If you have an Xbox 360 connected to a home network, you can use it as a Media Center Extender. This is an easy way to stream your pictures, music, videos, and other media from your PC running Windows*7 to your TV. For more information, search for "Extender" on Xbox 360 online.
If you have an Extender device other than the Xbox 360, you can connect that to your home network much in the same way. There are a handful of Extender devices available today that are compatible with Windows*7. For example, some DVD players have Extender functionality built in. These devices generally come packaged with a remote control that has a Media Center green start button .
Turn on your computer and log on to Windows. Verify that it's connected to your home network. (An easy way to do this is to open your web browser and navigate to a webpage.)
Turn on your Extender device (such as your Xbox 360) and verify that it's connected to your home network.
On your computer, open Windows Media Center by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs, and then clicking Windows Media Center.
On Windows Media Center start screen, scroll to Tasks, click Add extender, and then follow the instructions.
The Add extender option on the Windows Media Center start screen
Do one of the following:
If you're using an Xbox 360, use your Xbox 360 controller to scroll to My Xbox, and then select Windows Media Center.
If you're using a different type of Extender, press the green start button that appears on your Extender remote control.
On your TV, follow the instructions on the screen to obtain an 8-digit Windows Media Center Setup Key. Write down this 8-digit setup key. This is the key that you will use to affiliate your Extender with your computer that has Windows Media Center.
You do not need to download any additional software because the Extender functionality is built into Windows Media Center.
On your computer, on the Enter the Setup Key screen in Media Center, enter the 8-digit setup key displayed by your Extender, and then continue following the instructions.
Several changes are automatically made to your computer's settings during the Extender Setup, including changes to the Windows Firewall settings. For more information about Windows Firewall, see Windows Firewall: recommended links.
If you have a firewall running on your computer that isn't the Windows Firewall, make sure that the firewall software is set up to allow an Extender to connect to your computer. Some firewalls are configured this way by default. However, other firewalls will require you to make changes to how the firewall software is set up. For more information about which firewalls are already set up to allow a Media Center Extender connection, as well as information about how to set up other firewalls to work with an Extender, go to the Firewalls and Media Center Extender article on the Microsoft website.
After setup process in Media Center has finished, click Finish.
On the TV that your Extender is connected to, the Media Center user interface appears. You can use your Xbox 360 controller or your Media Center remote control to access live TV, recorded TV, pictures, music, videos, and other digital media on your TV the same way you would on your computer.
