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Useful FAQ for configuring an Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender

I have been asked several questions recently related to setting up an Xbox 360 with a Windows XP Media Center 2005 system for use as a Media Center Extender.  I recently found a pretty good FAQ page that is posted on the Media Center site that I wanted to link to here.  Specifically, the following topics are covered:

  • Networking issues, including wireless network configurations
  • Installation requirements on the Media Center PC
  • Supported video and audio formats that can be played back on the Xbox 360
  • Adding music, pictures and videos on the Xbox 360 console

There are also several other topics covered in this FAQ.  I encourage you to take a look at this page if you run into any questions about what features are available with an Xbox 360 Media Center Extender or about how to setup an Xbox 360 to act as an Extender.

There are also some useful links on the Xbox site related to Media Center and PC connectivity issues:

 

Published Saturday, April 01, 2006 1:41 PM by astebner

Comments

Monday, April 03, 2006 12:46 PM by Heath Stewart

# re: Useful FAQ for configuring an Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender

Setup should register the open ports and applications for Windows Firewall, and opening Windows Media Connect will allow you to click a button to do the same for playing content without Media Center (music and pictures).

If you have Windows OneCare, though, this won't work. I have filed a bug with them to somehow allow for the same behavior, but for now follow the instructions at http://www.windowsonecare.com/support/help.aspx?querytype=keyword&query=PROC_HTA_MEDIA_EXTENDER.HTM and http://www.windowsonecare.com/support/help.aspx?querytype=keyword&query=TROU_MEDIA_DEVICE_CANNOT_CONNECT.HTM.

For Windows Media Center make sure you let ehsched.exe (I believe - Aaron, correct me if I'm wrong but I don't remember off-hand and am not at home) access the Internet in order to download the guide.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006 8:57 PM by astebner

# re: Useful FAQ for configuring an Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender

Hi Heath - Thank you for adding this supplemental information about Windows OneCare.  You are correct that ehsched.exe is the executable that contains guide download code, so you will need to allow that EXE to access the internet in order for guide download to function properly in Media Center.
Sunday, April 16, 2006 8:04 AM by Tony N

# re: Useful FAQ for configuring an Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender

I have Windows OneCare installed on my systems and found that my xbox 360 wasn't able to connect to it using Media Connect. Even before reading the blog and instructions in OneCare I went to the advanced options and enabled these options but it still did not work (this was before I new about the specific ports that need to be opened). My quick work around for fixing this issue was turning off the Onecare firewall for 1 minutes while I connected using the xbox then used the slider to put the firewall back up. This seamed to work for me...don't know how safe an approach this is though :-) But just thought I would share...just incase there are others of you who were frustrated as I was to get this all to play nicely.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006 5:29 PM by Andy Knowles

# re: Useful FAQ for configuring an Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender

Is the Media Center/XBox 360 functionality enabled in Vista 5342? I can get Vista to recognise my Xbox but not configure it, it just stalls with the rotating cursor, even with the firewall off.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006 5:43 PM by astebner

# re: Useful FAQ for configuring an Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender

Hi Andy - No, there is no Xbox 360 extender functionality available in Vista build 5342.  I'm sorry for the inconvenience.
Thursday, May 04, 2006 2:49 PM by Andy Knowles

# re: Useful FAQ for configuring an Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender

Hi, me again.

Thanks for the prompt response last time. Does the new Vista 5365.8 build have the Extender functionality?
Thursday, May 04, 2006 4:40 PM by astebner

# re: Useful FAQ for configuring an Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender

Hi Andy - No, there is no Xbox 360 extender functionality available in Vista build 5365.8 either.  I'm sorry for the inconvenience.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 12:29 AM by Aaron Stebner's WebLog

# Troubleshooting guide for Xbox 360 PC setup issues

This article is intended to serve as a central location for all links to troubleshooting documentation...
Thursday, August 31, 2006 3:47 PM by Satisfy Me

# Link: Using the Xbox 360 for music, movies, pictures and more

Over the weekend I talked about From the Expert Zone: Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender. A quick...
Thursday, October 05, 2006 11:51 PM by Satisfy Me

# Link: Using the Xbox 360 for music, movies, pictures and more

Over the weekend I talked about From the Expert Zone: Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender. A quick visit

Monday, December 04, 2006 12:12 AM by carl.morris

# re: Useful FAQ for configuring an Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender

Hello.  I am pulling my hair out trying to find a solutiong to my problem.

I am trying to set up my XBox360 with my MCE05 PC.

I make it to the xbox screen that directs me to www.xbox.com/pcsetup.  I then try to download and install Media Center Extender software.

I then download and run this exe: XboxMCE05Lit-enu.exe.

