xbox live security update = massive banning

[yoooooon]

those of you who have modded xboxes,

say peace out, a zillion people are getting banned as we speak~

it is speculation that if you have a larger hard drive you will get banned,

or possibly if you have unsigned game saves on your hd

anyway, just watch out pimps.

[SNK Guitarist]

If your hdd is locked at the 8 gigs, how are they going to find out? If they could do this, why didn't they done it a year ago? Game saves mean dick as well. You have a source for this?

[KneelB4Me]

The current safety precautions for people who use modded Xboxes does not mean jack anymore. I got banned last night, just off out now to buy a new Xbox. IMO it is not worth buying new eeproms and such when you cannot even pinpoint how MS found out your system was modified.

[Captain Ryu]

Thank god I got a second xbox just to mod it.

[KneelB4Me]

Got my new Xbox. These crystal XBoxes are kinda neat.

So yeah, anybody with modified Xboxes be extra carefull :xeye:

[SNK Guitarist]

Once again, is there a source out there? I've had mine modded for over a year and a half and never had to do anything else to it (like buy eeproms or whatever). Also, as I've never been banned from live before, do they tell you why you're banned (so you know that your banning as to do with having a modded system, rather than something else)? Or if you were just suspended?

[KneelB4Me]

In my case it just would not sign on. When it prompted to take me to Network Settings to try to sort the programme, the IP, DNS and everything registered as fine. But it would not complete the last step for connecting to XBL. It then showed a message titled Modified Xbox Error. I know that www.Xbox-scene.com has some info on this in the Xbox Live forum there. There are a lot of people saying they have been banned. All of them saying that they never enabled the Modchip for anything to do with Live.

[Don Calzone]

Oh man, got A TON of shit on my 120 gig hdd. No free space left duds... Well, just have to cross my fingers it runs smoothly at least until spring (birthday and shit).

[gl0ry]

i got banned last night as well

[Gherikill]

I got banned as well

[yoooooon]

yeah, apparently halo 2 is the "superbowl" for xboxlive

they beefed it up just for halo 2's release

oh well, i don't even go online yet~
but i am going to wait until they find out exactly what it is.

[mastermind]

Funny, I haven't been banned yet. But I'll know for sure when I get home tonight after work. *knocks on wood*

[SNAAAAKE]

Har har har not me :encore:
My box is modded with aladin stealth chip,120gb and some bootleg burnout 3 save download.I did not get banned yet because xbox live tracks whatever hardware you used to get on live.Like epprom and serial of the HD.I stared WITH the OEM HD and didn't change a thing ever since.So in order to stay online,you will need a virgin epprom and a virgin HD and start everything over and never change a thing again.

[pulpasis]

To the guys that got banned, did you ever play the Halo 2 leak on your system?

[mastermind]

I believe SNAAAAKE speaks the truth.

From what I've been reading up on all morning, if your XBox was previously used for XBL purposes and then you modded it (such as buying a refurb'd XBox and the original user used their own XBL account on it), you'll get banned with the new update. They are starting to match HD serials with XBox serials, and if the new update sees that your hardware and serial numbers aren't what they have on file, then to the ban list you go.

Even though this is speculation, this is what it's been narrowed down to.

EDIT: what I did before I logged onto my legit copy of Halo 2, was delete anything having to do with the pre-released version. Saves, member profiles, everything. Just to be cautious. Hopefully, they won't ban me because of my JPN version of SF Anniversary Collection.

[Dreaded Fist]

that don't mean anything. I installed live on the retail hd and upgraded later and still got banned. Wait wait. You just said you STARTED with the OEM HD, and didn't change a thing? And you now have a 120gb? wtf?

"So in order to stay online,you will need a virgin epprom and a virgin HD and start everything over and never change a thing again."


well..yeah, because new eeprom and retail hd pretty much means a new Xbox.

[SNAAAAKE]

You just said you STARTED with the OEM HD, and didn't change a thing? And you now have a 120gb? wtf?


OEM HD = 120GB from OEM retailers from www.pricewatch.com.Same as any other store bought HDs.
I would have been banned by now if I started with the stock/default/8GB HD that came with my xbox then upgraded later with the new 120GB.Then again its all theory..no one knows fo sure what M$ is doing with this massive banning shit.

