Quick Guide: How to mod a 360 to run homebrew and backup games off a USB HDD

The skinny version in a nutshell for those that want to know but don't need 20 page tutorial.

1.Make sure you have an exploitable xbox360 to start with. To do this, on a console manufactured prior to July 2009 check your dashboard kernel and the number, if you are lucky then it will start with 7xxx or lower if it can probably be done. If you have been playing any of the latest games like CODMW2 or Assassins Creed 2 or have used Xbox Live in the last 4 months, then don't bother checking, your console cant be hacked and your SoL!



Remember: If you console is manufatured prior to July 2009 and the Xbox360 dashboard number starts with 7 or lower (not 8 or 9), then your good to go.



2.Grab a J-Tag device Edit: SPI Flasher (although we used a USB J-Tag emulating and SPI Flasher), wire it in and extract the firmware. Take a hacked firmware (XBR_Xenon_8955_3 in my case) and copy the security keys  and config data from the extracted firmware to the hacked firmware and then flash it back to the xbox360.



3.Install a few bits of wire and a couple of diodes to bypass one of the security checks and make the Jtag exploit work, bolt the xbox back together and your ready to rock. Your console is now fully capable of running unsigned code. Epic!

or

Get a professional to do it for you: http://www.cavernimports.com/ :D