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How to Turn My XBox Into a Computer

The Xbox gaming system can be changed into a PC running a Linux operating system. This is possible because the Xbox is not simply a gaming system, but a powerful computer running Microsoft software. The Xbox cannot be used to run Microsoft or Apple operating systems; Linux is the only one that will work. After you convert your Xbox, you will be unable to use Xbox Live. Xbox Live bans all modified systems from its network. You will also need to use an Xbox version 1.5 or earlier; version 1.6 can be very hard to unlock.

Things You'll Need

Xbox connected to a phone line
USB cable adaptor
USB mouse
USB keyboard
USB storage drive
Computer
Internet access
Linux operating system
MechAssault game for Xbox, original version
Pen
Paper

Instructions

How to Turn My XBox Into a Computer
- 1
  Use the cable adaptor to connect the USB storage device to the Xbox and turn the machine on. The USB storage drive will be formatted by the Xbox. The storage drive should appear on the dashboard on the Xbox.
- 2
  Download the MechAssault save game image. This image is what you are going to use to slip Linux onto the Xbox. It can be downloaded from many websites, such as SourceForge.net.
- 3
  Remove your USB storage device from the Xbox and put it into your PC. Transfer the MechAssault save game image to the storage device from the computer.
- 4
  Put the USB storage device back into the Xbox and open the USB in the dashboard. You should see three options; Emergency Linux, Install Linux, Remove Linux.
- 5
  Copy the image labeled "Install Linux" to the Xbox hard drive. Select the image and press the button indicated at the bottom of the screen to open the options menu. Select "Copy" and "Hard Drive".
- 6
  Put the MechAssault disc into the Xbox.
- 7
  Go back to the dashboard, open the USB storage device and select "Emergency Linux". This will boot up a limited kind of Linux that you will use to unlock the hardware of the Xbox.
- 8
  Type at the prompt "telnet <192.168.0.3>" with the carrots. Type in "root" as the username and "Xbox" as your password. Do not type the quotation marks. You will be logged into a server that has the Microsoft Xbox keys.
- 9
  Type "xbox_tool-a" without the quotation marks. The Xbox will now show you a string of numbers and letters, this is the key to unlock the Xbox. Write this down.
- 10
  Go back to the dashboard, open the USB storage device menu, and select the save game "Install Linux" and select "Load". Linux will now be installed on your Xbox. This may take up to two hours.

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