Hack lets you swap 20GB Xbox 360 drive with... 20GB drive

We suppose it's the principle of the thing, and on principle, TheSpecialist's new HDDHacker v0.5B really does let you use your very own HDD in lieu of Microsoft's $100 add-on number, but since Microsoft has firmly set the add-on HDD cap at 20GB (for legit Xbox Live-related usage), you won't be gaining much more than a moral win by following through with this hack. If you feel like really sticking it to The Man, you can use an 40GB 2.5-inch drive, but after running the hack it'll still show up as a 20 gigger for the 360's purposes. You'll also need the Microsoft enclosure to hook this up to your Xbox, so you might as well just fork over the $100 if you bought the Core 360 package and have been hankerin' for a HDD. Though, TheSpecialist seems to think the actual hook-up job shouldn't be too terribly hard for a competent hacker, so it really could be possible for you to drop a few bucks on a Western Digital BEVS Series drive (the only kind that works with the hack), copy the relevant sectors for a legit Xbox 360 drive, and have your very own Microsoft-free storage setup. The Man won't know what hit him.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Nando @ Jan 26th 2007 11:20AM]

Dear Microsoft,

Please stop being douches and bring out the 200GB hard drives.

Sincerely,

Everyone

[Smeagol @ Jan 26th 2007 11:31AM]

I swapped the 20gb drive on my PS3 for a 120gb .. easy as pie.

[CowboyGA @ Jan 26th 2007 11:40AM]

I got an xbox for no other reason than because of the mod-ability. MS doesn't want people ripping games to their HDD and wants to ensure no free market when buying xbox360 HDD, but truth be told, if the hacking community could pull off another xbox miracle with the 360, I'd buy one today. Possibly two.

[sycks @ Jan 26th 2007 12:17PM]

I think we all would

[Help Line @ Jan 26th 2007 12:17PM]

I absolutely love how everyone ignores the fact that Microsoft just reduced their projected numbers for the Xbox 360. People are so desperate for the 360 to succeed and the PS3 to fail. The longer the cycle though, the more Sony is at the advantage. The cost of their tech is going to drop the fastest, they are going to have the best exclusives, and the best graphics/power. Sony is looking long term just like Microsoft. The PS3 is selling better than the 360 was at this point in the game(regardless of PS3's on shelves, that is a supply issue, not demand, people are blowing the media coverage out of proportion on this topic). The video game market is weak right now across the board. Consoles just aren't selling like they were supposed to. It's hard for the average consumer to find a reason to upgrade at this point. The difference in graphics/power from ps1 to ps2 was far greater and more enticing to people than the graphics from ps2 to ps3. Stay calm Xbox fanboys.

[Mile @ Jan 26th 2007 2:20PM]

Links to any of these 'facts' you're posting?

[Don @ Jan 26th 2007 4:00PM]

The PS3 *IS* failing - it is failing to meet its numbers. When the 360 came out, it was nearly 4 months before the supply outstripped demand (partially due to a factory being offline, but still). Even this Xmas, 360's were scarce in some places. It seems that the price point of the 360 is just right for consumers.

The other day I saw a sad sight - 12 PS3's sitting in a cage in the middle of best buy, with an unmanned "extra register" next to them.

It's a really nice machine, but people just aren't willing to spend the 600 bucks yet. Worse, the console's high cost doesn't seem to leave a lot of wiggle room for Sony.

[Arno @ Jan 26th 2007 12:20PM]

Uh-oh. Someones been drinking the kool-aid!

[tk. @ Jan 26th 2007 12:36PM]

"Smeagol @ Jan 26th 2007 11:31AM
I swapped the 20gb drive on my PS3 for a 120gb .. easy as pie."

But did you do this with your original xbox?

I swapped the 8 for a 120 then a 250 then a 300.

Almost broke a sweat disconnecting the IDE and power cables.

[holytouch @ Jan 26th 2007 12:37PM]

wow help line, is it fun working at sony?

uh... the Frys here in Dallas, TX has ps3's stacked to the ceiling, they ain't selling. maybe the 360's have slowed down, but you would never know it here - they are still outselling the overpriced ps3s.

maybe once sony gets competitive with the price then they will move some units, but don't give anyone your fanboi analysis just yet.

