Setting up an xbox to multi-boot


This tutorial will show you how to set up an xbox so it can easily boot from different dashboards, using the external bios switch.


Prerequisites:

Assuming you've got that much handled, let's get started:

Collecting software: an xbins shopping list
Start by logging into xbins, and download all the software that you'll need. Here is the list that I recommend having:


Setting up the bios
First select the correct bios to work with. The .06 version is for "F drive takes all available space" and the .67 version is for "F drive gets up to 137g, and G drive takes the rest". I don't have a G drive, so I will be using 4981.06_256k.bin.

Run XBtool. In the bottom right, click the Open button, and browse to your bios. You should now be looking at this:



You need to change the area marked Boot Partitions and Executables.
Leave DVD at: default.xbe
Change 1st to: F:\dash\dash1\default.xbe
Change 2nd to: F:\dash\dash2\default.xbe
Change 3rd to the location you currently have Evox installed. This will usually be C:\evoxdash.xbe.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you use the backslash \ and not the forwardslash /
It should look like this now:



At this point, you should change any other options you want in the bios. I personally up the fan to at least 40%, and sometimes change the Logo Colors and the Power LED color, but hey it's your xbox, do whatever you want.

Hit the Save As button, and name it "dash1".

Go back to the Boot Partitions area, and switch 1st and 2nd:
1st: F:\dash\dash2\default.xbe
2nd: F:\dash\dash1\default.xbe

Hit the Save As button, and name it "dash2".
Close XBtool, we're done with it.

Run X2 Bios Manager.
Click the Import button, and browse to "dash1.bin".
Next, click in the area marked 512. Click Import, and choose "dash1.bin" again.
Click the area marked 768. Click Import, and choose "dash2.bin".
Click the area marked 1024. Click Import, and choose "dash2.bin".
It should now look like this:



Make sure the Image Size is set to 1024, and hit the Save button.
Name it "4981.06multiboot" or something you'll recognize later.
Close x2bm, we're done with it.

Open your ftp client, and connect to your xbox. Copy the 4981.06multiboot.bin into the [bios] folder. This will be a sub-directory of wherever you have Evox installed, usually C:/bios/. If it doesn't exist, create it.


Setting up the file structure
Change to the F drive, and create a new folder called "dash".
Create two subdirectories of F:/dash called "dash1" and "dash2".
Now place all the files for the dashboards you want to boot into those folders. For example, put the entire Evox dash into F:/dash/dash1/, and Avalaunch (or any other dashboard) into F:/dash/dash2/.

IMPORTANT: You will need to rename the main executable for each dashboard to "default.xbe". (the main file for Evox is usually evoxdash.xbe, and the main file for Avalaunch is avalaunch.xbe)

Now is a good time to double check that you have everything in the right place.
In Evox, go to System Management, and choose Flash BIOS.
(if it doesn't have this option, edit the evox.ini menu and add Item "Flash BIOS",ID_Flash_Bios)
It should bring up a list of all the bioses in your [bios] folder. Choose 4981.06multiboot (or whatever you named it) and push Y to reflash your chip. 4:52 AM 4/29/04If it says "flash not writeable", then flip the "protect/unprotect" switch and try again.

IMPORTANT: Don't mess with the xbox or wires while it's flashing! If you accidentally trip over the power cord at this point you'll need a chip programmer to recover.

After it flashes, the xbox will shut itself off. It's supposed to do that, don't panic. When you power it back on, it should be booting off the new dash locations. Now you can delete the Evox files from their original location, as they are no longer needed.

Congratulations, you now have a dual-boot system! Try it, flip the bios1/2 switch and power it off and on again. You should get the other dash.


Experimenting with other dashboards
With this setup, it's easy to try out new dashboards, and make them bootable if you like them better than what you're using. Just add any new dash as a subdirectory of F:/dash/ and make sure that the main file is renamed "default.xbe".

You will need to add a dashboard section to your menu:

For Evox:
Section "Dashboards"
{
AutoAddItem "f:\dash"
Item "MS Original Dashboard",@3
}

Here is the entire evox.ini that I use for my installs: evox.ini (rename the file, I had to make it evox.ini.txt for web storage)

For Avalaunch:
<list name="Dashboards">
<path scanlevel="2">F:\dash</path>
<item name="MS Original Dashboard" path="C:\xboxdash.xbe"/>
</list>

Here is the avalaunch.xml I use: avalaunch.xml

Now all the dashboards should automatically load into the menu.

If you decide you want to make a different dash bootable, you just need to rename two folders and reboot. For example, if you currently have Avalaunch booting as dash2, and want to have UnleashX bootable instead, simply rename the F:/dash/dash2/ folder to F:/dash/Avalaunch, and rename your F:/dash/UnleashX/ folder to F:/dash/dash2. Reboot with the bios switch set to 2, and you get UnleashX.



written by Jeff Stein(aweirdguy) 4/29/04


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