is there a download i can get to update my xbox360 so i can play original xbox discs

If the console has been updated since 2009, then it already has the update needed to play backwards compatible games. You just also need to make sure the games you're trying to play are compatible and that you have an official Microsoft 360 hard drive.

It must not be because it wont play the discs and I just bought more than a couple old games

Its possible you dont have an official xbox 360 Hard drive as well. You must have an official one in order for the backwards compatibility to work on the 360. If its 3rd party then backwards compatibility wont work.

It must not be because it wont play the discs and I just bought more than a couple old games

You can't tell by looking at them. If you bought the console brand new and the hard drive came with the console, then it's definitely a Microsoft hard drive. If you bought the hard drive used or from a third party, it could be a knock off. They look very convincing.

You can also view a list of compatible games at https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help...tibility/play-original-xbox-games-on-xbox-360 to make sure what you're trying to play is compatible.

You can't tell by looking at them. If you bought the console brand new and the hard drive came with the console, then it's definitely a Microsoft hard drive. If you bought the hard drive used or from a third party, it could be a knock off. They look very convincing.

You can also view a list of compatible games at https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help...tibility/play-original-xbox-games-on-xbox-360 to make sure what you're trying to play is compatible.

Exactly. Either its a really convincing knockoff or someone couldve even replaced the actual hard drive within the 360's HDD enclosure with another one. These days something like that isnt very difficult to accomplish. Both are equally possible.