The XBox

The main thing you have to worry about is which version of the XBox you have, at the moment there are 3 main versions - v1.0, v1.1 and v1.2. To find out which you have you need to check the "manufacturing date". This can even be done in-store as the manufacturing date (along with the serial number) is visible through the 'window' in the cardboard outer sleeve. The manufacturing date (MFG. DATE) is in the year-month-day format:

If the manufacturing date is before August 2002 it is a v1.0 XBox
If the manufacturing date is August 2002 or after : it could be a v1.0 OR v1.1 XBox
A manufacturing date after 11th December: could be a v1.2.

The only way to be sure is to check the XBox bios/kernel version.

This is done by going to the "settings" option in the XBox dashboard and selecting "System Info".
At the end of the text you will see something like:
K: 1.00.xxxx.01
D: 1.00.xxxx.01

If you don't see this you still have one of the first XBox versions (3944 - USA only) , so it's a v1.0

If the xxxx = 4034 or 4036 or 4627 you have a v1.0
If the xxxx = 4817 or 4972 you have a v1.1
If the xxxx = 5101 or 4920 you have a v1.2

The difference between a v1.0 and a v1.1 is not as great as the difference between these two and the v1.2. Internally the v1.0 and v1.1 are very similar so fitting a modchip is the same in each. In the v1.2 however solder points are different to make installing a modchip more fiddly (not more difficult just more fiddly). For more details check out http://www.xbox-scene.com.

If you are not sure which version you have then their are other tell tale signs; although they require you taking the XBox apart. If you want to do this check out http://www.xbox-scene.com and look through their tutorials.

To make matters worse, different batches of the XBox (irrelevant of whether it is v1.0, v1.1 or v1.2) have been put together using different internal components. This means that some XBox's have DVD-Drives from one manufacturer others from another. Sometimes the differences can be extreme to the extent that the HDD inside the XBox can, not only be made by a different manufacturer, but can also be different sizes! It is also possible to have different manufactures of the XBox DVD-Rom drive so therefore different XBox's respond differently to different media.

This is the reason why an all-encompassing list of which blank media that works on the XBox isn't possible, it really is a case of just trying different media and sticking to the one you find works best. If you have a Phillips or a Samsung drive in your XBox then you will probably be able to play CD-R's (aren't you the lucky ones!) If you want to know if you have a Philips DVD-Drive in your XBox then have a look at the hole in the DVD-Drive drawer tray: the Philips drive has a bigger opening in the middle of the tray, with the opening cut-out in the shape of an inverted light bulb. The Thomson drive has an opening in the middle of the tray in the shape of a long "U". The Samsung drive has 3 holes, one long one in the middle, and 2 circles on the sides.

If your head is spinning 'cos I've given you too much information then the basics are that if you do get a v1.1 you are more likely to get a better make of DVD-Drive and a bigger HDD however sometimes, some apps support only the v1 for the first week.

Thanks to Ne01 for his input into this page