Xbox:Linux

One of the primary goals for hacking the Xbox was to enable the use of Linux. The result of these efforts was the Cromwell BIOS and the ability to run different Linux distributions.

Installing Linux
Installing Linux requires that you have softmodded or hardmodded your Xbox. This guide is specifically for X-DSL, but other distributions are close in process.


 * 1) Download an ISO of your desired Xbox Linux distribution, such as X-DSL and burn it to a disc using burning software such as ImgBurn.
 * 2) * You can identify your DVD drive and check what media is compatible with it using this chart.
 * 3) Insert the disc into your Xbox and launch the disc.
 * 4) A blue screen will appear and automatically select "Boot from CDROM".
 * 5) Press A to select 640x480 as your resolution. Colors will flash onto the screen, and it will eventually boot into the desktop.
 * 6) Use the analog stick to move the cursor to a blank space on the desktop and press B to open a context menu, and select Tools → Loopback install.
 * 7) * A prompt will appear asking if you want to continue. Press A to select "Yes".
 * 8) * A prompt will appear asking to select a partition to install to. Select the default top option.
 * 9) * A prompt will appear asking for your desired partition size in megabytes. Choose the space you'd like to allocate to Linux and select "OK" to continue.
 * 10) A terminal will appear and process your selections. It may take a few minutes.
 * 11) * A prompt will appear detailing the risks of the installation. Press "OK" to continue with the installation.
 * 12) * A prompt will appear asking "Do you wish to enable autologin?". Select "Yes", or if you'd like, choose "No" and set a username and password.
 * 13) * A prompt will appear asking if you are sure you want to proceed. Select "Yes".
 * 14) A terminal will appear and install the distribution to your hard drive. This may take around 10 minutes.
 * 15) * A prompt will appear asking if you wish to install xromwell, which is an application shortcut to load into Linux. Choose "Yes" and "OK".
 * 16) * A prompt will appear saying "XDSL SUCCESSFULLY INSTALLED" message, select "OK".
 * 17) * A prompt will appear asking if you wish to create a swap file. Select "Yes", then "OK" to select the default E: partition, then "OK" to select the default swap disk size, and finally "OK" when you receive a success message.
 * 18) * More prompts will appear, at which point you can keep pressing A until they stop appearing.
 * 19) Reboot by selecting the "Quit" application, and the blue reboot button. Linux will now be listed in your application folder on your dashboard.
 * 20) * If "Linux" does not show up in the applications folder, navigate to the E: drive and move the "KNOPPIX" folder into the E:\Apps folder, then open the linuxboot.cfg and add "Apps/" to the config as so:

... kernel Apps/KNOPPIX/linux24 initrd Apps/KNOPPIX/linux24 ...


 * Upon reboot, it may ask you to add a password to the root account

Cromwell / XBlastOS BIOS
The "Cromwell" BIOS is an open-source replacement BIOS for your Xbox TSOP or modchip. This BIOS can legally boot Linux from system start, but is unable to play Xbox games. Likewise, XBlastOS is another open-source replacement BIOS that is based off of Cromwell and offers extra features.