HOW TO SOFTMOD YOUR XBOX : FPS / MMORPG / RTS Discussion

Heres an in depth guide on how to soft mod your xbox using the SoftMod Installer Deluxe version 4.0. {{{{{I am not responsible for any damage done to your machine.}}}}} I took my time with this guide and tried my best to make it easy to keep track of where you are. it does contain some information from various other guides so if you say I stole this or that, I'm going to use the all mighty pimp hand of doom on you.


===========
REQUIREMENTS:
===========

Newest Microsoft Dashboard
Action Replay
Must own 1 of these 3 games (Platinum Hits versions WILL NOT WORK)
[Splinter Cell]
[007: Agent Under Fire]
[Mechassault]
Xbox LIVE! Gamertag: Must have a gamertag on your Xbox before you softmod. If you dont, you will not be able to create a new one.
Softmod Installer Deluxe (Sid) 4.0 aka Softmod or Linux files (The download contains all files for all 3 games): Version 4.5 is available, however i cannot gain access to a copy. feel free to dig around the internet for it.
zShare.com - <a href="http://www.zshare.net/download/sid-4-0-nknave-edition-xbox-hq-rar.html">Click Here</a>

NOTE: After you download this file, go to the file location, double click it and extract it. Do NOT extract any more files! When you try to transfer the game save over and you get an INVALID GAMESAVE error, then you did not read this note.
If you have linux files from another tutorial, delete them and use these since these are the essentials to this softmodding tutorial.
Only extract the SID-4.0-Nknave.rar, NOTHING MORE.

==========
HOW TO DO IT
==========

Step 1: Install the software that came with your Action Replay (will be referred as AR from now on). If you are confused at what this means, a disc comes with AR, put that in and install it.

Step 2: Plug in your AR USB adapter into your USB port on your computer. Make sure your memory card is in the adapter now.

Step 3: Bring up the AR program.

Step 4: Take the SID4.NK.Launcher file from your folder you saved it to and drag it to the Memory Card (MC) slot on your AR software.

*Having Troubles with this step?* You prolly didn't read the NOTE that I put right below the download link. go back and read again.

Step 5: Now, there are 4 files left for each game that I stated above in the requirements (2 for Splinter Cell). Take the file that is associated with the game you are going to use. NOTE: Splinter Cell has PAL and NTSC, please choose the appropriate file. PAL is for the european version, NTSC is for the american version.

Step 6: Once you have both files on your MC, remove it from the AR adapter and bring it over to your Xbox. Plug it into your controller and boot up your Xbox without a game in the drive.

Step 7: Transfer the files onto your hard drive (hdd). To do this go to the "Memory" screen from the main standard MS Dashboard. When you get into the memory menu, click on the memory card (by pressing left on the D-Pad) and select it by pressing A. When you get into your memory card and find the file, you might have to press the right button on your D-Pad to select the file and then choose copy. Do this for BOTH files or else the installation will not work/start.

Step 8: Now that the files have been transfered to the Xbox, put the game in that you are going to use to softmod with (Splinter Cell, Mechassault, 007:AUF). Each game is different when it comes to how to load linux. Here's the break down:

Splinter Cell: Go to Start Game, click LINUX, and you wont see any check points, but still press A for the Check Points twice. Then the installer should load up.

Mechassault (THE ONE I USED WHEN I HAD AN XBOX): Go to Campaign, click Run Linux and that should load the installer. Mechassualt is known to be harder to get the installer loading since it requires a certain edition. Please be sure that when you have 'Run Linux' highlighted, the files description is as follows:
Controls: Normal
Difficulty: Regular
Current Level: Going Down Hard
If that does not show up, then you will have to get a different version or get Splinter Cell or 007.

007: Go to Load Mission, then select the Xbox Hard Disk option and that should load the installer.

Step 9: This is a KEY step! Now that the installer has loaded, go to 'CREATE MS BACKUP'. This is incase you want to unmod your Xbox for any reason/technical reason.

Step 10: This is another essential step! Go to 'CREATE EEPROM BACKUP'. If you do not do this step, the installer will NOT let you move on. After you click that, a new menu will come up. In that menu, click 'CREATE EEPROM BACKUP'. When that is done, click 'BACK TO MAIN MENU'.

Step 11: Once you are back to the Main Menu, scroll down to 'Install Softmod'. Here's what you should be choosing for each menu (this goes in order):
a] Click Dual Boot for NTSC or PAL (which ever one is for you, if you do not know, please contact someone for assistance)
b] Click Knaves Ndure, Open tray = Retail
c] Choose either the Installation for EvolutionX or UnleashX. For a Novice, I would suggest UnleashX.

Step 12: Three messages will pop up. After reading and understanding each, Press A. On the 3rd message, you will get this message: "All requirements pass. Continue Install?" Click Yes.

Step 13: After the installation is complete, you will get this message:
"Softmod successfully installed, your virtual eeprom must be patched, after eeprom, now you'll boot to installer"
That sentence did not make sense to me, so just press OK. Now a new message pops up:
"The installer will now boot to patching system after it is completed, please turn off Xbox and power back on without game disc to finish install."
Click YES.

Step 14: Press eject and take out your disc and then close the tray. Turn it off. Once off, turn it back on by pressing the power button. When it boots up, UnleashX will appear with a "Softmod Successful" message. It says that it needs 1 more step to finish the install. PRESS A.

After it is finished installing everything, your Xbox will automatically reboot and your UnleashX dashboard should appear. Congratulations! You have just successfully softmodded your Xbox!

===================
HOW TO GET ON XBOX LIVE!
===================

IMPORTANT: When doing this, make sure your LED is green. GREEN = safe to access LIVE! RED = Not safe to access live and can result in a permanent Xbox ban!
Step 1: Hit Eject.
Step 2: Put the game in you wish to play on LIVE!
Step 3: Sign in to Xbox LIVE!
Step 4: Play and ENJOY!
NOTE: If you can't access LIVE! on the first try, go back into your modded dash and go into the network settings and change the IP from static to DHCP!!!! Be sure to SAVE AND EXIT after changing to automatic.

============
ADDITIONAL NOTE
============

This tutorial is to get you on LIVE! without them detecting your soft(ware) mod(ifications). This is also a warning. If you go on LIVE! with any Halo 2 modded material (maps in particular) you WILL be banned from matchmaking. There is no way to play on XBL without getting banned from modded maps (yet).