I have tried unsuccessfully to connect my PC (running Windows XP SP2) and my Xbox 360 so that I can stream content to my Xbox. In order to do this I downloaded and installed Media Player 11, which as I understand it eliminates the need for me to have Windows Media Connector installed. The Xbox and the PC are connected via a Linksys 4 port router/switch. I am using the router as a router and NOT a switch. Individually both devices can access the internet either at separate times or simultaneously. I have eliminated all the firewall issues and opened up the ports on my router to ensure the that the router or firewall on the PC is not the problem. I've even manually tried to start all of the necessary services on my PC to make it all work. This is where the trouble begins. I can start all the necessary services except the Windows Media Player Sharing service. When I try to start it I get an error: 1008 (reads something like this) a reference was made to a token that does not exist. Once in WMP 11 I follow the instructions to share all my files and I get a Windows XP (little shield) error that says that sharing services have been disabled could be caused by firewall settings (I uninstalled my firewall and reinstalled the OS) please verify your settings. Any idea what's going on. I really want to stream music and pictures to my HD set but can't. Thank you Microsoft for putting more crap on the market.

Is it your Windows XP SP2 firewall then (you can't uninstall that but you can disable it). You said you uninstalled your firewall software so I'm wondering if you were using a 3rd party firewall in addition to the built in WinXP sp2 one.

I used Media Connect until WMP11 came out and then switched to that. Zero problems setting it up. Both devices turned on, installed WMP11 and went through the sharing setup to allow the 360 access and then rebooted the workstation. When all was back up and I had selected folders for WMP11 to "share" I went to the 360 disconnected the connection it had stored (to Media Connect) and then searched for computer and it found the new setup. Works with no issues and was extremely simple to setup. Video (.wmv), audio and pictures all stream just fine.

hey did some time at furman, hows it doing down there.

as the previous poster said just turn off the firewall from the control panel and make sure to restart both the xbox and the pc before making a connection.

You don't use Windows Media Player 11 to connect your pc to the 360 if you have Windows XP Home or Pro. You can use Windows Media Connect but you have to have Windows XP Media Center or Windows Vista. You have to download and install the Microsoft Zune software if you only have XP Home or Pro. Now that you have that installed go to Options, Library, Media Sharing. Check the box that says "share my media." Also select the boxes to share your music, videos, and pictures.

After that, your 360 can connect to your pc and you can browse your my pictures, my videos, and my music folders.

Anarchtica

You don't use Windows Media Player 11 to connect your pc to the 360 if you have Windows XP Home or Pro.

wrong. WMP 11 has windows media connect built in now, and has the SAME functionality with the 360 as the Zune software, you only need one or the other, not both.


You can use Windows Media Connect but you have to have Windows XP Media Center or Windows Vista.


wrong again, windows media connect is for connectivity in the media tab on the xbox dashboard with Windows XP, media center requires different software, but the op didnt ask about media center, so i wont get into that.


You have to download and install the Microsoft Zune software if you only have XP Home or Pro. Now that you have that installed go to Options, Library, Media Sharing. Check the box that says "share my media." Also select the boxes to share your music, videos, and pictures.


partially true, you can use Zune as you described, but you can also use WMP11 as i stated before, and this is what the OP is wanting to know, so for relevance in this thread, Zune isnt needed.




i'm not at all surprised that that was your first post.

When did this happen? As of January 2007 you could not use WMP 11, only the Zune software.

And it's not like I made any of that up, I got it directly from Microsoft's website when I connected my 360 to my pc in January.

On your linksys router. Enable filter multicast.

When did this happen? As of January 2007 you could not use WMP 11, only the Zune software.

And it's not like I made any of that up, I got it directly from Microsoft's website when I connected my 360 to my pc in January.


http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/1711/wmp11ay9.jpg

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just going from my experience connecting my 360 to my pc two months ago.

