How can I connect my Xbox 360 to my computer to use shared files?

Asked by suejester (75

) January 1st, 2008

I have movies on my computer in a shared directory and I would like to stream them via my x360 so I can view on my tv, and I know the x360 can convert just about any video format into viewable content for TV.

I had tried to do this a couple years ago but was advised I had to use a Windows Media box in order for the 360 to link up to shared folders. I find this very hard to believe. However when then x360 would search for the targeted shared folder on my computer I would receive a message folder could not be found, verify this is a shared folder.

So I was hoping something has changed by now. I did verify my network connectivity and that is working correctly.

My computer is using XP Pro

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2 Answers

First of all the xbox 360 cannot convert any video. In fact it only supports WMV and just recently MPEG-4 pretty well. This is sufficient for most movies you’d download via torrent or have ripped using the tools out there but don’t be surprised if the xbox doesn’t play every video you throw at it because it won’t.

As for the connectivity, you’ve pretty much done the homework. To allow the xbox to see your computer on the network you must have either Windows Media Centre or a flavour of Windows Vista that has the same media centre capabilities. This is Microsoft trying to push more OS sales but I digress.

There are some applications out there that will fake the media centre protocol and transcode videos to WMV on the fly from your computer to the xbox. I’ve heard mixed things about them: generally they work pretty well but apparently there can be some choppiness in the videos.

If you’ve got your videos in MPEG-4 already you can always burn them to a dvd and play them that way at last resort.

paulc (2924

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