Your Xbox 360 console can deliver the ultimate integration of gaming and room-to-room entertainment—including watching or recording TV shows, viewing your digital photos, and listening to your digital music library—from a PC running Windows Media Center to any TV in your home.
When you connect your console to the same network as your PC running Windows Media Center, the experience is delivered to your Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system. (You can connect up to five consoles to a PC running Windows Media Center.)
To set up Windows Media Center:
- If you use Windows XP, first go to www.xbox.com/pcsetup and click Setup to download the latest Windows Media Center software update to your PC running Windows Media Center.
Note
Windows Vista Home Premium Edition and Windows Vista Ultimate Edition come pre-installed with Windows Media Center.
- Connect your Xbox 360 console to your PC using one of the connection types described in "Connect to Xbox LIVE."
- On your Xbox 360 console, go to My Xbox and open Windows MediaCenter. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish Windows Media Center setup.
Along with standard DVD remote control functions, the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote features a Windows Media Center button that lets you access a connected PC running Windows Media Center.
Xbox 360 can connect to an 802.11g or an 802.11a router with an optional wireless adapter such as the Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter. Optimal performance is possible only when your Xbox 360 console connects to your network using the 802.11a standard. Other wireless devices, such as portable computers or desktop computers, connect with 802.11g.
Note
If you use wireless networking equipment that is not "Designed for Media Center Edition" (DfMCE) logo certified, you may experience poor wireless performance when you connect to PC running Windows XP and Windows Media Center.
To guarantee compatibility with current gear and to provide additional uninterrupted bandwidth for Xbox 360, replace an older 802.11g-only router with a newer, dual-band 802.11g and 802.11a router that is DfMCE certified.
Media Center Remote Control
The Xbox 360 console can be configured for use with your Media Center Remote Control. With this you can use familiar remote features to control the Windows Media Center features that are available with Xbox 360.
To use a Media Center remote control together with the Xbox 360:
- Go to the My Xbox and select System Settings.
- Select Console Settings.
- Scroll down and select Remote Control.
- Select Both Remotes.
- Press Back (B) a few times to return to the Xbox Dashboard.
If the Xbox 360 console is turned off, press Start to turn it on and to start Media Center. When the system is on, you can press Start from any area of the Xbox Dashboard to jump straight to Media Center.
Note
The Media Center remote control cannot adjust the volume level for Xbox 360.
The Xbox 360 Universal Remote is the best way to access the features of Media Center on the Xbox 360 system. You can control your Xbox 360 experience with an ergonomic design that includes backlit buttons, TV controls, and integrated Media Center controls.