Microsoft begins new round of Xbox Live bans
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted November 21st 2007 11:58AM
posted November 21st 2007 11:58AM
Heads up, Xbox 360 tinkerers -- it appears that Microsoft is bringing out the ban hammer once again. According to a thread on an Xbox-Scene forum, users are having their Live wrists slapped left, right, and center due to "bad discs" (i.e., non 1:1 copies of games). Initially, the problem seemed to be modified DVD firmware, but it now appears the cause is due to game data that isn't properly copied, or has been "touched" in some manner. Keep in mind, these are console bans, as opposed to Live account bans, which is a minor amount of good news. The forums are abuzz with profane indictments of Microsoft and calls for heads on platters (okay, it's not that bad) -- but mostly everyone is just waiting to see where the next hit will come from. You've been warned, folks.
Yup. No mods or whatsoever. Just the console straight from MS servicecentre in Gemany.
hey jonnie Hup, I've got the same problem. just spent an hour and a half on the phone with xbox support and they refuse to do anything to help me or escalate the matter. i feel i have been banned for no reason, I am a casual gamer and am not into modding. All they will tell me is there is a violation of the terms of use. I am VERY frustrated, so if you find a solution, please let me know.
It happened to be MS fault. They called me back and said they accidentally banned some people with non modified xboxes. All is good now.
Im getting to the point where im scared to turn on my xbox. The last go around my friend got banned and he is to stupid to ever figure out how to open the case up much less mod it.
Now im wondering what do they mean by 1:1 copy because any scratched disk is going to have corrupt data and there for make it different. Dont get me wrong I like microsoft trying to stop cheaters but they should do it in a case by case fashion not just start getting ban crazy.
I didnt modify or tamper with my unit at all and I have been shut out. In July 07 I sent my unit in to be repaired and I was sent back a new one or a modified one. I'm thinking that this is the problem or it could be that I changed my username from unroots to methedez 3 days ago. Bottom line is that I dont know what the heck caused it and its going to run me another 350 for another unit. This aint right. Microsoft offers not detailed explanation and when I offered to send my console back and cover the shipping so that they can at lease find out hands on that i'm telling the truth. Seems like scam to me. They are promoting xbox live hardcore and nobody is playing offline anymore. Whats the point. Its scam that channel 4 needs to get involved with.
9. there will always be people like the ones here who continue to buy games to keep the gaming industry alive for those of us who do want to pirate games :)
So can you still get this ban if you have a modded box but play legit games online?
That's a great ploy to sell more consoles while keeping the lucrative subscription. Way to go.
But seriously, they need a better way to validate "what has been hacked" and "who is modding to cheat", and "who is pirating", instead of putting out a blanket ban on any console that does not return the correct CRC.
Can anyone answer my question?
Yes, you can be banned.
Currently we don't known how MS trigger who is a modder and who isn't.
The better is to disconnect your internet connection and wait for further notice.
To the date:
samsumg m25 - xtreme 3.3c - NO BAN
SAMSUNG MS25 - IXtreme 1.2C - NO BAN
Samsung MS? - ixtreme 1.2 - BAN
Samsung MS25 - NO IEXTREME - BAN
Hitachi ?? - 2.X (no iextreme) - BAN
Xbox 360 Pro
BenQ (spoof to hitachi 59) - iXtreme 1.1 rev 2 - BAN
hitachi 79fl - ixtreme 1.2 - NO BAN
Samsung MS21 - Xtreme 5.2 - NO BAN
SAMSUNG ms 28 - iXtreme 1.2 - NO BAN
Hitachi 46DH - Ixtreme 1.2 - NO BAN
Samsung MS25 - ixtreme 1.0 - NO BAN
Hitachi47 - ixtreme 1.1 - NO BAN
Samsung - Ixtreme 1.2 - NO BAN
There are people saying that this ban was trigged weeks ago with the free game given by MS.
if Microsoft find someone playing live on modded xbox360 and get banded!, dose that mean you can't use your xbox360 anymore?
Having gone through the hassel of having my forza disk replaced twice and gears once from magic rings appearing on my disks i decided to get moded and play from backups. I do own originals of every disk and am rather 'vexed' (insert the word of your choice) at being treated like a criminal just because I didnt want to spend weeks chasing internet companies for replcements. If microsoft had bothered to spend a few pence mopre on drives that didnt duff up the disks this situation would never have arrisen. Plus it was very cowardly of them to hide the fact in the connection error messages rather than bother to inform me. They offer no explanations and no refunds as they havent revoked the membership just the console.
So what happens If someone buys a used unit at Gamestop or sends their unit in for warranty repair and ends up getting a console back that has been banned from Live? Will Microsoft have some way to verify that they are not the person who got the console banned and let them play? Microsoft should just ban gamertags. That would be a far worse punishment for many anyway.