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OK so I am fine at getting myriad formats to play on my computer, and I know that you can thread media from your computer, into your Xbox and play it on your television.
My problem is that I do now know what hardware I need to get or if there is any software I lack as well. I was hoping somebody could either describe to me what I need to do to set it all up, or else link me to somewhere that I can read up on it.
For my purposes, I want to simply play an avi file from my computer through my xbox 360 and onto the television.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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AFAIK, you cannot play AVI files through your 360, without doing some serious hacks. You can, however, convert your AVI files into WMV files, and play those through your 360.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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quote:Originally posted by erosomniac: AFAIK, you cannot play AVI files through your 360, without doing some serious hacks. You can, however, convert your AVI files into WMV files, and play those through your 360.
OK easy enough, so what do I need after converting my files into the appropriate format?
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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The 360 and the computer need to be networked, and you need to setup the 360 as a media center extender. I'm afraid I can't help beyond that, though, because my setup experience was nightmarish and I don't remember all the details.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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quote:Originally posted by erosomniac: The 360 and the computer need to be networked, and you need to setup the 360 as a media center extender. I'm afraid I can't help beyond that, though, because my setup experience was nightmarish and I don't remember all the details.
Is there some sort of hardware I am going to need?
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Are you using Windows? I ask because I set up something similar between my 360 and my Mac using third-party Mac-only software called Connect360, but I wouldn't know how to set it up on Windows.
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Also I am unsure if I have a TV tuner card installed on my PC. I got my computer back in August of 2003 I feel like a newb asking this but is that a standard thing to have on a computer or is that something people typically have to add special?
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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What sort of network are you using? All my roommate had to do was connect his Xbox to our wireless network and the rest was just figuring out how to configure it properly. So I don't think there's any hardware that you'll need beyond what you use for your network.
Posts: 681 | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Epictetus: What sort of network are you using? All my roommate had to do was connect his Xbox to our wireless network and the rest was just figuring out how to configure it properly. So I don't think there's any hardware that you'll need beyond what you use for your network.
I am using a wireless network hub, but the Xbox is wired to the actual hub as I didn't want to spend $100 for the wireless adaptor.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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I had amazing results with Windows XP streaming divx and xvid to my roommate's PS3 using TVersity http://tversity.com/home
It seems to support Xbox 360 and is software only, so give it a spin. Unfortunately, it does not support my Wii
As for a TV tuner, it usually is a special add-on unless you have certain older ATI cards called "All-In-Wonder" cards which should do TV tuning as well as acting like a normal video card. Otherwise, you will need a special add-in card or just use the "torrent" channel. You can salve your conscience with the fact that your question implies that you do have access to legal programming, just not in the right format Posts: 7593 | Registered: Sep 2006
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Ok, so as long as your computer is connected to that network, I don't think there should be any other hardware that you'll need. If it doesn't work though, you might need to buy Xbox's wireless adapter.
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I'm not sure how the TV tuner question relates to the playing of AVi files actually. I just answered it separately.
Posts: 7593 | Registered: Sep 2006
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I believe the Xbox will do that work for you, so I don't think you'll need a TV tuner card in your computer.
Posts: 681 | Registered: Feb 2004
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You'll only need the TV tuner card if you intend for your PC to receive TV signals that are then broadcast to your XBox.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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TV tuner cards are not usually a standard item in home PCs. It should be easy enough to tell if you have one, though—look for an expansion card with a coaxial cable jack and possibly other video inputs.
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Thanks for all the help so far folks, I'll get my hands dirty tonight and see if I can make this all work.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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OK the software is all working fine, but I can't get my computer to let my xbox connect to my network. It get's through the Network adapter step, the IP address and then it gets hung up on PC Selected. I've tried trouble shooting it for awhile now and nothing is working. Any ideas was could be screwing that step up?
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Define "the software" Also, can you verify that the XBox is correctly setup with the network? By perhaps logging into XBox live or the web browser (assuming an XBox has one)?