EDIT : Just remembered,I did get on live before.Bought my xbox on 12/21/03 and got on live after like a week(cant remember..could be 2 weeks) without any modchip and default HD.Then after my 2 month shit expired.I installed aladin modchip and 120gb and still not banned.Now according to xbox scene..they are saying that M$ has been tracking/scanning HD info/serial for atleast 8 months.And I upgarded my box with everything 8 months ago,that explains why my box isnt banned yet.

[MrWizard]

the first time you associate an account with the xbox, microsoft tracks that. if you change anything in the xbox after that, microsoft knows you have a modded xbox. its the same effect like windows product activation. so if you want to go online with a modded xbox, you have to flash the eeprom and get a new hard drive that is locked and you will be good to go.

[SNAAAAKE]

the first time you associate an account with the xbox, microsoft tracks that. if you change anything in the xbox after that, microsoft knows you have a modded xbox. its the same effect like windows product activation.

Yeah but I "DID" go on live then upgraded with a new HD.But I upgraded after my first live account expired(2 month thingy).So I am guessing I got away with the HD and modchip upgrade cuz I used a new account. And I didn't get any of those automatic live updates yet...

[Zeruel]

Okay. Let me get this straight as I plan on joining the lot of you for some hot SF action... I am getting an Xbox in a few weeks and plan on hopping on to Live ASAP. I will probably get my chip a few weeks after (I'm looking at the Xecuter3 if anyone cares.) Basically, I'm not looking to do anything with the HDD, dashboard, or any of the other hacks that I've seen - just the ability to play backups of my titles offline. Is it possible to get a chip installed after my initial visit to Live and not get hit up with a ban?

Also, any chip recommends would be hot. PM me with suggestions. ^_^

[MrWizard]

Okay. Let me get this straight as I plan on joining the lot of you for some hot SF action... I am getting an Xbox in a few weeks and plan on hopping on to Live ASAP. I will probably get my chip a few weeks after (I'm looking at the Xecuter3 if anyone cares.) Basically, I'm not looking to do anything with the HDD, dashboard, or any of the other hacks that I've seen - just the ability to play backups of my titles offline. Is it possible to get a chip installed after my initial visit to Live and not get hit up with a ban?

Also, any chip recommends would be hot. PM me with suggestions. ^_^

yeah as long as you dont change the bios or hdd, you will be fine by adding a mod chip

[Zeruel]

yeah as long as you dont change the bios or hdd, you will be fine by adding a mod chip

k, so what when people talk about EvoX and all that stuff, that's considered a BIOS flash?

Sorry for coming off like an ass... I come from a time when you just installed 4-wire mods on PS1 and you were good to go. All of this BIOS flashing and EEPROM madness perplexes me. I never thought chipping a system would get like this.

[pulpasis]

Ah crap! I got caught by "The Man" :bluu:

[GyBaNO]

I'm not trying to rag on you guys or anything, but I find it hilarious that many of you guys actually have modded Xboxes with larger HDs. I'm not dissing or anything.

[blackadde]

Hmm .. I'm not banned yet, played a couple hours of Halo 2 today. Didn't clean out anything re: halo2 leak, and I have a standard HD (although with EvoX etc on it).

[SNAAAAKE]

I'm not trying to rag on you guys or anything, but I find it hilarious that many of you guys actually have modded Xboxes with larger HDs. I'm not dissing or anything.

Whats "hillerious" about it ? :confused:
Modded xbox is great.You get to play games off HD without paying for it and no loading time,run all the emulators you want(arcade,snes,neogeo,N64,etc),play dvd movies or any other downloaded movies on your big screen,etc.Still playing online no problem :karate:

[X-Sapphire]

I can turn my modchip on/off from a switch. So I just turn it off when I play on live. Microsoft don't kno who they dealin with!

[psychochronic]

Whats "hillerious" about it ? :confused:
Modded xbox is great.You get to play games off HD without paying for it and no loading time,run all the emulators you want(arcade,snes,neogeo,N64,etc),play dvd movies or any other downloaded movies on your big screen,etc.Still playing online no problem :karate:

preach, i wish they came out with a DC emulator...

[KneelB4Me]

I can turn my modchip on/off from a switch. So I just turn it off when I play on live. Microsoft don't kno who they dealin with!

