How to Connect an XBox 360 Game Console to a Computer
There are essentially two ways to link your XBox 360 to your computer to share files or play movies. Knowing which one is right, and how to set it up correctly, is the first step to turning your computer and XBox 360 into a house-wide multimedia entertainment system.
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Things You'll Need
- An Ethernet cord or a wireless adapter for the XBox 360
- A wireless router
Instructions
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Wired System
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1
Plug an Ethernet cable into the back of your PC. The port for the Ethernet cable is the same port that your computer uses to access the Internet through a cable modem. Alternatively, if you have a wired or wireless router, you can plug the cable into an open port on the back of your router.
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2
Run the cable. Be sure to have a long enough wired Ethernet cable, and also be sure that there is no tension (the cable is not taut) placed on the cable when it is plugged in to the router and strung to the XBox 360.
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3
Plug in the XBox 360. There is a port on the back of your XBox 360 that is identical to the one on the back of your PC or your router. Plug it in here.
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4
Run Setup. Using your on-screen media prompts from your XBox 360 interface, choose "my XBox," then "System Settings" and follow the on-screen prompts to link your PC to your XBox.
Wireless
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5
Purchase a wireless adapter. For the XBox 360 to connect wirelessly, you must purchase an XBox 360 wireless adapter and install it per the included instructions.
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Test the connection. After installation, and if you have an existing wireless network (the optional wireless router), you will need to test your connection. Select "My XBox," then "System Settings" and follow the on-screen prompts for testing your connection. If you have an encrypted wireless network, you will need to enter your username and/or password.
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7
Access files. Using the "My XBox" menu, select the type of media you want to share: "Video Library," "Music Library," "Picture Library" or, if you have a Windows Media Center-enabled computer, "Windows Media Center."
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