HELP US COD-MW2 IN AFGHANISTAN!
April 5, 2010 12:41 AM Subscribe
We're in Afghanistan. We have 8 Xbox 360s, and no internet connection that we can hook our Xbox 360s to. Help us get a multiplayer thing going...
We're in Afghanistan. We have 8 Xbox 360s, and no internet connection that we can hook our Xbox 360s to.
We have basic email and web surfing, but Xbox Live is specifically banned (and we don't have the bandwidth to spare).
Four of the Xbox 360s have the latest Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 patches. Four of them do not have any patches. We have a 16 port ethernet switch, and we all want to play together (system link). We can't get all eight players into the same game (because of the patch issue).
Is there a way to manually download and apply the patch to each Xbox without hooking up the Xbox 360 to the internet.
If not, is there a way to specifially remove the Modern Warfare 2 (or any game) patches without any special hardware (data cable for the Xbox Hard Drive).
Also, be aware that all gaming websites/blog/etc are banned from our network by an admin over 200 KM away.
We're in Afghanistan. We have 8 Xbox 360s, and no internet connection that we can hook our Xbox 360s to.
We have basic email and web surfing, but Xbox Live is specifically banned (and we don't have the bandwidth to spare).
Four of the Xbox 360s have the latest Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 patches. Four of them do not have any patches. We have a 16 port ethernet switch, and we all want to play together (system link). We can't get all eight players into the same game (because of the patch issue).
Is there a way to manually download and apply the patch to each Xbox without hooking up the Xbox 360 to the internet.
If not, is there a way to specifially remove the Modern Warfare 2 (or any game) patches without any special hardware (data cable for the Xbox Hard Drive).
Also, be aware that all gaming websites/blog/etc are banned from our network by an admin over 200 KM away.
You can burn patches to CD or put them on a USB stick. Instructions.
I assume that someone outside Afghanistan would have to copy the patches onto USB or CD and mail that to you.
If that's blocked for you, I've copied it below:
Update using a USB flash drive:
1. Connect your USB flash drive to a USB port on your computer.
2. Click here to begin downloading the update folder. Save it as "$SystemUpdate_Fall09_8955.zip" anywhere on your computer.
3. Unzip the File.
4. Copy the contents from the unzipped folder onto the root of your flash drive.
5. Safely remove the flash drive from your computer and plug it into a USB port on your Xbox 360 console. If your console is on, turn it off, then back on. The update program will start automatically.
6. Select Yes, update now. When you see the new dashboard, you're done.
Burn a DVD or CD
Your other option is to download a file from Xbox.com and burn a DVD or CD. Use this method if you don't have your console connected to broadband, or if you use a dialup connection to the Internet. You could even do this at a friend's house who has a broadband Internet connection and a DVD or CD burner.
To create an update disc you need the following:
* A DVD or CD burner.
* A blank, writeable DVD or CD.
* The update file from Xbox.com.
This procedure involves burning the DVD or CD by using Microsoft Windows DVD or CD burning software. If you're using third-party CD/DVD writing software, follow the instructions for creating a data disc.
The same steps apply whether burning a CD or a DVD.
To create a DVD or CD:
1. Click here to begin downloading the update folder. Save it as "$SystemUpdate_Fall09_8955.zip" anywhere on your computer.
2. Place a blank disc in your burner.
From Windows Explorer, select Open Writable CD Folder Using Windows Explorer or open the CD drive icon.
3. Open (double click) the zipped $SystemUpdate_ Fall09_8955.zip folder and drag the contents of the zipped folder to the root of the CD Folder. If the CD write window doesn't open by default, drag and drop the folder onto the CD/DVD RW drive.
Note
If you are using an earlier version of Windows you will need to open the file using a separate utility (for example, WinZip).
4. In the Explorer window, click Write files to CD from the CD writing tasks or right-click the CD/DVD RW drive and select Write these files to CD.
Caution
The update filename and folder structure must be intact for the update to run properly.
5. Follow the steps in the CD wizard.
When you are finished with the wizard, the CD will eject. Your CD is ready.
To update the console:
1. Place the CD in the Xbox 360 console.
2. Power cycle the Xbox 360 console.
3. The update program will start automatically. Select Yes, update now and press A.
4. Wait for the update to complete.
5. When the console reboots, you're done.
posted by atrazine at 1:12 AM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
I assume that someone outside Afghanistan would have to copy the patches onto USB or CD and mail that to you.
If that's blocked for you, I've copied it below:
Update using a USB flash drive:
1. Connect your USB flash drive to a USB port on your computer.
2. Click here to begin downloading the update folder. Save it as "$SystemUpdate_Fall09_8955.zip" anywhere on your computer.
3. Unzip the File.
4. Copy the contents from the unzipped folder onto the root of your flash drive.
5. Safely remove the flash drive from your computer and plug it into a USB port on your Xbox 360 console. If your console is on, turn it off, then back on. The update program will start automatically.
6. Select Yes, update now. When you see the new dashboard, you're done.
Burn a DVD or CD
Your other option is to download a file from Xbox.com and burn a DVD or CD. Use this method if you don't have your console connected to broadband, or if you use a dialup connection to the Internet. You could even do this at a friend's house who has a broadband Internet connection and a DVD or CD burner.
To create an update disc you need the following:
* A DVD or CD burner.
* A blank, writeable DVD or CD.
* The update file from Xbox.com.
This procedure involves burning the DVD or CD by using Microsoft Windows DVD or CD burning software. If you're using third-party CD/DVD writing software, follow the instructions for creating a data disc.
