Xbox 360:RGH/RGH2

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Exclamation-triangle-fill.svgThe steps on this page are considered risky for your console, as there is a chance you can brick it. Please have someone else mod your console if you are not experienced in soldering!
Exclamation-circle-fill.svgRGH 2 is an outdated method of the Reset Glitch Hack. RGH 1.2, RGH 3, and S-RGH are much quicker and are thus recommended over RGH 2. EXT_CLK is recommended for Xenon and Zephyr consoles.

RGH2 was designed for Slims, but it also works for non-Xenon Phats. It uses I2C slowdown instead of PLL slowdown, and works on any dashboard. However, it is considered more difficult to tune and less consistent than the improved S-RGH.

  • RGH2+ is on Team Xecuter’s later chip firmwares (such as CR4XL) which uses I2C slowdown from the southbridge to glitch. It is not considered to be optimal.

Equipment Needed

  • A compatible glitch chip:
    • Coolrunner Rev A/B/C/D
    • CR3 Lite
    • Matrix Glitcher
    • DGX
    • X360ACE V1/V2/V3/V3+ (Comes pre-flashed with Corona RGH 2)
    • X360ACE V4/V5 (Trinity/Corona only! Pre-flashed with timing file.)
  • A PC running Windows Vista or later
  • A soldering iron, solder, flux, and Isopropyl alcohol with cotton swabs
  • A NAND and glitch chip programmer
  • J-Runner with Extras
  • Appropriate timing files
    • If using a Zephyr and X360ACE V1/V2/V3, use these timing files
    • If using a Trinity and Matrix/Coolrunner, use these timing files. The ACE V4, V4.1, and V5 chips can be configured for Trinity as well.
    • If using a Corona/Waitsburg/Stingray, all of the Ace chips come pre-flashed with a compatible RGH2.

Reading your NAND

4 GB Corona/Waitsburg/Stingray

4 GB Xbox 360 S/E SKUs made after mid 2011 use an MMC NAND (Corona) or eMMC chip (Waitsburg/Stingray/Winchester) and require different tools to dump and flash the NAND compared to the 16/64/256/512 MB NAND chips. These 4 GB consoles require that you use an xFlasher 360, PicoFlasher, Element18592's 4GB USB tool, or an SD card tool. Consider the pros and cons below and choose the method that’s right for you.

A guide on how to dump and write to a 4 GB NAND can be found here.

Device Pros Cons
xFlasher 360
  • Reads NAND fast in 40 seconds to 4 minutes
  • Can also program glitch chips
  • Actively supported
  • USB-C
  • More expensive than other options
PicoFlasher
  • Usually has inconsistent dumping behavior
4GB USB Tool
  • Reads NAND fast in 40 seconds to 4 minutes (same as xFlasher)
  • Cheap
  • Comes with a header for the NAND pads, making future NAND reading easier
  • You will need a programmer to flash glitch chips
SD Card Tool (any brand)
  • Super cheap
  • Easy to find
  • Easy to DIY
  • You will need a dedicated programmer to flash glitch chips
  • Sometimes has inconsistent compatibility with SD card readers

All Other NAND Types

There are a few different tools for reading your NAND chip: xFlasher 360, Nand-X, JR Programmer, Matrix USB NAND Flasher, PicoFlasher, various SD card tools, or a LPT cable. Consider the pros and cons below and choose the method that’s right for you. An LPT cable is not recommended as it's extremely slow, requires more work than other options, and cannot be used to program glitch chips.

A guide on how to dump and write to a standard NAND can be found here.

Device Pros Cons
xFlasher 360
  • Reads NAND fast in 40 seconds to 4 minutes
  • Can also program glitch chips
  • One of four options for 4GB NANDs
  • Actively supported
  • USB-C
  • Most expensive flasher
  • Not sold on common marketplaces like Amazon or AliExpress
  • Can't be used for flashing Sonus Sounds
PicoFlasher
  • Reads NAND fast in 1-8 minutes
  • One of four options for 4GB NANDs
  • One of the two options for Sonus flashing
  • Super cheap
  • Easy to find
  • Can flash glitch chips with this J-Runner Fork
  • Due to how the currently available PicoFlasher firmware is programmed, it often has many bugs with getting consistently good non-corrupt NAND dumps or being detected by J-Runner.
  • Can sometimes have spotty reliability on Xbox 360 motherboards due to their SPI and eMMC logic being up to 5v, whereas the Pico uses 3.3v.
JR Programmer
  • Reads NAND in 3-10 minutes
  • Can also program glitch chips
  • One of the two options for Sonus flashing
  • Cheap
  • Easy to find
  • More expensive and less common than PicoFlasher
  • Does not support 4GB NANDs
Nand-X
  • Reads NAND in 2-8 minutes
  • Can also program RGH glitch chips
  • More expensive than most NAND flashers
  • Does not support 4GB NANDs
  • Can't be used for flashing Sonus Sounds
Matrix USB NAND Flasher
  • Cheap
  • Can’t be used for programming glitch chips unless you modify it
  • Does not support 4GB NANDs
  • Requires unsigned drivers
  • Reads NAND in 7-26 minutes, which is quite a bit slower than most options
  • Can't be used for flashing Sonus Sounds
LPT Cable
  • Cheap
  • Requires PC with a native parallel port and more equipment
  • More difficult
  • Does not support 4GB NANDs
  • Can’t be used for programming glitch chips
  • Can't be used for Sonus flashing
  • Takes 30-150 minutes to read NANDs

