Well ... i dunno if there are any differents .. normally i will start my Xbox360 to dashboard, see my frenlist and then only insert the game that u wanna play.

My console has a fan blowing right at it with my room air-con at 17.c .. yup, call me crazy

Word of advice ... some external cooling fan can cause 3ROD, please be aware.

Nope .. last time i remember i did not touch my 360 for 6-7 months and i regreted it bcos so many games i miss and also lost contact with my 360 buddy. So .. leaving ur 360 for mths without playing, shud not be a prob.

Anyway ... if ur controller is using the play and charge kit batteries, be very sure to take it out from ur controller, if u leave ur batteries too long in the controller, the batteries will never work again. Happen to me before in the past.

To be honest ... i only know that a cooling fan that causes 3ROD .. i think its NYKO, not really sure the name. The rest im not sure at all.