(and yes, i have a ps2, ps1 and other sony products. i love them too - but i can see something for what it is and there is no compelling reason to spend more $$ on a ps3 than a 360 unless you are some rabid fool)

[javier.guillermo @ Jan 26th 2007 1:00PM]

We must shop at the same Fry's... yeah, there is a Pile of PS3 at mine on the I-635. The issue between the Xbox360 and PS3 war is not just the price, resolution, which console has a better processor, graphic card, biggest hardrive, etc...
The point is that why do you want to drop 600 bucks plus taxes to play with Resistance: fall of mine, the only PS3 game that although is not great, doesn't suck. At least on Xbox you have Gears of wars and Halo3 coming in a few weeks.

[Jon @ Jan 26th 2007 12:41PM]

Help Line,

Why don't YOU back up statement with facts instead of your own rhetoric bullshit?

Yeah of course its hard for a consumer to find a reason to upgrade to a $600 console with 1 good game out (that's not available on the 360).

PS- The Playstation Network is AWESOME!!!!


pause
pause
pause


NOT

[clemonator @ Jan 26th 2007 12:43PM]

I'll go with Arno on this one. One reason is you simply cannot compare a product that has just been released with one that is over a year old and state that they are winning... Let's give the PS3 some time to mature in the market and let is ride through the initial fanboy lemmings.

Also I would say you are wrong for another reason-development time. Microsoft has went out of its way to make developer uber-easy versus the super expensive PS3 methodology. This purely places Microsoft ahead in terms with expenses relating specifically to development costs.

Now, back to topic. Microsoft must update their firmware and allow either external USB HDD support or expand their product line with a 'DIY cage unit' or larger HDD's. Considering renting a 720p movie and am not thrilled with it taking up over 4 gigs of space out of my 9 gigs available.

[J @ Jan 26th 2007 12:48PM]

Help Line:
"The PS3 is selling better than the 360 was at this point in the game(regardless of PS3's on shelves, that is a supply issue, not demand, people are blowing the media coverage out of proportion on this topic). "..."Prove me wrong"

Read between the lines, you stated the facts but you still do not want to believe it.
Even the 3rd party game developers (EA) are starting to doubt it, and this is based on their bottom line.

[Help Line @ Jan 26th 2007 1:03PM]

Dear Idiots,

From an Analyst standpoint the PS3 is failing, plain and simple. They look at whether or not Sony is meeting expectations and they recognize that they aren't at this point. The only console launch that has met the expectations is the Wii, and their expectations were relatively low and safe. You need to put aside all the hype and unfilled promises Sony has given their audience and look at how the system is doing as far as sales go. If you look at NPD stats you'll see that Sony's PS3 is selling, and they are able to supply more systems than they prevously thought. If demand remains constant and supply increase you will have more system on store shelves, plain and simple.

Regards,

Help Line

[Help Line @ Jan 26th 2007 1:09PM]

Dear Jon,

You sound like you're twelve and addicted to Ritalin.

Congrats,

Help Line

[Jypson @ Jan 26th 2007 1:12PM]

Why does every article involving a video game console/accessory/hack/news automatically turn into a mindless 360 Vs. PS3 rant? It's really getting old. Engadget, why don't you just put a link at the top of the comments section that goes to some horrible long and retarded comments section that these "fan boy" monkeys can rant and rave about whose video game machine is better. Then if you want to discuss the article logically you can, and if you want to run your finger nails down the chalk board of sanity, you can do that too...elsewhere.

[Help Line @ Jan 26th 2007 1:17PM]

Your comment had nothing to do with my comment or the actual content of the original article. Well done.

[Jypson @ Jan 26th 2007 1:29PM]

Jypson @ Jan 26th 2007 1:12PM
Why does every article involving a video game console/accessory/hack/news automatically turn into a mindless 360 Vs. PS3 rant? It's really getting old. Engadget, why don't you just put a link at the top of the comments section that goes to some horrible long and retarded comments section that these "fan boy" monkeys can rant and rave about whose video game machine is better. Then if you want to discuss the article logically you can, and if you want to run your finger nails down the chalk board of sanity, you can do that too...elsewhere.


Help Line @ Jan 26th 2007 1:17PM
Your comment had nothing to do with my comment or the actual content of the original article. Well done.


My point exactly!

P.S. Helpline, the world doesn't care what you have to say, do us all a favor and die. Thanks!

