The Complete Guide to Producing, Extracting, and Burning XBOX ISO Image Files v0.07

By HSDEMONZ

 

“An ongoing guide to producing, extracting, and burning XBOX ISO Images files… a constant work in progress.  The GUIDE is a compilation of personal research & experimentation, posts and replies, and should be considered a constant work in progress.” - HSDEMONZ

 

 

Revision 0.07 (01/04/03) Added New GDF Gui Info

Revision: 0.06 (12/12/02) Down-sampling section added

Revision: 0.05 (12/11/02) Beta Mod-chip Patch section added

Revision: 0.04 (12/10/02) Firmware section added

Revision: 0.03 (12/06/02) Added Bad Burns and Troubleshooting sections

Revision: 0.02 (12/01/02) Added 1:1 Backup your Backup section

Revision: 0.01 (11/21/02) Original Guide

 

 

 

Disclaimer: 

The author, and/or the Web Sites which Host this document in no way indorse or condone any type of software piracy or copyright infringement whatsoever.  The guide was produced as an exercise of thought… and is only to be considered for educational purposes only.  No warranty or guarantee is given or implied.  The following is a consensus of thoughts and experiences by a group of individuals, who shall remain nameless.  The purpose of this document is to help legitimate owners of XBOX games to back-up their investments.

 

Summary:

This document, will detail with step-by-step instructions how to perform the following actions:

 

1)         Produce a perfect working XBOX ISO Back-Up Image

1.1)      Produce a perfect working XBOX ISO backup of a Burned ISO Backup 1:1

2)         Produce a perfect working Burned Copy of the XBOX ISO Back-Up Image (All Media: CDR, CDRW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW

2.1)      Exception #1 over-sized Games.

3)         Explains How to Extract the Files and Directory Structure from an acquired XBOX ISO Back-Up Image.

4)         BURN to CDR!  Misconceptions Dispelled!

5)         UDF Burning. (Pros and Cons!)

6)         “BAD BURNS”  They do happen!

7)         Trouble Shooting

8)         Firmware for DVD-Burners (hacked or otherwise

9)         Beta Mod-chip Patch

10)       Downsampling

 

 

For the sake of Argument, this Entire Guide is PC Based.  For Win2000 / Win XP users.  Linux Rocks!  Just not in this Guide! :)

 

Hardware and Software Tools Required for this Guide:

 

-XBOX – Modded and Functional.  Modchips can be found at the following Online Retailers: Easybuy2000, Genomods (author doesn’t endorse any of these sites.. and only makes the pointers available as an option.) and Developers / Manufacturers: Xodus-chip, X-Ecuter (Team X-Ecuter Rocks!)

 

-PC with DVD Burner (Dedicated CD works fine for smaller titles) Recommended Burners Include Pioneer A04 / 104 and the Sony DRU500A.  Any DVD Burner will do.

 

-Blank Media (at least one of the following… CDR, CDRW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW.  Some Retailers include: Rima.com, Meritline

 

-DVD Burning Software (for CDRW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW) Stomp Inc’s / Veritas Record Now Max / Prassi PrimoDVD and optionally Ahead’s Nero Burning ROM,  elby CloneDVD

 

-CD Burning Software (for CDR) elby CloneCD 4, Fireburner and optionally CDRWin

 

-ISO Image Mounting Software. Daemon Tools, or most any program that will mount ISO Image formats.

 

-XBOX ISO Image Builder Software. GDFIMAGE and/or ISOMAKER 1.21 or Higher.  These are the recommended tools.  No direct pointer will be given, as GDFIMAGE is a proprietary Microsoft XBOX Iso Premastering tool, included in the XBOX SDK/XDK.  ISOMAKER, is actually a Front-End + GDFIMAGE.  You can find both on IRC and in the Newsgroups.  IsoMaker’s Author can be contacted at CDRSKULL /  X-FORUMS

 

-XBOX ISO Image Extraction Software. XDFSExtract v0.5a or newer (Recommended) Developed and/or released by IPS/Team PS2Ownz. No pointer given.

 

-XBOX Replacement Dashboards.  EVOLUTION X dashboard is the most useful, stable and feature complete replacement for the stock MS Dashboard.  It is actually a requirement for many steps in this Guide.  Evolution X Dashboard (EVOX Dash) was produced with SDK/XDK by Team EVOX.  No Pointers given.

