8Bit Joystick.com: All You Wanted to know about Secure and Non Secure Xbox 360 Data Storage but were afraid to ask

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All You Wanted to know about Secure and Non Secure Xbox 360 Data Storage but were afraid to ask

It seams that one of the issues with the Xbox 360 is that there is two types of data storage and media on Xbox 360 system. "Secure/Trusted" and "Non Secure".

The memory cards and hard drive is "Secure/Trusted" and only approved software or Xbox Live can write to it. This is where your Gamertag, save data, game data, music ripped from CDs via the Xbox, and everything you download off Xbox Live resides.

Media data streamed over a network, off a CD+R, DVD+R or off a USB drive is "Non Secure" and so you can't have executable programs on it. It is sort of a visitor only. You can play it back and through the Xbox 360 but it can't stay the system. But you can hook the drive up to your PC and modify and arrange it to your heart's content.

The two data types are thoroughly segregated. Of course the reason why they have this is to help prevent people cracking the 360's secure boot and running un-official code (Like Linux, home brew software or pirated games) on it. On the original Xbox there were exploits using corrupted game save data to open up a hole and install un-authorized code on it.

You can rip your own DVDs and store your own movies on an external USB drive but the video files that you get off Xbox Live must stay on the "Secure/Trusted" hard drive or on a memory card.

I bought a season of The Venture Brothers off Xbox Live market place but I had to delete them all to make room for the Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta test and some game demos. Rather than having to download it again I am just going to rip the DVD that I got at the store and watch the MP4s of it off my USB hard drive. Yes I really like the Venture Brothers so I bought Season 2 twice, once off Xbox Live and another on DVD at a local store.

Now I do think that the 120 Gig Hard Drive is a bit pricy and It would be nice to see Microsoft sell an "Trusted/Secure" external hard drive for Xbox Live Video downloads. The main reason why I don't buy more TV shows or rent movies over Xbox Live is due to storage issues.

Update :

I am going to use Handbreak to make MP4 files from the DVDs. I've used Handbreak in the past with my iPod and PSP and it is my favorite DVD Ripper/MP4 Compressor combo application. Plus they now have a Windows version. Handbreak is open source, free and highly recommended.

The details for what kind of MP4 files the 360 likes are here.

Then I'll copy it from my notebook to the USB drive.

I think I'll turn this into a tutorial tonight and post it tomorrow.