Posts: 7593 | Registered: Sep 2006
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Hmm, I don't know. Its a bit tough for me to help because I setup the thing on a PS3 rather than an XBox 360.
The only thing I remember that was tricky was that after adding files to share in TVersity, you need either restart the process or force it to reindex its catalog, otherwise it won't see them. Thing is, it does come with some default files and if you cannot see it, period, then thats a different problem.
This could be a silly question, but I assume you tried working your way through one of the linked guides on the website? linkPosts: 7593 | Registered: Sep 2006
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Oh I've been through several guides. I think the problem is NOT software related, for some reason my computer and Xbox do not want to talk though they are connected. Just FYI my computer is connected to my network wirelessly while the Xbox is wired directly into my wireless hub. I don't know if that makes a difference.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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I'm starting to get the impression that my computer is too old. I don't have Windows media center, and I am starting to get the impression that without that hardware I can't talk to my Xbox360.
But even if that is not the case, I can't get my Xbox to find my PC. I've turned off my firewall so I know it's not a question of ports. I've spent hours working at this and with no step in the right direction.
So I guess I was bested for now, at least until I buy a new PC.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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I do not think it is a port problem on the router, both your XBox and PC should be on a LAN so the router firewall should not be a problem.
It may be an issue for the PC, I think the TVersity setup should prompt you to open ports, do you recall doing anything like having to mess with the Windows firewall?
The wireless x wired thing should not be an issue (although I kinda recommend against it unless you have at least a G card, video takes a lot of bandwidth).
Posts: 7593 | Registered: Sep 2006
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I've never really had problems with firewalls in the past. I'm not sure what the deal is my Xbox finds the network it just does not believe my computer is attached to that same network.
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quote: Since TVersity acts as a server (media server) on your Local Area Network (LAN), you need to make sure Windows and your router allows it access. If you have a personal firewall running or the Windows firewall is running, you need to make sure that the executable MediaServer.exe located under the installation folder of the software (usually c:\Program Files\TVersity\Media Server) is allowed to accept incoming connections on the port used by the media server (which is by default port 41952).
quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson: Windows Media Center isn't hardware.
It says it requires specific hardware in order for it to have been installed on a computer. Since it came out in 2005 and my computer was purchased in 2003, I am guessing I don't have it, nor can I install it.
Mucus: Don't think that's the problem. Firewalls are turned completely off in addition to me freeing up all my ports.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Ah. *nod* That's not entirely true, but it IS true that your computer almost certainly doesn't have it installed.
The point of the TVersity program mentioned above is that it can supposedly replace Media Center as the program used to sync content with the XBox.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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xbox 360 requires the 3rd version of Media center (I believe it is 2003) to work as a "media extender" or to connect to your computer. I have the Media Center 2002, and it won't work. I think you can also use Vista...but I would have to look that up to be sure.
As others have mentioned, it is not a hardware issue, it is a specific version of Windows Media Center that is needed.
There might be ways around this...but they would not be supported by microsoft.
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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Would it be possible to connect cat 5 cable directly from the media center pc to the media extender without a router?
Posts: 2489 | Registered: Jan 2002
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quote:Originally posted by MEC: Would it be possible to connect cat 5 cable directly from the media center pc to the media extender without a router?
Sure. Don't know if it would do anything though.
More seriously, you can connect two devices with compatible network adapters with a "crossover" cable - it's not the same as a standard patch cable. (The send/receive wires are reversed on one end.) Probably they can then talk to each other. A quick google seems to indicate Xbox has no problem with this.
Posts: 4287 | Registered: Mar 2005
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I tried using a normal cat 5 cable to connect directly to the pc, the X-box detected the connection and was able to list all the media files on my computer, but was unable to play them for some reason.
To blackblade: I tap all my land, and commit suicide via mana burn.
Posts: 2489 | Registered: Jan 2002
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Is there some sort of hardware I am going to need?
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