 

- FTP Programs.  For older Versions of Evolution X, you’ll need F l a s h F X P, but never version will let almost any FTP program connect.  Some notables are : WS_FTP, FTP Voyager, CuteFTP, 3D-FTP.

 

- Some XBOX Specific Programs: XBCOPY, BOXplorer.

 

*XISO 0.71 – 1.10 and newer and XBOX Iso Toolkit Release 1.1 and newer will be mentioned, and briefly detailed.  However, NEITHER of these tools are recommended, as both are Buggy, and may produce Bad Images, or Bad File Extractions. (Update: XISO is less buggy now than in the past.. but some OLD issues are still present… and therefore.. this tool is still NOT recommended!  The author with version 1.00 has added MODE1 2048 bytes/sector burning to the program, instead of fixing bugs! Use at your own risk!)

 

 

ISO – What is it?  ISO is an file extension, used to denote a single Binary file primarily used to backup the entire contents of a Floppy Disk, HD, CD or DVD disk.  Name after the Industry Standards Organization who was/is responsible for produce and maintaining specs on standards for industry.  I will use it throughout to denote both proper and improper XBOX Image backup.

 

 

Section 1: Producing a perfect working XBOX ISO Back-Up Image.

 

Assuming you have acquired all of the tools necessary, producing a perfect working back-up image of almost any XBOX Game is easy. (Only exception is BURNING an Image that is over 4.7 GB, which will be covered later)  However, you will need to do a little work upfront.  You will need a copy of EVOLUTION X Dashboard Installed on the XBOX Hard Drive before we can continue.  I won’t waste space here boring you with the install setup, especially when a perfectly good guide written by Xantium of Xbox-Scene can be found here: Evolution X DashBoard Setup.  Basic networking is also needed… follow this guide to Connect the XBOX with your PC: Basic Networking Using EvolutionX if you are having problems.  Getting Evolution X onto the XBOX assumes you have had at least some success using some method of burning to get a copy on a disk that would boot the XBOX.  If you have a copy of Evolution X in ISO form, but don’t know how to burn it yet, jump ahead to BURNING!  Then hope back here.!

 

With the Networking properly set up on Both the XBOX Evolution X Dashboard, and the PC, you are now ready to start backup-up!  With Evolution X Pre-Installed on the XBOX HD already, boot (turn on) the XBOX with no DISC.  Once you see the familiar EvoX Dashboard, place a RETAIL XBOX GAME or Previously Burned Backup in the drive.  Wait for EvoX Dash to report “GAME”. (Default EvoX installs will show this… customized Skins may not)

 

Start your copy of FLASH FXP.  For the sake of this Guide FLASH FXP will be the FTP Program of choice, however, almost any will do. You’ll need to either setup a SITE, or use the Quick Connection Options, to connect to the XBOX. 

 

Click on SITES, then SITE MANAGER (F4).

 

 

 

From here, you can create a new SITE using the New Site Button at the bottom left. Enter MY XBOX or whatever you like…

 

 

…enter the IP of the XBOX (you should know this from EvoX Dashboard setup), and setup the User Name: XBOX and Password: XBOX (assuming you haven’t changed either).  Port 21 should be set (default).  Click Apply.  Next click the OPTIONS Tab, and ensure that “USE PASSIVE MODE” is left UNCHECKED. 

 

 

All other settings can be left at defaults, although changing them will have no adverse effects.  Now click APPLY and CONNECT.

 

In FlashFxp, you will see 7 folders in the right panel.  Marked C D E F X Y Z.  The DVD Drive of the XBOX is Drive D.

 

 

Double-Click on the D Folder.  You will now see a Directory listing of the Game Title in that drive.  The number of Files and Folders doesn’t matter.

 

 

Some games have all of the files (sometimes hundreds) in the ROOT of the Disc, while others have a hierarchal organization using folders.  Regardless, you will want set up a DIR on your PC to receive these files.  I’d recommend x:\XBOXGAME, where “x” is a Hard drive on your PC.  We’ll use C:\XBOXGAME as an example.  In the left panel, select the C Drive…

 

 

 

Right-Click, and choose MAKE FOLDER. 

 

 

Name it XBOXGAME.  Double-Click on the new folder called XBOXGAME.