The same steps apply whether burning a CD or a DVD.
To create a DVD or CD:
1. Click here to begin downloading the update folder. Save it as "$SystemUpdate_Fall09_8955.zip" anywhere on your computer.
2. Place a blank disc in your burner.
From Windows Explorer, select Open Writable CD Folder Using Windows Explorer or open the CD drive icon.
3. Open (double click) the zipped $SystemUpdate_ Fall09_8955.zip folder and drag the contents of the zipped folder to the root of the CD Folder. If the CD write window doesn't open by default, drag and drop the folder onto the CD/DVD RW drive.
Note
If you are using an earlier version of Windows you will need to open the file using a separate utility (for example, WinZip).
4. In the Explorer window, click Write files to CD from the CD writing tasks or right-click the CD/DVD RW drive and select Write these files to CD.
Caution
The update filename and folder structure must be intact for the update to run properly.
5. Follow the steps in the CD wizard.
When you are finished with the wizard, the CD will eject. Your CD is ready.
To update the console:
1. Place the CD in the Xbox 360 console.
2. Power cycle the Xbox 360 console.
3. The update program will start automatically. Select Yes, update now and press A.
4. Wait for the update to complete.
5. When the console reboots, you're done.
posted by atrazine at 1:12 AM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
Atrazine-- aren't those instructions for the Xbox 360 system updates and not the Modern Warfare 2 patches? Microsoft provides system updates on the web but I don't believe they provide the game patches.
posted by sharkfu at 1:17 AM on April 5, 2010
posted by sharkfu at 1:17 AM on April 5, 2010
Just a hunch: wouldn't removing the hard drive / memory unit remove the patches temporarily?
posted by CharlesV42 at 2:44 AM on April 5, 2010
posted by CharlesV42 at 2:44 AM on April 5, 2010
Best answer: The easiest way to approach this is probably to clear the patches off the 4 XBoxes that have them. This will surely render saved games inoperable, but it'll let you use all 8 systems for multiplayer.
To do this, follow the instructions here. While it shows the blade interface, the concept is the same. Go to the Settings section, Memory, and enter that code.
This will remove all Title Updates from the 360 hard drives.
If you find a way to patch later on, you can patch all 8 at the same time and get back up to speed.
Another way to do this may be to remove the storage device entirely, if the updates are installed to the hard drive or a memory card. Without the storage device the patches are saved on, it'll revert to whatever is on the disk. The catch here is many 360s have onboard storage that the patches may be on - This might not work.
posted by Rendus at 2:48 AM on April 5, 2010
To do this, follow the instructions here. While it shows the blade interface, the concept is the same. Go to the Settings section, Memory, and enter that code.
This will remove all Title Updates from the 360 hard drives.
If you find a way to patch later on, you can patch all 8 at the same time and get back up to speed.
Another way to do this may be to remove the storage device entirely, if the updates are installed to the hard drive or a memory card. Without the storage device the patches are saved on, it'll revert to whatever is on the disk. The catch here is many 360s have onboard storage that the patches may be on - This might not work.
posted by Rendus at 2:48 AM on April 5, 2010
Do all the consoles have the new dashboard? If not you may need someone to send you a dsic as atrazine suggested.
The consoles that have MW2 patches can easily have them removed. Back in August a "clear cache" option was added in the storage manager - no need to enter the code on the controller.
posted by barake at 6:05 AM on April 5, 2010
The consoles that have MW2 patches can easily have them removed. Back in August a "clear cache" option was added in the storage manager - no need to enter the code on the controller.
posted by barake at 6:05 AM on April 5, 2010
It appears downgrading the patches on the newest four machines so they're all the old patch is the easiest solution.
But if you're determined to get them all up to the newest patch, there's a potential solution. It could be complicated and frustrating and I don't know for sure it'll work (I don't actually own an Xbox) but here it is:
In theory, if you have wireless internet in the camp and a laptop you could use the laptop to create a VPN (virtual private network) to a server in the US. The VPN traffic would be encrypted and would only point to the US server, not to Xbox Live, so it probably wouldn't be blocked. Also, you would appear to Xbox Live like you were in the US, so US content & patches would be available. The laptop could then use internet sharing via a crossover cable to each individual Xbox 360 to connect to Xbox Live and get the patches. Obviously, you wouldn't be able to play on Live but maybe you could get clearance for a burst download at a time when extra bandwidth was available. Each console could be done individually and then you could go back to your regular offline network switch for gaming.
posted by sharkfu at 12:24 PM on April 5, 2010
But if you're determined to get them all up to the newest patch, there's a potential solution. It could be complicated and frustrating and I don't know for sure it'll work (I don't actually own an Xbox) but here it is:
In theory, if you have wireless internet in the camp and a laptop you could use the laptop to create a VPN (virtual private network) to a server in the US. The VPN traffic would be encrypted and would only point to the US server, not to Xbox Live, so it probably wouldn't be blocked. Also, you would appear to Xbox Live like you were in the US, so US content & patches would be available. The laptop could then use internet sharing via a crossover cable to each individual Xbox 360 to connect to Xbox Live and get the patches. Obviously, you wouldn't be able to play on Live but maybe you could get clearance for a burst download at a time when extra bandwidth was available. Each console could be done individually and then you could go back to your regular offline network switch for gaming.
posted by sharkfu at 12:24 PM on April 5, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by juv3nal at 12:54 AM on April 5, 2010