HOW to read your

XBOX's EEPROM and

GET the HDD KEY
WITHOUT removing the chip
Or Modding the XBOX

By UNICRON

First my story.....

Hi all, first I would like to say thanks to everyone who helped me with information and
suggestions on the forums and to Llamma for the posting of this HOW TO guide. I hope it
helps a lot of people who have had the same head ach I have about getting to the secret
key to unlock the XBOX's Hard drive.

My problem started when I purchased an XBOX off EBay for a cheap price, I knew in
advance it was broken but the promise of fixing it myself was to be a challenge, and boy
was it! Not that I couldn't do it after all I do have a paper that says I know how to fix
electronics, even if I can't spell very well ;)

My package arrived and I tore into it, first thing taking the Xbox apart. Hum I thought
didn't look like much, boy I thought it would be more like a computer motherboard,
seeing how everyone says it's a computer basically. Well first thing I did was clean off the
old paste on the CPU that cheap thermal paste, and replace it with high quality Arctic
Silver paste. Then I checked the board out for any signs of burnt traces or other fixable
problems and found none.

My next step was to check out the XBOX to see if she would power up. I plugged it in and
with the push of the button it came on, with the flubber screen or whatever it is and
booted up to a screen that said "XBOX LIVE UPDATE, Please do not turn off the power
until update is finished." Great I thought I'll just plug it up to the network and let it do its
thing, WOW this will be an easy fix. NOPE, it came up with a screen saying "XBOX LIVE
cannot connect at this time Please try again later", so I click OK to go on, after all I don't
need to update XBOX live I'm not going to be on it anyways.

I clicked OK and the screen went back to the XBOX LIVE UPDATER screen again, then it
went to the cannot connect screen with the OK button. I click it and it just looped around
again and again. Well I thought this is grim, So I called Micro... well you know who and
they take four techs and 30 minutes to come up with the answer, throw it away and buy
a XBOX 360!!! WHAT!!
That’s your solution!! So I read around on the forums and find out there is some nice
software (homebrew) that can clean the hard drive and restore it to "new", so I am all up
for that.

The problem I get though is all of them expect you to have Modded your XBOX or at least
have the Hard Drive KEY (PASSWORD) to use them! Well I am in a pickle now seeing how
I can't MOD the XBOX cause it won't boot a CD and only goes to that UPDATER screen.
Man what to do. Then I find out the XBOX hard drive password is stored in an EEPROM on
the board. That’s when the light went on! Hey if the EEPROM isn't locked and I can read
the contents I can get the hard drive password from it myself. Then I find out that the
password is encrypted. Crap I think... but wait! I find out that there is a program that will
give me the Password if I have the EEPROM.BIN file, (the EEPROM.BIN file is just a dump
of the contents of the EEPROM) - which is what I was going to do anyways so that brings
me to building the EEPROM READER.
I built the reader and read the contents of my EEPROM in my XBOX and saved it as
EEPROM.BIN, what else? Then I used the program I had found and made my first XBOX
recover CD. After that I was able to easily unlock my hard drive, and use a file browser to
look around on it and fix the corrupted files on the drive (apparently someone had
installed a soft mod and then somehow screwed it up pretty good) but I was able to copy
the original XBOX backup files to the C drive. Afterward I installed the drive back into the
XBOX and powered it on and it came up all happy in the Micro... well Dash like a new
XBOX!! THEN I found out the DVD drive didn't read...

So I borrowed my buddies XBOX that was modded and FTP into it and copied his C drive
and some files off of E drive then REMAKE the XBOX restore CD and wiped my drive clean
and restored it with HIS XBOX hard drive files and now I have a happily modded XBOX....
with a broken DVD drive :( but I am working on the laser fix, but that’s for another HOW
TO.... so now that your all sleeping pretty good now I guess I get to the steps to build
and fix your XBOX, and the software that I used.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------
HOW TO READ A XBOX EEPROM!!
(Without de soldering it)

First you will have to build this simple EEPROM reader. The Original device was much
more complicated so I cut out all the stuff not needed by us for this project.
The original device and software that goes with it can be gotten at
http://www.lancos.com/prog.html... stop in and say thanks for the program and device!
You can also contact me for a link to a better built customized one.