 

It will appear empty.  Now select “DRAG” all of the files and folders from the XBOX “D” Folder to the PC “c:\XBOXGAME” Folder.  This is the DIRECT RIP FTP METHOD#1.

  

This may take 1-10 minutes depending on the speed of your PC Network card, and other issues like current load on the PC, other Network activities, etc.  It isn’t uncommon to see speeds of 5000+ KBps or higher on larger files.  When it is complete, you will have a complete FILE for FILE backup of all GAME FILES from the XBOX Game disc. (Note:  FILE for FILE is currently the only working method of copying XBOX Game Discs, as the Original Retail Disks are only partially readable in the PC.  If interested, check here on the XBOX DVD format, and current findings.)

 

Optionally, you can verify the contents of c:\XBOXGAME against the original manually, file for file.  I prefer to do 2 more RIP methods, and compare the contents from all three.  You can however skip this, and jump to CLOSE FLASHFXP. 

 

 

CLOSE FLASHFXP.  Now that we have a known GOOD Rip of the game (you verified right?) we can now proceed to the production of the Perfect ISO for burning.  (note: Don’t call it XISO’S…  it causes confusion, simply call it ISO, or GDF’ed ISO, or XDFS ISO) 

 

You will now need to open a DOS BOX or COMMAND LINE PROMPT. 

 

For Windows 9x users… click on START, and type COMMAND.COM.

For Windows 2000 / XP users… click on START, and type CMD.EXE.

 

Run your copy of GDFIMAGE, execute it from the command line.  You’ll see the following:

 

To produce the Proper XDFS ISO, what I call a GDF’ed ISO, we’ll use the following syntax:

 

 

 

GDFimage c:\XBOXGAME c:\XBOXGDF.ISO

 

Alternatively, and preferably, you can use a popular Front-End for GDFimage call ISOMAKER 1.1 / 1.21 or newer.  It uses a nice simple Windows GUI to point to the “sourceroot” and “targetfile” options.  It will help prevent mistakes.

 

Click on ISOMAKER.EXE.  In the Window that opens, choose the “First” Window, and point it to the location of your RIPPED files… c:\XBOXGAME.  In the “Second” Window, select where you want the GDF’ed ISO to go.  In our case “C”.

 

 

In the blank at the bottom, enter in the name you want to call it.  Type XBOXGDF.ISO and click MAKE. It will then launch the Command Line Utility GDFimage, and you will see it building the folder and file structure.  When it “disappears” it is done!

 

This will produce a file, called XBOXGDF.ISO, in the root of your PC’s “C” Drive.  This will take from 2-10 minutes.  When finished, you will now be the Proud Owner of a perfect working GDF’ed ISO for Burning to CDRW, and all the DVD Types of blanks.  CDR Covered later

 

<NEW INSERT>

 

Available January 4, 2003.. a new GUI Front-End for Microsoft XBOX Game Disk Premastering Utility program called GAME DISK FORMAT Image GUI v1.0 by cryogen1.interfree.it.  This program has all of the same functionality of XBOX ISO IMAGE MAKER / ISOMAKER 1.21, with one exception, it can produce GDF’d .ISO files with LONGER filenames.  ISOMAKER is limited to 8.3 format. (Edit: ISOMAKER… even at version 2.0.. is STILL limited to 8.3 naming convention.) 

 

Website: http://cryogen1.interfree.it

 

 Download Source #1: http://cryogen1.interfree.it/DOWNLOAD/GDFGUI/GDFGUI.EXE

 

 Download Source #2: http://downloads.xbox-scene.net/Templates/xbox/devtools/GDFImageGUI.rar

 

 

If you download from Source #1, you will have an Auto-Installer Window pop up that looks like the following:

 

 

You can select the default location, or you can click on the “BROWSE” button to select another director to place the new EXECUTABLE.  Click INSTALL Button…

 

 

 

(If your downloaded from source #2, or anywhere else that may have RAR or ZIP compressed the file simply drag the files and folders onto your desktop or another suitable place.)

 

An executable ICON is produced called GDFImage GUI.exe is produced, and a holding folder for GDFIMAGE. Note: you must supply the GDFIMAGE.EXE tool yourself.

 

Now that it is installed, click on GDFImageGui.EXE…

 

 

Step 1/2: Browse your way to the directory that has the RIPPED files that comprise your XBOX Game Backup!  In our earlier example, we used C:\XBOXGAME.

