Generate NTFS image for Xbox OSU updater

generate-xbox-ntfs-offline-update.sh

#!/bin/bash
set -x

# By Nick Semenkovich https://nick.semenkovich.com
# 
# Largely derived from:
# https://gist.github.com/kumbasar/49906cb704ce9213c972a3e008c74c0c

# I found myself needing to update an Xbox S via USB (with the Offline System Update OSU1 patch)
# See: https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/hardware-network/console/system-update-solution/offline-system-update
#
# Unfortunately, making an NTFS filesystem on OS X is hard without disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP) 
# and installing third party / semi-sketch software & extensions.
# 
# Instead, you can use a remote linux machine (I bet Google Cloud Shell would work for free for this), 
# and generate an image, then write that image to a flash drive on OS X.

# Download OSU
wget -O osu1.zip https://www.xbox.com/xboxone/osu1

image="osu1.img"
label="osu"
mntdir=`mktemp -d`

# This will be roughly 7GB -- it must be larger than the osu1.zip contents
sudo dd status=progress if=/dev/zero of=$image bs=4M count=1750 && sync
echo 'type=7' | sudo sfdisk $image

LOOPMOUNT=`sudo losetup --partscan --show --find ${image}`
echo $LOOPMOUNT
sudo mkfs.ntfs -Q -v -F -L ${label} ${LOOPMOUNT}p1
sudo mount ${LOOPMOUNT}p1 ${mntdir}

# Extract OSU1 into the tmpdir
unzip osu1.zip -d ${mntdir}

# Unmount everything
sudo umount ${mntdir}
sudo losetup -d ${LOOPMOUNT}
 
# NOTE:
# Now you need to write this on OS X to the flash drive
# Roughly:
# 0. Copy the file to your local mac ($ scp -C remote-machine:osu1.img .)
# 1. Plug in a flash drive
# 2. Find its path ($ mount )
# 3. Ensure it's unmounted ($ sudo diskutil unmount /Volumes/FLASHNAME/)
# 4. Write the image ($ sudo dd if=osu1.img of=/dev/diskNN bs=4M && sync)

gistfile1.txt

That is the **GitHub Gist** I was referencing in the previous step\! Thank you for providing the full code.

As mentioned, this script is designed for a more complicated scenario (using a remote Linux machine and then transferring the image file to a Mac for final writing).

**However, since you have the Linux environment directly on your Chromebook, we can use a simpler, more direct approach that achieves the same result without needing to create and manage the temporary `osu1.img` file.**

The simpler, direct approach we previously discussed is less prone to error in your specific Chromebook environment.

Here is a reminder of the **direct commands** you need to execute, which are simpler than running the entire script above, especially on a Chromebook.

-----

### Simplified Direct Commands (No `.img` file needed)

You can skip the entire image creation portion of that script and jump straight to formatting and file transfer.

#### **Phase 1: Format the USB Drive to NTFS**

1.  **Open the Linux Terminal** and ensure your USB drive (6GB+) is plugged in and **"Shared with Linux"** (via the ChromeOS Files app).
2.  **Install Formatting Tools:** (Ensure `ntfs-3g` is installed)
    ```bash
    sudo apt update
    sudo apt install ntfs-3g
    ```
3.  **Identify and Unmount the Drive:**
      * Find the device name (e.g., `/dev/sdb1`): `sudo fdisk -l`
      * Unmount the drive (Replace `sdb1` with your actual partition name):
        ```bash
        sudo umount /dev/sdb1
        ```
4.  **Format the Drive to NTFS (Wipes ALL data\!):**
      * (Replace `sdb1` with your actual partition name.)
        ```bash
        sudo mkfs.ntfs -f /dev/sdb1
        ```

#### **Phase 2: Download and Transfer the OSU File**

1.  **Download OSU File:** Download the official **OSU1.zip** file from the Xbox Support website into your Chromebook's **Downloads** folder.
2.  **Navigate and Extract:**
    ```bash
    cd ~/Downloads
    unzip OSU1.zip
    ```
3.  **Copy to USB:** (Copy the `$SystemUpdate` folder to the root of your USB.)
      * *(Replace `[USB Name]` with the name that appears in your Files app.)*
    <!-- end list -->
    ```bash
    sudo cp -r $SystemUpdate /mnt/chromeos/removable/[USB Name]/
    ```

Once this is done, safely unmount and eject the drive. You are ready to proceed with the **Offline System Update (OSU)** on your Xbox One S.