============================================================================== Extracts, Compiles, and Patches Evox M8 XBOX BIOS/Kernel Files. See about box for thank-yous (and if I left you out please let me know). ============================================================================== !!!!! WARNING !!!!! Use the correct M8 version for your Xbox! M8 is for Xbox hardware versions 1.0-1.5. M8_16 is for version 1.6. If you use the pack function choose the corect base ROM file. ============================================================================== LBA48 and IGR Notes Please give all credit for the LBA48 stuff to oz_paulb. He's done what many said couldn't be done. See the documentation for more details on the LBA48 and partition options. Also check http://forums.xbox-scene.com/ for help. The IGR code was devised by dootdoo. I only added an option for a more compatible reset method patched the code into M8. ============================================================================== Notes Documentation will be sparse until I get time to work on it. I hope the patch to remove Evox's logo doesn't make them mad mad, but it was going to happen sooner or later anyway and most people I've talked to think it's ugly. When packing you will be asked to chose a base ROM file before being asked the name to save the file as. This is normal (at least for now). You should choose either an M8 or M8_16 file. This version only works with modified M8 ROM files which are pre-patched for LBA48 and IGR. You will have to look for these in the usual palaces. Future versions may handle non-pre-patched M8 files. You can change the LBA48 partition handling, you just can't turn LBA48 off. (This should not cause a problem if you are using the original drive or one which is smaller than 137GB.) Quick IGR is quicker. More compatible IGR is... more compatible. E.g. Soul Caliber 2 locks with the quick IGR (and X2's, I'm told) except at the menus. This mode shouldn't cause lockups. ============================================================================== Evox Logo Notes The logo is in DDS format. You can create these using Photoshop or using apps which can use Photoshop import/export plugins or with any image editor and a conversion tool. You can find the plugin and commandline conversion utility need at nVida's web site <http://developer.nvidia.com/object/nv_texture_tools.html>. Microsoft's DX9 SDK also has a converter, but it didn't allow enough control over the ouput file to give me the exact format I needed. The output file format should be 128 * 128 A4R4G4B4 DDS with no mip maps. Exporting from Photoshop I chose 16-bit (4:4:4:4) no mip maps and left the other settings alone. Using nvdxt.exe I use the command: nvdxt.exe -nomipmap -u4444 <your_image_file.tga>. Nvdxt handles pretty much any common image format (tga/jpg/gif.etc). I've included a sample DDS texture files for demonstration purposes. If you get a hang after changing the logo, press eject and the machine should finish booting. No sure why this happens, but I'll look into if I get time. ============================================================================== History 1.0.7 Support for Yoshihiro-M8-1.6B. Support for metoo M8 BFMs. 1.0.6 Fixed LBA48 stuff to return the new version number so BIOSes works with XBpartition. 1.0.5 Removed thumbs + triggers IGR. Fixed obscure lba48 bug which doesn't affect users (right now), but has implications with regard to partitioning tools. Don't use M8 files which were pre-patched or previously patched with an older version of EVtool or you'll still have the old IGR and LBA48 code. 1.0.4 Patches the DDS header of imported DDS files to be identical to the original M8 logo. Some people reported a hang in M8 when they imported a logo (pressing eject will let the machine finish booting). This problem seems to only affect certain machines. Maybe this will fix it. 1.0.3 EVtool can now load official M8 for those people who just can't seem to find the pre-patched version. M8 will be automatically patched for IGR and LBA48. I'm sure I'll be asked for an option to patch M8 without IGR and LBA48 and I'm sure I'll kill the person who asks first. However, if people really want that I may add it later. 1.0.2 My apologies for the frequent releases, but sometime ideas just hit me and I like to strike while the iron is hot. Feel free to use your current version if it bothers you to get another release so soon. Added Evox logo repacement patch (which I think was cool enough to merit a release). 1.0.1 Fixed crash if you packed or saved multiple times without restarting EVtool. Added Evox logo removal patch. 1.0 Fixed TM patch. Statically linked XBpatch (XBpatch.dll no longer needed). Removed unused toggles and rearranged dialog. Internal code cleanup. 0.8.0.b1 Pack/Unpack function cleanup. Other internal changes. 0.7.0.b1 Initial release.