peterpop Posted March 11 Report Share Posted March 11 I'm simply curious. As I read and understand it the BIOS and kernel (in an unmodded vanilla MS Xbox) are both stored on the flash chip. To flash it with a custom bios I have to make it writable... How did MS update the kernel then back in the day? The dash I can understand since it's just a file on the harddrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikeymikey Posted March 11 Report Share Posted March 11 25 minutes ago, peterpop said: I'm simply curious. As I read and understand it the BIOS and kernel (in an unmodded vanilla MS Xbox) are both stored on the flash chip. To flash it with a custom bios I have to make it writable... How did MS update the kernel then back in the day? The dash I can understand since it's just a file on the harddrive. I dont think they actually did update the kernel on existing consoles, just the dash. Newer consoles came with updated kernels. I may be wrong on this tho.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrostyMaGee Posted March 12 Report Share Posted March 12 5 hours ago, nikeymikey said: I dont think they actually did update the kernel on existing consoles, just the dash. Newer consoles came with updated kernels. I may be wrong on this tho.... I swear you’re right on the updated kernels on newer og Xbox models but I honestly can’t remember at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikeymikey Posted March 12 Report Share Posted March 12 9 hours ago, FrostyMaGee said: I swear you’re right on the updated kernels on newer og Xbox models but I honestly can’t remember at this point. It would make sense seeing as you have to solder the points to make the TSOP flash writeable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterpop Posted March 12 Author Report Share Posted March 12 I stumbled upon this reply in another thread: It explains a lot for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaosEngineer Posted March 13 Report Share Posted March 13 The BIOS/kernel was never upgraded on the Xbox. The BIOS/kernel installed from the factory is what it kept. Only the dashboard was updated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaosEngineer Posted March 13 Report Share Posted March 13 The BIOS/Kernel is stored in the TSOP flash memory chip or custom Xyclops chip on the motherboard. The kernel is extracted from the data stored in that memory device. When extracted, it is copied into RAM and executed from there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuntpenguin Posted March 14 Report Share Posted March 14 I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX. Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called "Linux", and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project. There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called "Linux" distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuntpenguin Posted March 14 Report Share Posted March 14 In theory you could update the TSOP (flash) in earlier revisions. Later revisions made it more difficult by disconnecting a "write enable" connection. If you could solder that connection or had a steady hand and a screwdriver you could easily bypass it. In the latest revisions they tucked away that same memory in a different chip. IMO there's no definitive evidence that a "hack" couldn't be persisted on the latest revisions of the console by "silicon". You can always modify the firmware on the disc drive or hdd to gain persistence or just use a vuln in some asset loaded by the dashboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikeymikey Posted March 14 Report Share Posted March 14 8 hours ago, stuntpenguin said: I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX. Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called "Linux", and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project. There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called "Linux" distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux. Nobody mentioned Linux in this thread except you.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 On 3/14/2025 at 2:16 AM, stuntpenguin said: What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. okay dude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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