Update on latest news

[NeoRio]

Well just read through this and you should be perfectly capable of patching your games.

Great tutorial, thanks.

I'm trying to do Mass Effect 2 now. There are 2 discs and each disc has 3 SS files and 3 DMI files. You said in some cases there are "loads" of SS and DMI files. Whether I patch the ISO in XBC or ABGX, how do I patch the multiple SS/DMI files?--or do you only choose one SS and one DMI file?--if so, does it matter which one you choose?

Does ABGX have SS/DMI files for all games?

Also; do you think XBC is better/safer for patching over ABGX?

Thanks,
Neo

[NeoRio]

Yep, what might have happened is abgx may have patched it.

I should get an updated list of settings for abgx360. I set it up according to a tutorial a year or 2 ago. I'm looking through the "AutoFix" tab now and see that all 4 boxes are checked, one of them says "Trust SS v2 angles". Do you think abgx patched it (MW2) automatically? If so, I wonder why it didn't do it for Mass Effect 2.

As for your mass effect 2 rip, its wave 6 and ABGX can only see up to wave 4 I believe, you can patch it to see up to wave 5 and 6. I left my agbx as it is because Ive ripped a huge number of games with my kreon, so all I do is check the xbc log, if there are 0 errors I dont really care what abgx says.

Nice. I didn't see the "errors" log on the abgx web page. Where are errors listed?

Best Regards

[NeoRio]

Yep, what might have happened is abgx may have patched it. As for your mass effect 2 rip, its wave 6 and ABGX can only see up to wave 4 I believe, you can patch it to see up to wave 5 and 6.

Hmmm, I was just reading on the abgx360 site under downloads, here, and it seems to say that you need the video ISO updates (wave 3,4,5,6) for AutoFixing newer games. Maybe that is why MW2 shows up as ss2?--because ABGX fixed it automatically because it is a wave 4 game, but Mass Effect 2 is wave 6, so it couldn't AutoFix because I don't have the ABGX updates installed? If this is the case, do you think it's just as safe to allow ABGX to do the ssv2 automatically instead of manually doing it in XBC or with ABGX?

[HaGGardSmurf]

I'm trying to do Mass Effect 2 now. There are 2 discs and each disc has 3 SS files and 3 DMI files. You said in some cases there are "loads" of SS and DMI files. Whether I patch the ISO in XBC or ABGX, how do I patch the multiple SS/DMI files?--or do you only choose one SS and one DMI file?--if so, does it matter which one you choose?

Does ABGX have SS/DMI files for all games?

Also; do you think XBC is better/safer for patching over ABGX?

Thanks,
Neo

Take a look at the first pic in the tut (click it for full sized) Open disk 1.iso in abgx, copy the ss crc or write it down, then download that file from abgx.net then do the same for the dmi. Do that for the second disk as well. When I say some have loads of ss and dmi files I just mean that it can be a bit tricky sometimes to find the file your looking for. Not really the case with mass effect since there are only 3 files for each disk.

I should get an updated list of settings for abgx360. I set it up according to a tutorial a year or 2 ago. I'm looking through the "AutoFix" tab now and see that all 4 boxes are checked, one of them says "Trust SS v2 angles". Do you think abgx patched it (MW2) automatically? If so, I wonder why it didn't do it for Mass Effect 2.

Trust SSv2 angles should be checked, it will trust the angle measurement of the game if its ssv2. It doesn't really make a difference if its check marked or not. I'm not sure why your MW2 comes back as ssv2 are you sure you ripped it with a kreon drive? I know lots of people downloaded it before the release date.

Nice. I didn't see the "errors" log on the abgx web page. Where are errors listed?

Theyre not, I was referring to XBC when I'm ripping a game, if there are no errors in the log, I never used to run it through abgx (I do now due to the whole ssv1/2 thing...)

