Burning Xbox 360 Games on Linux (Stealth!)
Tue, Mar 10, 2009
Linux, Misc, Tips, Workarounds
You could run ImgBurn in Wine, or probably burn the games in VirtualBox running Windows, but that’s no solution… you’re reading this because you want to burn Xbox 360 games on Linux using native tools. It’s surprisingly easy!
The games are usually an ISO file, along with a little DVD (.dvd) file that tells the burner to use a layer break value of 1913760. This file is not necessary in Linux (or Windows) as we will be telling the app to use that break value explicitly.
I will go into detail on how to setup what you need. If you’re impatient, you might wanna skip the setup and jump straight to the quick recap.
Extract the ISO
cd /games/360/GameX
rar x kfc-gamex.part01.rar
If you don’t have rar (“winrar”) installed, lookie:
The program 'unrar' can be found in the following packages:
* unrar-free
* unrar
Try: sudo apt-get install
you can also DL it from rarlabs.com.
Now we need to see if the game is stealth/valid. This is done using an app that runs natively on Linux (and OS X) called abgx360.
Install abgx360
Download the tar.gz files from http://abgx360.net/download.html. The TUI is nice. Don’t bother getting the GUI for abgx360.
tar -zxvf abgx360-1.0.0.tar.gz
cd abgx360-1.0.0/
./configure && make
sudo checkinstall -D
(You may use ‘make install’ but this is not recommended on Debian/Ubuntu. checkinstall keeps your shit organized.)
If ./configure fails with an error about wx-config/wxWidgets, make sure wxWidgets is installed..
apt-cache search wxgtk2
and make sure wx-config is in your PATH. On Ubuntu Intrepid, it wasn’t. Find it and make a symlink to something in your path.. i.e.,
locate wx-config # (finds it in /etc/alternatives/wx-config)
sudo ln -s /etc/alternatives/wx-config /usr/bin/wx-config
Rerun ./configure/make/checkinstall
If you downloaded the local database (abgx360-data) from the site above, install it now; Just extract and move the .abgx360/ dir into your ~/
Checking ISO CRC/SS – Is the game stealth?
abgx360 -af3 kfc-gamex.iso
the af3 flag will automagically fix/patch the ISO should it encounter any problems.
What abgx360 will do is check the ISO’s CRC against an online (or offline, ~/.abgx360/) database. It might begin by updating its database. If this is a problem (no net connection), pass it -localonly
When that’s done…
Burning the ISO Using growisofs
Making sure the dual layer DVD is in your drive, run the following command:
# growisofs -use-the-force-luke=dao -use-the-force-luke=break:1913760 -dvd-compat -speed=4 -Z /dev/burner=kfc-gamex.iso
I commented it out so you don’t execute it trying to paste it. Let’s look closer at this command…
The break:1913760 is the layer break, which you’ll find in the .dvd file. If for whatever reason you can’t check the .dvd file, just use this value.
Set your speed to something low. Some say 2.5x but I have no problems burning at 4X (my max is 8X). You don’t need to know the lowest speed your burner can go. Just set it to 2-4 and you’ll be fine.
Set /dev/burner to your own device. It’s probably /dev/scd0, /dev/scd1, or may already have a symlink like /dev/dvd6 /dev/dvd etc..
Try grepping dmesg to find your device. i.e.,
dmesg | grep "LITE"
This might give you some information but probably nothing too helpful:
sudo dvdrecord -scanbus
To see if you have the right device, try ejecting it.
eject /dev/dvd6
Set the kfc-gamex.iso to whatever the name/path of your ISO is (case sensitive of course).
Now I usually begin with a dry run. By passing -dry-run to growisofs, it will proceed as normal but quit before writing anything to disk. Actually, it kind of just spits out a command and dies. Awful design! i.e.,
$ growisofs -dry-run -use-the-force-luke=dao -use-the-force-luke=break:1913760 -dvd-compat -speed=4 -Z /dev/burner=kfc-gamex.iso
Executing 'builtin_dd if=kfc-bh5.iso of=/dev/dvd6 obs=32k seek=0'
$
So the above is good. Now remove the -dry-run flag to proceed with the actual burn.
growisofs -use-the-force-luke=dao -use-the-force-luke=break:1913760 -dvd-compat -speed=4 -Z /dev/burner=kfc-gamex.iso
Find something to do, or just stare at the screen. After about 20 minutes (at 4X), you’ll see the burn end successfully with output like this:
7798128640/7835492352 (99.5%) @3.8x, remaining 0:06 RBU 100.0% UBU 99.8%
7815495680/7835492352 (99.7%) @3.8x, remaining 0:03 RBU 59.7% UBU 99.8%
7832862720/7835492352 (100.0%) @3.8x, remaining 0:00 RBU 7.9% UBU 99.8%
builtin_dd: 3825936*2KB out @ average 3.9x1352KBps
/dev/burner: flushing cache
/dev/burner: closing track
/dev/burner: closing disc
You’re done!