Uhm, its the same with everyone here! If you arent banned, you got lucky! :tup:

[ThugLife24]

ahhahahh SUCKAZZZZ!!!

im gonna be thinkin of all of u while i continue to own all the competetion in halo 2 :badboy: :badboy: :badboy:

[X-Sapphire]

Uhm, its the same with everyone here! If you arent banned, you got lucky! :tup:

I'm pretty sure it makes more sense that I haven't gotten banned cuz I go on live only when I turn my mod off. You guys probably played online w/your modchip on. I always play live w/mod off.

Are you sure u got banned w/modchip off??

[x_tremer]

you cant go online with your modchip on.... they kick you off right away then ban you... you think they go online with their chip on? How could of they been on live in the first place...

[fubarduck]

I'm pretty sure it makes more sense that I haven't gotten banned cuz I go on live only when I turn my mod off. You guys probably played online w/your modchip on. I always play live w/mod off.

Are you sure u got banned w/modchip off??

Maybe you should go check out http://forums.xbox-scene.com and read the new 26-page thread about how everyone is getting banned with their mods off.

MS has some new security measures in place, and a good majority of modded X-Box's (that have never gone online with their mods on) have been banned.

[gl0ry]

buy a new xbox and the problem solved. The way I look at it is the modded xbox is on a whole other level compared to all other consoles. It plays all emu's pretty much perfectly and beautifully on full screen without borders, videos as well. It's worth buying a new xbox to just play live on.

[ChaosNightWolf]

OMG thank god for this thread. I was going to mod my xbox and put a larger hd in this holiday season.

Is it still possible to just buy the mod chip, and play burnt dvd copies of the game? If so Ill just do that without changing out the hd. Would I still be banned?

[timekillr]

OMG thank god for this thread. I was going to mod my xbox and put a larger hd in this holiday season.

Is it still possible to just buy the mod chip, and play burnt dvd copies of the game? If so Ill just do that without changing out the hd. Would I still be banned?

You wouldn't be banned if you didn't go online with your modchip on.

[X-Sapphire]

well then I guess i'm too fukin lucky. :encore:

EDIT: you guys should read page 28 of the thread in the forums fubarduck mentioned...seems like its something to do with changing font settings.

[statikeffeck]

Good thing I read this thread before I decided to install a modchip & install new hard drive in my xbox; I already signed up to LIVE with it.
Now I'll have to buy a NEW Xbox if I want to make a modded one. Unless I don't want to use Live again.
Question: if you get banned from xbox live, can you just buy it again and create a new account on your modded xbox?

[MrWizard]

your xbox gets banned not your live account

[timekillr]

Good thing I read this thread before I decided to install a modchip & install new hard drive in my xbox; I already signed up to LIVE with it.
Now I'll have to buy a NEW Xbox if I want to make a modded one. Unless I don't want to use Live again.
Question: if you get banned from xbox live, can you just buy it again and create a new account on your modded xbox?

When you are banned from Live, your XBOX gets banned, not your GamerTag. Therefore, buying Live again will do you no good. You need to buy a new xbox and transfer your live account..

[KneelB4Me]

When you are banned from Live, your XBOX gets banned, not your GamerTag. Therefore, buying Live again will do you no good. You need to buy a new xbox and transfer your live account..

The more expensive way, go MS!

But yeah, for those who are thinking of getting their Xbox modded soon I would leave it for a bit. Just to find out the in's and out's of how MS are finding out about the modded consoles. Personally I now have a seperate Xbox for playing online with. The modded Xbox is good enough to warrant buying a seperate one for XBL (if you play regulary enough) imo.

[Kid Kapwaan]

Ya I soft modded my xbox which is a mod that does not use a mod chip, just a crack in splinter cell and a program to mod the box. I dont know if its my buddy that didnt put the right files into my box but when i try to dl the new xbl update a black screen comes up saying that xbox has had an error in like 5 different languages in shit. Does that mean my xbox is already banned or did my buddy jus mess up?

[GyBaNO]

buy a new xbox and the problem solved. The way I look at it is the modded xbox is on a whole other level compared to all other consoles. It plays all emu's pretty much perfectly and beautifully on full screen without borders, videos as well. It's worth buying a new xbox to just play live on.