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just going from my experience connecting my 360 to my pc two months ago.


he's right. all you need is wmp 11 and xp. it's been this way since the day wmp 11 was released, which i believe was back in november

Can you provide me a link to the MS website article? I've looked and looked through their stuff and can't find anything there or in the knowledge base.

Is it your Windows XP SP2 firewall then (you can't uninstall that but you can disable it). You said you uninstalled your firewall software so I'm wondering if you were using a 3rd party firewall in addition to the built in WinXP sp2 one.

I used Media Connect until WMP11 came out and then switched to that. Zero problems setting it up. Both devices turned on, installed WMP11 and went through the sharing setup to allow the 360 access and then rebooted the workstation. When all was back up and I had selected folders for WMP11 to "share" I went to the 360 disconnected the connection it had stored (to Media Connect) and then searched for computer and it found the new setup. Works with no issues and was extremely simple to setup. Video (.wmv), audio and pictures all stream just fine.

Sorry, I didn't mention that for this excercise that I did disabel the XP firewall. The fact is that I took my network all the way down to NO firewall protection just to try to get it to work. No Luck.

Can you provide me a link to the MS website article? I've looked and looked through their stuff and can't find anything there or in the knowledge base.


From Xbox.com
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/digitalmedia/pc.htm

Windows Media Player 11

Windows Media Player 11 lets you connect your Xbox 360 console to a PC running Windows XP—it doesn't have to be a Windows Media Center-based PC. Stream music, video, and pictures stored on a Windows XP–based computer anywhere in your home. View slide shows and videos on your TV and play your music—both your audio CDs and the unprotected music files on your PC—through one sound system.

To set up Windows Media Player 11 on a Windows XP–based PC:

1. Connect your console to your PC as described above or using one of the connection types described in Connect to Xbox Live.
2. Go to the Windows Media Player 11 download page at www.microsoft.com to download the software.

Depending on your region, Windows Media Player 11 may also be available at www.xbox.com/pcsetup.
3. Click Windows Media Player Software (or, if you followed the link for a manual download, choose your operating system and follow the instructions).
4. Run the software setup on your PC and follow the prompts.
5. When setup is complete, Windows Media Player should automatically start. If not, open it.
6. In Windows Media Player, click Library, Media Sharing.
7. Select Share my media, OK. Windows Media Player will search for devices on your network.
8. Click your console, then click Allow. If you want to apply more options, click Settings. When done, click OK.
9. On your Xbox 360 console, in the Media area of the Xbox Dashboard, select Music, Pictures, or Video, then select Computer.
10. Select Yes, continue, then select your PC.

Note

In the rare event that your PC and your Xbox 360 console are connected to a router and your PC is using a Windows ICS connection to a third device, media sharing may not function.

Media sharing depends on the Xbox 360 console's UPnP traffic. This traffic may be blocked by a PC in this configuration. If this occurs, either turn off ICS to unblock UPnP traffic or rearrange your network.

hey did some time at furman, hows it doing down there.

as the previous poster said just turn off the firewall from the control panel and make sure to restart both the xbox and the pc before making a connection.

Greenville is great. Just moved back here after spending two years in Atlanta. Let me tell you, if you ever consider a job in Atlanta DON'T GO!!! Atlanta is a great town to visit but SUX to live there. Anyway I did turn off the firewalls all of them even uninstalled my 3rd party software. No luck yet. I've got a few more tricks to try before I blow away my hard drive, format and start all over.

From Xbox.com
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/digitalmedia/pc.htm

Windows Media Player 11

Windows Media Player 11 lets you connect your Xbox 360 console to a PC running Windows XP—it doesn't have to be a Windows Media Center-based PC. Stream music, video, and pictures stored on a Windows XP–based computer anywhere in your home. View slide shows and videos on your TV and play your music—both your audio CDs and the unprotected music files on your PC—through one sound system.