 

 

Step 2/2:  Select a location for your new GDF’d ISO file.  You can use the browse button to select a drive and folder if the DEFAULT is not wished!

 

Click on CONVERT to continue…  this process will take from 10 seconds to 5 minutes depending on the speed of your system, size and speed of your PC Hard Drives, and other variables.

 

 

Finished!

 

 

 

If you really can’t find GDFIMAGE or ISOMAKER, and want to use XISO to BUILD an ISO (not recommended) use this older guide XISO Build ISO Guide

 

 

 

It has been a common misconception that a PROPERLY BURNED ISO BACKUP could only be duplicated by placing the existing BACKUP in the XBOX, and using FTP to Draw the contents to the PC, and REBUILD using recommended methods.  This is simply not so. 

 

UDF Method has long held the advantage of being the only way to burn an XBOX Backup that will RE-READ in a PC.  This is still TRUE… in UDF you have full READ access to the files, to do with as you wish (such as make a duplicate backup).  We know better now! 

 

It is possible to use only the PC, to read DVD and CD’s burned in GDF ISO, XISO ISO, and UDF (all flavours) using ONLY a PC.  This would allow you to make a secondary backup from the first backup… (a copy from a copy) or to extract files from the disk for future manipulation.

 

 

In the past… MY COMPUTER would scream…

 

 

One of these ERROR MESSAGES…and that would be enough to keep us from duping our backups!  Some assumed since we saw the same error messages with RETAIL XBOX Disks, the same Read Issues would apply to our backup!

 

It is actually a fairly EASY process to duplicate your existing backup without the use of your XBOX.  The Process is essentially a 1:1 process. (1:1 RecordNowMax will Read in RAW Mode, and Write in Raw ISO Mode)

 

You will need RecordNow Max (others may work… untested for this feature)

 

Place the XBOX Burned Backup in the PC, in one or your DVD readers.  Then open RecordNow Max (or earlier versions), and RIGHT-CLICK on the drive that contains the BACKUP DISK

 

 

And Select EXTRACT TRACKS… (ISO/WAV/MP3).  In the next Window, you will see the drive properties open, and details about the backup!  Click on 01 – ZONE. (for DVD) or 01 – Data track One (for CDR)  Then Select a Path, as you will need to tell RecordNow Max where to put your new ISO file.(make sure the place you send the new ISO is big enough!)

 

 

Read Speed… well… set it to MAX.  If you have problems… then by all means drop it.  I’ve done plenty of Re-RIPs, using MAX speed setting, and have had No Problems.  When you are ready… CLICK EXTRACT Button…

 

You will now see that the Bottom part of that window is showing the STATUS of the track EXTRACTION

 

 

This will take a few minutes!  Enjoy a coffee! Do NOT be surprised if it doesn’t READ (RIP) at the full rated speed of your PC DVD drive.  It’ll get faster toward the end of the disk, unless of course your have marred or scratched the disk!

 

 

When done... close RecordNow Max, remove the BACKUP DISK from the PC.  You now have a Perfect copy of the Backup Disk!

 

 

This works for DVD-R, DVD-RW, CDR, CDRW.  There is no reason it wouldn’t also work with DVD+R and DVD+RW.  From here... you can simply re-burn with almost any ISO burning program!  Or, you can play around with the Files, by using any number of file extractors... the best being XDFSExtractor!

 

 

 

 

Section 2. Produce a perfect working Burned Copy of the XBOX ISO Back-Up Image (All Media: CDRW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW)

 

So… now that you have a perfect working GDF’ed ISO, you want to Burn it to CDRW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW.  This part is Pretty Easy, and chances are the software came with your burner.

 

Open RecordNow Max. Disable the Start-Up Wizard.  We won’t use that method.  Click on the IMAGE button. 

 

 

 

 

Click on the ADD FILE button.  In the Window that appears, Navigate to the location of your GDF’ed ISO…

 

in our example c:\ .  In File Type, Scroll from Global-Image to Image [*.iso], and select your ISO file.  Then click OPEN.

 

 

 

You are bounced back to the main Windows again.  In the Drive Window Panel to the left, Double-Click on your Burner.  This will place a RED arrow pointing to that drive indicating Burner Selected. 

