I have an xbox that has been used on Live. The hard drive has died in it and I want to replace it with another stock drive. I am going to temp chip the xbox and put in a new drive. Does it have to be the exact same make and size as the original in order to not get banned (ie replace a seagate with a seagate, or a WD with a WD)?

You'll need to replace the hard drive AND eeprom. Doesn't matter which brand hdd you use.

If you simply replace your hdd, then your xbox will get banned because the eeprom is already "married" to the old hard drive (that isn't there anymore).

Find out what version motherboard you have, then contact Zodiiak for a virgin eeprom. He sells them for $10

Does the eeprom contain the serial number of the hard drive?

yep

I have a tonne of eeproms that I could use, but I don't know what version they are for. Is there any way to tell?

get a program called Live Info

It's made by Team Assembly

Is it on xbins? Thanks a bunch for the help by the way. Once I do get Live info will it tell me if the eeprom is banned or not?

i would shoot for a new eeprom.there only $10. that way you dont bann your new hdd using a previous installed eeprom thats been online.that would suck but it could have a new home in your pc........i guess.........this is just my opinion so do with it what you will.....

All it can tell you is what version your eeprom is. You can also convert the eeprom version with that program.

It cannot determine whether it's banned.

I found it. It only seems to work with 1.0 or 1.1, is this correct? When I update the eeprom using config magic, will it update the serial number of the hard drive?

Flash the eeprom to your motherboard first.
Later, when you lock your new hdd, it'll update the hdd serial number onto the eeprom.