Xbox 360: How to connect an Xbox 360 console to a Windows XP-based computer (909536)

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When you connect your Xbox 360 console to your existing home network, you can view picture and music files that are stored on any computer that is running Microsoft Windows Media Connect software. If you have a computer that is running Windows Media Center Edition, you can also watch, pause, replay, and record live TV shows, watch recorded TV shows, and watch home videos.

Download connectivity software

To download the software that you must have to connect the Xbox 360 console and the computer, visit the following Microsoft Web site: You have to download different setup files for computers that are running different versions of Windows.

After you install the software, the following topics can help with the final connection between the Windows XP-based computer and the Xbox 360 console.

Note The software that you must download for a computer that is running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition also includes the Windows Media Connect software.

Note Although Windows Media Connect does support video playback, the Xbox 360 does not support video playback currently.

Connect to a Windows XP-based computer that is running Windows Media Connect

After you download and run the setup package from the Web site, the installation program will automatically configure and authorize the Xbox 360 console. You can reconnect the Xbox 360 console if you have to, or you can connect an additional Xbox 360 console to a Windows XP-based computer. To do this, follow these steps.

Note The computer that you use must have the Windows Media Connect software installed.

Note If the computer does have the Windows Media Connect software installed, follow these steps to add another Xbox 360 that the computer can serve data to. Or, if your current Xbox 360 forgets where to obtain data, follow these steps:

1. On the Xbox 360 console in the Xbox Guide, open the Media section, and then select either Music or Pictures.
2. Select Computers to connect to your Windows-based computer.
3. You are prompted to install the Windows Media Connect software on the Windows XP-based computer. If you have not done so, review the information in the Download connectivity software section. If you have installed the software, select Yes, Continue to continue with the connection.
4. Select the Windows-based computer for the Xbox 360 console to connect to, and then press A to complete the connection.
5. On the Windows XP-based computer, click Start, and then click Control Panel.
6. Click Windows Media Connect or click Sound, Speech, and Audio Devices, and then click Windows Media Connect.
7. Click Devices, and then click to select the Xbox 360 that you are trying to connect.
8. If the Xbox 360 console shows Denied in red, click Allow to authorize the Xbox 360 console.

Connect to a computer that is running Windows XP Media Center Edition

After you download and then run the setup package as described in the "Download connectivity software" section, the installation program will automatically configure the Xbox 360 console. To reconnect the Xbox 360 console if you have to or to connect an additional Xbox 360 console to a Windows XP Media Center Edition-based computer that already has the Windows Media Center Extender software installed, follow these steps:

1. On the Xbox 360 console in the Xbox Guide, open the Media section, and then select Media Center.
2. If you have not installed the required software on the Windows Media Center Edition-based computer, review the information in the Download connectivity software section.
3. Write down the eight-digit setup key. This key will be used on the Windows Media Center Edition-based computer to complete the setup.
4. Open Xbox 360 Setup for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.
   
   Note You can also use the Media Center Extender Manager to connect the Xbox 360 console to the computer.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts. When you are prompted, enter the eight-digit setup key that you obtained in step 3.
6. After the Windows XP Media Center Edition-based computer has contacted and confirmed the setup, the setup will be finished.

Add or remove an Xbox 360 console connection from a Windows Media Center-based computer

After the setup files are downloaded to your computer, you can add or remove another Xbox 360 console to the home network by using the Media Center Extender Manager. To do this, follow these steps:

1. On the Windows Media Center-based computer, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to Media Center, and then click Media Center Extender Manager.
2. On the File menu, click Add New Xbox 360.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.