Connect xbox 360 to pc via lan?

[yoda313]

Ok I've FINALLY been able to connect my xbox 360 to my pc via wifi for the Windows Media Center features on my vista premium pc. I can do pictures, music and live tv now through the xbox. However of course wifi G isn't the best for a solid connection even though they are only a few feet apart (the dsl and main wireless router are in another room hence the wireles part).

What I tried to do was to use a crossover lan cable to connect the 360 to the lan port on my vista pc. It never registers it. The odd thing is in the windows media player sharing menu it sees the xbox 360. BUT my xbox 360 can't get a connection to my pc.

I think I have figured out what the problem is. I go into view my network connections and the local area connection keeps blinking on and off - it says cable unplugged. It is a nvida nforce lan deal - this was what my motherboard is apparenltly - this is a stock hp with the built in lan port alongside the usb port in the back of the computer - you know the type. It isn't a dedicated lan pci card, it is integrated to the motherboard.

Would a driver update solve this issue? When it is stable long enough I can see in the properties menu that it reads as a 100 connection so I know its legit but it keeps winking out. I think that is why I can't get the xbox to see the computer. Believe me the lan cable is not loose - I can hear it click on both the xbox and the pc so I know it is a firm connection.

I did open the case and the little stick out box from the motherboard is firmly in place and the two usb ports attached to the lan module are fully functional.

Has anyone had experience with this issue of a lan cable reading as unplugged one second than plugged in the next? There are no loose connections from what I can tell - it is a single piece housing with no wiring coming off of it.

Suggestions are welcome as I'd like to use the xbox to stream off the pc so I wouldn't have to buy yet another remote as my logitech harmony works perfectly on the xbox. Thanks in advance. If you need more detail just ask and I'll see if I can check it out. Just so you know networking is not my strong suit.

Oh one last thing - when I try connecting the xbox to the pc in the test screen on the xbox it reads initially as a wired connection in the networking adapter line then tries to resolve the ip address and then reads as failed. So obviiously there is a disconect somewhere in the lan configurations - and if the pc shows that the cable is plugged in and then unplugged something isn't stable somewhere.


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last piece of info - I have never used this on my dsl modem or my wifi router directly - this has always been my "extra" pc since I bought it in spring 2007. So I just used the usb wifi adpater and never had a need to test the lan port - could it be faulty?

[johns0]

I havent used an xbox 360 myself but i connected my ps2 thru a crossover cable to my pc,the thing i had to do was assign a static ip to my lan connection so it would connect,maybe you need to assign a specific ip address on your computer when hooked up to the xbox 360.

[yoda313]

THanks johns0.

Would I be able to do that even though the main router is not directly connected to the pc? Because this is a remote pc and there is no direct internet connection on it. This is using a wifi adapter and I want to share the internet and pc files via the lan itself.

A bootcamp on networking would be appreciated - fyi I use network magic because i'm network illetrate - well really partially lazy too..... tia

[gadgetguy]

Those are classic poor connection symptoms. I usually see those symptoms when a wire tech has done a poor job with a wall jack, but since you are just using a crossover cable between the two devices it's obviously not a jack. Try a different cable first, as it's the most likely candidate and easiest to change, but it could be one of the ports from the devices, (bad solder joint, bent pin, etc.) I wouldn't bother with software solutions until you've confirmed each piece of the hardware.

[yoda313]

Thanks gadgetguy. I have tried a seperate cable but I'll try it again. I think I might have a third cable to test.

This is a used xbox 360 would it be possible the lan port is faulty? How would I be able to tell if it's the 360 port or the pc port?

Edit - ok i tried two other lan cables and neither registered on the pc - both showed as network cable unplugged. That would suggest that neither of them are crossover cables correct? Would buying a new crossover cable be the best solution in testing the configuration?

[gadgetguy]

If you're getting nothing at all then they probably aren't crossover cables. I would get another crossover cable and try again, (actually I would test this one and if necessary, make my own crossover cable). Either that or start dragging equipment around and trying direct connections to routers and/or hubs, or whatever.

[yoda313]

Thanks gadget guy. I'm sure that the cable is probaly faulty. It was stored in kinks and knots so its probably frayed inside.

Actually I'm abandoning this project right now. I got a remote from another capture card to work on my vista pc. This way I can use my vista pc with a remote directly rather than through the xbox 360.

I appreciate all of the advice. I will probably return to this project someday but right now my immediate needs have been fullfilled.

[yoda313]

Bump!

Ok I am reexamining this project. I have just gotten a powered coax amplifier to boost my cable signal and it works really well. I would like to use the 360 versus my pc directly for ease of use. The 360 remote is loads better than my fusion remote that I got working on a limited basis.

I bought a new crossover cable and tried it out. I get exactly the same problem. The network dialog box shows it continuously being enabled and then disconnected.

Now that I have ruled out the cable as the culprit I should suspect either the 360 or the pc as the problem correct?

The easiest thing I could try is to lug my 360 to my xp machine and direct connect it to the lan port right? However that xp machine doesn't have media center on it - how would I verify that the 360 was actually connected? Would I still be able to use it for outside netork connection for XBOX LIVE?

I don't have a spare nic card floating around to try on my vista right now. Actually it's bugging me that I might somewhere but I could probably never find it now that I'm looking for it......

So are there any other suggestions? Since the cable has been ruled out I'm looking for diagnostic suggestions. Thanks in advance.

[Krispy Kritter]

If you already have a home network, all you need is a network connection to the xbox. When the xbox boots, it will pull an IP and be able to see any shares on your network.

I've never directly connected an xbox to a PC. It may be possible, but you would likely need a way of configuring the xbox with it's own IP.

[yoda313]

Thanks krispy kritter.

I think I'm really abondaning this this time. I found my old lan card and plugged it in. However now I get intermitten connection with it as well. I think it is because dhcp is only enabled with the motherboard lan port but that isn't working properly.

Instead I'm working on getting my logitech remote to work with windows. I have it setup partially with my fusion ir receiver with limited sucess. I may just drop 30.00 and get a real mce remote.

[Krispy Kritter]

Take a look at the Logitech Harmony remotes. They seem to work with pretty much anything, they can be customed configured, and if a remote isn't in their database, they are also a "learning" remote (they also work with the xbox).

Aside from that, you can get a switch for less than $30, which should solve you connection problems.