Smashing Pumpkin Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Okay so at the moment I'm just plugging my MP3 player into my 360 when I'm gaming to listen to music, however I've got an old PC and was wondering how hard it would be to link them up. The problems is that the dead PC has a blue screen of death I believe last time I checked, we had to get a new PC, plus the old one was **** anyway. The guy in the PC shop said we'd have to get it 'wiped' and install windows again, I didn't know how to do this at the time so we just got a new PC as it was better to get a new modern fast one that save an old piece of crap... Do I need all drivers and **** for the PC's internal componets etc. to make it live again? Then if I did get it back up and running, I've got an XP disc for this modern PC I'm using now, would I be able to install Windows onto my old PC aswell using the same disk, and FYI if I try to download Windows Updates Windows tells me that my copy is not genuine, despite what the guy at the PC shop said. Because I havn't got a 'genuine' copy of windows, it would seem I can't download the updates and tools nesesarry to connect the 360 and the PC, are there any free third party pieces of software that do the same thing? I just wanna connect the PC to the 360 so I can listen to Allllll my music, not just 1GB of it, and view videos stored on my PC, also if I get it up and runing a second PC could come in handy. I know this post is vague but please help me in any way if you can, Thanks in advance, Richard xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimplySchizo Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Try installing latest WMP. It replaces Windows Media Connect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashing Pumpkin Posted January 22, 2007 Author Share Posted January 22, 2007 The PC isn't even up and running yet, I'm mostly just wondering first whether it's worth the effort to get it running, and if I would have to buy xp or drivers or anything? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neoadorable Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 yes you will need a new, legit copy of windows if you don't already have one, or another OS if you want to go down that path, but then the PC won't work with the 360. there's no way around this to my knowledge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titoist Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 yes u can, ive got the same Windows XP version running on my tablet and old PC.. actually I took the XP from my tablet and used it to revive the old comp, works well. Oh, I believe u need Win XP MCE 2005 to get 360 to work with your computer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetham Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 The disc that came with your new machine is more than likely a system restore cd and not a fully licensed version of xp and therefore will most likely only work for the new machine. If it is a full version of xp you can not load it legally. Windows XP comes with one license for one machine. You would have to un-install XP off the New machine to install in on the old one, or you would have to purchase another license from Microsoft to allow it. (that is if you are worrying about legalities). Why not just use the new machine to stream music to the 360? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattrobs Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Firstly, if that computer guy sold you a non-genuine copy of XP, I suggest you confront him and get a genuine serial number. You did pay for it after all. Secondly, if the old computer has the minimum requirements to install XP, then yes, you could reformat it and install XP. Just insert the XP CD (it's a full Windows XP CD, right, not a 'restore disk'?) and boot from the CD. After installation, Windows Update should download the correct drivers for you (depending how old 'old' is). Try it you've got nothing to lose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashing Pumpkin Posted January 22, 2007 Author Share Posted January 22, 2007 hmm, I'm gonna get off to bed and have a look at the old machine soon, thanks for your help. I just thought a second PC would be useful, the main PC is downstairs and the 360 is upstairs in my room. Thanks guys, but I cant afford another copy of XP, just for this :( edit: The copy seems genuine enough and works perfectly, it's got the fancy sticker on the machine and all the paperwork, it just doesn't seem to work in practice, it was a very long time ago that we bought it now, like a year, so I can't be bothered to go and get another copy when this PC is set up for me now... I will go check the PC upstairs and try installing this same disc, I wouldn't be able to download Media Connect though cos you need Genuine Windows as the MS site checks, same for WMP 11 I think... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashing Pumpkin Posted January 22, 2007 Author Share Posted January 22, 2007 Well, the computer is running Windows XP Service Pack 2, I reckon it's a genuine version as well, havn't tried it with the internet as of yet but I'm not even sure if it has an ethernet port. Here's a picture of the back of the PC, can someone tell me if there is an ethernet connection? I think I can connect it if I can download the correct software and if there's an ethernet port right? Thanks, Richard xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Laughing Man Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 There is no ethernet connection. