Fix for Banned Xbox 360s is Wicked Illegal
Nov 13, 2009 - By Benjamin Opal
Let’s get it out there up front: If you’re one of the folks who modded their Xbox 360 and are looking for a way to unban the console from Xbox Live, you stink. But I’m not naive. I know that once an Xbox 360 owner loses his or her purity, there’s no getting it back. So instead of selling their consoles to someone who doesn’t want to go online, or burying them, a group of modders have devised a way to get around Microsoft’s anti-piracy measures and hack right back into Xbox Live.
The backstory, if you missed it, is that Microsoft recently banned a whole bunch of people from Xbox Live for modifying their consoles, mostly as a way to punish people who were playing pirated video games. It’s estimated that up to 1 million people were kicked off, though they’re still able to play games offline. The fix, which was posted to Xbox-Scene’s forums, requires some free software tools and a bit of computing know-how, so if you were one of the people that got your Xbox modded at some sketchy shop, back you go. In a way, this doesn’t bother me, as the truly tech-savvy will always bend the technology to their liking. At least Microsoft’s making it tough for those who just wanted quick and dirty way to get their games for free. [Xbox-Scene via DailyTech]
Friday, November 13, 2009 9:26PM
Hi,
I would like to say i have not got a modded xbox 360 and have been banned !!!! why !!!!!
Lots of people say they have not got modded xbox360s but i havent !!!!
Friday, November 13, 2009 9:35PM
Hey John. I don't know why that would happen. Have you tried tech support? They're probably getting hammered right now but it's worth a shot. They could let you send it in so they can take a closer look.
Where else have you heard about banned Xbox 360s that weren't modded? If there are enough reports of that, it might make an interesting story and I could try and get an answer from Microsoft.
Friday, November 13, 2009 9:57PM
Hey is your xbox drive a new liteon drive or do you know….better yet how old is your xbox??? thanks NEO
Friday, November 13, 2009 11:03PM
did you buy it used? That could be what it is.
Saturday, November 14, 2009 2:47AM
MS banned anyone who do anything to their xbox. Pirates are such a tiny tiny group of who got banned. I know around 20 people who modded their boxes in some way and got banned. 0 of them are pirates or play pirated games.
Good play MS. 3 of them have already switched to Sony by buying PS3s and I expect a few more to do so soon.
Saturday, November 14, 2009 4:21AM
Boohoo…cry me a river.
Look, I believe there are people who modded their Xbox 360s and didn't pirate games. That said, I find it absolutely ludicrous that you would know 20 separate people who all modded their Xbox in some way, and that none of them played burned games.
You knew the rules when you modded, pure and simple. You knew the risks, you did it anyway. If you personally weren't pirating, I'm surprised, but that's not the point.
Saturday, November 14, 2009 11:51PM
Hypothetical situation…… You own and play backup (which of course means you own the original copy) games on a banned modded 360 using the same hard drive to save your games as your legit 360 which isn't banned. Is there any way the legit 360 can be banned by the data stored on the hard drive. For example you play a game 1 week before release on the modded 360 and then connect to live on the legit one.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009 1:55AM
@ "@Lfcmonkey" Yes, if you have information on your hard drive that says you played a game before it was released (the game is listed in your achievement list as soon as you put it in) any and all xbox's you play on with that account on the hard drive will be banned either within 3-15 minutes or at the next ban wave (usually the following Friday).
Thursday, December 10, 2009 5:34AM
First of all, people SHOULD NOT have to modd their xbox to play backup games on their xbox. I do believe that changing the firmware is illegal but on the hand the firmware the way it is, is illegal since it does not allow you the customer to backup your software. Now as the old saying goes "two wrongs don't make a right" but I believe that the second wrong is 100% justifiable.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009 7:29AM
i dont know what the fuss is,i got banned and i still get to play games,i get i cant play online but i hardly did anyway,maybe ill get a new 360 in 2 years when the price is 50 bucks then ill go online
Friday, March 5, 2010 4:43PM
They have the right to refuse the entrance to their private "Xbox Live" club anytime. That's their prerogative. But what I can't agree is that they also cripple your console so you can't use it at 100% at home. They block access to the hard drive for any use other than to "save games". You can't access your own home network to watch videos anymore. Why cripple the console?, that is just wrong.
Friday, March 12, 2010 2:01AM
I was banned, never modded my xbox or played any type of illegal software. In fact the xbox was off for about a month. when I tured it on I thought it has something to do with my gold subscrption needing credit card update. I called micosoft and then I was told it was banned. They will not tell you anything or give any recourse. I NEVER MODDED MY 360 why did i get banned?
Sunday, March 21, 2010 1:19AM
In some countries, like the one I live in, the average person doesn't make enough money to buy the real games. So here, all the games are burned games, there is no option to buying real games. All the Xbox 360s sold are modified to meet the demand of the public. So most people here have been banned, even if the only thing they did was to buy an Xbox and then play games.
When signing up for Xbox Live there should have been a list of UserRules and Regulations, specifics detailed. Maybe there was, but I didn't happen to see it. I can also see Xbox Live kicking off gamers who cheat, but to just happen to live in a situation that automatically condemns you seems a bit rough. My only real irritant with the whole thing is not having access to the new-game add ons or patches. The Xbox and PS are made like computers, and is it illegal to modify your personal computer? If you want to upgrade your personal hardware so that you can better appreciate it, and you have the means to do it, well I see no issues in that.
Monday, July 19, 2010 10:51PM
This is what happened to us too…… MS SUCKS
I am filing a suit against MS in small claims here in Seattle for my money back for disabling live… Now I cant even sell it ethically.