Hmmm, I was just reading on the abgx360 site under downloads, here, and it seems to say that you need the video ISO updates (wave 3,4,5,6) for AutoFixing newer games. Maybe that is why MW2 shows up as ss2?--because ABGX fixed it automatically because it is a wave 4 game, but Mass Effect 2 is wave 6, so it couldn't AutoFix because I don't have the ABGX updates installed? If this is the case, do you think it's just as safe to allow ABGX to do the ssv2 automatically instead of manually doing it in XBC or with ABGX?

By fixing a game your just injecting a couple files, abgx auto injecting them is just as safe as doing it manually. That may be why, but I'm not sure, you can try downloading those updates and seeing if abgx fixes your games automatically. I personally enjoy doing it manually, its not much work and you get the satisfaction of knowing its done.


I also figured I should add in that 0800 FW will only give you ssv1 angles, its the 0800 built into 1.6 that will give you ssv2, doesnt really change anything seeing as you can still use a sammy, benq, or lite-on as a dedicated ripping drive, just flash 1.6 instead of 0800.

[NeoRio]

When I say some have loads of ss and dmi files I just mean that it can be a bit tricky sometimes to find the file your looking for. Not really the case with mass effect since there are only 3 files for each disk.

Thanks. I actually just chatted some of the tech guys at the abgx site in the chat room. They said that you just need 1 "combo", a combo being an SS file and a DMI file that are both on the same line that are SS version 2. They said it doesn't matter which combo you get as long as they have a 2 under the SS version column.

I'm not sure why your MW2 comes back as ssv2 are you sure you ripped it with a kreon drive? I know lots of people downloaded it before the release date.

I've never downloaded a game. This is a direct rip from my original...using my trusty Kreon drive with XBC. Here's what the tech guys at abgx said when I asked them about it:

[13:05] <pitcher3> I ripped COD MW2 with a Kreon drive...and abgx is showing it as ssv2
[13:05] <boa> good for u
[13:05] <pitcher3> I was told that Kreons only rip ssv1
[13:05] <boa> you sure it didnt patch it thru the db with ssv2
[13:05] <pitcher3> That was my question actually
[13:05] <JonatanDK> Kreon can't make ssv2
[13:06] <boa> your ssv2 matches up to a ssv2 in the abgx db
[13:07] <pitcher3> So, in short abgx AutoFixed my ISO to be ssv2?
[13:07] <boa> check the logs

Then they told me that the ssv2 for MW2 was not trusted, or not recognized, and that's why it updated it to a trusted ssv2 automatically. I asked why my ME2 ISO did not do the same...they said because the ssv1 for ME2 was trusted...so it would not update automatically. So, even if I install the Video ISO updates for Wave 5/6 games, abgx will not AutoFix the ssv of an ISO unless it's not trusted (or recognized?). At least that's what I understood. Their patience wore thin, so I couldn't get the clearest answer possible.

I also figured I should add in that 0800 FW will only give you ssv1 angles, its the 0800 built into 1.6 that will give you ssv2, doesnt really change anything seeing as you can still use a sammy, benq, or lite-on as a dedicated ripping drive, just flash 1.6 instead of 0800.

Great to know, thanks. Can you send me a link to where I can find cheap BenQ, Sammy or Lite-On drives that sell separately?--are they new when you buy them separate (out of a 360)?

Thanks again

[NeoRio]

OK, I think I may have just successfully patched my first ISO.

One thing I noticed in the instructions on abgx for patching manually using abgx is that they tell you to:

• Go to the "Manually Patch or Extract Files" tab
• Tick "Patch even if stealth passes"

[/color]...that's one step you don't have listed in your tutorial.

I installed their Wave 3-6 Video ISO update and extracted it to the correct folder where abgx reads them. However, even after patching the SSv2 correctly, when I do my abgx check, I still get the "Video partition does not match known data" yellow arrow message (see attached picture). Should that error message be there?

NeoRio

[HaGGardSmurf]

Thanks. I actually just chatted some of the tech guys at the abgx site in the chat room. They said that you just need 1 "combo", a combo being an SS file and a DMI file that are both on the same line that are SS version 2. They said it doesn't matter which combo you get as long as they have a 2 under the SS version column.

