-2006, 10:48 PM	#3
Crimson_Tears I hate video games. Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas U.S.A. _=*=_Am Posts: 1,088 Trader Feedback: 0	Yeah that is awsome what hackers can do lol! __________________ [CENTER][FONT="Arial Narrow"][IMG]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/CrimsonTearsXE/VG%20Pics/mkdstag.png[/IMG] [COLOR=DarkRed][B][U]RESIDENT EVIL OUTBREAK: File 1&2 User name:[/FONT][/U][/B] CrimsonTears [FONT="Arial Narrow"][B][U]METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SUBSISTANCE Online User name:[/FONT][/U][/B] Crimson Tears [SPOILER="Click show to view my PC I built!"] [COLOR="DarkRed"]Pentium IV 2.4GHz Processor with hyper threading technology, Chaintech motherboard, 280GB Total Hard Drive space, 128bit Nvidia MX4000 Graphics Card, 2 Cd & 1 DVD burner drives, 1024DDR Ram, Operating System is Windows XP Professional, and using AT&T Yahoo DSL.[/COLOR][/COLOR][/SPOILER][/CENTER]

03-19-2006, 05:52 AM	#5
Klarth Join Date: Nov 2005 Real First Name: Dongweasel Location: Somerset Posts: 485 Trader Feedback: 0	Ahhh, Microsoft... For Bill Gates, security is synonymous with Swiss cheese. __________________ Nobody cares what PSP firmware you use.

03-19-2006, 06:03 AM	#6
Ztype Retired Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,455 Trader Feedback: 0	Time to get an Xbox360 __________________ [CENTER][B][URL=http://forums.qj.net/showthread.php?t=19945]Review FAQ[/URL][/B] [IMG]http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/193/gfv31uv.gif[/IMG][/CENTER]

03-19-2006, 02:49 AM	#4
aasp Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 63 Trader Feedback: 0	awesome

03-19-2006, 06:07 AM	#7
FrozenIpaq QJ Gamer Gold Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,986 Trader Feedback: 0	Slight correction we need... http://www.teamxecuter.com/ Nytrix did not find this out, it would've been too good to be true for a person like him to do so. Xecuter has posted the news as it was originally written in the correct context. Pure speculation on my part, this is just what I have seen so far __________________ Do you know who I am? Last edited by FrozenIpaq; 03-19-2006 at 06:13 AM..

03-19-2006, 06:30 AM	#8
Ten_In_2010 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 3,375 Trader Feedback: 0	Oh, too bad. Anyway, yeah, piracy!

03-19-2006, 07:19 AM	#9
chapuchi Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 24 Trader Feedback: 0	aw, for some odd reason im quite bummed about this, i dunno why. it just felt good owning a 360 and buying legit games for a change.

03-19-2006, 07:31 AM	#10
Nytrix PSP Developer Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 371 Trader Feedback: 0	TO EVERYONE: Sorry For this confusion. I did NOT come up with this hack. I recreated the hack using the instruction i provided. and what I did on my own was install the modified firmware on my hitachi drive. So YES it does work, I've tested it. And NO i did not make this hack. I'm just confirming it. Once again sorry for the confustion. __________________ NytriX PSP Developer

03-19-2006, 07:48 AM	#12
Nytrix PSP Developer Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 371 Trader Feedback: 0	I just did it because i like a challenge.

03-19-2006, 07:53 AM	#13
chapuchi Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 24 Trader Feedback: 0	yeah, your right it does make you appreciate the games you have a lot less by not playing them to their full extent. Also i was wondering, since many people are complaining abut 360's and their problems...why would they void their warranty just to play backups?

03-19-2006, 08:02 AM	#14
Snicks Eats Pink Muffins shnizzle66 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New Orleans (hell in a bowl) Posts: 760 Trader Feedback: 0	Can we still have the interface/play on LIVE? basically what im asking is will it still seem normal? __________________ [CENTER][IMG]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/shnizzle66/psgfan.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] [CENTER][FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Red"][URL="www.soccerpulse.com"]www.soccerpulse.com[/URL][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER]

03-19-2006, 09:04 AM	#15
XSAVAGE Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 4 Trader Feedback: 0	release it , people still have to find out the key to make it work on theirs , each DVD drive haves its own key just like the XBox1 HDD.

