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by Doug Thews.
Original Post: Xbox Dashboard Now Supports 480p
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Awhile back I posted a thread on how to see the Xbox Dashboard when you've hooked up your Xbox to a TV or monitor that supports only progressive scan component inputs (since the Dashboard only supported 480i, you ended up seeing squiggly green lines). Well, when you're trying to configure the Xbox for Xbox Live! or needed to change some HDTV settings, this could be a pain (although it WAS a workaround).
Well, now those days are gone. If you have the Xbox Live! service, you've by now been forced to download an update (as of 4/22/04) to the Xbox Live! client that also included updates to the Xbox Dashboard. One of those updates is the ability to change the output of the Xbox Dashboard to 480p.
Of course this little tidbit hasn't really been publicized and the instructions are inacccurate, but at least it saves us from having to install an Xbox mod and void the Xbox warranty.
So, here's how you do it:
1. Boot up the Xbox without a game in it, which will bring you to the Dashboard.
2. Unplug the "Y" HDTV component connector from your TV and plug it into one of your TVs standard composite inputs (a single yellow RCA jack). Then change your TV to select that composite input. You should now see a black & white Xbox Dashboard. NOTE: If your TV supports 480i, this isn't necessary because the TV recognizes a 480i signal from the HDTV AV pack. But for the rest of us that don't have that luxury, this is the only way we can see the Xbox Dashboard - a fact that is lost on other people who've tried to explain this technique, and a pain in the butt when trying to change Dashboard settings. Remember, the Xbox MUST be using the HDTV AV pack, otherwise the HDTV video settings page that you need to get to later will not be available. So, using the HDTV "Y" output to get a black & white signal is the ONLY WAY to view the HDTV video settings via the Dashboard if you have a TV that doesn't support 480 via its component input jacks.
3. You may be prompted to download an update. Go ahead and do it now and then reboot your Xbox.
4. Once at the Dashboard screen, go to Settings -> Video and enable 480p (plus ano other modes that your TV supports).
5. Now, simultaneously press the right & left triggers and the two joystick buttons down all at the same time. This will set the Dashboard to display at 480p. NOTE: You'll know if it worked because the black & white dashboard is now replaced by a bunch of black & white squiggly lines.
6. You can now unplug the "Y" connector from the yellow composite RCA connector and back in to the "Y" input of your TVs HDTV composite suite (Y, Pb, & Pr comprise the entire HDTV signal).
You should now see a nice bright Xbox dashboard. This setting will hold through reboots and turning off your Xbox. However, since the Xbox's internal battery lasts only a few hours, if you leave your Xbox unplugged for any length of time, this setting will revert back to the old 480i setting (your internal clock will also reset as well).
So, for those of you like me who didn't want to run the risk of modding your Xbox, here's a way to finally get a progressive scan Dashboard and still keep your warranty.
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