Xbox:Avalaunch
A popular choice of dashboard in the earlier days of Xbox modding, Avalaunch was the first to support LBA48 patched hard drives, use an integrated DVD player with remote support, and access the G partition. It's features include an integrated IRC, Telnet, and XLink Kai client; dashboard Shoutcast radio station streaming; and the ability to download the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) to be used as a background. Before the official servers went down, it also had the ability to download game saves from Xbox-Saves.
The official website is Avalaunch.net and you can find the official manual here.
The latest version is Version 0.49.3. A patched version known as Avalaunch 0.49.3 Patched can be used that connects to new servers and fixes some bugs. Even if you do not plan to use Avalaunch's server features, using this version is recommended as it notably fixes a clock bug. Note that on versions 0.49.2 and 0.49.3, you will need to disable APOD in the config file, or else you will have freezing issues, unless you use the patched version.
Default Menu
Xbox Media Center
Choosing this will launch Xbox:XBMC, provided that it is installed at E:\Apps\XBMC\.
Games
Detects executable (XBE) files inside of E:\Games and F:\Games and lists them. If you place a rip of a game, such as Halo 2 inside one of these directories, you can launch it here. In order to use the G drive, you must add G:\Games to the directory list in avalaunch.xml.
You can also download game saves here by pressing Start on a game and selecting "Download save game...". If you have Rainbow Six 3 installed and press Start on it, you can download Rainbow Six 3 custom maps by selecting "Rainbow Six Maps..." if map downloads are turned on in Avalaunch's settings. The official servers for these features are offline, but they're available with Avalaunch 0.49.3 Patched.
Applications
Detects executable (XBE) files inside of E:\Apps and F:\Apps and lists them. If you place applications such as Xbox:DVD2Xbox inside of one of these directories, you can launch it here. In order to use the G drive, you must add G:\Apps to the directory list in avalaunch.xml.
Emulators
Detects executable (XBE) files inside of E:\Emulators and F:\Emulators and lists them. If you place emulators such as Surreal64 inside of one of these directories, you can launch it here. In order to use the G drive, you must add G:\Emulators to the directory list in avalaunch.xml.
File Manager
Controls:
- Left Analog Stick: Navigation
- A: Enter selected folder or launch XBE
- B: Parent folder
- X: Add item to queue
- Back: Exit File manager
- Start: Open context menu (move/rename/delete)
By pressing Start on an XBE, you can choose "Edit XBE Title" to change the name displayed in the Games menu.
By pressing Start and selecting "Switch to remote", you can connect to an FTP server from your Xbox. After selecting remote mode, press Start and choose "Add FTP server..." and enter the information for the server you wish to connect to.
IRC Client
The IRC client is just like an IRC client on a PC. Simply type /j =channelname to join a channel. To leave, just press the black button. Supported commands are:
/server <server> <port> - Disconnects you from the current server (URL) and connects you to the specified server and port.
/nick <nickname> - Changes your nickname to <nickname>
/join or /j - Joins the channel you specified
/msg <nick> <message> - Messages <Nick> the <message> you typed
/me - Sends an action message to the current channel
/quit - Will quit IRC
Telnet Client
Telnet is a protocol that allows you remote into another system and run commands. Generally, this isn't useful for an Xbox, but the option is there to use it.
Settings
Network
You can change your network connection settings, FTP settings, IRC login settings, XLink Kai login settings, and Telnet settings. Prior to the official servers going down - you could download applications here. Applications can be downloaded again with Avalaunch 0.49.3 Patched.
Main Options
You can change Audio/Video settings, see your hardware/system/DVD/HDD information, change DVD player settings, lock or unlock your hard drive, and various other settings.
Skins
You can change settings for skins, including enabling "Astronomy Pic Of the Day (APOD)" which will download NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day and display it as the background image. There is also a similar feature called "ACAM (Adult)" which is for displaying non-nude pictures of women. You can also apply skins that you have placed in .../Avalaunch/media/skins/. You can also download skins from a database here. The official server for skin downloading has since gone offline, but they can be downloaded again with Avalaunch 0.49.3 Patched.
Sounds
You can change settings for background music to automatically start playing on boot. You can change the directory it pulls music from, with the default being F:\mp3. You can also enable Voice over IP if you have a LIVE headset attached.
- NOTE: You will need to set the background music setting to Shoutcast if you wish to play Shoutcasts in the background at all.
Language
You can choose your desired language for Avalaunch. By default, 14 languages are supported (with two "fun" languages being m00 and h4x0r). More language files can be added by adding them to .../Avalaunch/media/languages/.
Quickstart
A great feature of Avalaunch is the ability to launch chosen games or applications by holding a button while the system starts up.
You can assign a game or app to a button by choosing the button in this menu, enabling quickstart for it, and selecting "Path". Press White to open the keyboard and enter the file path (e.g. F:\Games\Halo 2\). Select "Filename" and press White again to open the keyboard and enter the file name of the XBE (e.g. default.xbe).
The Left Trigger option is not configurable, but you can enable "Launch last app" to allow it to launch the last played game or app upon boot.
About Avalaunch
Your Avalaunch dashboard version will be displayed, as well as a small description and credits.
Update Dashboard
Prior to the official servers going offline, you were able to download dashboard updates from this location. Dashboard updates can be downloaded with Avalaunch 0.49.3 Patched for any updates to it that are released.
Reboot / Shutdown
Soft restarts or shuts down your Xbox.
General Combos
The following shortcuts can be used at any time on the dashboard.
- White: Open virtual keyboard.
- Hold RT: Scroll faster.
- Press LS or RS: Play next MP3 / Shoutcast station.
- Press LS or RS + LT: Stop music.
- LT + RT + Black: Take a screenshot. Only works on dashboard, saves to
.../Avalaunch/media/screenshots
- LT + RT + X: Switch to PAL-I 60Hz mode.
- LT + RT + A: Switch to NTSC-M 60Hz mode.
- LT + RT + Y: Switch to PAL-I 50Hz mode.
- LT + RT + B: Switch to NTSC-J 60Hz mode
Bootup Combos
The following shortcuts can be used by holding the indicated combo while the Xbox is booting up.
- Hold LS: Boots disc (
D:\default.xbe).
- Hold LS + RS: Restore backup EEPROM to Xbox.
Shoutcast
- Create a file containing only the IP to the site. Name it anything with an extension of ".sc". Place it in
.../Avalaunch/shoutcast. - Under Settings → Sounds, change "Play music on boot" to Shoutcast and reboot. If it does not start on boot, press LS.
Controls
- LS: Cycle through Shoutcast stations
- LS + LT: Stop music.
Modifying the Menu
You can add, remove, or move menu options by modifying the Config.xml located in the dashboard installation directory. The directory structure is pretty self explanatory, and you can add folders manually in any spot in the hierarchy. Below is an example to make a folder called "Homebrew Games" in the Games directory which contains the games inside the folder G:\HOMEBREW\.
<list presetname="Games"> <list name="Homebrew Games"> <path> G:\HOMEBREW\ </path> </list> <path scanlevel="2"> ... </list>