Quick Recap
Assuming you installed all the dependencies above, here’s a quick recap of what needs to be done to burn a game.
It really takes about 1 minute to begin the process. Write a shell script if you like.
cd GameX_REGION_FREE_XBOX360_KFC/
rar x kfc-gamex.part01.rar # Extract game ISO
abgx360 -af3 kfc-gamex.iso # Checks if rip is valid/stealth/ss patched
growisofs -use-the-force-luke=dao -use-the-force-luke=break:1913760 -dvd-compat -speed=4 -Z /dev/burner=kfc-gamex.iso
eject /dev/burner # When burn is done, eject & play.
Why not subscribe to the feed?. If you’re on a mobile device I suggest Viigo
March 10th, 2009 at 1:28 am
This is exactly what I was looking for. Hard to find good help these days. Your site will be an all time favorite of mines. I don’t much RoR. But maybe you can give me a starting point… ?
Thanks Bio-Degradable Geek! Your definitely a geek if i know one.
SeanTips’s last blog post..Healthy Lung – Talk with an 18 year old… First!!!
March 11th, 2009 at 5:03 am
Does this require a chipped xbox I assume?
March 14th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Awesome stuff man, keep it up.
March 14th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Hi!
I”m using abgx360 1.0.0 TUI for linux
The problem is that I can never connect to the database, it gives me:
—–
Checking for updates to GameNameLookup.csv and abgx360.dat…
ERROR: name lookup timed out
There seems to be a problem with the db so online functions have been disabled
Try again later…
—–
I wonder if it’s iptables or SElinux (I’m under Fedora)
Do you have any idea? Please email if I don’t get a notify of your comment.
Nice blog by the way!
March 21st, 2009 at 5:04 am
Usefull post!
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:26 pm
so would i need to modify the firmware of the box to play the games then? or will thins allow me to play them on a stock xbox?
April 11th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Yes you’ll need to change the firmware on the xbox. This can be trivial or a pain in the ass, depending on what drive your Xbox has. It’s doable without a mod chip or any technical skill though.
They do have modchips, but the firmware method is easier and cheaper. Both void your warranty of course.
April 11th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Either a modchip or the installation of a hacked firmware on the Xbox’s disk drive. Either method will void your warranty unless you’re REALLY careful not to break the shiny stickers. This may also be illegal where you live …
If you’ve checked and found it 100% legal, begin by searching these terms: ixtreme, jungle flasher, benQ white wire
April 11th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Hi. The timeout could be caused by a number of things. It was probably just down at the time you were trying it. Look for an update on the official site. Also try disabling iptables temporarily, but if you’re still having problems, the best thing to do is to download the database file from the official site (same place you got abgx360) and put it in ~, then run abgx360 with the -o flag (–stayoffline).
May 5th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Thank you very much for this post! That’s exactly what I was looking for.
But as far as I could tell, this method does not set the book type as DVD-ROM. Isn’t it a problem, and by problem I mean something MS could detect and use to ban you? Or I am wrong and growisofs will actually set the booktype to DVD-ROM?
June 26th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Or you may try QISOBurn, which is a simple GUI frontend for growisofs which allows layer-break setting and make things much more user-friendly.
http://qisoburn.googlecode.com
Oh this little program happens to be mine…
June 26th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
“DVD compatability flag (burns DVD+R data as DVD-ROM to increase the media’s compatability with non PC hardware).”
From http://blog.reloadsystems.net/2007/02/02/burning-xbox-360-games-in-linux/
August 12th, 2009 at 7:26 am
The reason people recommend burning games at 2.4x is because that’s the native speed used by XBox 360 games as well as the console’s DVD reader. Burning games at a higher speed is going to put unnecessary wear and tear on your laser, and can also potentially be detected as a burnt disc by MS, resulting in a ban. Waiting an extra 15-20 minutes is worth it to me not to get banned. Remember that they ban your CONSOLE, not your disc drive, your gamer tag, etc. Your only recourse if you get banned and want to use Live is basically to buy a new 360.
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:46 am
Great reading, thank you
September 2nd, 2009 at 8:30 pm
worked like a charm for me.. thanks. abgx was also pretty easy to install for those considering linux as an OS but fear not being able to make their backups
September 14th, 2009 at 6:36 am
useful topic.
but… what about book type of recorded dvd?
in winxp i change dvd booktype before record it.
ps. sorry for my bad english =)
September 14th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Great guide! It worked 100% for me. Thanks a lot!
