Several chapters are devoted to the most important part of Xbox modding: choosing a mod chip and then learning how to install it in your Xbox. The mod chip allows you to run third-party software on your Xbox that is normally limited exclusively to licensed retail games. By being able to run custom software on your Xbox, you will be able to transform it into a powerful media center capable of playing music files (such as MP3) and video files (such as MPEG2, Divx, WMV, and Xvid). All of the Xbox mod chips currently available work on the same principles, so you will find the coverage of the material applicable to whatever mod chip you use (or plan to install while reading this book). Although this book addresses several of the major mod chips currently available, it focuses primarily on the Xenium mod chip.

I chose this mod chip because it comes with an excellent operating system with features that will assist with upgrading the hard drive and installing your favorite Dashboards and software. All of the mod chips currently on the market are similar, so even if you're using another mod chip (such as SmartXX, Xecuter, X-Bit, X-Chip, or Chameleon), you will find the topics relevant and helpful because the focus is mainly on the Xbox itself, not on any specific model of aftermarket hardware.

Several chapters are devoted to the installation and use of custom Dashboard software—which is somewhat like an operating system for your "modded" Xbox, allowing you to take advantage of software you have installed. For that matter, the new Dashboards provide a way for you to copy software to your Xbox from your PC using a local area network (LAN) connection. Most custom Dashboards come with an FTP server, so you will be able to log on to your Xbox as if it were a computer on the Internet and then transfer files to your Xbox hard drive. Some Dashboards also provide a SAMBA/SMB server that allows you to treat the Xbox hard drive like a shared network drive.

For you to get the most out of your Xbox, this book will also teach you how to upgrade your hard drive. You will be able to install a new hard drive in your Xbox—replacing the original hard drive—with up to 300GB of storage space, which is plenty of room for anything you want to do with your Xbox.

The hundreds of photos in this book will help to guide you through each subject area—from identifying your particular revision of the Xbox (did you know there are seven "unofficial" versions?) to installing a mod chip to upgrading your hard drive. Everything is fully explained, and each subject area includes dozens of photos that illustrate each step of the process of modding your Xbox.

No matter what you plan to do with your Xbox—from turning it into a monster gaming rig or a media center computer to acting as a hub for your big-screen TV and entertainment center—you will find the information you have been looking for in this concise, fully illustrated, thorough, and step-by-step guide to Xbox mods. This book is part hardware and part software, and there is equal treatment of both. You will learn how to fully customize your Xbox from a functional perspective, as well as from a cosmetic perspective. And you will learn how to modify the software to match the exotic changes you have rendered on the physical appearance and functionality of your new "super" Xbox.

So, if you are just browsing at a bookstore, flip through the pages and see for yourself how every subject is completely explored and explained, and every step of the process is completely laid out for you. I'm sure you will find this book an excellent addition to your library and an indispensable reference that you will keep an arm's length away at all times. This book is not just a guide; it is a reference, with all the major features and specifications of each revision of the Xbox, as well as all the major mod chips at your fingertips.