Here is my easy to build design, it uses off the shelf parts from RADIO SHACK.
You need the following:
1 PAK (5v Zenor Diodes comes 2 to a pack). Catalog #: 276-565
>>>> 2 PAK(s) Four (4) K ohm resistors. Catalog #: 271-1321
>>>> (I had to make them using 1K resistors in series took 8 to make two 4K's)
or you can use
1 PAK 3.9K ohm Catalog #: 271-1123 (easier to use)
1 female 9 pin connector. Catalog #: 276-1428

Wire, I use the following for the jumpers from the EEPROM reader to the XBOX
Blue insulated wrapping wire (30 AWG) Catalog #. 278-503
Of course you need solder, solder iron (lo watt) so as NOT to burn off any traces!!

Here is mine....

Here are the plans to build it.

And now that you have it built you need to know what to do with it. First, make sure you
XBOX is UNPLUGGED!!! I don’t want anyone to get FRIED or fry your XBOX!

Now there are two options, first if your XBOX is dead no power or it is a bad motherboard
but you still want to use the drive or if you just want to copy the EEPROM to use on
another XBOX then you will need to supply an EXTERNAL 3.3 Volts or 5 Volts to one of
two places. Meaning choose one of the following the EEPROM or the LPC pads, shown
below.
First you can connect your readers SCL and SDA and GND wires to the spots I list above
or in the following pictures, and connect your power supply (3.3V or 5V) to pin 8 of the
EEPROM or the spot listed on LPC picture above. (NOTICE: I DIDN’T use the LPC
connections when I read mine but according to BUNNIE’S Book and my own observations
it should be OK to use. – maybe better for those who aren’t good solders cause the pins
on the EEPROM are VERY small!)

Take a look at the two following pictures, Mind you that if you’re XBOX DOES have power
and works DO NOT ADD A EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY!!!!!!!!!!
Version 1.6 XBOX
No matter what XBOX you have the EEPROM is the same design Pins 1,2,3,4 will always
be GND and 5,6,7,8 will be 5 = SDA, 6 = SCL, 7 = WDC (We don’t Care), 8 = 3.3V or 5V.

Now connect you reader to the points you have decided to use and then connect the
reader to your computers serial port. (I am not sure if a USB to Serial port converter will
work, I have a KEYSPAN it DOESN’T work, but my Laptop’s Serial port works great!)

After making your connections, wait to apply power, we need to setup the reader
software next!!
I used a program called PONYPROG (http://www.lancos.com/prog.html) to read my
EEPROM with, it is easy to use and well written and the original EEPROM reader was what
I cut down to make our EEPROM reader for this project. Install Ponyprog on your
computer, I got the old and new 2000 versions, I like the old but the new one is easier to
use so I used it in the following examples. Setup is easy just do what the pictures I have
say and you should have it installed and ready to read in about 5 Min.

SETUP…..
Now after that make sure to Calibrate!!!
Now you can apply power to your READER or XBOX, wait for an ERROR SCREEN to show
up on the XBOX by disconnecting the Hard drive (on a working XBOX) if it’s one that has
no power or broken then apply your EXTERNAL power now.

Now try to do a read…. The Icon on the far left looks like a chip with an arrow pointing to
a paper.

If you read your EEPROM it should look like this picture, notice that on the PURPLE TEXT
line 4 down a bunch of numbers 449836153119 (These aren’t real #’s!), this should be
YOUR XBOX serial number on the bottom of your XBOX!!! If you had a GOOD read. If not
try again and check ALL connections and power.

-⇓Now SAVEAS your file and save it as EEPROM.BIN MUST be this name.
Now disconnect external power- or turn off XBOX and UNPLUG. Disconnect all wires from
XBOX LPC port or EEPROM. Make SURE you know where you saved the EEPROM.BIN file
to before you exit Ponyprog program.

Now you can look at your XBOX HDD password with LIVEINFO BETA 3, Search Google
just put it in the same folder as your EEPROM.BIN file and run it and click Load EEPROM
and it should load up your EEPROM.BIN and give you’re a screen like this…
RIGHT there! In the box that says Unique HDD Key is your Password to the Hard Drive.
Thanks goes out to Yoshihiro and group for this great Program. But WAIT! We aren’t
totally done yet.

