This is a public service announcement: Be very, very careful about buying a used Xbox 360 right about now. As you might know, Microsoft is in the process of banning up to a million modded 360s from Live. These bans are affecting the black-market economy of mod-boxes; modders are racing to unload their illegal and soon to be perma-banned boxes on the internet. Craigslist is glutted with modded Xboxes at dirt-cheap prices, as well as people offering to unban your Xbox (My guess is, it won't work.). I've heard already from several TheFeed readers already who recently purchased used Xboxes that are banned. There's nothing that can be done, so, as they say in Latin: Caveat emptor. Or, "Don't a dink."
Of course, if you are in the market for a modded Xbox (and I don't condone this market, at all), it's a buyers' paradise of cheap, modded machines on Craigslist. As long as you never want to play online, won't use any Live services, don't mind not having any kind of a warranty, and are okay with stealing from people who don't deserve it, you can get a modded Xbox for super cheap these days.
According to Microsoft: "If you purchase a modified console second-hand, the warranty is not transferable and the purchaser assumes the risk for any previous modifications... If you purchase a console that has been previously banned, you will not be able to connect to (Xbox) Live."
Has anyone out there been banned for their mod? Have you purchased a used machine, only to find it's a forbidden Xbox? Leave a comment or shoot me an email!
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TreFacTor
Unbanning Xbox 360 From Live - The Facts
>> I see lots of sites posting today about a way to unban Xbox 360 from LIVE often linking to a thread made on our forums here.
This method has been known for a long time (since the King Kong Exploit days) and does indeed 'work'. Basically you swap the Keyvault (or 'KV' in short, it stores stuff like console certificates, per-box private keys, DVD key, etc) inside the NAND with the KV from an unbanned console. While technically very different you could somewhat compare it to swapping eeprom data during the Xbox1 days.
However there's a (really) big 'IF' (besides the required tech knowledge) ... you need the (unique) CPU key of your banned console - without it you can't correctly write (or encrypt if you want) the new KV data in the NAND bin of your banned console.
Now you wonder how to get the CPU-key ... well by running XeLL of course!
To run XeLL u need to perform the JTAG hack (or the King Kong exploit, but that's even more outdated) ... and if you got banned the last few weeks it means you updated to the latest dashboard/kernel (else you can't get on LIVE).
And that's the problem... Microsoft patched the JTAG hack since kernel 849x (July 2009) ... so no way to boot up XeLL (= no realistic way for you to get the CPU-key atm) and thus no way to swap the KV data in your NAND image.
And then there's also added KV protection (hashing) on newer motherboards (Falcon+ ? and kernel 1888 won't boot on those), but if you can't even get your CPU-key it doesn't matter much to do deeper into this problem.
The only way it would work is if you retrieved the CPU-key of your old banned 360 before you updated to anything over 849x. If you did that you probably know about all of this and I'm not telling you anything new ;)
Downgrading kernel is not an option either, older kernels won't boot as both kernel and CB fuses were burned during the various updates MS performed, and you can't bypass that without ... your CPU-key.
Hope that explains the situation a bit (tried to make it not 'too' technical)
On a side-note, it would probably be pretty easy for MS to detect KV-swaps (like HW-mismatches etc).
Side-note2: in case it wasn't obvious yet those "unban isos" are fake and iXtreme LT won't unban you (it will instead try to avoid new bans).
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
3080
To KillerShadow117 - Hey Douche bag! Yes capital D for douche Do you mind if I call you Mr. D? Well Mr. D, 1st of all learn to spell before you call them an idiot! This is how you spell, the word is Microsoft NOT mircrosoft, the words are are you NOT ur, the word is wait NOT wat. The only bastards I can see it he bastard of an education you received. NOW that that is out of the way I ll get to my real point. That fact of the matter is that Banning the system from playing on-line will not stop people from hacking, or modding game systems. The coping of games will continue, Just like it did for the PSX, PS2, Dreamcast, and all the other games system that most people did not use on-line. This banning just stops them from going on line! Thats it, nothing more. It is flawed logic! Look Mr. D, you can argue the semantic or the legality of copying games, but the fact is that you won t stop the hard core hacker from doing it! Sales will not go up because of this. Its just a sad attempt at stopping the underground. But more so its Just like tommy_deathdoll pointed out in he s post MS did the ban just before the biggest game launch of the year (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2) O and what a coincidence MS is trying to sell a limited edition MW2 console. They did this in miss guided attempt to try and boost sales .by the way PS3 sales are up! Plus the PS3 has Wi-Fi built in, wait wait, and so does the Nintendo Wii .and gain Playing on-line is free with Sony and Nintendo. Both of which have been around for some time, they must be doing something right. But here comes MS with a new Wi-Fi adapter they are trying to peddle for another 99 buck! THE Greed! It s not about being cheap and yes, it doesn t hurt. It s about fighting back! MS nickel and dimes everyone at every turn. It s no wonder that people are jumping ship to Apple computers, and Sony Playstation 3. Microsoft is the evil empire. The 360 is one of the few good things that HAD going for them, but they botched. It seems you re just another one of MS mindless cronies.