Waitsburg/Stingray Specific Instructions

Postfix Adapter

On Waitsburg and Stingray motherboards, the trace connecting the CPU's POST to the POST pad on the bottom of the motherboard has been removed, so you need to use a postfix adapter to be able to attach a pogo pin to the POST connection underneath the CPU. You can use the following image to determine if you need the adapter or not by removing the heatsink:

Corona POST.png

You can also identify if you have a Waitsburg motherboard instead of a Corona by looking for the part number of X862605 on the bottom left of the PCB. Generally, Xbox 360 S consoles manufactured in 2012 will be Waitsburgs and need postfix adapters for RGH. Every Stingray will also need a postfix adapter with RGH.

As shown in following diagram, you can install it by carefully sliding the larger piece of the adapter onto the left side of the CPU (when looking at the CPU from a readable position). Gently press the PCB inward toward the CPU to depress the pogo pin, and slide the smaller PCB part over the other side of the CPU, interlocking the two PCBs together. Solder the four anchor points on the edges of the postfix adapter to prevent it from coming loose.

Full Postfix Guide.png

Missing Resistors

There are two resistors required for RGH 2, which the Waitsburg and Stringray lack by default. You can get around this by bridging the points for R2C6 and R2C7, like in the following diagram: WaitsburgStingrayResistors.png

Programming the Glitch Chip

  1. Plug the cable from your programmer into the chip programmer.
    • If you are using an xFlasher, ensure the switch is set to SPI.
    • CoolRunner: Slide switch to "PRG".
  2. Open J-Runner with Extras. Click "Program Timing File" in the upper left and select the click the arrow next to the "Program" button, then click "Select File" to flash your selected RGH 2 timing file.
  3. When complete, unplug the cable from the glitch chip.
    • Coolrunner: Set the switch back to "NOR".

Glitch Chip Installation

Note: RGH 2 on Corona consoles requires a glich chip with a built in oscillator. STBY_CLK will be unused when using a chip's oscillator.

Motherboard Points

Phat

Trinity

Corona/Waitsburg/Stingray

Glitch Chip Pinouts

Coolrunner Rev C/D, and CR3 Lite

  • B - STBY_CLK (only if not using oscillator)
  • C - POST
  • D - RST
  • E - i2C_SCL
  • F - i2C_SDA

Matrix

  • A - RST
  • B - POST
  • C - STBY_CLK (only if not using oscillator)
    • If you have a Matrix that comes with an oscillator, it can be easily disabled if this resistor is removed instead of removing the entire oscillator.
  • D - i2C_SDA
  • E - i2C_SCL
1.8v on an Ace V3

X360ACE (V1/V2/V3/V3+), DGX

  • C - POST
  • D - RST
  • E - i2C_SCL
  • F - i2C_SDA
  • Remember to remove the diode and connect 1.8V on Phat

X360ACE V4/V5, DGX Stone

  • A - RST
  • B - POST
  • C1 - CPU_CLK_DP
  • C2 - CPU_CLK_DN
  • D - i2C_SDA
  • E - i2C_SCL

Glitch Chip Diagrams

Phat

CoolRunner rev C/D
CoolRunner 3 Lite
Matrix Glitcher

Trinity

CoolRunner Rev C & CR3 Lite (Trinity)
X360ACE V4.1 (Trinity)
X360ACE V5 (Trinity)

Corona/Waitsburg/Stingray

CoolRunner Rev C & CR3 Lite (Without Postfix)
CoolRunner Rev C & CR3 Lite (With Postfix)
X360ACE
V1
V2
V3
V3+
V4
V4.1
V5

DGX v1.0S (S/E)

Decrypting the NAND

Once you have successfully obtained your CPU key, we can build an XeBuild image, which is a modified NAND built specifically for your console.