True, true! I played with an old buddies modded Xbox back in late 2002, and we were rocking on old-school everything for days on end sometimes. Then there was that one weekend in early December 2002 were we blacked out after a weekend of continous Samurai Shodown 2 and.......

No!

[iMPULSZE]

What happens if i mod my xbox but have both the og hd in it, and the aftermarket larger hd in it, and just switch to the og when i go on live... can they detect that?

[Don Calzone]

Yes, still not banned. Come on Bill! Show me whatcha got!

[fubarduck]

For those who haven't kept up on X-Box Scene:

Basically, MS seems to be checking for TWO things on Live--

1) For the first time you sign on Live ever since Live 2.0 came out about a year ago, X-Box Live records the combination of the serial number of your hard drive + your EEPRom. Basically, since they have no way of knowing exactly what hard drive is in the X-Box you own, they just do a check the first time you get online, and Live thinks that the HD they record belongs to the X-Box.

In a nutshell, if you get on Live with your original hard drive, you have to get on Live with that hard drive forever, otherwise that X-Box will be banned. If you upgraded to a larger hard drive AFTER signing on to X-Box Live, you will be banned unless you put your original hard drive back in. If you don't want to do this, you'll have to get a new X-Box for Live.

Conversely, if you get on Live for the first time with a non-original, upgraded hard drive, your X-Box WILL NOT be banned as long as you continue using the same hard drive with Live and not switching. If you signed on Live originally with a NON-ORIGINAL hard drive, you MUST use the same one. If you go back to your original hard drive, you will be banned, even if you remove your mod and any foreign files.


2) The other thing that Live seems to check for now is whether or not you have any trainers installed. Trainers are files that help people CHEAT, which MS has made clear they don't want. If you used "Slayer's EvoX Auto-Installer" to set up your modified X-Box, it installs a lot of trainers, so BE SURE to delete them BEFORE logging on to Live. This seems to be the main thing affecting people who have never even changed their hard drive, but have a mod of some kind.

There DOES NOT seem to be any file scanning for French Halo 2 saves or different dashboards on the C: drive as some other people have theorized.


Good luck, and be careful. As of now, following these two simple rules seems to allow everyone to keep playing on Live with a modified X-Box. If you ever notice that your Microsoft dashboard or a new game asks you to connect to Live to download an update before you can play, STOP IMMEDIATELY and check the xbox-scene forums to see what the update is all about and if they are banning more people for different reasons.

[Dark Spidey]

i got banned last night as well

i too, banned=sad. i had to resort to xbconnect.then my modem locked me out, but thats for a different reason.

[bigbadcod]

1) For the first time you sign on Live ever since Live 2.0 came out about a year ago, X-Box Live records the combination of the serial number of your hard drive + your EEPRom. Basically, since they have no way of knowing exactly what hard drive is in the X-Box you own, they just do a check the first time you get online, and Live thinks that the HD they record belongs to the X-Box.

Dude that doesnt sound right to me at all.... What happens if you have more than one Xbox or you go round a mates house and use your live account on there Xbox??? obviously your HD serial and EEprom wont be the same if you use more than one xbox so your saying you can only use live on the xbox you first signed in with??? Smells Fishy to me!!!

Not trying to start shit just asking... :tup:

[ChaosNightWolf]

Dude that doesnt sound right to me at all.... What happens if you have more than one Xbox or you go round a mates house and use your live account on there Xbox??? obviously your HD serial and EEprom wont be the same if you use more than one xbox so your saying you can only use live on the xbox you first signed in with??? Smells Fishy to me!!!

Not trying to start shit just asking... :tup:

I had that same question, but I came up with this hypothesis.

Maybe you are not banned because you didn't log on the SAME IP, with different hardware then your orginal. Logging on an xbox live account with your live name on any other xbox probably would not have the same result because there was no hardware mod on your IP. Microsoft probably had this in regaurd when the live service was created. Which probably means you could even log on modded xbox's with your gamertag and not get banned at a DIFFERENT IP. :wow:

[timekillr]

The thing is this..

If the EEPROM AND the HDD change, then it detects you're using a different Xbox.

If the EEPROM doesn't change, BUT the HDD changes, then you've switched your HDD.

There are reports now of just changing the HDD key in the EEPROM with a valid key and it goes back to Live..

[sixtymhz]

To all the cheaters who got banned....

You deserved it.

GGPO.