Extend Your Media To Your Xbox 360
Thursday, 11 October 2007 Posted at 13:10
I know a lot of people that have xbox 360's and a Windows Media Center computer, but hardly any of them extend there media. There are so many benefits to setting up your 360 as an extender but firstly i will explain what an extender does.
What is an extender?
All your media stored on your computer, your music, photos and videos can bet accessed via your Xbox 360.
What Are The Benefits?
Play your movies on your TV
Save your Xbox 360 hard drive space by playing music from your computer
Watch & record live TV (If you have a PC TV tuner card)
Use online media and plugins
Surf the Internet on your Xbox 360 download plugin here
What i will need?
Xbox 360
Windows Media Center PC
Xbox 360 Wireless adapter (if networking via wireless) R.R.P £69.99
Long ethernet cable (if networking via wired)
Lets get extending!
First of connect your Xbox 360 to your network, if wired simply plug in an ethernet cable from your xbox to your network router/hub. If wireless plug in your Xbox 360 wireless adapter and follow the setup options on your 360 dashboard.
Next turn on your computer and after its fully booted turn on your Xbox 360.
Then open up Windows media Center and within about 20 seconds you should receive this prompt.
If you don't receive this prompt don't worry you can select the "add extender" option from within media center.
Next you will get a screen telling you what steps will be taken to get you all set up.
To determine what extender you want to setup and that you have access to it, you will be asked to enter a setup key. This is were the Xbox 360 is needed.
On your Xbox 360 dashboard go to your media blade and select the Windows Media Center option. You will be given a screen with a little info about the extender setup just click the A button. Finally you will see the 8 digit code that you need, make a note of it head back to your computer and type it in.
When you click continue the setup process will co mense, if all goes well your media center should pop up on your TV screen. Congratulations!
Is it that simple?
Well putting it shorty, no. The above method is how it should work but more often than not things don't turn out as easy.
Theres is a few thing you can do to solve setup problems.
Firewall
You may have been alerted during setup that you may need to alter your firewall. To fix this problem you will need to go into your firewall settings and tick the "allow extenders" box. If you don't see this option consult your firewalls help and support. i can confirm Windows firewall and Windows Live Onecare have the "allow extender" option.
Configure Your OS
More than likely you will be using Windows Vista and with Vista comes enhanced security. Now Vista wont let any old device have access to your files. You need to tell it its ok for this device to connect. So to do this go into control panel and select networking and Internet, then networking and sharing center.
You will get a screen with some options, make sure you turn on these settings (they will turn green when active)
Network Discovery
File Sharing
Public Folder Sharing
Media Sharing
When allowing some of these options you might get a list of devices to allow its vital that you click allow on the Xbox 360 option.
Hopefully with these steps taken you should be able to connect without any trouble, If not feel free to post a comment of your problem and I'm sure our team will be able to help.
So just to round up Media Center extending is a very cool way of getting your media around your home with out a massive price tag.
Final happy extending! weather it be watch your home movies or enjoying the live game with your pals. Enjoy!
What is an extender?
All your media stored on your computer, your music, photos and videos can bet accessed via your Xbox 360.
What Are The Benefits?
Play your movies on your TV
Save your Xbox 360 hard drive space by playing music from your computer
Watch & record live TV (If you have a PC TV tuner card)
Use online media and plugins
Surf the Internet on your Xbox 360 download plugin here
What i will need?
Xbox 360
Windows Media Center PC
Xbox 360 Wireless adapter (if networking via wireless) R.R.P £69.99
Long ethernet cable (if networking via wired)
Lets get extending!
First of connect your Xbox 360 to your network, if wired simply plug in an ethernet cable from your xbox to your network router/hub. If wireless plug in your Xbox 360 wireless adapter and follow the setup options on your 360 dashboard.
Next turn on your computer and after its fully booted turn on your Xbox 360.
Then open up Windows media Center and within about 20 seconds you should receive this prompt.
If you don't receive this prompt don't worry you can select the "add extender" option from within media center.
Next you will get a screen telling you what steps will be taken to get you all set up.
To determine what extender you want to setup and that you have access to it, you will be asked to enter a setup key. This is were the Xbox 360 is needed.
On your Xbox 360 dashboard go to your media blade and select the Windows Media Center option. You will be given a screen with a little info about the extender setup just click the A button. Finally you will see the 8 digit code that you need, make a note of it head back to your computer and type it in.
When you click continue the setup process will co mense, if all goes well your media center should pop up on your TV screen. Congratulations!
Is it that simple?
Well putting it shorty, no. The above method is how it should work but more often than not things don't turn out as easy.
Theres is a few thing you can do to solve setup problems.
Firewall
You may have been alerted during setup that you may need to alter your firewall. To fix this problem you will need to go into your firewall settings and tick the "allow extenders" box. If you don't see this option consult your firewalls help and support. i can confirm Windows firewall and Windows Live Onecare have the "allow extender" option.
Configure Your OS
More than likely you will be using Windows Vista and with Vista comes enhanced security. Now Vista wont let any old device have access to your files. You need to tell it its ok for this device to connect. So to do this go into control panel and select networking and Internet, then networking and sharing center.
You will get a screen with some options, make sure you turn on these settings (they will turn green when active)
Network Discovery
File Sharing
Public Folder Sharing
Media Sharing
When allowing some of these options you might get a list of devices to allow its vital that you click allow on the Xbox 360 option.
Hopefully with these steps taken you should be able to connect without any trouble, If not feel free to post a comment of your problem and I'm sure our team will be able to help.
So just to round up Media Center extending is a very cool way of getting your media around your home with out a massive price tag.
Final happy extending! weather it be watch your home movies or enjoying the live game with your pals. Enjoy!
Labels: extender, media center, tutorial, xbox 360