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashing Pumpkin Posted January 22, 2007 Author Share Posted January 22, 2007 So it's useless for my xbox 360 then... :( Any way I can get some sort of cheap adaptor or anything? Is there anything else could use it for to do anything snazzy with my 360? Could I even use it as an external hard drive or something, like a larger version of my MP3 player? Thanks for the advice and help, Richard xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightmarE D Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Ethernet cards don't actually cost much at all. I don't know where you live at, but Wal-Mart sells ethernet cards for 20 or 25 dollars and you can even find them cheaper than that. It just depends on where you go. I've seen some for 15 dollars in Radio Shack. You said the old PC was bought a year ago? Did you guys buy it used or new? If it was new, I'm very surprised it didn't have ethernet built in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashing Pumpkin Posted January 22, 2007 Author Share Posted January 22, 2007 The one I'm using now was bought about a year ago, that one was a couple of years ago, and even then i think it maight have been used or at least a refurb. So you're saying... I buy an ethernet card and use that, then I can stream all the media on that PC to my 360? Do I have to install the ethernet card inside the computer or do they just plug in and lay by the side of it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightmarE D Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 If it runs XP fine you should be able to use it with the 360 and ethernet cards plug into the PCI slots. Open the case, put it in a slot and put the case back on and start it up. If it doesn't recognize the drivers just install them off the CD or floppy that came with the card. Sorry for the late response Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashing Pumpkin Posted January 22, 2007 Author Share Posted January 22, 2007 I've never opened A pc up before or installed any hardware like that, I'd be pretty scared, thanks anyway though guys, I'll look into it. Thanks NightmarE D in particular :) Richard xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashing Pumpkin Posted January 22, 2007 Author Share Posted January 22, 2007 Okay, so I've looked into it and I could either buy and install an ethernet card on the old PC and get a small ethernet lead, or I could run a long ethernet lead and run it downstairs. Thing is I don't know what software I'd need, the downstairs PC has XP Media Center 2005, and the upstairs PC has XP Home Service Pack 2. I think the upstairs PC will download from MS as it's recognised as genuine, whereas the downstairs PC isn't, however I just went on the xbox site and found that I was able to start downloading an 80meg file, dunno what it was though, I found it here: http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/pcsetup/alldownloads.htm :s Sorry to act like such a noob I just don't know about all this and trial and error really isn't an option cos if I'm gonna download an 80 meg file I wanna get the right one as it'll take ages on dial up :( Any help would be greatly appreciated Thanks Richard xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Lyle Global Moderator Posted January 22, 2007 Global Moderator Share Posted January 22, 2007 you got a blue screen of death... so you went out and purchased a new PC! OMG... BSOD just means the drivers are corrupted, and need to be reinstalled. ethernet cards are what.. $5-10, and are VERY easy to install If you want, PM me and i'll talk you through opening, looking for what you need to do, and installing. It's all very simple and straight forward. I just helped a friend install his Wireless internet card (PCI) into his pc and he knows nothing about PC's, and has rarely used one. On the weekend, i went to a pc shop with a friend and helped him purchased and build his own external hard drive. I talked him through it over the phone the next day.. I know what im doing, give me a shout :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashing Pumpkin Posted January 22, 2007 Author Share Posted January 22, 2007 Thanks man :) I needed a new PC anyway, cos the old one's not really good enough for what I need now. It works fine now and is operating, the only problrms I've got now is what software do I need for it when it's running XP Home SP2? Also what software would I need for this computer that's running XP Media Centre Edition 2005, and are there any alternative pieces of software that do the same thing as I'm not sure if this newer PC will download from MS. hanks guys, great advice and help :D Richard xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neoadorable Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 see? there's hope for humanity yet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattrobs Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Run a cable from downstairs to upstairs? Have you considered wireless networking? (Xbox 360 supports Wi-Fi by default) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Lyle Global Moderator Posted January 23, 2007 Global Moderator Share Posted January 23, 2007 just use Windows Media Player 11, that will work for the connection. It also helps to get Media Center. Launch media center on xbox360, and on your PC.. type in the code and it should work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashing Pumpkin Posted January 23, 2007 Author Share Posted January 23, 2007 So if downloaded WMP 11 for Windows XP Service pack 2, that's all I would need to connect the 360 to the PC? I can't afford wireless networking :( I've downloaded the file mentioned before which came from http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/pcsetup/alldownloads.htm on the XP SP2 PC Then looking on the xbox forums the guide said to download the .Net Frameworking, so right now I'm downloading that, then I gotta download lots of other stuff. Are you saying I only need to have WMP 11 on XPSP2 and the xbox'll connect? Thanks, Richard xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dnast Subscriber² Posted January 24, 2007 Subscriber² Share Posted January 24, 2007 Are you saying I only need to have WMP 11 on XPSP2 and the xbox'll connect? Yep. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PricklyPoo Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 you got a blue screen of death... so you went out and purchased a new PC! OMG... BSOD just means the drivers are corrupted, and need to be reinstalled. And I thought I was a money waster. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashing Pumpkin Posted January 25, 2007 Author Share Posted January 25, 2007 Yep. :) Well, lol, now I've downloaded all the other stuff! Now I just need an ethernet card, but I'm afraid of installing one cos people keep saying about static shocks, and that I just have to touch the PC but I don't know where or when or anything ;) Richard. p.s I nicked an ethernet cable from the school, hehehe, but it's not long enough, if I nicked another :whistle: could I buy something cheap tyo put between em and make 2 cords into 1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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