How to install EvolutionX dashboard on the Xbox
This document is intended as an aid to beginners who often ask how and where to start with the installation of EvolutionX on the Microsoft's Xbox console. Read this article carefully!
IMPORTANT....
To be able to install the EvolutionX dashboard, the Xbox console must have a mod-chip installed in it. Once the modification is installed, we can proceed to replace the original dashboard with the EvolutionX one.
You need the following software:
- FlashFXP or other software to navigate on the FTP servers (the use of flashfxp is explained in this guide)
- XISO 0.73 or later (to access the x-box iso files)
- EvolutionX V. 1.8.3258 or later release
Note: all software can be found by searching on the internet and are all legal as they are freeware; the Xbox programs are opensource.
Connect the Xbox to the PC
To be able to install the new dashboard it is necessary to connect your Xbox to a PC. The PC must be equipped with a network card and a cross cable called link cable is needed. The cable must be connected to the back of the console to the ethernet connector.
Alternatively it is possible to connect your Xbox to a HUB or SWITCH, in this case you will have to use a normal network cable.
PC Configuration
To be able to establish a communication between the PC and the Xbox, the PC has to be properly configured (set the parameters of the local network, such as IP and Subnet mask).
From the desktop of your Windows PC, right-click on the network resources icon, select properties, enter the tcp/ip configuration, set IP to 192.168.0.1 and Subnet mask to 255.255.255.0, confirm everything and restart the PC if required.
Then proceed with the installation of the FlashFxp program which is nothing more than an FTP client that allows you to communicate with your Xbox as with any other internet server.
Once the PC has been configured and FlashFxp installed, it is necessary to burn the iso image of the EvolutionX software previously downloaded from the internet on a CD-RW, or better on a DVD.
Once the CD or DVD has been created, insert it into the Xbox as if it is a videogame. The xbox will magically load the software and some functionalities will be shown to you, such as run installed programs or backup original games to the hard drive (I highly recommend doing it, the loading time will be drastically reduced !!).
To change the software settings, from the system utilities menu, select Settings, and scroll to the static IP item, which must be set to YES. Then go down to the bottom of the page and click on save. Note that if the console is connected to a HUB and you are using a DHCP server, this last step is not necessary.
At this point all that remains to do is to connect the Xbox to the PC to copy the software to be installed on the hard drive.
Start FLASHFXP previously installed, from the top menu select Sites and then Site Manager.
Select New Site and enter the name with which we will call the connection to the Xbox, in this case x-box, and then press OK.
Now the connection to the Xbox must be established. Set the following parameters for EvolutionX:
- IP Address: 192.168.0.3
- User Name: Xbox
- Password: xbox
confirm by pressing Apply.
If everything has been set up correctly by clicking on Connect, the list of partitions of the Xbox hard drive will appear on the right window.
The configuration of the PC and the software for the connection is now completed.
Retrieving the EvolutionX software from the DVD / CD image
Now we need to copy the EvolutionX dashboard files into partition c
Let's start the xISO program
Click on the folder with the arrow under the Archive menu and open the EvolutionX iso file.
Open the EvolutionX 1.8.3285 file and the data contained in the ISO will appear
now create a folder on the desktop with the name evox, in the xISO program click on the button that represents the CD with the red arrow, the central one, and select the folder where you want to extract the files (in the one we created on the desktop) and click on OK.
At this point the files will be copied to the folder. Now open the folder and you will find the following files: default.xbe, evox.ini and two folders: Bios and Skin.
Let's rename the default.xbe file to xboxdash.xbe.
Now all you have to do is download the files contained in the evox folder on the desktop inside the partition c of the Xbox through the program previously started FlashFXP.
Before doing this you must make a backup of the original dashboard (in case you would like to restore the original system), enter the partition C of the Xbox and copy the xboxdash.xbe file to the desktop, not in the evox folder.
We select the file, click with the right mouse button and go to the transfer button and the file will be transferred to the desktop (of course, first we must select the desktop on the left of the program).
Now let's enter the evox folder.
Select everything, right-click on any file and a menu will appear.
Click transfer on the menu and wait for the files and folders to be transferred to partition C, the program will ask if we want to overwrite the xboxdash file .xbe .
Click on YES.
Once the download on the Xbox is finished, rename the xboxdash.xbe file (the original dashboard) that we copied from the console to the PC on the desktop in msxboxdash.xbe and copy it back into the C partition (operation which you have to do if you want to have the Xbox capable of reading the audio CDs. In fact if you insert an audio CD in the Xbox, the original software for reading the AUDIO CDs will start automatically).
Now we can remove the DVD from inside the player and restart the Xbox.
Once restarted you can notice that now the EvolutionX software is installed inside the Xbox hard drive. You can now copy your programs, install applications such as mp3 players, images, divx, and even various software that you can easily download from internet.
To install the applications, all you have to do is create an "apps" folder inside partition E in the Xbox hard drive and copy the folders with the programs inside:
Once created, you have to enter inside the folder and copy for example the folder containing the program to read mp3s called Yamp:
The destination folder must contain the program files and the xbe file (Xbox executable must always be called default).
Now if we scroll with the down arrow of our game-pad and go to the Launch Menu of the EvolutionX (press A) then go to Apps (press A) the program we have installed will appear.
Do this for any program you want to install.
Frequent problems observed when connecting the Xbox to the PC
FlashFXP does not connect to Xbox
- check that the network cable is properly connected. Make sure you used a crossed cable.
- verify that the IP address of your PC is192.168.0.1 and that the subnet mask is 255.255.255.0
The burned iso image of the EvolutionX does not start
The lens of the Xbox is very sensitive so the used media. I recommend using DVD-R as they are best supported by the Xbox's laser.
If you use CD-RW I recommend the TDK, they start very quickly and without problems.
I advise you to make a backup copy of all the C partition of the Xbox to avoid unpleasant problems such as the non-functioning of the same.
Soon I will let you know how to change the "miserable" 8 GB seagate inside the Xbox console with a larger one, trust me, it's worth it !!
The jewel of Microsoft can become a nice PC under linux !!
Always remember that Xbox is 90% similar to a PC, so if you are familiar with your PC's operating system, you won't find it difficult to use the Xbox. !!