 

The Window on the right has some options… set copies for 1 (or more), Speed at 1x or higher for DVD types (preferably 1x to start).  Set any speed for CDRW. 

 

 

Click on the Options Button, the DISC IMAGE OPTIONS window will pop up. 

 

 

Make sure the RECORDING TYPE is set to Disc at Once (DAO), Closed, and that MODE is set to CD MODE1 (Blocking 2048) – DVD.  Optionally, place a check on the POST-GAP option.  Click OK to return to main window.  Click the RED Button to start Recording. 

 

 

 

RecordNow gives an optional 5 second count-down gives you time to abort if necessary.  Time to burn is determined by the X speed of the Blanks and the Burner, plus the current load while burning.  Try to let DVD burning run dedicated.

 

When Finished, Close STOMP’s RecordNow Max, and Enjoy your XBOX Backup in the XBOX.

 

 

If you got this far, but didn’t use a GDF’ed ISO image as source, but instead used an XISO or XBOXIsoTool produced ISO, or a downloaded ISO from the Internet / IRC / Newsgroups, you may still have a successful burn.  However, RecordNow Max is more or less burning the image blind, and will report a successful burn regardless.  You may only find out about potential image problems once you start playing.  Worst case scenario... you discover problems the day when you need to make another backup from the backup.

 

If you Don’t have RecordNow Max, and must use NERO, follow Xantium’s  Guide to Burning Iso's with NERO until I get around to including burning methods for NERO 5.5.10.0 and higher.

 

Section 2.1 Exception #1 over-sized Games.

 

Some XBOX Games can NOT be backed up as is to a single disk.  Games that exceed 4.7Gb (DVD-R) size will not fit on a single disk.  You have a few options though.

 

1) You can take the files, and spread them across 2 disks!  The games will usually not be playable using this method, but you will be able to use XBCOPY to read both Disks to the XBOX HD, where you can rebuild the directory tree, and play the title just fine!  (As of this writing, SHENMU2 and Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance fall into this category.  The 2 disks can be burned using GDF’ed ISO format, or UDF.  It doesn’t matter cause in the end this is only an archive... and not an executable (playable) set of disks.

 

2) You can Max Compress the Source Image, in which case it will be USUALLY small enough to fit on a single DVD blank.  This works, but you will need a PC to decompress the Archive, and then FTP back to the XBOX..  UDF may be preferred for this situation.

 

3) Tearing out files (commonly called RIPPING or RAPING) like DEMOES, Down-sampling Movies and Audio, and removing XBOX Online Directory.  What you will be left with is hopefully playable from the burned disk.  This method will likely require Trial and Error to get a working copy.  UDF / GDF both are both acceptable methods.

 

 

Release groups have release a functioning backup of Genma Onimusha that has had 2 movies either downsampled or removed altogether, allowing it to FIT a DVD-R and still be fully playable.

 

Shenmu 2 is playable currently only from the Hard drive of the XBOX.  However… a release group may release full RIP that have something removed or downsampled.

 

Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance... appears to be simply too big to fit.  Best bet is to split the files onto 2 DVD-R disks...  then later XBCOPY or BOXplorer them back to the XBOX where they can be played an enjoyed.

 

I’m sure we’ll see many more titles soon that will exceed the size of current DVD-R. 

 

 

 

Section 3.  Explains How to Extract the Files and Directory Structure from an acquired XBOX ISO Back-Up Image

 

So… someone has given you an ISO.  Or you felt adventurous, and found out how to find XBOX games on the Internet / IRC / Newsgroups.  So you have this ISO (likely it was RAR compressed)  For a Quick Primer on Newsgroup based XBOX Backup, read Lumbrax’ Post HERE.  We’ll call our example iso NOTGDF.ISO.

 

 

Well… here is your first problem... you have no idea what the other guy used to produce the ISO files.  He could have used XISO, XBOXIsoTool, WinRar, Adaptec Creator, WinIso, IsoBuster, etc.  They all produce ISO files.  Some better than others... but NONE of them do so in the same manner as GDFImage or Isomaker (or newer GDFIMAGEGUI)!  What you will need to do, is use XDFS Extractor v0.5a or newer, to pull the Files and Directories out of the acquired ISO.

 

I’ll steal some instructions now from IPS/Team PS2Ownz  who developed XDFSExtract.