Hmm, good to know. Personally I'm probably still going to patch with the files originally in my iso, who knows it may end up being safer.

I've never downloaded a game. This is a direct rip from my original...using my trusty Kreon drive with XBC. Here's what the tech guys at abgx said when I asked them about it:

Then they told me that the ssv2 for MW2 was not trusted, or not recognized, and that's why it updated it to a trusted ssv2 automatically. I asked why my ME2 ISO did not do the same...they said because the ssv1 for ME2 was trusted...so it would not update automatically. So, even if I install the Video ISO updates for Wave 5/6 games, abgx will not AutoFix the ssv of an ISO unless it's not trusted (or recognized?). At least that's what I understood. Their patience wore thin, so I couldn't get the clearest answer possible.

That makes sense.

Great to know, thanks. Can you send me a link to where I can find cheap BenQ, Sammy or Lite-On drives that sell separately?--are they new when you buy them separate (out of a 360)?

I'm not 100% sure if they are new or not, I think theyre N.O.S (New Old Stock) but in the case of the lite-on its probably new. As for a link, just use ebay search for "xbox 360 benq" or samsung or lite-on. Thats where I get all my drives from, the cost + shipping is still MUCH cheaper than any modding or repair website ive seen.

Well ME2 is wave 6 and it says at the top of your log that its wave 3 or 4 and it still gives you that error message, so i'd say it isnt working.

[shellbullet]

Hmmmm my last post seems to not have gone though. But anyways, Sorry to butt in, I am brand new to the forum and saw this post and it is actually exactly the topic I had a question on. You two were talking about ripping games using kreon drives and special drives. I have been ripping my previously burnt xbox 360 games. You only need the special drives if you are trying to rip retail games correct?

Also I ripped them at 56x...I expect that is too fast to have a successful burn?

Last question, I have been patching ALL of my games regardless of wave (this includes wave 2 and up) to SSv2 based off of the guide you posted in the prior post (using agbx.com and agbx to manually inject the files) Is this fine to do? The ripped game doesn't need those specific .DMI and .SS files that I replaced to be stealthed still does it? The games are still all green in agbx so I figure they are still good...

[NeoRio]

I have been ripping my previously burnt xbox 360 games.

If I understand correctly, you have been re-ripping your previously burnt games? Does that mean that you originally ripped those games, then burned them to disc...and now you are re-ripping them so you can inject the newly ripped ISOs with ssv2?

You only need the special drives if you are trying to rip retail games correct?

Not sure what you mean. If by "special drives" you mean an actual Xbox 360 drive flashed with 0800 FW...the answer is no. You don't need one, you can use a Kreon drive to rip...and then inject the ripped ISO with ssv2.

Also I ripped them at 56x...I expect that is too fast to have a successful burn?

I know CoFree recommends ripping them at slower speeds, but I have heard of people ripping fast with no problems. I'll let someone give you the final answer on this one.

Last question, I have been patching ALL of my games regardless of wave (this includes wave 2 and up) to SSv2 based off of the guide you posted in the prior post (using agbx.com and agbx to manually inject the files) Is this fine to do? The ripped game doesn't need those specific .DMI and .SS files that I replaced to be stealthed still does it? The games are still all green in agbx so I figure they are still good...

If I understand you correctly, my answer would be yes, even your old Wave 2 games need to have the ss updated to ssv2...IF you intent to play them on Live. Furthermore, I'd say that if you play them on a console that ever will play games on Live, you may as well only put properly stealthed games in it...as it may keep a record of the games that are fed to it.

Best Regards,
NeoRio

[NeoRio]

I asked why my ME2 ISO did not do the same (fix the ss automatically)...they said because the ssv1 for ME2 was trusted...so it would not update automatically. So, even if I install the Video ISO updates for Wave 5/6 games, abgx will not AutoFix the ssv of an ISO unless it's not trusted (or recognized?). At least that's what I understood.