[hesh @ Jan 26th 2007 1:52PM]

Help Line...

What does your original comment have to do with 360 drive swapping?

[hesh @ Jan 26th 2007 1:18PM]

MS really needs to release a larger drive. Hell, I'd pay $250 for a 200gb drive from them. Isn't like 7 or 8gb of the 20gb used just for the backwards compatibility emulation software and reserved for updates? They're really pushing downloadable content, but that isn't going to us any good if we don't have the space for it (eventually).

[SAGExSDX @ Jan 26th 2007 1:21PM]

Is this guy for real? sounds more like someone who is giving us a simulation of a typical fanboy.

wii expectations relatively low and safe? how is 4 million low and safe?

and though not launch expectations, xbox360 surpassed its goals by almost half a million (10.4 million)

i dont think this person is being serious. i think he's giving us something to laugh about.

[Help Line @ Jan 26th 2007 1:34PM]

-For Real.
-Everyone expected the Wii to sell well.
-Microsoft just dropped their projected numbers i.e. not meeting expectations.
-Dead serious.

[j3oomerang @ Jan 26th 2007 1:30PM]

why is it taking so long to hack this thing, i want linux and be able to install a larger hardrive. I picked up my 360 core a couple weeks ago for 100 bucks, then i had to spend another hundred on the hard drive cause you cant do shit without one...

[jack @ Jan 26th 2007 1:49PM]

its still sold more than the ps3 did this same time last year and demand definetly WAS higher. i mean why would someone get a ps3 over a 360 if they didn't want a blue ray player right now??

stop making shit up. if you really want the ps3 to succeed dont go lying on engadget, where everyone knows more than u, and instead go and make better games for sony.

[F3 @ Jan 26th 2007 1:48PM]

Help Line - You're either a terrible shill or a brilliant comedian.

[shirizaki @ Jan 26th 2007 1:49PM]

It isn't just it being MS free.

If they are even serious about the movie renting and IPTV service, they HAVE to have a triple digit hard drive. And honestly, after downloading a few demos, game saves, and ripping music the hard drive is almost full. And it isn't like you can just run out and hot swap it with a new HD.

[Kevin @ Jan 26th 2007 1:49PM]

Help line owns this thread...He must check it every 3 min...

I'm bored at work too...but geez

[-Dominic @ Jan 26th 2007 1:52PM]

"The cost of their tech is going to drop the fastest, they are going to have the best exclusives, and the best graphics/power."

How can you honestly believe that the Cell processor and blu-ray technology are going to drop in cost the fastest compared to the 360s components? And as far as exclusives, you have MGS4 and Final Fantasy wow and don't color me surprised when either or both of those end up on the 360. Graphics and power, another wash out. All developers have said that the hindrance of the Cell and the quality of the 360 graphics chip makes them almost identical, with the edge going to the 360 because of ease of programming. You think all of the sudden developers are going to be like oh I see now, thats how you do it, and start cranking out 1080p games at 60fps? Well they have had a couple years to do it and still couldn't get it right, see Motorstorm. More empty promises from a company that can't do anything right and your post is just another in a long line of Sony Defense Forces.

[Help Line @ Jan 26th 2007 3:26PM]

Dominic - All I was saying is that in the past the most expensive tech has had the most room too drop in price. A Wii will not drop that much more in price as time goes on cause it's already dirt cheap. The Xbox 360 will drop, probably around Christmas time but is only $400 to begin with so it can't drop that much more. They might shave $100 off if you're lucky. The PS3 is $600, a high price and the reason I haven't bought one yet, but it has much more room to drop in cost down the road. Of course the tech is expensive now, it's new. Look at LCD TV's. Prices have dropped like crazy over the last two years. I said from the get go you need to look at just sales, forget all the "empty promises", this industry is driven by quality consoles and there is no way you can tell me that the PS3 isn't quality. You're just too broke to buy it.

[Help Line @ Jan 26th 2007 2:00PM]

Absolutely nothing. My sole intention was to get everyone mad at me with my intense yet justified comments. And it worked. Thanks.

[Jack Chance @ Jan 26th 2007 1:56PM]

There are PS3's sitting on shelves? I feel really sorry for the assholes who paid $2000 for one on ebay day after launch..... oh wait. NO I DON'T!

I also hope that some of the dickheads to bought 6 of them to resell are stuck with them!!!