To set up Windows Media Player 11 on a Windows XP–based PC:

1. Connect your console to your PC as described above or using one of the connection types described in Connect to Xbox Live.
2. Go to the Windows Media Player 11 download page at www.microsoft.com to download the software.

Depending on your region, Windows Media Player 11 may also be available at www.xbox.com/pcsetup.
3. Click Windows Media Player Software (or, if you followed the link for a manual download, choose your operating system and follow the instructions).
4. Run the software setup on your PC and follow the prompts.
5. When setup is complete, Windows Media Player should automatically start. If not, open it.
6. In Windows Media Player, click Library, Media Sharing.
7. Select Share my media, OK. Windows Media Player will search for devices on your network.
8. Click your console, then click Allow. If you want to apply more options, click Settings. When done, click OK.
9. On your Xbox 360 console, in the Media area of the Xbox Dashboard, select Music, Pictures, or Video, then select Computer.
10. Select Yes, continue, then select your PC.

Note

In the rare event that your PC and your Xbox 360 console are connected to a router and your PC is using a Windows ICS connection to a third device, media sharing may not function.

Media sharing depends on the Xbox 360 console's UPnP traffic. This traffic may be blocked by a PC in this configuration. If this occurs, either turn off ICS to unblock UPnP traffic or rearrange your network.


I've done all of the above and this is where I am having my problem...

I'm Ok up until this point. I take the next step...

6. In Windows Media Player, click Library, Media Sharing. <--- This works and the share my media box opens...
Then in the next step...
7. Select Share my media, OK. Windows Media Player will search for devices on your network. <---- IT NEVER SEES MY XBOX nothing shows up in the box and I can't manually type anything in the box. It is grayed out and not editable. Consequently...

8. Click your console, then click Allow. <---- THIS ISN'T AN OPTION

If you want to apply more options, click Settings. When done, click OK. <--- I can however edit the options.

Hopefully now you can see why I'm stumped!!!

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just going from my experience connecting my 360 to my pc two months ago.
Shortly after the November (Fall) update for the 360. You could use Media Connect on Windows XP and then when MS released WMP11 they pulled Media Connect as this was built in to WMP11. WMP11 on WinXP Pro has been working just fine for me since it's official release late last year. Zune software is just another option, not a required one.

I'm going to assume that your 360 is turned on. Can you ping the IP address of your 360 from your PC? I'm using a Netgear router to have both connected to the internet but there is no port blocking between attached devices "inside" my routers firewall. Wish I could help more but I just didn't have to troubleshoot anything, it simply worked for me.


I've done all of the above and this is where I am having my problem...

I'm Ok up until this point. I take the next step...

6. In Windows Media Player, click Library, Media Sharing. <--- This works and the share my media box opens...
Then in the next step...
7. Select Share my media, OK. Windows Media Player will search for devices on your network. <---- IT NEVER SEES MY XBOX nothing shows up in the box and I can't manually type anything in the box. It is grayed out and not editable. Consequently...

8. Click your console, then click Allow. <---- THIS ISN'T AN OPTION

If you want to apply more options, click Settings. When done, click OK. <--- I can however edit the options.

Hopefully now you can see why I'm stumped!!!

I'm going to assume that your 360 is turned on. Can you ping the IP address of your 360 from your PC? I'm using a Netgear router to have both connected to the internet but there is no port blocking between attached devices "inside" my routers firewall. Wish I could help more but I just didn't have to troubleshoot anything, it simply worked for me.

Yes, the Xbox is on. I won't take offense to the inquiry because you really can't assume anything when you trouble shoot. I have never tried to ping the Xbox itself from the PC but that is a good idea. I've only actually gone in on the Xbox and verified that it has a valid IP address and done the same for the PC. I will try to ping the Xbox from the PC that is a good idea and may help me uncover the problem. Potentially it is a router issue but I'm still puzzled as to why the Windows Media Player Sharing service gives me error 1008 when I manually try to start it.

