Xbox 360 Hard Drive Data Transfer Question

[Morfiend]

Ok, so my friend has an old xbox 360, and he is getting it exchanged for one of the newer models with the 20gb hard drive and hdmi port. The problem is he doesnt want to lose all his saved games. Is it possible for him to plug in a external hard drive via USB and transfer his saves to that, then transfer them back when he gets his new system?

I saw the offer for free transfer cables, but thats only for people who buy the elite, and he would need both hard drives at the same time.

Any help?

[Raph]

I recently went through this because my 360 died with the red ring of death. I ended up buying a new one, the Arcade edition, which does not come with a hard drive. You can just move the hard drive over. I did it one better and got the standalone 120gb hard drive upgrade which comes with a transfer cable, and transferred everything to the 120. Then I gave the old one (once it returned form MS repair) and the 20gb drive to my brother for Xmas.

[Morfiend]

Well, the problem is that he is returning the old one, and then bringing home the new one, so he wont have both drives at the same time.

*Edit* I meant to put this in PC/Console Gaming forum, not sure how I dropped it in the MMOG forum. If a mod could move it that would be great.

[Rasix]

Wrong forum? Moving to PC/Console.

[Morfiend]

Wrong forum? Moving to PC/Console.

Yeah, I edited my post right as you posted.

[Strazos]

IS this an EB STOP this is being done at?

If he's trading in, the HDDs are traded in separately, so he can keep both drives, transfer the data, then trade the unwanted drive in.

[Yegolev]

I'd take Raph's tack of buying the 120GB disk and doing the transfer beforehand.  I don't know what the capacity of the 360 memory cards would be but that might be an option.

[Morfiend]

Ok, so, I had an extra hard drive lying around (dont ask). So I gave him my extra hard drive, he returned his xbox with my hard drive, when he got his new one, we swapped out the new HD for his old one, and then gave me the new one.

Problem solved.

[Azazel]

I just read up on the 120gb HDD. According to MS's site:

The hard drive transfer kit will move all data from your existing 20GB hard drive to your new 20GB or 120 GB hard drive, but due to data security provisions it cannot move the licenses associated with some content. This means that while all of your Xbox LIVE Arcade games and Xbox LIVE Marketplace TV shows will transfer, you will have to be connected to Xbox LIVE (to verify your identity) in order to access that content.This process is permanent—do not transfer your data if you wish to access it while offline.

Their Bold

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/console/datamigration.htm


so, erm, looks like I won't worry about getting that 120gb HDD next time I get paid. Steam-style online verification every session with no "go offline" option? No thanks. Thanks for this thread guys, you saved me some money and mucho hassle.

[Raph]

This is basically unavoidable, apparently. The "key" for your downloads is either your console's serial # or your Live ID. When you change machines, the serial # obviously goes bye bye.

[Azazel]

But I'm not talking about changing machines, but upgrading to the bigger HDD. (which wipes the content from the older one). Same machine, same LiveID, different (bigger) HDD.

[Hokers]

But I'm not talking about changing machines, but upgrading to the bigger HDD. (which wipes the content from the older one). Same machine, same LiveID, different (bigger) HDD.

Your instincts are correct, being on-line would be necessary for some things.  It keys off the HD also. 

This issue won't prevent me from getting a bigger HD for mine eventually.  I have it set for autologin and internet outages are rare around here.  I only go offline when I don't want to be disturbed.

 

[Viin]

Sounds like it's using something similar to the Windows hardware key that makes you re-register Vista/XP when you upgrade too many components of your system.

[Azazel]

Yeah, I have an ethernet cable snaking across the floor from the computer room to the TV area of the lounge. Nothing I can do about it due to the layout of the house, and drilling holes in walls isn't an option since it's a rental. Needing to be online, always, seems like a bad option. Especially when the 360 gets older and gets relegated to old machine I play occasionally (like the PS2 or Dreamcast, etc).

Anyone know, though. If you get a bigger HDD can you just re-download everything from XBLA and remain untied to live? (rather then transferring it)

[Yegolev]

I have mine on the wireless due to cable limitations.  It has a pitiful 37% signal strength at the router but it works.