 

Usage: XDFSExtract <iso file> [extract path]

 

 

So…  we’ll make a folder/Directory to dump it to.  C:\OPENISO

 

We’ll need to open a Command Prompt, so we can use XDFSExtractor.  Click START, Run, and type CMD (win2000/XP) or COMMAND (Most others) Our command, to properly extract the downloaded NOTGDF.ISO to C:\OPENISO would be…

 

XDFSExtract NOTGDF.ISO c:\OPENISO

 

 

 

After a few minutes, you will have the best possible version of extracted files from this source ISO.  However, because of what Tool may have been used to produce this acquired ISO, you won’t know it it’ll ever be 100% reliable.

 

By using XDFSExtractor, you have done your best in a bad situation.

  

If you find that XDFSExtractor cannot pull files out... and gives an Error…  you will be left with no choice but to use one of the other Tools like <gulp> XISO, XBOXIsoTool, WinRar, Adaptec Creator, WinIso, IsoBuster, etc.

 

An Extraction error can also occur, if you are using Fat32 or older fats.  This is more of a problem with BUILDING ISO than with EXTRACTING from and ISO.

 

If you are unable to find XDFSExtractor, and must use XISO (not recommended) use the Xantium's XISO Extraction Guide.

 

Section 4. Burning to CDR: Misconceptions Dispelled!

 

In the scene, it is either widely accepted that XBOX cannot read CDR at all, or does so unreliably.  Many make broad statements like “All Thompson Drives can’t Read CDR, and only a rare handful of Phillips can read CDR, but CDR is still a bad idea because it is likely too slow, or unstable and error-prone”

 

That is not my experience.  70% of all units I have come in contact with CAN and DO read CDR burns fine, regardless of DRIVE Installed.  Is the XBOX DVD Drive picky?  YUP!  Will it Run all Media from all Manufacturers... NOPE!  However, many units will read a Properly Burned CDR, they just need to be burned in a different method than that used for ALL other media.  Do I guarantee that this will work?  NOPE!  But you have nothing to lose... except a a cheap CDR blank or two.

 

The following Method for Burning working CDR, is loosely based on the guide produced by Mark “gAm3 Fr3aQu3” of  PrecisionMods.com.  His Guide found here promises to work on all XBOX with Phillips Drives installed.  I make no such promise.  I’ll summarize his method, then show you mine!  Both Work... but I prefer mine!  Also, he makes the assumption that you have mastered burning to CDRW, and that you now want to burn CDRW to CDR.  I assume you just want to burn straight to CDR.

 

Marks PRECISIONMODS Method: Load CDRW in in PC, use CDRWIN with specific settings, and it creates a BIN/CUE file combination.  Load Fireburner, burn BIN/CUE using specific settings. Enjoy!

 

HSDEMONZ Method:

I’ll assume you’ve now mastered SECTION 1: Section 1: Producing a perfect working XBOX ISO Back-Up Image.  Well…  we will now take that image (one small enough to fit on an 74-99 Minute CDR) and produce a new CDR Burning Image.  You will need to have already installed DAEMON-TOOLS, or another quality IMAGE Mounting tool.  Mount your XBOXGDF.ISO image using Daemon. 

 

 

 

(Do not be surprised if MY COMPUTER doesn’t show it mounted, or give you access to it, as long as DAEMON says it is loaded you are fine!)

 

Once it is Mounted with Daemon, you will need a recent version of CLONE CD, preferably v4.0 or higher.

 

 

 

With loaded CLONE CD, Click on the READ TO IMAGE FILE button.  Select your CD Reader (in this case the DAEMON drive). 

 

 

Click Next, then Click Data CD,

 

 

 

…then click Next.

 

Then, make sure you have Create “CUE-SHEET” checked. 

 

 

 

Click OK or Next.  Now sit and wait….

 

 

…while it produces the new CDR Image Files. 

 

  

 

When complete, you will have 4 new files, XBOXGDF.CCD, XBOXGDF.SUB, XBOXGDF.IMG, and XBOXGDF.CUE.

 

Double-Click on XBOXGDF.CUE.  If Fireburner is already installed, it will open, showing FIREBURNER – STATUS…

 

 

…Click OK. 

 

 

 

You will see that it is loaded as TRACK#1, MODE1/2352.  Check the Total Time… as long as it shows a time here that will fit on the CDR you are using, you will have no problems.

