About This File
EVTool & EVTool Mod (AiO)
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Extracts, Compiles, and Patches Evox M8 XBOX BIOS/Kernel Files.
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!!!!! 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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History
1.0.9
Fixed failure to patch in IGR code on newly supported kernels.
Removed support for outdated BIOS's (only M8+ and meetoo M8 BFMs supported).
1.0.8
Support for M8+.
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.
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This Pack includes:
- EVtool.exe - Patched to ignore the MD5 checksum for the kernel. Can be used to edit the M8plus BFM images.
- EVtool-original.exe - The original EVtool 1.0.9 executable.
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