How to connect an XBOX to a PC via FTP
In this article I will talk about how to connect via FTP an ordinary computer with a network card to a normal XBOX, that is the black basic version or the crystal which is the special edition version.
Well, first of all, you have to decide if the FTP connection is what you really want, I mean that only the XBOX's with a mod-chip (Chipped(1)) or with the Virtual Chip (Xploid(2)), are useful if you want to connect to the PC. For example to upload emulators and roms, or upload applications, upload videos or mp3's when using the XBMC(3); otherwise, it is useless to see the files of your factory XBOX except that you can save the games, whose action is not the purpose of this tutorial.
Remember that these procedures are to be followed at your own risk and in no way I, as the author of this document, will NOT be responsible if the person following these procedures damages the console in question in any way.
I have to be careful, don't I?
To begin with, let's take a look at the materials needed:
UTP Category 5E 10/100 cable (This cable can be bought in any electronics store or where they sell computer parts and can be ordered with these specifications). The UTP 5E cable has 8 colored wires crossed in 4 pairs of 2 by 2, in 8 colors of different shades, of 4 different color combinations, blue, green, orange and brown, 2 colors per pair. White orange and orange, white green and green, white blue and blue, white brown and brown. Ask the store if they can offer it to you.
4 RJ45 connectors (For the network cable, and obviously I will not explain how to plug the cable because it would be too much, but I can tell you that it is the Multi-point protocol and that you need 2 cables, one for the PC and one for the XBOX). Buy at least 6 cables, in case you make mistakes, you have spare parts.
Router (Any brand is good, LAN or WLAN).
Crimping tool (In case the store does not crimp it, this is to attach the cable to the connector without damaging it).
Network card (most computers already have it integrated in the motherboard).
Obviously taking into account that we have to have a PC or a Laptop and that the laptop can be connected wirelessly to the router and that this last one allows the connection Wi-Fi(4) or WLAN, if not the Laptop can also serve if it is connected with the network cable UTP.
These are the procedures
Once the 2 cables are plugged in, connect one end of the cable to the XBOX, through the back, and the other end to the router, possibly in the second input and turn on the console.
Connect the PC in the same way, one end to its network input at the back of the cabinet and the other end to an input of the router. Possibly the 1st input. Obviously the computer turned on of course.
The XBOX has by default an IP address of 192.168.0.3, so we have to give our computer a consecutive IP address, i.e., "192.168.0.2" (If the IP number of the XBOX has been changed, we have to give the PC an IP number previous or consecutive to the one of your XBOX. Remember that if you have a home network, the IP of your PC must be set as Automatic, this in order to have Internet). If you do not have a network connection because you do not have Internet at home, go to step 5.
If you know how to change the IP number of your computer, skip to the 6th step, if not, here I explain it for Windows XP:
We have to go to the Control Panel, the executable of the Panel is "Control". In case you do not know, it is in the Start Menu.
Between the Icons that we see, select "Network Connections" and open it to see our available connections and select any .... WITHOUT OPENING... (The wireless connection requires of a wireless modem or a Wi-Fi router, but it is the same procedure, nothing more that we would not have to use the UTP cable of the beginning, this is more comfortable), we give right click in some and we choose "Properties".
In the dialog box, we see the Network protocols installed, and we will see the most important of them the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)", we select it and below we click on the "Properties" button.
In the Protocol Properties, we select the option "Use the following IP address" and there is where we write the IP address consecutive or previous to the one of your XBOX.
REMEMBER THAT, IF YOU HAVE NOT CHANGED IT, THE DEFAULT IP OF YOUR XBOX IS "192.168.0.3".
After changing the IP to "192.168.0.2", for example, press the TAB button on your keyboard to move to the next text box "Subnet Mask", leave this value as "255.255.255.0" and click OK.
Close all windows and wait for a message from Windows that you have a limited or no network connection or possibly nothing at all. Either way we ignore that message since we already know what we were doing.
Note: We will no longer have internet at this point.
To make the network connection functional again just follow the steps again but this time leave the IP address set to "Obtain an IP address automatically".
If you are using Windows Vista, the protocol is called "Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4), same procedure, but you get to it through the "Network and Sharing Center", which is in the Control Panel in the "Network and Internet" section as "Configure file sharing", open it and to see the protocol click on "View Status" and then in the next dialog box on "Properties".