3080
Word! It s well spoken, and articulate people like rebates22 that understand Facts . Preach On! and Viva la resistance! Free internet, Free information, Free THE WORLD!
rebates22
Banning somone who mods their 360 will not even put the slightest of dents in gaming piracy. It would be one thing if when you attempt to sign online you're given an "update" which locks up your system, but simply banning someone from xbox live will not stop people from modding. Basically, Microsoft is saying "hey our Live features are so great and so indispensable that no one would risk being banned since they won't be able to take advantage of our new avatar gear." GTFOH. I have pumped thousands of dollars into my 360 since 2005, and I honestly feel like the PS3 is now a better system (especially with all the new exclusive titles coming out). I'm not encouraging people to mod, but I just don't believe that MS has come up with a coherent strategy that somehow discourages people from modding; all they have done is said "hey we won't take your $50 a year for xbox live anymore because you're a cheater." In the end, modding = no live, but essentially free games. I wonder which one most hard-core gamers would rather have...
KillerShadow117
@3080
So wat ur saying is that its bad for MS to ban systems because they r losing buisness by doing it. R U AN IDIOT! They r losing buisness BECAUSE of the modded systems! I am really happy they r doing this because it means less cheap bastards on xbox live. I say way to go mircrosoft!
3080
MS sucks, don't get me wrong I love Gears of War, and some of the other games they have out.... BUT what the hell.... PS3 and Wii are free to play on-line! Now, most people I know are jumping ship to Sony's PS3... 360 just lost a crap load of Fan-boys. DLC sales will go down as well as Paying Gold members.. Bad move MS! Not to mention New 360 sales, why should anyone buy from the same dog that already bit them? Bad word of mouth can do a lot in a bad way! Banning players from live will not stop the bootlegging of game, nor will "WAVE 4" game. Hackers will always find a way! They always do! Now that they can't get busted for playing on-line....(No fear, no regrets).. You will see Custom FW, HDD, and DLC hacks will come out of the wood work. Just watch! Cheap systems on Craig s lists will just fuel the firestorm to come. Banning the true hackers is just a minor setback. I say go all out show MS your best! Hack the hell out of the 360 and viva la resistance! Free internet, Free information, Free THE WORLD!
Able
Oh and another thing, For the ppl that do mod your box, no one is stopping you from doing it, its just if you want the system hooked up to a service that is not owned by you, then you ether follow the rules of that service, or you dont use that service.
See you have a choice. If you want to use xbox live, then you have to follow the rules set by the company whos servers you hooking up to. If you dont want to accept those rules, then dont sign up for xbox live. Kinda like playing WOW, or Warhammer online. If you dont follow the rules for a MMO, you get banned and then you have to tart all over.
So the thing is, If you constantly want to spend hunderds of dollars for a new system and more money for replacement downloadable content, then so be it. But play by the rules and you wont have to replace anything.
Able
I still would like to know why ppl are so bad at taking care of what they buy. Im just saying why do ppl need to make backup copies of a game that dont take much to keep safe from scratches and other problems. Are the ppl that say they have to have copies of a game so bad at keeping their games from being damaged that they have to resort to copying a simple game that comes with a case.
Last i looked, the games has a warrenty with it so that if anything happens to the disk, the game developer will replace the game 90 days after purchase. After that anything that happens to the game its user damage. But again this falls onto the person and how they take care of the disks they use.
But really, out of many games you own, how many of those games ever get damaged? Probably only 1 out of say like 50, maybe 100, and if it was damaged straight from the case it would of been exchanged at the game store within just a few days.
So please i would like a good answer on why a modder needs to make a copy of a game when the original game disk is good enough?