Now you have your Key/Password what to do with it?? Well now I am going to give you a
Quick walk thru of how to make a Backup and Restore CD for working on your Xbox in
the future when you want to wipe it clean and start all over again! (Some times we just
have to wipe our drives because we put so much junk on them that we need to just clean
it all out and start over again, and I’ll show you how!!!)

SO YOU WANT TO MAKE A BACKUP/RESTORE CD HUH?

OK Here’s the

HOW TO MAKE A BACKUP/RESTORE CDROM FOR YOUR XBOX

Now that you have your precious XBOX HDD KEY what are you really going to do with
it??
You may want to do some of the following things with it and I will show you the easy way
to do them! Read on Modders!

1. Unlock you HDD

2. Soft MOD your XBOX
3. Be able to make a backup of your HDD NOW even if it is modded incase…… (Yeah
better do this one folks!)
4. Just poke around and see what all the fuss is about.

I really can’t say how important it is to make a backup of your XBOX hard drive and
software. Your sitting there Modding the crap out of your XBOX when all of a sudden
XBOX LIVE pops up and wants to download an update, yeah really you did read my story
at the top right? Next thing you know your XBOX is stuck in update limbo and you’re
screwed! Man o man if only I had listened to UNICRON’S how to guide I’d be like ok
mother …! I got your update right here! Pop that CD in and in a few minutes your back
up and running.

Really, would I write all this just to jerk you around??? And what’s so cool is how easy it
is to do!!

First off if your XBOX was NEVER modded to begin with you’re going to be hurting…. I’m
sorry but even with access to the HDD it’s not easy to mod it, as far as I know at THIS
time. So what do you need to do? If you have a buddy who HAS modded his/her XBOX
that’s a great starting place for us….

Your buddies XBOX…. Wow, your buddy has modded his/her XBOX and you want to do it
too.
Start by FTP into his/her XBOX, I used a great program called WEBDRIVE on my XP
system, it lets you set up ANY FTP site or HTTP site or other computer as a NETWORK
drive on YOUR computer!!! It works GREAT with the XBOX, I just click on it as if it was X
Drive on my system and open up whatever drive I want and copy software to the XBOX
easy!!! It has a 30 day trail and then you have to buy it but hey, It’s a lot easier than
using FTP software and you don’t even think about it NOT being a Drive on your
computer cause it works so great! (PS. Send advertising check to UNICRON at P.O. box
556…….) LOL

So anyways, FTP into your buddies XBOX, go to C drive and copy the entire C drive
contents (all files and folders) to your computer, copy it to a folder called XBOX-Cdrive.
Now jump into the Xbox E drive. I used Evox Mod so this is what I did, others will be
different so you will have to figure out what you need to get here, but for Evox here is
what you need off of E drive.
On Xbox E drive copy the following folders with ALL files in them.

1. TDATA
2. UDATA
3. DASHBOARD
4. BIOSLD

Copy these folders to your computer in a folder called XBOX-Edrive

Now that is done you can move onto the next step in creating a Backup/Restore CD.

Now you need to download and unzip a program/ file called Xboxhdm_V1.9 this is an
easy to use LINUX that has cool easy to use tools for working on your XBOX HDD. After it
is unzipped you need to copy the contents (all files and folders) from the folder you made
XBOX-Cdrive to a folder in Xboxhdm_V1.9/linux/C folder the C folder.

Now copy folders you copied to the folder you made called XBOX-Edrive (the 4 folders) to
Xboxhdm_V1.9/linux/E folder the E folder.

(NOTE!!!: You can PRE-INSTALL software in the GAMES & Apps Folders by making them
in the E drive folder and then installing your software in them, like XBMC put in
Apps/XBMC folder and so on, and if your making a DVD backup CD you can put tons of
games and apps on the restore CD!!)

Now you need to copy your EEPROM.BIN file you made with the reader for YOUR XBOX to
the Xboxhdm_V1.9/linux/EEPROM folder.

Now were cooking!! We now have everything to make a BACKUP/RESTORE CD-ROM

Disc!!
(Notice – for you who can FTP into your OWN XBOX I would copy the C drive and E drive
files I listed above to make your own BACKUP/RESTORE CD-ROM Disc, just copy the
EEPROM.BIN file from your XBOX E drive Located in the DASHBOARD – BACKUP folder
names of course EEPROM.BIN!!)