It looks like it's installing; then I get the following message:

"Media Center Extender software does not support dynamic disks.  Do you want to install Windows Media Connect?"

I click "Yes."

Media Center pops up and says:

"Unsupported Operating System- Media Center Extender Software requires Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.  This computer is running an unsupported version of Windows XP."

OK.  I've been at this all night.  I have checked every place I can to ensure I have right version.

Media center/settings/about media center/software version says: Win XP MCE2005 version: 5.1.2715.3011 Update rollup 2.

System Properties/General says Win XP MCE2002 SP2.

HKEY_Localmachine_etc. . . say ident 4.0

I cant get this extender loaded and this is keeping me from finishing the xbox360 setup.

Any help or a point in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Carl

Monday, December 04, 2006 12:56 AM by astebner

# re: Useful FAQ for configuring an Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender

Hi Carl - I haven't heard of this issue before.  You can find a list of log files created by Xbox 360 PC Setup at http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2006/03/21/556297.aspx.  Can you gather those logs, zip them up and send them to me so I can take a look and see if I can figure anything out?  You can send the logs to Aaron.Stebner (at) microsoft (dot) com.

Monday, December 04, 2006 5:41 PM by carl.morris

# re: Useful FAQ for configuring an Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender

Aaron- I sent you the logs you requested via email.  Thanks for your help.

Friday, March 23, 2007 1:04 PM by aznk1d2

# Unsupported Operating System

Hello i am trying to figure out why i cannot use my 360 on my pc. i have the EXACT information as carl.morris has and i need to know if anyone can help. my email is aznk1d2(at)aol(dot)com HELP PLEASE

Friday, March 23, 2007 4:48 PM by astebner

# re: Useful FAQ for configuring an Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender

Hi Aznk1d2 - The issue on Carl Morris' system was that the system had the C drive configured as a dynamic disk.  Xbox 360 PC setup and Media Center extenders do not support that.  Carl had to update the partitions on his hard drive to allow installation of Xbox 360 PC setup to succeed.  This might help on your system as well.

Wednesday, July 01, 2009 6:25 PM by downhilljon

# "Video Error" and "Application Failure" when viewing video and Live TV on XBox as Media Centre Extender

Hi Aaron,

I've been spending the last couple of days getting my Xbox (original, not 360) set up as a media centre extender to my Win XP MCE 2005 RU2 laptop. After a few hiccups, I have got it sorted to a point where the media centre menu loads up on the Xbox, and I can navigate through with no worries - I can also see the files which are on my computer. I can view pictures fine, but whenever I try to watch video files or Live TV (or Recorded TV) I run into issues. I am getting a mix of "Video Error" and "Application Failure" errors. Everything works fine when viewed on my PC.

Have you got any suggestions? Please let me know if you need any further info.

Thursday, July 02, 2009 5:22 PM by astebner

# re: Useful FAQ for configuring an Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender

Hi Downhilljon - I'm sorry but I don't have any experience troubleshooting this type of issue with an original Xbox extender.  I'd suggest posting a question at one of the following locations and hopefully someone there might be able to suggest some workarounds for you to try:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroups/reader.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/83/ShowForum.aspx

Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:46 AM by rainl

# re: Useful FAQ for configuring an Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender

Hello Aaron,

I'm at my wit end with several Media Center hiccups . But to not delve out of the general topic of this thread,  I'd like to -- for the moment -- just request you help with a problem  I'm having that is similar to the one carl.morris had.

Like him, I have an a PC running  MCE2005 and an xbox360 I'd like to network with it.

(Other basic computer software info.,

-MCE Version: 5.1.2715.27773(xpsp(wmbla). 051011-0745) ur2

-Gen. Sys. Prop.: Win XP MCE2002 Serv. Pack 3

- C drive configuration: Basic, NTFS)

As for my  problem:

Given my MCE Version, at xbox.com/pcsetup I click on the third option -- "Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 – Update Rollup 2."

From there I'm able to successfully download and install the "Media  Center Update." Then, when  when I try to install the "Media Center Extender software, Media Center spits the following message:

"Unsupported Operating System

Media Center Extender software require       Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

This computer is running an unsupported version of Window XP. [....]"

And that's the wall I'm at.

Monday, July 06, 2009 4:48 PM by astebner

# re: Useful FAQ for configuring an Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender

Hi Rainl - There are a couple of registry values that are used by Media Center Extender setup to determine whether or not your OS is Windows XP Media Center Edition.  Can you please check and see if you have both of the following values set to the specified values on your system?

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center]

Ident = 3.0 or 3.1

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\WPA\MediaCenter]

Installed = 1 (this must be a REG_DWORD)

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