Oh and i dont want any answer stating that what if the system eats my disk. Well if your system eats your disk then i guess you wont be putting other disks in the system to be ruined so i guess you take this as a learning experiance and take care of the disk drive and just replace the game that got ate....wich btw could be replaced free depending on how long you had the game.
And i will not accept...But what if i step on the original disk and break it. Well, why did you leave the disk out in the first place for you to easily break it, or scratch it, or melt it, or lose it. Learn to take care of your stuff and it will last you a long time.
I have so many cd's, dvd's, blu-rays, umd's and cassett tapes that i have had for years and i have only had to replace 1 cassett tape because my really old tape player died, and i had to return 2 dvds because the disks where defective straight from the manufaturer( was a easy product swap from the store).
In time when the courts decide the fate of the so called backup copy in some of the current court battles going on atm, and more action with goverment finnaly getting up to date on the tech. But i still think the game companies will just move to online subscription bassed server streaming game services like onlive (if it ever launches).
natedizzle23
Good heads up.
Beetlevegas
THATS GOOD THAT XBOX DID THAT TO ALL THE JERKS OUT THERE THAT MAKES US ALL PAY MORE FOR STUFF. I DONT OWN A XBOX BUT ITS GOOD THAT THEY ARE DOING THAT. THE PEOPLE NEED TO PAY FOR THAT STUFF
Beetlevegas
THATS GOOD THAT XBOX DID THAT TO ALL THE JERKS OUT THERE THAT MAKES US ALL PAY MORE FOR S#$T. I DONT OWN A XBOX BUT ITS GOOD THAT THEY ARE DOING THAT. THE PEOPLE NEED TO PAY FOR THAT STUFF
scorpian876
No one is not gong to buy a modded x-box 360! Craigs lists will turn around and recycle the modded x-box 360's. The ussless bricks!
Remember, please recycle your electronics to save the earth! Do it! Do it now!
scorpian876
No one will buy the modded x-360's off craigs lists! Craigs list will probaly take every modded x-box 360 and recycle the bricks! Remember, recycle your electronics people! G-4 says do it! Do it now!
Give the earth a break! Please recycle!
jhereg423
@sn34k: When you download some thing without paying it is STEALING. When you buy used games, true, the developer/publisher doesn't get any money, but the Gamestop does. If you pirate you take away money from their company. Eventually Gamestop doesn't make enough to keep all their douchebag employees, and when Tooley McGamestop employee loses his job he can no longer afford to come in to the McDonald's (where I'm assuming you work) and then they have to start giving people McPink-Slips.
Nobody owes you anything.
Man up.
Get a job.
Buy your games like me and everybody else on X-Box Live.
shibbydashang1
With the batch of consoles where each one have a problem, why even bother buying used? It doesn't offer a warranty with it when it's used. So if it stops reading discs or something, you're screwed. Especially with craigslist, where a lot of people pass off their junk as "working" when it's not.
One way to make sure it's not banned, if you want a cheap one with the risks, is to test it before handing over the cash.
sn34k
@iceman: It has nothing to do with cheating, from what I have heard you can cheat with an aftermarket memmory card on a normal x-box.
@RROD: When you steal a TV you take something from someone else, something is lost. When you download something no one loses anything, the developer didn't get paid, but just like iceman said if you buy used games it's the same thing. I would rather support no one then gamestop.
altizar
Easy fix, buy the cheap one online, go to walmart buy a 360. swap the guts and return the wal-mart one for full refund. Nice, new, shiny, unbanned X-box for you.
ozzie314
Wouldn't the ability to fully install the games to the HD and not have to have the disc in the system be the most obvious solution to those that want the option to protect their discs?
All microsoft needs to do is have the user register the game (gamertag and console id would be registered to the hd install of the game). This option would be similar to the games on demand option XBL offers.
Elishiva
Wow!!! Must have been reading my mind. I was thinking that it would be a great way for Microsoft to make more money. People are going to mod anyways, why not cash in on it?
Ugotmefuctup
@ IcemanMX
I think your "Progressive Solution" idea is a well thought-out consideration. However, it would probably be best posited to MS than to G4.
Still, I think MS's stance (and most other companies as well) will maintain relunctance to the notion of implementing a "win/win" solution that bows to the ingenuity of the "problem creators". I don't believe that MS would support the type of precedent that course of action would imply.
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