If you do not have a Network connection, you must create one, using the related tasks.
Once you have changed the IP Address of your PC or Laptop (Wired, LAN or Wireless, WLAN), proceed to open Windows Explorer. Its executable is "explorer", shortcut "Start or Win+E" or it is found among the Accessories, of the Start Menu in All Programs. It is also valid to open "My Computer" or "My Computer" if you use Windows Vista.
In the address bar of the Windows Explorer we write the following:
If you changed your XBOX name and password, you will have to remember them, if not, then its default name and password are "XBOX".
Type:
ftp://XBOX.XBOX@192.168.0.3and press Enter.
If you have another username and password it would look like this.
ftp://reno05.********@192.168.0.3What do we achieve with that?...As our devices already have consecutive IP addresses, the only thing that the router does is to visualize the information of the hard disk of the XBOX to the PC or Laptop, being visualized through the Explorer of Windows and the help of the Internet Explorer and as we did it via FTP, we have opportunity to take the information of the hard disk of the XBOX as well as to upload new information to it.
With this you will have access to an FTP folder in Windows Explorer which if you open it, you will see all the partitions that the XBOX has: C, D, E, F, X, Y, Z or the ones you have.
REMEMBER that the most important files on your XBOX are in Partition (C:) so don't mess with any files in that folder, you can only upload new information to the (E:) or (F:) folder. Emulators go in a folder called "Emulators" and applications go in a folder called "Apps".
After you have uploaded all the files you need, just close Windows Explorer, set your IP number back to an automatic one, so that your internet is restored and restart your XBOX so that the hard disk recognizes the newly uploaded files, and remove all network cables used in the procedure. If you used a laptop with a wireless FTP connection, you won't have to work too hard.
If you did not listen to me and you messed with the files of the folder (C:), your XBOX can be Briked(5) and become unusable, I do not say that it cannot return to be working again or that will remain totally unusable but that will be covered in another article that I will write later, if I have time.
FIRST OF ALL, I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE THAT MAY BE CAUSED TO THE CONSOLES, DUE TO NOT FOLLOWING TO THE LETTER THE PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN THIS TUTORIAL. THERE IS NO RISK THAT THE CONSOLE WILL BECOME TEMPORARILY UNUSABLE BY FOLLOWING THESE PROCEDURES, EXCEPT IF ANY FILE IN THE (C:) PARTITION OF THE XBOX HARD DRIVE IS DELETED AND/OR DAMAGED AND/OR CORRUPTED AND/OR EDITED IN ANY WAY BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THIS TUTORIAL. IN ANY CASE, IF THIS IS THE CASE, AND THE CONSOLE IS TEMPORARILY UNUSABLE, THERE IS A PROCEDURE FOR ITS RECOVERY. AND REMEMBER THAT DOING THIS VIOLATES THE WARRANTY OF THE CONSOLE AND EVEN MORE IF THE CONSOLE IS OPENED BY PERSONNEL OTHER THAN A MICROSOFT CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN, SO THE COMPANY MAY NOT REFUND THE ITEM IN QUESTION.
IN SUMMARY DO THESE PROCEDURES UNDER YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY.
This was the small tutorial on how to connect an XBOX Normal Black or Crystal Version via FTP to a PC or LAPTOP Computer.
Glossary
- Chip: XBOX consoles that have a chip installed inside to enable the reading of pirated DVD's and Dashboards and play XBOX Live.
- Xploid: Virtual Chip that is installed in the hard disk of the XBOX so that this one believes that it has the chip and thus to be able to read pirate discs and Dashboards installations.
- XBMC: XBOX Media Center, is the application that turns the console into a true multimedia center, enabling the reproduction of almost any audio or video media and images and also options for Skins.
- Wi-Fi: Wireless Fidelity, WLAN network connection that allows wireless navigation, using access points or Hot-spots or routers that connect it to the network.
- Briked: State in which the XBOX console may be left if any of the Dashboard files are deleted or edited. A cracked console can be fixed by using another XBOX, exchanging data between hard drives. There are approximately 20 different errors that can cause the XBOX to crash.