[Brisco County @ Jan 26th 2007 1:59PM]

Bout Time someone hacked,MS was paying attention to the Original XBOX mods when they built the 360. Maybe they will listen again in regards to the HDD space that they don't think we need for downloading tv shows that they make money off of! yes I will be upgrading my HDD on my 360!

[hesh @ Jan 26th 2007 2:29PM]

U were in our base, trolling our dudez.

A winner is you!!!!11

[ken @ Jan 26th 2007 2:23PM]

just stop whining over whose better and buy the system.(and a wii you'll love it not the exercise)

sixaxis+mac anyone?

[Matt @ Jan 26th 2007 2:54PM]

Please don't feed the trolls

[wraith808 @ Jan 26th 2007 3:30PM]

Only time will prove anyone right or wrong. Personally, I want both to succeed. I waited until the 360 had good games to buy, and I'll likely wait that long (or longer) on the PS3- having a hard time justifying the cost. And that's why I'm trying to figure out why so many people are being fanboyish about the PS3 at this point and buying it. What are you playing? Resistance over and over? Or is it for that stellar collection of Blue-Ray DVDs? There's no practical reason to buy right now- other than to say that you have it. Perhaps MGS will convince me to buy- or Tekken. But those are really the only exclusives the PS3 still has that I'm even remotely interested in- if it had kept GTA and/or Assassin's Creed that might be a different story...

[Help Line @ Jan 26th 2007 3:43PM]

Boy are you guys going to love this...

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/oct2006/id20061030_448590.htm?chan=innovation_game+room_top+stories

[Louis S. @ Jan 26th 2007 4:26PM]

That article is from October..

Please... just stop before you make yourself look like an ever bigger idiot.

[Wilco @ Jan 26th 2007 3:45PM]

Wow, some of you guys need to grow up. I won't mention names, simply because I think it's obvious who I am talking about.

As for commenting on the article (the ACTUAL purpose of this thread), I think its ridiculous MS doesn't use open tech on the Xbox. At the same time, they don't have much incentive to do so. In fact, they have a tremendous amount of incentive to keep everything as closed as possible.

That beings said, I think it's great that people are making up for what MS is lacking.

.. just my $0.02

[holytouch @ Jan 26th 2007 3:51PM]

i went by Fry's at lunch on a whim. results:

6 stacks, at least 10ft or higher, of ps3's.
4 stacks, wider, of 360s
zero wii's

i think we can all do the math here and come to the same conclusion: help line is entry level techsupport for SCEA just to be close to his Gods...

[h0mi @ Jan 26th 2007 3:57PM]

MS did a good job (so to speak) of locking down the 360. It's not very hackable, other than this hack which is mostly worthless at the moment or the DVD drive fw mod to play "backup discs". The thing is, it makes it difficult for people to upgrade things... like the upgradeable HD. It's not easy to transfer files and settings to the new HD (can you transfer purchased XBLA content to a new drive?) and when the new larger HD is finally available, we'll see how well that goes.

[Oknarf @ Jan 26th 2007 3:59PM]

Boy are you guys going to love this...

That article is from LAST October. How is that even close to relevant at this point.

PS MS .... more space please, and HDMI and IPTV. That's a kick ass system.

[Coolwave @ Jan 26th 2007 4:35PM]

Cool hack... well, not really. Microsoft has to release a new hard drive soon!! My only next gen system right now is the Wii and I will not buy an Xbox 360 until a bigger hard drive is released or a firmware update allows you to move downloads to a network attached storage device (or a price drop).

I doubt I'm the only one waiting for this to happen. I just don't want to buy a system with a 20GB drive and have a 200GB drive come out two months later. Maybe we'll see something happen after the release of Vista.

I will be the first to tell you that I'm a Wii60 fanboy, but still, Help Line is a retard. That Sony'll Win article is from October... you should email the author of the article and ask him if he would write the same article today.

I'll buy a PS3 when Blu-ray wins the format wars (I don't plan on ever buying a PS3).

[dude @ Jan 26th 2007 6:37PM]

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"Retail market research firm NPD said U.S. consumers bought 1.1 million Xbox 360s in December -- just slightly more than the combined purchases of Sony's new PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's new Wii console, which were both in short supply."






