XBOX DRIVES AND CD'S There are rumors going around that some Xbox will play CD-R's, some will play CD-R's and CD-RW's. If your one of the ones who got one at launch, then your Xbox probabily doesn't play either. Here are the 3 drives currently installed in the Xbox: Thompson's, Phillip's, and Samsung... The Thompson drive is what drive came installed in the xbxo at launch. Apparently there was problems with the drive and since then trying to fix the problem. Thompson drives will not play any CD-R's or CD-RW's and are a little faster of the 3 drives. It also has trouble reading DvD's from time to time... The Phillips drive is the main drive that has come with the Xbox Bundle with "Sega GT" and "Jet Set Radio Future". This drive may run as fast as the Thompson's drive and can read most CD-RW's. The Samsung drive is said the be the best drive to have at the time. It's a tad slower, but will read most CD-R's and CD-RW's. This drive will also read scratched and dirtier disks that the other drive smay not. This drive may also be found the Xbox Bundle like the phillips drive, but most future Xbox's will carry the Samsung drive. There are newer versions of the thompson drives are supposed to be updated to read disks better and play some CD-R's and CD-RW's. Here is some pictures below to compare to see what kinda of disk drive you have installed in your Xbox. Thompson Drive Phillips Drive Samsung Drive However, there are other factors that determine if your xbox will play CD-R's and CD-RW's. The combination of size, brand, speed, type and software used to convert the music and the type of brand the CD is. Here is a chart below... What Works? Brand Works? Size Type Speed Program Acer No 650 MB CDRW 4x Nero 5.5 Best Media Platinum No 700 MB CD-R 32x Nero 5.5 Best Media Platinum No 700 MB CD-R 40x Nero 5.5 Bush Yes 650 MB CD-R 4x Nero 5.5 Circuit City Yes 700 MB CD-R 4x Nero 5.5 Compusa No 650 MB CD-R 4x Windows Media Player Compusa Yes 650 MB CD-R 4x Nero 5.5 Compusa Yes 650 MB CD-RW 4x Nero 5.5 Cursor & Giga Yes 700 MB CD-R 4x Nero 5.5 Dataware Yes 650 MB CD-RW 4x Nero 5.5 Digital Media Yes 650 MB CD-RW 4x Nero 5.5 Fuji Film Yes 700 CD-R 4x Nero 5.5 Fuji Film No 700 MB CD-R 24x Easy CD Creator Fuji Film No 650 MB CD-RW 4x Nero 5.5 HP Yes 650 MB CD-RW 2x Nero 5.5 Hyper Media Yes 650 MB CD-RW 4x Nero 5.5 Imitation No 650 MB CD-R 8x Easy CD Creator Imitation Silver Top Works 650 MB CD-RW 16x Windows Media Player Imitation Yes 700 MB CD-RW 4x Nero 5.5 Imitation No 700 MB CD-RW 16x Nero 5.5 Imitation Yes 650 MB CD-RW 4x Nero 5.5 or 3.8 Kodak Yes 650 MB CD-RW 4x Nero 5.5 Maxel Yes 650 MB CD-RW 4x CDR WIN Memorex Yes 700 MB CD-RW 4x HP CD Writer Memorex Yes 700 MB CD-RW 4x Nero 5.5 Memorex No 700 MB CD-R 8x Easy CD Creator Mitsui Yes 650 MB CD-RW 4x Nero 5.5 Mitsui Yes 700 MB CD-RW 4x Nero 5.5 Office Depo Yes 700 MB CD-RW 4x Nero 5.5 Plextor Yes 650 MB CD-RW 10x Nero 5.5 PNY No 650 MB CD-RW 8x Nero 5.5 PNY Yes 700 MB CD-R 4x Nero 5.5 Prima Yes 700 MB CD-R 12x Nero 5.5 Princo Yes 650 MB CD-R 2x Nero 5.5 Princo Yes 650 MB CD-R 24x Nero 5.5 TDK Yes 650 MB CD-RW 10x Nero 5.5 TDK Yes 650 MB CD-R 4x Nero 5.5 Verbatim Yes 650 MB CD-RW 8x Easy CD Creator Verbatim No 700 MB CD-R 24x Nero 5.5 * If anyone else know of any combinations that work, please email your research to me for posting. Alot of people are sending thier Xbox's back to Microsoft and getting them upgraded for free. Call 1-800-4MY XBOX and tell them that you have had an Xbox since launch and it doesn't read worth a crap. You need no warrenty or be regisitered. Don't bother trying to explain the different drive system to teh rep's, they don't have a clue. They say it will take about 2 weeks to fix it, but most have gotta thier's back in helf that time. Everything still on the harddrive and all... -Redkaven Kinkeui