Xbox:Dashloader
Dashloader is a small tool created by Rocky5 to locate and launch Xbox Dashboards installed on a console. It's set to run on start up by his Xbox Softmodding Tool, but can also be installed on a hardmodded console by either using the Xbox Softmodding Tool Extras Disc or by manually downloading the hardmod edition.
When Dashloader's XBE (Xbox executable file) is launched, it runs through a list of certain other XBE locations and simply starts the first one it finds. As of the build included with the Xbox Softmodding Tool v1.1.9, paths are checked in the following order:
C:\XBMC-Emustation\default.xbeE:\XBMC-Emustation\default.xbeF:\XBMC-Emustation\default.xbeC:\XBMC4Gamers\default.xbeE:\XBMC4Gamers\default.xbeF:\XBMC4Gamers\default.xbeC:\XBMC4Xbox\default.xbeE:\XBMC4Xbox\default.xbeF:\XBMC4Xbox\default.xbeC:\XBMC\default.xbeE:\XBMC\default.xbeF:\XBMC\default.xbeC:\dashboard\default.xbeE:\dashboard\default.xbeF:\dashboard\default.xbeC:\dash\default.xbeE:\dash\default.xbeF:\dash\default.xbeE:\default.xbeE:\dashboard.xbeC:\evoxdash.xbeE:\evoxdash.xbeC:\XBMC.xbeE:\XBMC.xbe
Clicking the "Show dashboard load order" heading on the official Xbox Softmodding Tool page will reveal the current version of the above.
On a system that's just been configured by Rocky5's own softmod installer, the first file found will initially be C:\Dashboard\default.xbe, a custom skinned version of Xbox:UnleashX. If another dash (eg Xbox:XBMC-Emustation) is then installed to one of the other paths higher on the list (eg E:\XBMC-Emustation\default.xbe), then from then on Dashloader will start that dash instead - reverting back if the new dash is later removed.
Note that the C:\evoxdash.xbe path is not checked by the hardmod edition of Dashloader, as this is the location most users should install the tool itself to when using that type of mod.
Configuration
Dashloader can be reconfigured by running the additional Dashloader Customizer tool on your console. This allows you to select a specific XBE as your "Custom Dash". Dashloader will then automatically load that particular file on start up, overriding the list of locations it would normally check through.
Additional file paths can be assigned to your controller buttons, so they can be held to select different dashboards during start up (or even to boot directly into your favourite games!). The recovery dash will be loaded if nothing else can be found, or if Start + Y is held. Changes must be saved by pressing the Start button before exiting Dashloader Customizer.
It's a good idea to assign at least one controller button to Dashloader Customizer itself.
Dashloader can also be configured by editing its cfg files manually. The location of these depends on the version of Dashloader in use:
- The softmod release loads from
E:\UData\21585554\000000000000\nkpatcher settings\dashloader - The hardmod release loads from
C:\Dashloader
Each config file contains a simple line of text indicating the full path to the desired XBE for each controller button. The list of configs that can be created are:
Custom_Dash.cfg(default if nothing is held)Custom_Recovery.cfg(fallback, manually triggered by Start + Y)A_Button_Dash.cfgB_Button_Dash.cfgX_Button_Dash.cfgY_Button_Dash.cfgStart_Button_Dash.cfgBack_Button_Dash.cfgBlack_Button_Dash.cfgWhite_Button_Dash.cfg
If Dashloader Customizer launches displaying a higher resolution than your screen can display press Y to bring up the calibration screen then press White to cycle through resolutions. Allow 10 seconds between resolution changes for your screen to adjust to the new input.