Well ME2 is wave 6 and it says at the top of your log that its wave 3 or 4 and it still gives you that error message, so i'd say it isnt working.

Haggard, I've been meaning to get back to you on this comment about Mass Effect 2. I had ripped my copy of ME2 with a Kreon drive, then manually updated the ss to ssv2. When I'd do the ABGX check, I got all green lights except for a yellow message about the video partition. I got the same message for both disc 1 and 2, even after ripping several times. You told me you thought it must not be a good rip. Later I got on with the chat people at abgx and they told me that the rip should be fine as it was reporting good ssv2 and good (passed) results on everything else. They said the yellow error was because the current version of abgx doesn't recognize the video layer of the new game that I had copied.

Just thought I'd mention this in case others may be experiencing the same yellow error when they rip.

[shellbullet]

Yeap, by special drives I meant those Kreon drives and etc, but no the games I am re-ripping were not ripped from a retail game.

As for all wave 2's being patched to SSv2 are you sure that's still safe? Another person I talked to said that if a wave 2 game is supposed to have SSV2 and you patch to SSV1 you risk yourself being caught on live.

[NeoRio]

Yeap, by special drives I meant those Kreon drives and etc, but no the games I am re-ripping were not ripped from a retail game.

As for all wave 2's being patched to SSv2 are you sure that's still safe? Another person I talked to said that if a wave 2 game is supposed to have SSV2 and you patch to SSV1 you risk yourself being caught on live.

I can't comment on any rips that have not been made of original games. That is the only experience I have. If you have d/l your game, then you're looking at a whole different kettle of fish and patching the ss may be a mute issue.

[shellbullet]

Yeah for patching the downloaded games it's still the same process. The only question I have left is how to know if a wave 2 game should be SSv1 or SSv2. I read on a different forum that if you run agbx360 in high verbosity mode it will tell you which drive was used to rip the game in the first place. So once I do that I just need to make sure the SS version matches the drive it was ripped with?

- SSv1 ripped with Kreon
- SSv1 ripped with old 0800 FW
- SSv2 ripped with new 0800 FW (iXtreme 1.6)

I heard games ripped with the kreon drive are bad. That microsoft probably can detect these games in the long run if they wanted to. Any comment on that? Or the above questions would be appreciated once again.

So, is there a way to tell what SS version wave 2 games? (Perhaps though this high verbosity check? Finding out which drive it was ripped with.)

Are all kreon rips bad?

[NeoRio]

Yeah for patching the downloaded games it's still the same process. The only question I have left is how to know if a wave 2 game should be SSv1 or SSv2. I read on a different forum that if you run agbx360 in high verbosity mode it will tell you which drive was used to rip the game in the first place. So once I do that I just need to make sure the SS version matches the drive it was ripped with?

- SSv1 ripped with Kreon
- SSv1 ripped with old 0800 FW
- SSv2 ripped with new 0800 FW (iXtreme 1.6)

I heard games ripped with the kreon drive are bad. That microsoft probably can detect these games in the long run if they wanted to. Any comment on that? Or the above questions would be appreciated once again.

So, is there a way to tell what SS version wave 2 games? (Perhaps though this high verbosity check? Finding out which drive it was ripped with.)

Are all kreon rips bad?

Not sure where you're getting your information from, Shell. But first of all, you should know that downloaded games are not condoned or supported here. We only rip our own original games.

However, I've heard it on reliable authority that Kreon drives give just as good a rip as 360 drives flashed with iXtreme 1.6...they just don't rip to ssv2...but once ssv2 is injected, the ISO is the same as a game ripped with a 360 drive. If you don't believe me, go to abgx's web site, go to their chat room and confirm with the pros there.

[shellbullet]

Thank you for all of your help. I really do appreciate it and now time for the Super noob question though...I've tried connecting to their chat room before and couldn't....How do I connect? I have Mirc.