XBox 360 / PC linkup

[Adrena1in]

This is driving me spare. I recently got an XBox 360, mainly to watch videos from the laptop on the telly, but also because I do like a bit of gaming.

I've followed goodness knows how many instructions online in order to get the two machines linked up, but it's not working. It worked straight away when I wired the XBox to my router, to which my laptop connects wirelessly...the XBox detected the laptop and voila. But with the router halfway up the stairs it's not practical to trail a wire halfway round the house. Besides, I don't need the internet on to watch videos from the laptop.

Anyone successfully done this please and knows all the settings?

I even tried a memory stick in the XBox, but it said it was going to format it first. Can I format it, move it to the laptop and copy my videos to it, then put it back in the XBox and play the videos? If so then that could be my answer.

Thanks.

P.S. If I do ever get on Live, I'm "Spent Sparkler" ... Adrena1in was already taken.

 

[sawtooth]

You need to launch Windows Media Player on the PC and under options in WMP enable media sharing.

In the 360 dashboard when you go to Video library you should see your PC listed as a possible device to connect with.

 

[chris661]

Buy the wireless adaptor for the x-box and then it will work that way* when I used my x-box with said adaptor it used to always try to connect them. Can you not just plug your laptop into the telly anyway?





*Disclaimer I am not a fault for any money wasted.

 

[sawtooth]

Can you also clarify, how are you connecting your Xbox to the PC now? I assume you are either using a wireless adaptor with the Xbox or simply cabling the laptop direct to the Xbox.

 

[Kellfire]

I'll bet Adrena1in thought the Xbox360 was wireless.

 

[Adrena1in]

I never thought the XBox 360 was Wireless.

I'm trying with a cross-over ethernet cable.

 

[sawtooth]

If it all works when you plug the xbox into the router then you need to look at the following now that you have linked the xbox direct to the PC.

1. Configure a Static IP address in both the Xbox and PC (unless you are running a DHCP server on your laptop).
If you are unsure how to do this I can help further.
2. You may have a firewall running on your PC ethernet adaptor, if so turn it off it may be blocking ports.
3. Can you ping the xbox from the PC?

Personally I run a NAS box which stores all of my music, vids, photos, etc. Its a good investment which will help safeguard your media files and make them accessible to all devices in the house. ie. xbox, laptop, squeezebox, etc.

 

[Adrena1in]

1. Configure a Static IP address in both the Xbox and PC (unless you are running a DHCP server on your laptop).

Done :- 192.168.0.1 for the Laptop, 192.168.0.2 on the XBox with .1 as the Gateway and DNS Server. 255.255.255.0 as the Mask.

2. You may have a firewall running on your PC ethernet adaptor, if so turn it off it may be blocking ports.

Done. Have turned it off.

3. Can you ping the xbox from the PC?

Nope!

Friend said that a memory stick should work, but they need specially formatting for the XBox don't they, and as soon as I put it back in the Laptop it says it's full. Need to connect the XBox up to my router again and download some sort of codec or something.

Honestly, really would've though a "simple" cross-over cable would be a useable solution.

Anyone want to buy an XBox 360?!

 

[chris661]

I'll bet Adrena1in thought the Xbox360 was wireless.

The new ones are.........

 

[sawtooth]

Try turning both off. Bring the laptop up first, then when happy connect the xbox and then turn it on. Sometimes the 360 gets unhappy if you make/break network connection after it has been turned on, almost like you have just one chance on boot up and it never bothers looking for a network again after that (although that would be a really crap design).

I would expect a cross over cable to work although some decent laptops auto sense and can work in this configuration with a standard piece of cat5.

To play some movies on the PC they require specific codecs. Go to the xvid web site and download theirs that would be a goodf start.

Whereabouts in Hampshire are you?