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Chapter 1 – Voiding the Warranty
Tools of the Trade
Hardware hacking may seem daunting at first because of the sophisticated tools that are required for some projects. Fortunately, most basic projects can be accomplished with only a small investment in tools, comparable to the price of one or two video games. Appendix A, “Where to Get Equipment,” contains a suggested list of starter tools and instructions on how to order these tools. This chapter will talk about basic tools you will need for serious hardware hacking, including tools to open things up, attach and remove electronic components, diagnose and probe circuits, and design circuit boards. Of these tools, good quality versions of the first two can be purchased at fairly reasonable prices. Diagnostic and test tools such as oscilloscopes and logic analyzers are worth their weight in gold, but you’ll find that these are very heavy and they will be a formidable investment. As for circuit board design tools, some of the best tools can come at surprisingly affordable prices. This chapter will conclude with a step-by-step pictorial tutorial on how to open up the Xbox. More experienced hardware hackers can skip the next couple of chapters.
Tools to Open Things Up
The first step in hacking anything is getting the cover off. Most electronic appliances can be opened with just a set of Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, but the most interesting boxes will require a set of special security bits.
Figure 1-1: A selection of security bits. From left to right: Nintendo 4.5mm, security torx, standard torx, clutch, Robertson or square, tri-wing, torq, spanner, and security allen or hex.
Figure 1-1 shows a lineup of some common security bits. Surprisingly, security bit sets are affordable and easy to obtain. MCM Electronics sells a 105-piece security bit set (MCM order number 22-3495) for under twenty dollars, and a 32 piece set (MCM order number 22-1875) for under ten dollars. They are well worth the investment. Nintendo security bits are sold separately. You can get the large Nintendo security bit, used in the Nintendo Gamecube, for a few dollars (MCM order number 22-1150, “4.5mm Security Bit”). A smaller version of the bit (MCM order number 22-1145, “3.8mm Security Bit”) is also used in the older Nintendo systems and their game cartridges.
The Xbox uses standard torx (six-pointed star) bits of the T10, T15 and T20 size. These bits are fairly common and can be purchased at hardware stores such as Home Depot. You may also find a magnetic extension bit holder handy for reaching into a couple of tight spots around the hard drive and DVD drive in the Xbox.
Do not use excessive force when taking the cover off equipment. If you think you have removed all of the screws but the cover is still stuck, most likely you have either missed a screw, or you need to depress some friction lock tabs. Too, many times screws are hidden beneath the rubber feet on the bottom of equipment, or under a sticker label. To find screws hidden by sticker labels, firmly rub the surface of the label. You will feel a soft spot wherever there is a screw underneath. (Breaking such a label to access the screw instantly voids the equipment’s warranty, but have no fear: Most equipment is designed to be serviced, so simply removing the cover rarely causes any damage.)
On occasion, you will encounter a stubborn assembly that refuses to come apart. If the cover or panel flexes open around the edges or seems to have some freedom of movement, there may be some kind of friction lock holding the cover on. Friction locks are typically tab-and-slot structures, shaped so that it is much easier to insert the tab than to remove it. In this case, locate the tab by observing where the case seems to be stuck, and push in on the tab with a small flathead screwdriver while gently pulling up on the case. If there are multiple tabs like this, insert a wedge of some kind, such as another screwdriver or a paperclip, to prevent the tab from re-engaging as you open the other tabs.
If the cover or panel refuses to move even slightly when you apply firm pressure, it may also be attached with adhesive or it may even be welded shut. For example, “wall-wart” power supplies (the square black boxes that you plug directly into wall outlets) are often sealed in such a fashion. Taking such a piece of equipment apart may mean you’ll never be able to get it back together into its original form.
