Version 1.6 Warning

From Xbox-Linux

Xbox version 1.6 (the most recent version of the Xbox) will not work with the MechInstaller hack, and can not be TSOP flashed because there is no flashable chip on the box. A hack ("UXE", which supercedes the old "UDE") has been developed and released at xbox-scene (http://www.xbox-scene.com) that works with the Version 1.6 Xbox, and indeed all Xbox versions, but the installation is harder and riskier than MechInstaller, and its legality is questionable. One solution would be to use a mod chip with the Cromwell linux bios (available from the download section of this site) to install and load Linux.

Also, version 1.6 contains the newest Xbox kernel and dashboard, the latter of which is already patched to disallow the MechInstaller exploit. Note that this is not a problem specific to the 1.6 version, as version 1.4 and earlier can also receive Internet updates from Microsoft that patch the dashboard and close this loophole. However, it is important to note that while some Xbox versions will allow you to downgrade your dashboard to 4920 the kernel on the 1.6 (5838) will not.

Finally, the video chip on Xbox version 1.6 does not have typical overscan support in the Xbox Linux driver. Earlier versions of the Xbox also had revised video chips, and this problem was overcome in time. However, those video chips were generic chips, and had documentation available from the manufacturer. The one in the 1.6 Xbox is a MS-branded part, and while it is thought to be related to chips made by SIS, no documentation is available, which hampers progress significantly. Currently the only video support on a version 1.6 Xbox is for Composite and Svideo output, both PAL and NTSC, 640x480 resolution, with overscan, and 480p HDTV output (this is available only in CVS at present). Overscan means the picture is too large for the screen (http://scanline.ca/overscan/); the border areas go off the edges. There is currently no way to remedy this for the 1.6 Xboxes. Do not bother trying to use the nvtv tool—it will not work!

For complete details on the progress of the effort, review the Mailing Lists section of this site. The Developer list usually has the most information on this effort, but occasionally the User list also has updates. As a courtesy to the team, please don't post messages asking when or if this will be resolved. It's an important issue, and an occasional scan of the messages there should give you a good idea of the status without hampering progress.

Note on new 1.6 XBoxes

Some 1.6 Xboxes use Hynix RAM, instead of Samsung RAM. Cromwell will not presently boot on these reliably. The best legal option here would be a softmod. (There is a workaround for the problem (http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.ports.xbox.devel/7568) but it requires you to compile a special version of Cromwell on your own.)

Note on 2.6 kernel upgrade

A 1.6 Xbox (softmodded) is known to not work with 2.6 kernels, the screen will lock or the tv will lose video sync.