Xbox Port
Notice: This page is about full port of ReactOS desktop operating system for original Xbox. For the Xbox gaming kernel see Run Xbox Games on ReactOS. |
ReactOS Xbox port targets the original Microsoft's Xbox gaming console, which is based on Intel Pentium III (Coppermine) processor that ReactOS could support.
It might be useful in different ways:
- For people who don't have a computer, but have an Xbox which can be used as a computer with ReactOS
- For gamers who want to run retro console emulators which are available only as Windows applications
- For XQEMU emulator developers who need an open source Xbox kernel implementation
- For the project itself, because it allows better flexibility of porting to other platforms
Contents
Status
Note: the status is based on outdated information. Actual port status is investigated in Xbox Port Tests.
- Running from Live CD is supported.
- Installing from Boot CD is not supported.
- Can be booted from HDD using pre-installed files.
«It's just fun for now, nothing else. You can browse your Xbox's HDD in explorer, as if it's just a PC computer, you can even do some very simple things, but not very much really. But with time – when we finish nvidia network card driver, it's gonna become more interesting since possibilities are endless – there are so plenty of software for Win32 that there is definately something cool you may want to try to run on your Xbox» :-)
Known facts
- The port was started by Gé van Geldorp at r11926 and firstly got into ReactOS 0.2.5, but has since regressed and is unmaintained.
- In ReactOS 0.3.0 Xbox's I2C support was moved to a separate file, and support of LEDs switching was added by Aleksey Bragin.
- In ReactOS 0.3.4 boot regression was fixed by Hervé Poussineau, but still no support for USB keyboard/mouse.
- Xbox port revival was suggested at Google Summer of Code 2010 ideas.
- Xbox executable support was suggested as Google Summer of Code 2019 idea.
Development problems
- Many hardware components that need drivers.
- Lack of people with low-level programming and reverse engineering skills.
- Microsoft has discontinued original Xbox since 2006, so few people with a working console left, and their number is decreasing.
Existing work
- Xbox HAL exists. See halxbox module.
- Freeloader automatically distinguish between normal PC and Xbox.
- Support for FATX file system exists in freeloader, fastfat driver, and ufatx module. See File Systems#FAQ and ReactOS Git grep.
- Basic video miniport driver for nVidia NV2A GPU (
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_02A0
) exists. See xboxdisp.inf and xboxvmp module. - Custom Cromwell BIOS previously existed in the repository. See boot/xbox/cromwell.
- Other commits related to Xbox port development.
- https://svn.reactos.org/downloads/xbox/ - ReactOS Xbox port prebuilt binaries (very old).
Installing
It's possible to install or just run ReactOS either on real Xbox or in XQEMU emulator.
Gallery
ReactOS running on Xbox (circa 2006)
Video on YouTube (circa 2007)
People who have an original Xbox
- Andreas Bjerkeholt aka Harteex
- Daniel Reimer aka EmuandCo
- Manatails007
- Andrew Cook aka ariscop
- Ben Nottelling
See Also
- ReactOS on Xbox notes by Matt Borgerson
- ReactOS Xbox port fixes by Matt Borgerson
- Implementing nVidia NVNet driver (
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01C3
): CORE-15872 - Run Xbox Games on ReactOS
- ReactOS Forum topic
- An article on Slashdot
- The Xbox Operating System explained by Garry Trinder
- Porting an Operating System to the Xbox HOWTO
- Xbox nForce Chipset
ReactOS ports | |
---|---|
In active development | Intel IA-32 (x86) | AMD64 (x64) |
In slow development | ARM64 (aarch64) | ARM32 (armv7) | NEC PC-98 (x86) | OG Xbox (x86) | Apple TV (1st generation) (x86) |
Unmaintained | OLPC (x86) |
Missing ports that Windows has | Intel IA-64 (Itanium) | IBM PS/2 MCA (x86) | SGI 320/540 (x86) | DEC Alpha (axp) | MIPS | PowerPC (ppc) |
Ideas for new ports | FM Towns (x86) | PlayStation 4 (x64) | Intel SFI (x86) |