Stream your favourite media from your PC for Xbox 360!

As you might already know, Windows Media Center is one of the most multi-talented additions to Windows Vista. If you’ve got Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate, it gives you a new way to look at pictures, play music and games, catch up on the news via RSS feeds and, of course, record all your TV.

However, to really impress, all this needs to appear on a TV screen, and that’s where a normal PC can struggle. Unless you’re lucky enough to have a slimline, super-quiet chassis, it’s not going to fit effortlessly into your living room… which is where the Xbox 360 comes in.

That’s because the Xbox 360 isn’t just a games console – it can operate as a Media Center Extender as well. Which means you can happily leave your PC whirring away in the back room while you access the files stored on it in the living room, care of the much more discreet Xbox 360.

It’s very easy to set up, too. If your Xbox is already connected to your home network then it should pop up a prompt in the bottom right of your screen when it’s turned on, telling you that a Media Center Extender has been found. Simply click this to start the set-up process. If you can’t see it, just follow the steps on the next page.

1. Getting Started

Make sure your Xbox 360 is connected to your router using the Ethernet cable. There’s a handy port on the back of the console. Switch everything on, go into Media Center and select Extender in the Settings menu. If you can see an Xbox 360 listed, click on it; otherwise click Add Extender.

2. Cracking the code

A screen later and Media Center will start asking for a code. To find this, go into the media blade in your Xbox 360 dashboard and select Media Center using a controller or your universal media remote.

3. Magic Numbers

On the following screen there will be an eight digit code. These are the magic numbers that tell your PC there’s an Xbox 360 it can stream to. Write the numbers down or just enter them straight into Media Center.

4. Making the connection

Now it’s time to sit back and relax while Media Center does all the work. Your PC will look for an Extender (the Xbox 360) and ask if you want your media made available. Click Yes then go to make a cuppa. Depending on how fast your connection is, it could take a few minutes.

5. Sit back and enjoy

Go back to the Media blade on your Xbox 360 dashboard. Press OK and your Xbox will show it’s trying to contact Media. A few moments later and Media Center will load, looking nearly identical to the one on your PC; you can browse it using the Xbox controller.