How To Connect Xbox To PC

If you’ve answered the Call of Duty, dominated Halo and found victory in Modern Warfare, and are looking for new items of interest on your Xbox, it may be time to learn how to connect Xbox to PC. Making that connection between your Internet-connected personal computer to your Xbox game console will enable you to do more than just play games – you’ll be able to listen to music and view pictures, home videos and other downloaded content on your TV. Here are steps you should follow to connect Xbox to PC.

To Connect Xbox to PC, you'll need:

• Personal computer with Microsoft Media Center software.
• Xbox console with controllers.
• High-speed Internet service, such as cable modem or digital subscriber line.
• Network (Ethernet) cable.

1. Establish a wired connection between the Xbox console and your PC home network.  To make this happen, you’ll need a high-speed Internet connection with modem, a wired router and network (Ethernet) cable.  Plug one end of the Ethernet into a port on your router or modem; connect the other end to your Xbox console. Note: It is possible to connect Xbox to PC wirelessly.  However, most homes today have high-definition televisions (HDTV), which means video and other content has higher resolution and takes up more bandwidth. As a result, Microsoft recommends using a wired connection to get best results in connecting Xbox to PC.
2. Enable the capability for sharing media. Now that you have connected Xbox to PC by wire, the next step is to make sure the two devices can communicate – that video, pictures and music on your PC can travel over the Ethernet cable and be viewed or listened to on your PC. You do this through Windows Media Player 11 and the Windows Media Center software. In Windows Media Player 11, click on the “library” tab, and then click on “media sharing.” It may take a short period of time before the Xbox icon appears in the list. Put a checkbox in the box that reads “share my media to,” and click “OK.” 
3. Obtain the set-up key from Xbox 360 and go to the Windows Media Center area on the Xbox system. Either press start on the Xbox controller, which will take you to Media Center; or go into the opening Xbox menu, go to My Xbox, and select Windows Media Center. Read and follow the instructions until you get to the 8-digit set-up key. Write the key down; you will need the number to finish connecting Xbox to PC.
4. Next, add Media Center Extender on your PC. On your Media Center PC, open Windows Media Center. If you are using Vista, choose Start, then Windows Media Center. Select Tasks, and then Add Extender. At the prompt, you will enter the Set-up Key you obtained in Step 3. Follow the instructions to complete set up.

You’ve connected your Xbox to the PC! Now comes the fun part – exploring ways to feed content from your PC to your TV via your Xbox. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Windows Media Center, for example, offers direct links to Cinemanow, XM Satellite Radio, Napster and Fox Sports. You’ll also be able to play music from your personalized music library and show photos from your photo software. All from connecting Xbox to PC!