Don't manually start the service. Just fire up WMP11 and then go to the sharing setup section. I never had to manually start anything. The first time though I had to restart the computer after installing WMP11 and selecting the "share" settings.

You may also want to download WMP11 again and reinstall it. Maybe something got dinged while you've been working on trying to get it to function properly.

Start with pinging the Xbox 360. If you can do that, reinstall WMP11 and reboot. Then follow the posted instructions from the Xbox.com site.

tcrews,
Thanks for your help and support. I hope I can get this resolved. If I can't I guess it's a good excuse to buy a new PC with Windows Vista. Attached is a diagram that I made of my home network. I do have two routers daisy chained so maybe that's causing a problem too. I wouldn't think that it be an issue given that both the Xbox and the PC can gain access to the web but I'm just a noob so I don't know. I have a diagram of my home network but I'm not sure how to insert it into this message. If you want it I can e-mail it to you.

Here is a diagram of my home network with the major components listed. Maybe this will help...

http://www.thetigernet.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/80-370882-4128686-36380/home%20network.jpg

Try http://www.tversity.com/home

I got my computer (XP Pro w/ SP2) and Xbox 360 to connect with Zune after messing with the settings but I found Tversity to be much easier.

just going out on a limb here, but in services are the UPNP discovery and SSPD services started too? Just the thing about the error message you were getting when you tried to start the WM Sharing services sounded familiar.

Can your 360 detect your computer, but for some reason won't connect to it?

If so try this:

Disconnect and Reconnect

To disconnect from a PC:

On your Xbox 360 console, in the System area of the Xbox Dashboard, select Computers.
Select Windows-based PC, Disconnect.

To reconnect to a PC:

On your Xbox 360 console, in the Media area of the Xbox Dashboard, select Music, Pictures, or Video, then select Computer .
Select Yes, continue, then select your PC.


I had lots of problems connecting. I tried everything I could think of to try and fix it but nothing worked until I tried the procedure listed above. It only took about 10 seconds and I haven't had any problems since. (by the way I'm using the Zune Player)

The token appears to be the infamous DRM License token issue. If there is a problem, Windows Media sharing will not start. I do not know what impact this will have if you own any DRM protected media, but it worked on a computer I fixed for a friend.

Goto Documents and Settings, then select the name of the logged in user from the list.
Click on Local Settings, Application Data, Microsoft, DRM and delete everything in the DRM folder. There may be nothing here, just check.

Now go to "Documents and Settings" and "All Users" . Open the DRM folder there and delete everything. THere will be stuff here.

Don't forget to hit Tools, Folder Options, View: and enable Show Hidden Files and Folder as well as deselect Hide Protected Operating System Files.

The token appears to be the infamous DRM License token issue. If there is a problem, Windows Media sharing will not start. I do not know what impact this will have if you own any DRM protected media, but it worked on a computer I fixed for a friend.

Goto Documents and Settings, then select the name of the logged in user from the list.
Click on Local Settings, Application Data, Microsoft, DRM and delete everything in the DRM folder. There may be nothing here, just check.

Now go to "Documents and Settings" and "All Users" . Open the DRM folder there and delete everything. THere will be stuff here.

Don't forget to hit Tools, Folder Options, View: and enable Show Hidden Files and Folder as well as deselect Hide Protected Operating System Files.

Thanks for the tip. I'll give this a try. I've tried everything else.

in your services list have you checked to make sure all the dependent services for Media Sharing are running. I believe it lists these somewhere in the properties for media sharing.

Also make sure you have the uPnP service running -- you might also want to enable upnp on your router. Try using this tool on your computer to see if the Xbox shows up: http://www.sharewareconnection.com/universal-plug-and-play-tester.htm

If the Xbox doesn't show up on there then you probably have a uPnP or firewall problem.

I had a similar problem and it turned out it was because of a Windows OneCare firewall. I had disabled the Windows Firewall the the OneCare firewall was still running.