Access original xbox hard-drive

Discussion in 'Console Help Center' started by Backchat, Sep 9, 2014.

  1. Backchat

    Backchat Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2012
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    I know I've seen the answer to this on the forum somewhere but can't think where so I apologise for this....

    I have my original xbox hard-drive removed from the broken box that I need to connect to my pc and copy the games, videos, music and photos but don't know what programme I can install that can do that for me please??
    Cheers
    M
     
  2. InsaneNutter

    InsaneNutter Resident Nutter Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2007
    Messages:
    12,260
    Likes Received:
    3,726
    Location:
    Yorkshire, England
    Party Buffalo Drive Explorer should open FATX formatted drives pretty well. The hard drive on the Xbox Classic can be locked though, so you might actually need the borken console to power on and unlocked the drive, then keeping it powered you can unplug the IDE cable and hook it up to your PC, and in theory access the contents of the hard drive.

    I believe the Xbox 360 tools should be able to read he FATX partitions on the Xbox Classic hard drive, however its not something i have ever tried.

    You can damage your Xbox hard drive and possibly PC by hot swapping IDE drives when the PC / Xbox are powered on however. It might be an idea to try fix the console if possible and just FTP the contents off the hard drive.
     
  3. Backchat

    Backchat Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2012
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Nice one Nutter.... Thanks for taking the time out for that explanation, much appreciated.... All straightforward enough but unfortunately the console is long gone... by a few years. Where I was based overseas it just wasn't viable storing a dead weight lol


    So regarding weather my hard drive is locked... Is that an operating state or just pre-hacked setting?


    I ask because way back when I had already replaced the original harddrive with a Seagate 200Gb (lol seemed big at the time) and being a modded box the Hd had evox, xbmc etc installed ( Which is what am actually trying to access on it... My sons photos when new born)? :lol

    Cheers
    M
     
  4. InsaneNutter

    InsaneNutter Resident Nutter Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2007
    Messages:
    12,260
    Likes Received:
    3,726
    Location:
    Yorkshire, England
    It's an operating state, when locked a PC cant access the drive. The Xbox powers, unlocks it and boots up, meaning aslong as the drive is not powered off a PC can read it. I believe its sort of like encryption, the drive is essentially decrypted when the console powers on, however don't quote me on that its been a long time since i did anything with the Xbox.

    As you have upgraded the drive yourself chances are it might not be locked and you can connect it to a PC then read the contents with one of the 360 tools that can read FATX formatted drives.
     
  5. Backchat

    Backchat Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2012
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Yes, very long time indeed lol

    I was afraid it was the operating state.... Well the only thing to do on Sunday is down load said buffalo, plug in and see. I'll let you know the result sir!

    Thanks very much :)
    M
     
  6. Backchat

    Backchat Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2012
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    P. S... Just read up and apparently if unlocked using 'config magic' (that's a blast from the past) then it can be connected to pc but whilst unlocked the xbox is unbootable so I very much doubt my HD is. Alas!
     

Share This Page