Question Is this Xbox modded?

aceeeee

Junior Member
May 5, 2019
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I was recently at a Value Village and came across a blue and silver original Xbox (a color I have never seen before and haven’t seen online) and noticed a few interesting features on it and was wondering if it was modded. So, if someone could please help me out with this, that would be cool. Here are the photos of the Xbox: 601DCBE4-9C3B-4647-995F-0D695165F489.jpeg
 

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bbhaag

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2011
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You are correct it appears to be modded. The custom spray paint color scheme and the half assed attempt of adding a network port coming out the front should be two good indicators that it has indeed been modded.
 

aceeeee

Junior Member
May 5, 2019
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You are correct it appears to be modded. The custom spray paint color scheme and the half assed attempt of adding a network port coming out the front should be two good indicators that it has indeed been modded.
So would it be worth buying for $20 ?
 

bbhaag

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2011
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What kind of mod are you hoping it has? Are you wondering if it can play pirated games? If so that is anyone's guess without pics of it opened up. It's $20 man...is this a make it or break it monetary amount for you? Like the $20 will put food on your table for the next week type of thing? If it is just say no and walk away.
 
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purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
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I'm guessing that switch on the back is to turn the modchip on/off. I used to have a switch on my modchip so that I could still play on Xbox Live and would turn the chip off when going online because I did not want to risk being banned.
 

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
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You are correct it appears to be modded. The custom spray paint color scheme and the half assed attempt of adding a network port coming out the front should be two good indicators that it has indeed been modded.
That's a DVD remote control receiver on the front.
 

aceeeee

Junior Member
May 5, 2019
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What kind of mod are you hoping it has? Are you wondering if it can play pirated games? If so that is anyone's guess without pics of it opened up. It's $20 man...is this a make it or break it monetary amount for you? Like the $20 will put food on your table for the next week type of thing? If it is just say no and walk away.
Should I try to open it up?
 

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
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What does that mean?
Microsoft didn't want to pay a DVD technology license fee for every console sold when only a portion of them will be used for DVD movies, so they sold a kit in stores with a remote control and a receiver. Their DVD licensing fee was rolled into the cost of that kit instead of the console.

There might be some other uses for the infrared receiver in a hacked system. I don't really know.
 
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aceeeee

Junior Member
May 5, 2019
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So do you tgib
Microsoft didn't want to pay a DVD technology license fee for every console sold when only a portion of them will be used for DVD movies, so they sold a kit in stores with a remote control and a receiver. Their DVD licensing fee was rolled into the cost of that kit instead of the remote.

There might be some other uses for the infrared receiver in a hacked system. I don't really know.
So do you think it’s modded and I should buy it for $20?
 

aceeeee

Junior Member
May 5, 2019
8
0
6
I'm guessing that switch on the back is to turn the modchip on/off. I used to have a switch on my modchip so that I could still play on Xbox Live and would turn the chip off when going online because I did not want to risk being banned.
So do you think it’s modded and I should buy it for $20 ?
I'm guessing that switch on the back is to turn the modchip on/off. I used to have a switch on my modchip so that I could still play on Xbox Live and would turn the chip off when going online because I did not want to risk being banned.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,764
6,645
126
I think you should ask your parents to get it for you when you graduate elementary school in a few weeks.
 
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Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
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So do you tgib
So do you think it’s modded and I should buy it for $20?
I think it's modified, yes. Probably plays copied games too. Worth $20? I have no idea.

I don't personally put any extra value on it being physically modified. I hear soft mods are pretty easy.
 

WhiteNoise

Golden Member
Jun 22, 2016
1,084
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Soft mods are easy. For $20 just pick it up. If it works it works. If not then toss it. @ $20 you aren't taking a big chance or anything. Not sure why you would want this old console anyway but knock yourself out!
 

Mantrid-Drone

Senior member
Mar 15, 2014
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A bit late to this but if you look at the labels on the bottom you see a number of things.

1). The Xbox has at some point clearly been opened from the fact the torx screw heads are visible and have wear and tear.

2). The label shows that it was manufactured in October 2001 confirmed by the product ID code too (week 41/01).

3). Factory location is more difficult to be certain of as there is contradictory information about the codes in this respect. But 03 apparently means it is from the Hungarian factory and therefore a Xbox v1.0. Again the date supports this.

My experience is only with PAL consoles and none include that additional label in what looks Japanese. That suggests it could be a J-NTSC model made for sale in the Far East. For practical purposes* it makes little difference although the primary language setting (easily changed) may not be English.

4). If it is a v1.0 when you open it up there should be a fan on the GPU heatsink and the USB controller on a separate daughter PCB.

5). The connection out of the back of the Xbox could be a fan switch but from the position on the right (as looking at it) more likely to be for a chip. That, of course, suggests the Xbox is modded.

6). The DVD dongle (specific Xbox DVD Remote Control required - not supplied as standard) on the front (controller port 3) looks broken OR could be it has been modded to be a USB port. You can still get Xbox port > USB (F) adapter cables very cheaply but a mod like that is a nice little extra even if crudely done.

7). The whole amateur paint job, quality of the work and general look of the thing is poor and bearing in mind its age I'd be surprised if it was functional. It also does not show any controller or leads so $20 is more likely to be $35 unless those are included.

8). The weak component of the original Xbox is actually the DVD drive. If that is completely broken the Xbox may not work at all. If it is just mechanically broken the Xbox will function but it will limit how it can be used.

The only practical fix is to buy a replacement DVD drive and that will cost you as much as another used Xbox and as such renders the original Xbox purchase pointless.

If the Xbox itself and the chip is working that would still make it reasonable value IMHO. Personally I'd take a punt on it if it could be tested beforehand. If it turns on, if you get a video output of some sort, if the DVD tray ejects OK and, particularly, if the chip is present and working then it just might be worth it.

* The power supply (figure 8 socket) label clearly shows it is a 100V model so make sure it is compliant with your location's mains voltage before use.
 
Last edited:
Mar 11, 2004
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Where are you getting that the DVD Remote dongle is broken? Just looks like its a reflection on the IR window.

You are correct it appears to be modded. The custom spray paint color scheme and the half assed attempt of adding a network port coming out the front should be two good indicators that it has indeed been modded.

What are you talking about with regards to the front network port? Are you talking about the DVD Remote dongle?
 

Mantrid-Drone

Senior member
Mar 15, 2014
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I think he was referring to the DVD IR dongle in controller port 4 but that was highly unlikely to have been a network port in any circumstances - USB port, like I suggested, yes but not a network port. The Xbox's network standard RJ(Registered Jack)-45 ethernet port is at the back of the console, bottom right as you look at it.

The IR dongle looked broken or deliberately modded to me too when I first saw the picture, at normal display size, in the original post. So I'm not the only one who made that apparent mistake.

The IR sensor cover seemed to be missing but I've looked at it closer now and it does appear to be just be an optical illusion caused by a reflection and the poor paint job around the edges of the cover.

So that means it is has not been converted into USB port.

Not a big problem but as said the IR dongle, working or not, is useless unless the original remote control unit is included in the deal.