Error "Session Terminated" occurs when using Windows Media Centre with Xbox 360

You may see the following error message when you try to connect your Xbox 360 console to a computer running Microsoft Windows Media Center:

Xbox 360 Error Message: Session Terminated

This may mean that another user or application on the Windows Media Center-based PC has disconnected this device.

The computer's hard drive may be using a dynamic disk. Media Center Extenders, such as the Xbox 360 console, do not work under a dynamic disk configuration. You must use basic disks.

Try the following solutions in order.

Solution 1: Disable notification services

Programs that are running on the system may be trying to send messages to your Xbox 360 console during a session with the Media Center. Unauthorised messages will cause the session between the Media Center and your Xbox 360 console to get disconnected.

To resolve this issue in Windows 8, follow these steps:

1. On the Start screen, click Event Viewer.
2. Click Application and Services logs, and then find any event for which “Error” appears under Type and “Media Remote Manager” appears under Source.
3. Double-click each item that satisfies these two conditions to view the description of the event. Look for a description that is similar to the following:
   Unauthorised window was detected while running the Media Center Experience, with file name 'C:\PROGRA~1\...

This message will report the program that is trying to send the message to your Xbox 360 console.

4. Remove or disable the notification service for the application that is listed under Description. For help, see the manual for the application or contact the manufacturer of the application.

To resolve this issue in Windows 8, follow these steps:

1. On the Start screen, click Event Viewer.
2. Click the arrow to the left of Applications and Services Logs, and then click Media Center.
3. Find any event for which “Error” appears under Type and “Media Remote Manager” appears under Source.
4. Double-click each item that satisfies these two conditions to view the description of the event. Look for a description that is similar to the following:

Unauthorised window was detected while running the Media Center Experience, with file name 'C:\PROGRA~1\...

5. Remove or disable the notification service for the application that is listed under Description. For help, see the manual for the application or contact the manufacturer of the application.

Try to connect your console to your computer again. If you can’t connect, try the next solution.

Solution 2: Disable Fast User Switching (Windows XP only)

The Xbox 360 console uses Fast-User Switching to connect to a computer that is running Windows Media Center. If Fast-User Switching has been turned off on the computer, the Xbox 360 console will not be able to connect. To make sure that Fast-User Switching is turned on, follow these steps:

1. On the computer, click Start, click Run, type nusrmgr.cpl and then click OK.
2. Click Change the way users log on or off.
3. Make sure that the Use Fast User Switching box is selected.
4. Click Apply Options.

Try to connect your console to your computer again. If you can’t connect, try Solution 3.

Solution 3: Disable other media programs

Sometimes, other media programs that are installed on the computer running Windows Media Center (such as Ahead Nero) can prevent your Xbox 360 console from playing the media. Temporarily remove or disable these other media programs to determine whether they are causing the conflict.

Try to connect your console to your computer again. If you can’t connect, try Solution 4.

Solution 4: Open firewall ports on the Windows Media Center computer

Certain required firewall ports might not be open on the computer running Windows Media Center. For information about which firewall ports should be open, see “Which firewall ports must be open to use Windows Media Center with my console” at Troubleshoot Windows Media Center.

If opening those ports doesn’t correct the problem, try Solution 5.

Solution 5: Disable interactive log on messages

When interactive log on messages are used, the interactive log on message appears during the Media Center Extender log on procedure and prevents the procedure from completing.

Use the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) manager to disable interactive log on for computers running Windows XP Media Center edition. Interactive log on settings are defined in local or domain computer policies. To review and change these settings, follow these steps:

1. On your computer running Windows XP Media Center edition, click Start, click Run, type gpedit.msc and then click OK.
2. In Group Policy, expand Local Computer Policy, expand Computer Configuration, expand Windows Settings, expand Security Settings, expand Local Policies and then select Security Options.
3. Double-click Interactive log on: Message text for users attempting to log on, clear any text for this entry, and then click OK.
4. On the File menu, click Exit to exit Group Policy.

Solution 6: Change FAT32 hard drives to NTFS

Your computer's hard drive might be formatted as FAT32. If your hard drive is formatted as FAT32, change the hard drive to an NTFS file system basic disk. To check the format of your hard drive on a computer that is running Windows 8, do the following:

1. On the Start screen, click Computer Management.
2. Click Disk Management.
3. Locate the hard drive, and then examine the column titled File system to see if it is labeled “FAT32”.

If it is labelled “FAT32”, you will have to convert the hard drive to the NTFS file system

• For information about how to convert your Windows Vista-based computer's hard drive from FAT32 to NTFS, follow the steps at Convert a hard disk or partition to NTFS format.
• For information about how to convert your Windows XP-based computer's hard drive from FAT32 to NTFS, follow the steps at How to create and use NTFS mounted drives in Windows XP and in Windows Server 2003.