Hard drive failed, rebuilding pre-modded console w/Xecuter 3 and SSD

[torgo]

Hey all. So, I have an already modded XBOX with an Xecuter 3 installed, and it used to work perfectly, but, I recently plugged it back in to play some Steel Battalion to find that the Hard Drive had failed.

I then decided to throw a SATA SSD drive in, not for any speed gains, but to minimize the chance of further failures. I got it formatted and installed, but that's as far as I've gotten, and games on disc are already working.

Obviously, I haven't worked with this thing in probably 10 years, so I just don't remember any software/steps I need to install/setup. I burned Heimdal's disc, and it's working fine, but:

1. I need a new firmware for Xecuter 3, but their site is gone. I assume if I can get the correct file, I can just navigate to the modchip's IP and use the built-in flash utility?
2. Dashboards etc: I used to use XBMC, but that scene has gotten much wider of the years, and I see a few choices on the disc, but I'm having a hard time figuring any of them out. Any suggestions?
3. FTP'ing Game images to the drive? I can't seem to get connected with an FTP client, or to get access to that hard drive? This wasn't really a realistic option back then, so I got to know ripping discs to the drive back then lol.
Thanks in advance for any help that you can offer. Information has really gotten diluted nowadays, especially because of Softmods. It's good to see that the ModChip is still working, and that the SSD is actually working!

[nikeymikey]

The X3 bios hasn’t changed in years, it’s likely you are using the most recent. If you really want a new up to date modern bios then you should use Cerbios. 
 

Latest release thread here..

https://www.xbox-scene.info/forums/topic/445-cerbios-download-thread/

For a modern dash I would recommend XBMC4Gamers. See a quick peek at my personal setup below

There is a dedicated forum for that dash right here 

https://www.ogxbox.com/forums/index.php?/forum/40-xbmc4gamers/
 

The best way of transferring games across to the hdd in 2024 is to use a pc and FatXplorer. This will allow you mount your Xbox hdd in windows and drop and drag files to it. It’s MILES quicker than FTP. 
 

However if you cannot use a pc as above and after updating your bios and/or dash you still cannot get ftp working then come back here and post again and we can get you all up and running  

Also I see you are still using the old Hexen disc. For a much more up to date installer disc go here…

 

 

[torgo]

Oooo, thanks! What drive to I copy everything to, F:?
Like I said, it's been a LOOOOONG time lol

[nikeymikey]

1 hour ago, torgo said:

Oooo, thanks! What drive to I copy everything to, F:?
Like I said, it's been a LOOOOONG time lol

If you grab that installer disc iso I linked to and burn it to a disc you can use it to install XBMC4Gamers and any other apps you need and it should automatically add them to the correct places for you. 

[torgo]

It's currently downloading

[nikeymikey]

22 minutes ago, torgo said:

It's currently downloading

When installing XBMC4Gamers it should ask if you want to make it your “default” dashboard, if you say yes it should set it up to run when you power on the console.

[torgo]

OK, installed from the Cerbios disk, but when I reboot, it's not launching the Dashboard, it's booting to the modchip menu  

[nikeymikey]

10 minutes ago, torgo said:

OK, installed from the Cerbios disk, but when I reboot, it's not launching the Dashboard, it's booting to the modchip menu  

Ok so X3 Config Live will allow you to tell it where the dash is installed.

Below is a link to the instruction manual for the X3. Click on the X3 Config live option I the screenshot you posted above, then click customise X3 bios and then follow along on the below link. You want the sections starting with Dashboard Boot Priority. 

https://x3.bustedchain.com/x3configlive.html

You will need to know where on the HDD the disc installed the dash, use the file manager to find it and make a note of the folder path and which partition it is in. I would expect C or E. These are the details you will be completing in the X3 options.