And now for something a bit different

Recently, a way to run unsigned code on the XBOX360 has been discovered. The hack involves having your XBOX360 hack itself (you heard right), and flashing a modified 8955 kernel which gets you the following benefits:

• An ability to run unsigned code.
• Convert XBOX Live! demos to Full.
• Run games from anywhere (even a USB drive).
• Use any SATA 2.5' drive you want.
  

(Maybe this will also lead to an XBOX360 XBMC, who knows)

There are a few caveats though:

• Your XBOX must be with a dashboard version pre-89XX (ie: 7344)
• You need to open your case (duh!)
• You  need to have some good soldering skills.
  

In any case, and since I have a launch model box (XENON) that was banned around 2 years ago. I've decided to go for it.

I followed a great guide on www.xbox-scene.com forums, the guy there had a pretty nifty idea of doing everything in way that it will be later possible to re-do without re-opening your case again.

Before you begin, you'll need the following tools:

• A 35W-60W Fine Tipped Soldering Iron.
  
• Soldering Flux.
• Female <-> Female RJ45 Connector
• Some colored wires
• A pretty good cutter
• DB25 Connector and housing
• An RJ45 cable
• Hot glue gun
• 2x 1N4148 Diodes
• 5x 100ohm resistors

Here's how to do it:

• You need to enable the JTAG hack (http://www.free60.org/JTAG_Hack).
  It should look something like this (Remember: this is for my XENON board, if you have a different one, the connections are not the same):
  

•  Now, You need to prepare the cable that connects to the PC (LPT):
  (According to this section: http://www.free60.org/Reading_out_NAND#Preparing_the_cable)
  But instead of connecting leaving the wires exposed or, directly connected to the XBOX motherboard, connect them to an RJ-45 Male connector:
  
  
  
• Once the JTAG hack is connected, and the you've created the cable, you need to connect the wires to be able to access the NAND flash (outlined here: http://www.free60.org/Reading_out_NAND#Preparing_and_Soldering):
  
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