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Microsoft Cuts Xbox 360 Shipment Forecast

Microsoft cut its fiscal 2007 forecast for Xbox 360 video game console shipments, citing unsold inventories in stores.

By Reuters
InformationWeek
LOS ANGELES - Microsoft Corp. Thursday cut its fiscal 2007 forecast for Xbox 360 video game console shipments, citing unsold inventories in stores, and said it is trying to make sure its gaming division turns a profit in the upcoming fiscal year.

Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell said Microsoft aims to ship a total of 12 million Xbox 360s by the end of its fiscal year on June 30, down from a previous target of 13 million to 15 million.

"We are just being cautious about the second half. It was always going to be a slow half. We've done very well in the first half. There is a reasonable amount of inventory in the channel," Liddell said in an interview with Reuters.

Microsoft's latest video game console made its debut in November 2005, roughly a year ahead of next-generation machines from rivals Sony Corp. and Nintendo Co. Ltd.

Microsoft, which is locked in a three-way war with Sony and Nintendo for dominance in the $30 billion video game industry, said it shipped 10.4 million Xbox 360 units by the end of 2006. That includes consoles in transit, in stores and sold to consumers.

The companyThursday reported a quarterly profit that topped Wall Street forecasts, and Liddell told Reuters that Microsoft expects to offset lowered Xbox sales expectations with better sales of premium versions of its Windows operating system.

The company raised its sales outlook Thursday for the client software division, which includes its Windows operating system, to a range of 11 percent to 12 percent for the fiscal year from a growth target of 9 percent to 10 percent.

That offset an expected slower rise in sales from the entertainment division. Microsoft now estimates sales for that division rising 26 percent to 31 percent for the fiscal year instead of the previously forecast 33 percent to 46 percent rise.


NOT MISS A HOLIDAY SALE

Over the holidays, Microsoft made sure retailers were well-stocked with consoles. "Our goal was to not miss a sale," Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Microsoft division that includes Xbox, told Reuters.

Retail market research firm NPD said U.S. consumers bought 1.1 million Xbox 360s in December -- just slightly more than the combined purchases of Sony's new PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's new Wii console, which were both in short supply.

Going forward, Moore said Microsoft intends to focus on delivering profits to investors.

Microsoft had promised that its Entertainment and Devices unit -- home to its games businesses -- would turn a profit in fiscal 2008.

"We're very glad to see Microsoft is trying to rein in Xbox so it can be a profitable concern rather than a market-leading, money-losing concern," said Kim Caughey, an analyst at Fort Pitt Capital, which manages more than $1 billion in assets, including shares of Microsoft.

Moore had famously predicted that consumers would buy the Wii and the Xbox 360 for a price roughly equivalent to the $600 high-end PS3 -- a phenomenon known in gaming circles as the "Wii60 Effect."

Nintendo's machine was a break-out hit in the United States, selling 604,200 units in December by NPD's count.

Moore said the success of that rival console, which retails for $250, did not come at the expense of Xbox 360 sales.

"Both platforms seem to be co-existing pretty well," he said.

American Technology Research analyst Paul-Jon McNealy had a slightly different view, saying, "The transition to the next-gen consoles is a little turbulent right now, with Nintendo the only one nailing expectations."


By: Lisa Baertlein

[dude @ Jan 26th 2007 6:39PM]

http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=197000753

[Nick @ Jan 26th 2007 9:32PM]

To hell with all these new fangled systems. Give me an Atari, an 8-track and a black and white TV. Technology is creating more headaches than it's solving.

[Coolwave @ Jan 27th 2007 12:41AM]

Thank you Help Line for pointing out the iPod thread. Yes, everyone said, OMG!! $400 for a hard drive based MP3 player!! Did I buy one, no! Why? Because the $100 alternatives were good enough. Do I have an iPod now? Yes. So yes, you have proven that when the 5th generation PS3 is released for $100-150 cheaper than the original it will sell like crazy!!!

[skoobe @ Jan 27th 2007 7:53AM]

This hack is great and will definitely come in to its own when Microsoft release larger HDD support for the 360.

Dave.

http://www.360gaming.info

[Skoobe @ Jan 27th 2007 7:55AM]

Getting back to the original point, this hack will be more relevant and cost effective when microsoft eventually releases support for larger HDD's.
The xbox360 just keeps getting better with talk of IPTV and PVR functionality on the way

Dave.
http://www.360gaming.info