03-19-2006, 09:07 AM	#16
soccerPMN Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 4,288 Trader Feedback: 0	So does some special patch need to be applied to the image? "From what we can tell so far is that the game image will have to be patched too - We can smell a new feature for Qwix 2 Wink" ??? I don't even own a 360, I'm just wondering.

03-19-2006, 12:41 PM	#23
Xtreme_Phil Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 613 Trader Feedback: 0	Great news for Sony.. __________________ PSP v2.60 Sandisk's 1 gb memory stick PRO DUO Sony's 32 mb memory stick DUO Twisted Metal: Head-On Grand theft Auto: Liberty City Stories Socom U.S. Navy Seals Fireteam Bravo Syphon Filter Dark Mirror [SIZE=2][URL=http://forums.qj.net/showthread.php?t=4394]Piracy Policy[/URL] [/SIZE] [URL=http://www.fanjita.org/content/gta_working.html]GTA EBOOT loader compatibility status[/URL] JOIN KATL TODAY! (Multi-Platform) [url]www.katl.net[/url] If you own Socom U.S. Navy Seals and you want to be a member of KATL, contact me: Xtreme_Phil

03-19-2006, 10:14 AM	#18
soccerPMN Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 4,288 Trader Feedback: 0	I think it will play on Live still, because the entire system besides the drive thinks that it is definitely using a stamped disc. But its not!!! Unless Xbox Live can check the firmware of the drive, I'd say it will work.

03-19-2006, 10:19 AM	#19
momagic SILENT JIHADIST Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: East Londres Posts: 398 Trader Feedback: 0	soon the psp will be hacked.

03-19-2006, 11:41 AM	#20
torrobinson Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 2,938 Trader Feedback: 0	I don't get it... is this out? Does it need some stupid hardware mod, or can it be done right now, by anybody??? __________________ [CENTER][img]http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/5953/torro5mb.gif[/img][/CENTER] [CENTER][img]http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9213/xbox360owner1nb.jpg[/img][/CENTER] [CENTER][img]http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/6253/luminesaddict3bb.jpg[/img][/CENTER] [center][img]http://f10.putfile.com/7/18321220157.jpg[/img][/CENTER] [CENTER][URL=http://forums.qj.net/showthread.php?t=19128][COLOR=Magenta]¸,ø¤º°`¦°º¤ø,¸ Become premium! Support QJ.net! ¸,ø¤º°`¦°º¤ø,¸[/COLOR][/URL][/CENTER]

03-19-2006, 12:13 PM	#21
FatBoyJ Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4 Trader Feedback: 0	Anyone with a soldering iron, a masters in computing, and the ability to run the 100m in 10sec flat can apply this hack

03-19-2006, 12:20 PM	#22
Synyster gates Wake up the sleepers. Join Date: Jun 2005 Real First Name: Esteban Location: Dayton, Ohio. Just Played: Need For Speed: Shift Posts: 433 Trader Feedback: 0	my gamefly membership just gained a purpose.

03-19-2006, 06:19 PM	#27
Art Bush Programmer Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 3,590 Trader Feedback: 0	The particular DVD ROM drives in question might become saught after soon. So it doesn't look like a means to run arbitrary code, just a means of running backups. No wonder it was kept hush hush.. Art. Last edited by Art; 03-19-2006 at 06:21 PM..

03-20-2006, 09:40 AM	#28
MasterMagneto Enter Custom Title Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The HTP Posts: 4,511 Trader Feedback: 0	The hacking wont affect sales. Only a very small group of people took part in modding their xboxes.

03-23-2006, 07:57 AM	#29
C.in-fvr3 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 129 Trader Feedback: 0	Is team xecuter gonna release software any time soon or is it gonna take a while?

03-24-2006, 01:43 PM	#30
Shatterdome QJ Gamer Silver Shatterdome Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,491 Trader Feedback: 0	Probably the easiest they can make this (and I think they mentioned it in their release) is to be able to hook your 360's dvd-rom to your pc, then run an update on your pc that will flash the firmware, just like when you flash the firmware of any pc dvd-rom, I had to flash mine so that it would write full speed to certain brands of media...but that is probably a ways off, but i'm patient :P __________________ PSN: Shatterdome

QJ.net Game Discussion - PSP, Xbox, Wii, PS3, PSP Homebrew, and PSP Guides

Xbox 360 Hacked! - Backup Discs Now Playable!