Can't get Xbox 360 working as Windows Media Center Extender

[Matt2]

I recently moved and cannot get my Xbox 360 set up to stream media. At my old place, it worked flawlessly.

Old setup:
Xbox 360 (hard wired)
Dell POS PC running Windows 7 32-bit (hard wired)
D-Link DIR-615 wireless N router

With this setup, all I had to do was turn on my Xbox and Windows reported that it had found a media center extender. I entered the 8 digit code from my Xbox and bam I was up and running.

New setup:
Same Xbox (hard wired)
Asus laptop running Windows 7 64-bit (wireless)
D-Link DIR-615 wireless N router (different than the one in the old setup)

The very first time I turned my Xbox on connected to the new network, the laptop reported finding a new media center extender and I entered the 8 digit code. The laptop started going throught the steps of configuring my computer and extender and the Xbox even launched Windows Media Center and went to the black "contacting screen". During the last step (Connecting to your extender) it hung and after sitting there for 2 minutes, the xbox gave me the error message, "Connection failure, the xbox failed to connect, turn your xbox off and on and try again". I did, didn't work.

From here on out has been a nightmare, I've tried uninstalling the extender and reinstalling it, but once I uninstall it, the laptop won't even recognize that there is an extender connected to the network. If I view the network map, it shows the Xbxo 360, but I can't get the laptop and xbox to communicate.

I tried to hardwire both the laptop and the xbox to the network and I finally got the laptop to acknowledge the xbox, but the setup failed at the exact same spot as the first time and gave me the connection failuire message. Currently the extender is installed and reported as "ready to use", but I get the connection failure message every time. Under 'Devices and Printers', it shows that there is an xbox 360 media center extender installed, but it's grayed out.

I've tried everything I can think of. Turned on media sharing, added windows media center to the exceptions list in windows firewall, disabled windows firewall, changed workgroups, changed computer name, forwarded all the correct ports in my router, disabled/enabled uPnP, enabled multicast streams and thrown the laptop a short distance.

Somebody please give me the tip that breaks this thing open! Oh and the Xbox connects fine to Xbox Live and Live is fully functional.

 

[dougp]

Could it be a firmware issue on the router? Seems you've done everything else besides that.

 

[KrAzYaZnFLiP808]

I havent used media extender much, but I do find Tversity to fit my needs. It does on the fly decoding of files not playable on the xbox. Most files wont need decoding, and their isnt much lag after that. Maybe becuse the WiFi on your laptop isnt strong enough to support the WireLess N network on your router. I would try a hard wire to your laptop and see if that works. I hope you get your problems fixed.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

I'd vote for giving tversity a shot as well. Always had issues with WMC

 

[BD2003]

I recently moved and cannot get my Xbox 360 set up to stream media. At my old place, it worked flawlessly.

Old setup:
Xbox 360 (hard wired)
Dell POS PC running Windows 7 32-bit (hard wired)
D-Link DIR-615 wireless N router

With this setup, all I had to do was turn on my Xbox and Windows reported that it had found a media center extender. I entered the 8 digit code from my Xbox and bam I was up and running.

New setup:
Same Xbox (hard wired)
Asus laptop running Windows 7 64-bit (wireless)
D-Link DIR-615 wireless N router (different than the one in the old setup)

The very first time I turned my Xbox on connected to the new network, the laptop reported finding a new media center extender and I entered the 8 digit code. The laptop started going throught the steps of configuring my computer and extender and the Xbox even launched Windows Media Center and went to the black "contacting screen". During the last step (Connecting to your extender) it hung and after sitting there for 2 minutes, the xbox gave me the error message, "Connection failure, the xbox failed to connect, turn your xbox off and on and try again". I did, didn't work.

From here on out has been a nightmare, I've tried uninstalling the extender and reinstalling it, but once I uninstall it, the laptop won't even recognize that there is an extender connected to the network. If I view the network map, it shows the Xbxo 360, but I can't get the laptop and xbox to communicate.

I tried to hardwire both the laptop and the xbox to the network and I finally got the laptop to acknowledge the xbox, but the setup failed at the exact same spot as the first time and gave me the connection failuire message. Currently the extender is installed and reported as "ready to use", but I get the connection failure message every time. Under 'Devices and Printers', it shows that there is an xbox 360 media center extender installed, but it's grayed out.

I've tried everything I can think of. Turned on media sharing, added windows media center to the exceptions list in windows firewall, disabled windows firewall, changed workgroups, changed computer name, forwarded all the correct ports in my router, disabled/enabled uPnP, enabled multicast streams and thrown the laptop a short distance.

Somebody please give me the tip that breaks this thing open! Oh and the Xbox connects fine to Xbox Live and Live is fully functional.

I could never get my 360 to connect to WMC once the PC was on a wireless connection. I suspect we're having the same issue.

 

[crayadder]

I have the identical problem. It definitely looks like wireless is the key. I do have TVersity as well so it's not a big deal. I just wanted to see how the extender worked.

 

[Holmes108]

Matt,

I know I'm a bit late to the party, but if you haven't solved it yet, I thought I'd try and help.

I don't use Media Center myself, I stream everything from the dashboard. So I'm not sure if this step applies to you. But have you checked under "Network and sharing" and "advance sharing". There is usually a list of devices, hopefully including your 360, with an option to "allow" or "block"?

I always have to manually allow my xbox to stream through the dashboard. (when setting up a new connection for the first time)

Good luck.