September 22nd, 2009 at 6:09 pm
I was wondering before i download an do everyting on here will this make the games i burn stealth? meaning microsoft will not be able 2 find out my box is modded?
October 7th, 2009 at 12:18 am
I had to sudo for it to burn?! wierd?!
October 14th, 2009 at 11:34 am
What about verifying the disc?
I just burnt an iso and it doesn’t work. How can I make sure it was burnt properly?
October 28th, 2009 at 7:32 am
what if it reads writer error what that means
November 13th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Hey there, when i did this, it said in my xbox “Play DVD” and that wasn’t the thing i wanted, i want it to play as a game, what did i do wrong? anyone knows?
November 13th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Perhaps it was a bad ISO or a bad burn? Did abgx360 pass? Any errors/problems while burning? Do other (burned) games work?
November 16th, 2009 at 11:44 am
I don’t think it was a bad ISO, Cuz reading from the other comments it was working a 100 % I haven’t runned the abgx360 for myself, but it does tell it’s abgx360 verified and did pass. No problems at all during the burning and all my other burned games work with no problem at all. can’t find a good solution for this issue :/ but I am not the first with this problem it seems. just thinking if i did something wrong in the setup to burn the game, I’ve been using Windows before, Now I am using Ubuntu 9.10 and as it is different i am not quite sure. All other games (that worked) as i have burnt before was on Windows.
/Tonton
November 18th, 2009 at 7:39 am
what happens if abgx360 fails? wouldn’t it just continue to burn afterwards?
November 30th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Thank you so much.
My first writing was trash I did not know about layer breake.
Now I did as you said and tadaaa it working!
Linux POWA
+1
December 15th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
The ISO may be valid whether abgx360 passes or fails. abgx360 failing may mean one of two things..
The rip is bad – who ripped it? Do you trust them?
or the game might be a pre-release, not yet in abgx’s database.
but I would NOT recommend burning and playing the game if abgx360 fails lest you don’t mind getting banned from Xbox Live. Delete and find another ISO!
January 1st, 2010 at 7:15 pm
If you use external DVD burners and is in doubt about device file, do this:
1-) Remove the DVD Burner USB connector from your box…
2-) Wait a little
3-) On a terminal launch the ‘dmesg’ command (it didn’t want root powers)
Somewhere on the end you’ll see lines like this.
[ 7.238260] scsi 2:0:0:0: CD-ROM HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GE20NU10 EE05 PQ: 0 ANSI: 0
[ 7.242728] sr1: scsi3-mmc drive: 94x/94x writer dvd-ram cd/rw xa/form2 cdda tray
[ 7.242848] sr 2:0:0:0: Attached scsi CD-ROM sr1
[ 7.242918] sr 2:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg2 type 5
See in the second line the ‘sr1′ after the braces? This is your device. Your device file will be /dev/sr1(for this case)
January 3rd, 2010 at 4:24 am
Thank you so much!
Just short question, under windows I always set the bitsetting to DVD-ROM. Is that done automatic or is it just nor required?
July 4th, 2010 at 2:35 am
Awesome.. tutorial, need to learn linux perfectly now
August 2nd, 2010 at 6:08 pm
Hey man great tutorial but i’m wondering if for example i have assassins creed 2 and its Ultraiso file without the .dvd file so i just put this in program and it should work?? O.o tnx xD
August 17th, 2010 at 8:54 am
if ur console gets banned u can still use it to play on xlink kai agsinst other gamers
November 1st, 2010 at 5:31 pm
“The TUI is nice. Don’t bother getting the GUI for abgx360.”
Nice of you to decide this for all of us, Benito.
November 25th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
So the imgb growisfs patcher isn’t necessary any longer? growisfs now handle 360 format without issues just like clonecd?
As described here ==> http://blog.reloadsystems.net/2007/02/02/burning-xbox-360-games-in-linux/
January 6th, 2011 at 9:48 am
This is a great Tutorial! Except that it needs to be ‘–af3′ :)
January 28th, 2011 at 9:31 am
Interesting update. This is not dangerous for the XBox platform ? Is possible to destroy the game console in this way ?
September 25th, 2011 at 11:24 pm
Hey! Thanks for the help. Still, I’m not being able to burn my games perfectly. Some of’em are being burnt “dirty or scratched” as says my xbox. I tried slowing down the process, but this only made the next games be unreadable. I’m getting a virtual box now, but if you have any non-windows solution to this problem, I would be glad to try it.
Thx
May 13th, 2012 at 11:16 am
I tried this on Precise. Seems to work fine!
Kudos