 

Click on the Options Menu…

 

 

…Select your Burning Device by scrolling down. 

 

 

Then select the Recording Options TAB.  Under Recording Method, only have DISK-AT-ONCE 96 checked.  (Disk-At-Once 16 untested for this purpose) Under Mutli-session, only have CLOSE CD checked. Under OTHER… make sure AUTOCORRECT SUB-CHANNEL and AUTOCORRECT EDC/ECC is checked.  I recommend that you enable BurnProof if you have it!  Click OK, and return to the main Fireburner Window.

 

Place a BLANK CDR in the Burner… wait for it to settle.  Click the CREATE CD MENU, a confirmation box appear, click Yes.  The Burn process has started.  CDR burning will take from 3-45 minutes for a full CDR, depending on the Burner X rating. (On my Plextor 48x24x48xA… a 700MB CDR take less than 3 minutes)  When Done, click OK, close FIREBURNER, and ENJOY your CDR BACKUP in your XBOX.

 

 

Section 5. UDF Burning. (Pros and Cons!)

 

UDF – What is it?  A specification that describes the Universal Disk Format file system defined by OSTA. This specification, fully compliant with the ISO 13346 standard, is intended for developers who intend to implement UDF to enable file interchange among different operating systems.  Specifications for this format are available here.  For the Purpose of this Guide, UDF will be used to discuss an alternative to ISO burning.

 

UDF Burning can be an excellent method of Burning DVD media.  The Disk that results from UDF Data Burning is Readable on almost all modern computers and OS’s, including PC’s, MACs, and Alternative OS’s like Linux.  UDF is also a readable option for XBOX Burning, and a viable alternative.  UDF however, has some pros and cons which should be considered before opting to burn with it.

 

Pros:  It’s Simple!  Easy!  Quick! And almost all DVD burning software can Burn it.  You can also take your XBOX UDF Burn, and do future 1:1 copies using only a PC equipped with a DVD Burner.  This alone makes it valuable as an Archival Backup Format.

 

Cons: UDF has a number of drawbacks… most notably it is SOMETIMES slower to boot than a properly prepared GDF’ed ISO Burn.  The Physical layout of files and directories differs enough that some games don’t just Boot slower, they has seek issues as well.  Movies may have a tendency to skip and unexpectedly pixelate, the drive may thrash expecting files to be in one place, and having to look elsewhere. Best example is Game Titles released by SEGA, having far too many files in the root.  SEGA title in UDF Burn exhibit some of the worst load times, especially when compared to properly prepared GDF’ed ISO Burns.

 

SCIENCE-FICTION: UDF XBOX Burns are as GOOD or BETTER than GDF ISO produced Burns.

 

SCIENCE-FACT: UDF XBOX Burns run… 90+ percent of the time fine... with plenty of slowdowns, thrashing, and other unexpected hiccups.

 

A recent users experience:

 

Mad_Catz   Posted: Nov 21 2002, 03:28 AM (DVD/CD Burning)

 

 

This is an EXTREME case of UDF’s drawbacks.  Others swear by it though!

 

Still want to Burn with UDF…  Here is a simple Primer.

 

You will need an Extracted Image, preferably one extracted with XDFSExtractor.  Open RecordNow Max, and Click on the DATA button at the top.  Now Drag the files and folders from your Extraction Directory into the DATA Window of RecordNow Max.

 

Once that is completed click on the OPTIONS Button.

 

 

Set PRE-MASTERING CACHE and FILE DATA and TIME to whatever you like.  Larger Cache wouldn’t hurt systems with more than 256MB of RAM.  Larger RAM Cache may help your burner to avoid using it’s BurnProof or JustLink or other similar technologies.

 

For CDRW Burns set RECORDING TYPE to Disk at Once (DAO), Closed.  Mode1, with FILE SYSTEM TYPE set to “UDF – Up to 128 in Filename Length, any char, plus 8+3 Bridge”

 

For DVD Blank Media types set RECORDING TYPE to Track at Once (TAO), Closed or Disk at Once(DAO) Closed Depending on Burner used. FILE SYSTEM TYPE set to “UDF – Up to 128 in Filename Length, any char, plus 8+3 Bridge”

 

 

That’s it… you can fill in other fields… with no adverse effects.  Click OK to continue.  I’d recommend setting Burn Speed