Xbox Port

Notice: This page is about the full port of the ReactOS desktop operating system for the 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

Status

Note: See Xbox Port Tests for more details.

• Boot CD / Live CD does not boot, see CORE-16220.
• Can be booted from HDD using pre-installed files:
  • FreeLdr boot from MBR/FAT32 works.
  • FreeLdr boot from BRFR/FATX works.
• Hangs on early kernel start, see CORE-16222.

See this JIRA ticket list for known unresolved problems.

«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 definitely something cool you may want to try to run on your Xbox» :-)

— Fireball (talk) 19:55, 1 September 2005 (UTC)

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.
• Stas'M is currently working on Xbox port revival, so XBOX Boot milestone has been added.

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.
• Newer Cromwell BIOS is currently used: https://github.com/binarymaster/cromwell/releases
• 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.

• See Install ReactOS on Xbox.

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
• Robert Naumann aka gonzoMD

See Also

• Known unresolved Xbox port problems
• ReactOS on Xbox notes by Matt Borgerson
• 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