A Quick XBox 360 streaming media question

[Jhadur]

Trying to streaming films and/or TV episodes form my pc to the 360, I've got it so they're connected ok and I can select the files on the 360. But it won't play any of them :(
Do they have to be in .wmv format to be able to be streamed?

Many thanks in advance

Jhad

PS The error that comes up is: Files needed to display video are not installed or not working correctly. Please restart Windows Media Centre or the computer.

(I've restarted both btw :) )

[leowyatt]

Have you downloaded the codec?? You might need to create a second xbox account to download them again it happened to me :(

They don't have to be in wmv, you can stream, mp4, avi, err others too but I can't remmeber what they are exactly.

[Feek]

Don't use it as a media centre extender, that's just rubbish. Make sure the files you want to stream are in your media player library and ensure that media player is set to share the library. Then go to the video option in the 360, select the computer and it should all work.

More details here (http://www.xbox.com/en-us/support/systemuse/xbox360/digitalmedia/pc.htm).

[Davey_Pitch]

I'd recommend using TVersity, it's brilliant for streaming music, videos and pictures and really easy to set up :)

[leowyatt]

For media sharing you need WMP11, if you don't already have it :)

[Jhadur]

I think one of the problems I'm having is that I don't use Media Player for anything on my main PC so I don't have any codecs installed.
Much prefer VLC as it plays anything I throw at it. :)
Are there any good codec packs around at the mo for downloading?

Thanks again :)

Jhad

[leowyatt]

well what are you trying to play?

if you're trying to play mkv then the ccpack I think it a good one. Divx I'm not too sure what codec, but I'd have thought installing vlc would put the codecs on your system anyway.

[Jhadur]

Trying to play avi's mostly.
Not sure that VLC uses codecs like that as I've never installed any when using it.

[Daz]

I'd recommend using TVersity, it's brilliant for streaming music, videos and pictures and really easy to set up :)
Gotta agree with Mr Pitch. It also ships with ffdshow now I believe, which will cover a lot of your codec requirements.

[Jhadur]

Installed it just now and all I kept getting was "Can't connect to server" message everytime I tried doing anything so uninstalled. I'll have another go later.

[leowyatt]

have you opened the ports on your router?

[Daz]

Shouldn't need to do owt on the router for TVersity :) A common one is a firewall blocking the port - quick check is turn it off and give it a whirl.

When it was running it over wireless I used to come across some odd connection issues though - you wired or wireless dude?

[leowyatt]

when I tried it I had to unblock the ports on my router to get the xbox to connect to the PC, so just thought I'd suggest him to check.

[Daz]

That's odd. The traffic between the Xbox and PC is all local, it should never hit the gateway.

[leowyatt]

I was wireless which might make a difference. I dunno I just unblocked the ports and tversity worked. Connect360 though worked fine with no changes or anything needed.

[Jhadur]

I'm wired on both

[Burble]

I was wireless which might make a difference.

Shouldn't do, it'll all be on the same side of the gateway. Ah well, whatever works :)

[Jhadur]

Been playing with Media Center on my main PC d/l'd and installed ffdshow.
Can get a film to play in Media Player but try the same film in Media Center and it says I don't have the appropriate codec installed :(
This is being a tad annoying.

Although it's probably just me being thick.

[Daz]

If it'll play in Media Player then forget Media Center. Just make sure it's in your Media Players library, and connect the xbox to it (Media blade > Video > press 'x' to select source (should see the PC here)) :)

[Jhadur]

Well tried that Daz and MP on the PC see's the XBox for sharing then promptly turns sharing off again as soon as I ok the choices.
Also the XBox has stopped seeing the PC completely even in Media Center where it used to see it just not play anything.
I'll give up with this I think as I'm obviously not meant to get it working and it's just annoying me now.

Thanks for the help though