  • If you want to use J-Runner with the console connected to LAN to get the CPU key, enter the IP address XeLL gives you into the lower right of the app. You can then click Get CPU Key and XeLL will automatically decrypt the retail NAND dump you backed up earlier.
  • If you want to use XeLL's web page to get the CPU key, enter the Xbox's IP address in your preferred web browser. You will see information about the console, and the CPU key can be easily copy and pasted from this web page.
  • If you didn't have access to an ethernet cable to plug the Xbox into a PC or LAN, you can manually type the CPU key into J-Runner in order to decrypt your original NAND dump.

Writing New NAND Image (NAND Flasher)

  1. Power down the console, and connect your programmer to the motherboard.
    • If you are using an xFlasher, ensure the switch is set to SPI.
  2. Open J-Runner and select ... next to the Load Source field and select one of your original NAND dumps if not already selected. In the upper right of J-Runner, ensure the Glitch2 radio button is selected.
  3. Click "Create XeBuild Image". This will take a few moments.
  4. Click "Write NAND".
  5. Disconnect your NAND programmer from the console's motherboard when the process completes.
  6. Check if the console boots to the Microsoft dashboard. If it successfully boots to the dashboard, it is an indication that you've successfully hacked your console.
  7. Boot the console several times and ensure it boots consistently. If not, make sure your wiring is clean and neat and avoids noisy areas. Run the wires near the X-Clamps for best results.
  8. Tune boot times if necessary.
  9. Continue in the Cleaning Up section.

Writing a New NAND Image (XeLL)

Exclamation-circle-fill.svg4 GB Corona varients do not support currently support NAND flashing through XeLL. If XeLL is the only thing flashed to the NAND, it is required to use a NAND flasher.


  1. Open J-Runner and select ... next to the Load Source field and select your nanddump1.bin or nanddump2.bin if not already selected. In the upper right corner of the window, select the dashboard version you chose for the patched dump that you wrote to the motherboard and make sure that the Glitch2 radio button is selected.
  2. Click "Create XeBuild Image". This will take a few moments.
  3. Copy updflash.bin to a FAT32 formatted USB storage device and plug it into your powered-off console.
  4. Turn on your console. It will boot into XeLL and begin flashing your NAND. Once it has finished, it will power off your console.
  5. Turn it back on, and it should boot to the Microsoft dashboard, which is an indication that you've successfully hacked your console.
  6. Boot the console several times and ensure it boots consistently. If not, make sure your wiring is clean and neat and avoids noisy areas. Run the wires near the X-Clamps for best results.
  7. Tune boot times if necessary.
  8. Continue in the Cleaning Up section.

Tuning Boot Times

As the glitch chip pulses, a green debug light will flash a pattern. Using this pattern, we can know roughly how to adjust the tuning. Let's start with some examples. The ideal is slightly "below" the edge of Long/Short, closer to Short. You want to see more Short than Long cycles.

If you get good light behavior, mostly Short but also Long sometimes, but the console still does not boot well, try to recreate this scenerio with other timing/pulse length. If using a Corona with Xecuter Postfix V2, try moving wire to a bigger number pad. This will adjust for you the length of POST.

  • 2 Short Blinks, then Short
    • .....##...##...................##............
    • This means that the checks were passed, but the console failed to start.
    • Probably the timing is too low, or the pulse length is too large.
  • 2 Short Blinks, then Long
    • .....##...##...................##############
    • This means that the checks failed.
    • Probably the timing is too high, or the pulse length is too small.
  • 4 Short Blinks, then Long
    • .....##...##...................##...##...................##############
    • This means there is a problem with RST wiring problem causing pulse length to be very big. Try to use alternate points or longer wire.
  • No Light Blinks or Always On
    • .............................................
    • This means your wiring is bad, or the timing file was not written sucessfully.

Cleaning Up

Remove your NAND programmer wires and clean the points. Clean all flux off the board, allow it to dry, and test it once more before re-assembling.

Installing XeXMenu

  1. Plug a flash drive into your Xbox 360 and navigate to Console Settings > Storage. Select the flash drive and allow it to format the flash drive as a system drive.
  2. Extract the CODE9999 folder from the XeXMenu 7zip file to your Desktop.
  3. Plug the flash drive into your PC. Open Xplorer360 and select Drive > Open > Harddrive or Memcard. On the left-hand side, select Partition 3, then right-click the Content folder, select "New Folder", and name it 0000000000000000 (16 zeroes). Open the new folder, then drag the CODE9999 folder into it.
  4. Select Drive > Close, then close Xplorer360. Safely eject your flash drive and plug it into your Xbox 360. Navigate to the Demos section of your dashboard, and it should list XeXMenu there. Select it to launch it.

You can install XeXMenu to your hard drive by going to Console Settings > Storage, and copying it from your flash drive to the hard drive.

From here, you can install any homebrew or mods that you want. See this page for a list of recommended modifications and applications to install.