Now change to the main folder of Xboxhdm_V1.9 - you will see a file called MAKE-ISO-
WIN. Bat
This file will create a bootable CD-ROM that we can use to work on our XBOX!
Run this file, afterward a file called LINUX.ISO will appear in this folder. Now using your
favorite burning software (mine is Nero) load it up and burn you a DISC.
Now for the fun part!!

WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS DISC??

You got the Disc with your XBOX BACKUP and HDD KEY/PASSWORD on it. You’re ready to
go! Now turn off your computer. Now unhook all drives except your CD-ROM/DVD drive
you need this!!!

Now hook up your XBOX HDD. It needs to have some jumper changed first, look at the
back of the drive, see the jumper between the power connector and IDE cable?
Here’s a picture for you who don’t follow….

Notice the 6 pins between the Power connector on the right and the IDE connector on the
left.
Here is a HDD jumper block. Place it on the 2 pins CLOSEST to the IDE Connector to set
it as MASTER. See picture below.

Note also that THIS is not how all hard drives are set up with the jumper block. Most
hard drives use the MASTER then SLAVE then CABLE SELECT or view CABLE SELECT
when no jumpers are present!! Confusing, but when in doubt VIEW the HDD label for a
diagram or go to the manufactures web site for the correct jumper settings. The above is
just how the XBOX HDD is setup and as far as I know the CABLE SELECT maybe a slave
setting when used in a normal computer, but this is what we are going with for now.

Now after setting the XBOX HDD to MASTER connect it to the Primary Master IDE cable
and make sure your CD ROM is on it’s own IDE cable and set as MASTER.

After that is all done, now boot your computer but hit DEL at boot up to get into BIOS
screen, or F1 on some systems, get into the bios and set it to boot sequence CD-ROM -
HDD- Floppy whatever as long as CDROM is first boot device.
Now SAVE setup, exit the BIOS so it reboots.

Now make sure the XBOXHDMV_1.9 Disc is in the CD-ROM drive, I will refer to it as the
LINUX CD. You may need to reboot do a CNTL-ALT-DEL to reboot after putting the CD in.

The LINUX CD will boot up you'll see a bunch of stuff wait for the menu options.
Pick option 3 (boot LINUX with locking/unlock)
after that boots and your at a command prompt type

Unlock –a (hit enter)

this will unlock your XBOX hard drive using the EEPROM.BIN file you copied to the folder
before burning the CD. It should say DONE and show the status of your hard drive now if
that worked type.

Reboot (hit enter)

the computer reboots; now after that you will be at the LINUX menu again select option
(1). Then after some stuff you'll be at the command prompt type this.

XBOXHDM (hit enter -this brings up the main menu)

Select option 1, this will Rebuild your hard drive back to “Original” state but with the mod
already installed!
It will Format the XBOX HDD then after that you'll be back at the main menu, select
option 8 to quit this program. Now type

Reboot (hit enter)

After rebooting the computer select option 3 (boot LINUX with locking/unlocking)
When it gets to a command prompt type
Lock -a (hit enter)

this will lock your HDD so the XBOX won’t freak out!
At the command prompt type

Shutdown (hit enter)

Unhook you XBOX HDD - CHANGE the jumper to the CABLE SELECT position on the XBOX
drive and plug it up to your XBOX (AC POWER UNPLUGGED!!!!!)
make sure all cables are hooked up, plug in AC power to XBOX and Bam! The XBOX
should boot up like a happy camper!!!

You can then use that disc to make NEW HDD for your XBOX or a buddies (as long as you
have HIS EEPROM.BIN file burned to the disc)
you can leave the C and E folder with the software in them the only file you need to
change before burning your buddies is his EEPROM.BIN file in the right place.
(Only one EEPROM.BIN file can be in the EPROM folder on the CD)

Well I hope this helps out a lot of people out there! It was a testing time and I worked
hard gathering all the info up in one place so if anyone benefits from this feel free to PM
me and let me know it helped!

I’d like to thank my proof readers Janrocks (hugs) and G-man (What up) for helping out!!
UNICRON
That which does not serve me shall become a part of me.