Original XBox Controller Memory Card Slot USB Conversion

This Instructable is a stand-alone, as well as a companion to another Instructable that i have to do an easy Softmod to your Original XBox without needing a Memory Card or Action Replay. Keep in mind that the Memory Card made by Microsoft is a FAT16 Device, but has 8 Megabyte Limitations. After doing this to my XBox controller, i was able to easily use a Kingston DataTraveller 4 Gigabyte USB stick with ease. This is also handy when you are limited to One Controller/Breakaway combo, like i am, and need to be able to transfer your files and interface at the same time with the XBox.

Credit for the Pinout diagram goes to Mike Chambers (who made a Memory Card to USB Adapter, but i simply cut out the middleman and hardwired the USB port directly into the controller!) his project can be seen at: http://mesh.typepad.com/blog/2005/01/creating_a_usb_.html

Another helpful resource for anyone undertaking any project using USB will appreciate this site:
http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml This site gives some good visual guides on most things USB (even lists iPod and other proprietary connectors).

Step 1 Shopping List

Small Philips screwdriver
Soldering Iron (I used a cordless one)
Glue Gun
Solder
Flux
Utility Knife
Small Needle Nose Pliers
USB Extension Cable (mine is a dollar store one that cost $1.50)
XBox Controller (S Model is my preference)

Additionally, some experience soldering, as well as stripping wire, and a delicate touch is helpful.

Comments

[Theodore155]

my usb blinks once and then nothing happens on the xbox

[daiatlus79]

check compatibility of your drive: not all are compatible. a simple Google search will reveal if it is or not

[miksnake]

Thanks for this instructable, I really appreciate it and am looking forward to getting it working.

I followed all the instructions tonight to modify the controller (used a Hip Gear one instead of a Microsoft, but it looked very similar inside). I used a Kingston Data Traveller 4 GB memory stick.

My problem is when I put the flash drive in and go to memory on the Xbox, the screen kind of flashes and makes a blinking sound. The green LED on the flash drive comes on and flashes in sync with the TV.

Is there any way to know whether this is a memory card compatibility issue or a wiring mishap?

Thanks.

by the way, once I've gone through this and your other tutorial on the softmod, how do I take all my games and make digital copies so I don't need to use the actual discs anymore?

[daiatlus79]

1. your flash drive could have a chip set that isnt compatible with the Xbox
2. a bigger hard drive and a dvd copier program would be the solution to your issues. installing a larger hard drive with a soft mod is tricky.

[MyGhost]

Do you have to use a 1.1 port port or would it be possible to use a High Speed 2.0 port?

[daiatlus79]

this will only be a 1.1 port as the Original Xbox never had USB 2.0 capability

[barguellez]

can i use electical tape instead of soldering??

[daiatlus79]

how will you get the wires to make and maintain contact to the board, usb socket, etc?

[cooldoodtekk]

Quick Question, Can I use a thumb drive as a memory card with this? Sorry I am fairly new to xbox modding, but I am think of purchasing one and trying.

[daiatlus79]

yes as long as it is compatible, you can. there are compatibility lists online

[Toddimyre]

This is a pretty nifty trick. You can also do something similar with modified Xbox controller cord to USB extension. Basically, you cut the end off a controller that's broken, add a USB extension, and plug in any flash drive. ;-)

[daiatlus79]

i know that, but read in my tutorial: i only had the one controller at the time, so doing that would have been hard to do. could not do that and select the files to move them from the thumbdrive to the xbox with no controller connected lol

[rholland1]

How do you know which usb drives work?
I know i got the thing right, but my sandisk cruiser doesn't

[daiatlus79]

its a bit of a dice roll. some work and some dont. there are lists online that give compatibility.

[xbulldog670]

Thanks man, it works great. I made my female usb cord about 8 inches long, because i didnt have any hot glue and plus i just kinda liked it like that. So i stuffed the memory card slot with packed tight cotton balls so the cored wont wiggle and pop the wires off of the board. Then I took black duct tape, and taped the entrance to cover up the cotton balls, it looks really nice. Deffinetly recommending this tut to others!

[Spotman]

scratch that i did mess up
i failed to save the wires on the usb and end up soldering them backwards

[daiatlus79]

pinouts.ru is always a good site to go to when wondering about wiring up usb. its a great help

[Spotman]

i think id mess up somehow but my controller nearly caught on fire

[Encomb]

Could you use a usb card reader instead of a flash drive?

[daiatlus79]

i guess. as long as the hardware of the xbox recognizes it.

[MrHanimi]

Do the wires just have to be soldered into the holes?
or is there somewhere on the other side of the board they need to connect to?

I honestly don't know whether this is a stupid question :s

[dushii]

I have soldered well same as in the tutorial but i don't use a kingston usb I use JetFlash Transcend 2gb. And in the screen on xbox at the memory When I go the it makes again that problem make a sound bleep bleep and the light of the screen goes up and down the some as the sound which it makes bleep bleep and doesn't show anything only xbox hard drive. If you want a video to show you the problem I can show you just tell me if you want

[MrHanimi]

I don't know why you posted this as a reply to my comment
but your memory stick probably isnt supported
just try another one from around the house

you are using an original xbox arent you?
does not work with xbox 360

[dushii]

of course I'm using an original xbox but i check the list of the device and my device is in the the device that don't work

[MrHanimi]

have you tried a different usb stick?

[dushii]

can anyone help me i have did your mod but when I plug in a usb it want recognize and when i got at memory on xbox is nothing and the usb light goes on
but then when i go to the memory blade, the screen flashes and makes a bleep bleep sound please help me

[daiatlus79]

memory blade? are you sure you are talking about the xbox1 and not the 360? because this mod does not work for the 360

[remorsedhacker]

this was the worst part omfg

[remorsedhacker]

i think he was talking about the ''caps'' but im still on the cutting plastic step lol

[rafaelmotas]

Great Tut. Just made the mod and works like a charm.
Thax sooooooooo much! Now I don't have to buy a memory card to mod my xbox!

[daiatlus79]

not a problem... thinking of modding your xbox as well? i have a tut on how to do that as well

[rafaelmotas]

Yes I've seen it and I'll follow it to mod my xbox. I'm just waiting for the slinter cell game to arrive. I can't wait to mod my xbox!

I've just one question: Can I copy a xbox rom to my usb drive and then copy it from the usb drive to xbox to play the game from the xbox hdd?

[daiatlus79]

i would not recommend it on the stock hard drive as it is rather small.. about 8 gigs.. rather would recommend it on a modded hard drive..

[rafaelmotas]

Ok. Maybe I'll do that. thanks

[Treborabc]

If you do this you can still play games with your controller, right?

[daiatlus79]

yup

[Treborabc]

half the time it tells me it it not functioning, and my computer has to format it. Help?

[daiatlus79]

install xplorer360...

[sorahypernoize]

Do I, like, need a driver for the thumbdrive? Cos it worked fine with my XBox, but I can't transfer files to my xbox...

[daiatlus79]

did you look at my other instructable? the one on how to hack the xbox? you need xplorer360 to be able to read the thumbdrive on the PC once the xbox has reformatted it. this is because the xbox reformats it in the FATX format. does that help?