Select Your Console

Select Xbox 360

Select Your Xbox 360 Dashboard

bottom

Change Your Console:


Update backward compatibility on your Xbox 360 console

Article ID:911314
Last Review:July 16, 2009
Revision:6.10
On This Page

SUMMARY

The original Xbox game support feature of Xbox 360 lets you play a variety of original Xbox games on your Xbox 360 video console. For a list of games that are currently "backward compatible" (original Xbox games that are playable on your Xbox 360 console), visit the following Web site:
http://www.xbox.com/games/backwardcompatibilitygameslist.htm (http://www.xbox.com/games/backwardcompatibilitygameslist.htm)
The backward compatibility games list is no longer updated. Therefore, the list on the Xbox.com Web site represents the final set of backward-compatible games. The original Xbox game support feature requires that an Xbox Hard Drive accessory be added to your Xbox 360 console. Users who have an Xbox 360 Arcade console must purchase an Xbox 360 Hard Drive to play original Xbox games.

To obtain required updates for your Xbox 360 console, use one of the following methods:
Use Xbox LIVE
Burn a DVD or a CD
Order a disc by mail from Xbox.com
Note about the New Xbox Experience (NXE) update

The New Xbox Experience fall 2008 update contains all the necessary components to play all backward-compatible games. You do not have to follow the steps in this article. To obtain the NXE update, connect to Xbox LIVE.

Back to the top

MORE INFORMATION

Xbox LIVE update

Obtaining the update at no charge by using Xbox LIVE is the best option because the console will be updated automatically as new games become supported.

To update your Xbox 360 console by using Xbox LIVE, you need a broadband Ethernet connection to the Internet and an Xbox LIVE account. The account can be either a Gold or a Silver membership.

To connect to Xbox LIVE and obtain updates, follow these steps:
1. Connect your Xbox 360 console to your broadband Internet connection. For more information, visit the following Web site:
http://www.xbox.com/connect (http://www.xbox.com/connect)
2. Create an Xbox LIVE membership or add Xbox LIVE to your offline profile, if you have not already done this.
Note Your console will be restarted when you join Xbox LIVE. If you are playing a game, make sure that you save your game before you complete this step.
A profile can be created from the Dashboard. To do this, press the Xbox 360 button, and then select Sign In or press the X button. The Dashboard will lead you through the steps to create a profile. However, you must select Join Xbox Live to finish creating the profile.
You can also add an Xbox LIVE membership to an existing profile. To do this, select Join Live from the Xbox LIVE area of the Xbox 360 Dashboard.
You will have to enter some information to create your membership, such as your name, age, membership type, and so on. This process may take about five minutes or a little longer. Select any kind of Xbox LIVE membership that you want to receive these types of updates.
After you add your Xbox LIVE membership, you may be prompted to update the software on your console. Select Yes, and then wait for the update to finish.
3. Sign in to Xbox LIVE, put an original Xbox game disc in the disc drive, and then close the drive. This will start the backward compatibility program and prompt Xbox LIVE to send an update to the program if an update is needed.
IMPORTANT After you start this process, you must complete the process. Failure to complete the installation process may cause your Xbox 360 console to be unable to play any games until you have finished.
After the update is installed, you are ready to play any supported original Xbox game. Future updates will be installed automatically as long as you are signed in to Xbox LIVE when you start the original Xbox game.

Back to the top

Download and create a disc

To obtain an update, download the file from Xbox.com, and then copy the installation files to a DVD or to a CD. This method is useful if you do not have your console connected to a broadband connection or if you use a dial-up connection to connect to the Internet. Follow these steps:
1. Download the Backward Compatibility update file. To do this, visit the following Web site:
http://www.xbox.com/games/backwardscompatibility.htm (http://www.xbox.com/games/backwardscompatibility.htm)
Note By downloading this update, you agree to the software license and other related terms that are described in the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use.
2. Save the update as default.zip. The file is about 2.5 megabytes (MB).
3. Decompress (unzip) the downloaded file to locate the file that is named default.xex. You will have to move this file to another location on the computer.
If you are using Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Vista, you can just open the compressed file as you would open a folder.
If you are using an earlier version of Microsoft Windows, you will need a separate utility to open the compressed file, such as WinZip.
Note The update will not run automatically unless the file is named default.xex and it is the only file on the disc (that is, the file is not in a folder or a directory).
4. Create a DVD or a CD.

To create an update disc, you need the following tools:
A DVD or CD burner
A blank, writeable DVD or CD
The update from Xbox.com
The following steps show how to create the update DVD or CD by using Windows and the DVD or CD burning software that is part of the operating system. DVDs work better than CD-Rs. CD-Rs may work better than CDRWs.
a. Put a blank disc in your burner. Select Open Writable CD Folder Using Windows Explorer or just open the CD drive from Windows Explorer.
b. Drag the default.xex file onto the CD folder icon to copy the file.
c. From the CD writing tasks listed in the Explorer window, click Write files to CD.
d. Follow the steps that appear in the CD Writing Wizard.
Note The first step is to add a label to the CD. You can use the default date.
e. The CD Writing Wizard will create the CD. Wait to continue until the CD is ejected from your computer.
f. Remove the CD from the computer disc tray.
5. Use the new disc to update the backward compatibility program and the operating system software in your Xbox 360 console:
1. Put the CD in the Xbox 360 console.
2. The update program will start automatically. Select Continue to apply the update.
3. Wait for the update to be completed.
4. The system must have the operating system software updated. Select Yes, update now, and then press the A button on your controller.

The console will restart.

Back to the top

Order a disc

You can also order an update disc from Xbox.com and have it shipped to you. There is a nominal shipping and handling fee charged for this disc. Delivery of the disc can take up to 28 days from the order date. To order a disc, visit the following Web site:
http://www.xbox.com/games/backwardscompatibility.htm#order (http://www.xbox.com/games/backwardscompatibility.htm#order)
When you receive the disc, follow these steps to update the backward compatibility program and the operating system software on your console.
Note By installing the update, you agree to the software license and other related terms that are described in the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use.
1. Put the CD in the Xbox 360 console.
2. The update program will start automatically. Select Continue to apply the update.
3. Wait for the update to be completed.
4. The console must have its operating system software updated. When you are prompted to do this, select Yes, update now, and then press the A button on your controller.

The console will restart.

Back to the top

Additional support

Please visit the following Web site for information about how to contact Xbox Customer Support:
http://www.xbox.com/support/contact (http://www.xbox.com/support/contact)

Back to the top