Softmod Depot

This is a small tutorial for playing media on your xbox from your PC via an ethernet cable with a router or crossover cable without. This is being written becuase(three edits of this guide and I only caught this typo now) because many people overlook such a great feature or don't know it exists.

Disclaimer: This tutorial is for Windows XP based machines. I've been too lazy to test this in 2000 but I'm pretty sure it worked for me last time. It hasn't been tested in Vista because in my honest opinion, Vista is garbage. I will however, obtain a copy and try it out for the purpose of this guide.

You may need to download Windows Media Connect from the Windows Update site. It's worked for me otherwise though. (See footer)

I suggest using a router if you have more than one PC or Xbox, or if you do not have more than one Network card on your PC. It's not very hard to install one, but I prefer using a router. If you do not have a router you will need a crossover cable. I can not stress enough that normal ethernet cables will not work. You can't network 2 PCs (the xbox is pretty much a PC) with a straight through cable. Any local electronics store or computer shop will have or make you a crossover cable. It'll probably run you like 5 bucks or less or you can make your own. There are many tutorials on the net.

First off, make sure you're sharing something (http://duckweedmafia.com/xbox2/SMB01.jpg) and make sure you know your IP Address (http://duckweedmafia.com/xbox2/SMBXX.jpg).

Newest Versions of XBMC (May 07 and later):
Go to any category in XBMC like Pictures, Videos, Music, etc.
Click on "Add Source"
Click "Browse" (http://duckweedmafia.com/xbox2/SMB02.jpg)
Scroll down to "Add Network Location"
Click "Server Name" (http://duckweedmafia.com/xbox2/SMB03.jpg) (Browse will scan for any SMB Shares. If you don't have it hooked up, or it doesn't show, simply click on Server Name and enter it manually.)
Click on "IP Address"
Put in the IP (http://duckweedmafia.com/xbox2/SMB04.jpg) (usually 192.168.0.# between 1-255) and press E, then Done.
Back at the "Add Network Location" screen, click OK

Find the IP in the list  (http://duckweedmafia.com/xbox2/SMB05.jpg)(looks like smb://192.168.0.2 or whatever the PC's Address is)
Click OK once you've clicked on the IP. (http://duckweedmafia.com/xbox2/SMB06.jpg) If you click on any of the folders listed inside, then press OK, it will simply list whatever folder you're currently in on the main screen. Ideally, you can use this to set shortcuts for any folders you want quick access too, but I just keep it at the root so I can browse for anything I want)

Click OK, and then you'll find yourself all the way back at the "Add X Source" screen where X is Pictures, Music or Video. Feel free to name the share if you like. If there's no name given it will simply be the IP.

Set Content will allow you to set a default media type for each share or folder. You can choose between TV shows, Movies and the like depending on what media you are in. This allows the box to grab info from the web according to what you're currently viewing or listening to. It's a pretty handy feature if you have the time to sort your media by type.

Pressing OK will list your PC Share under that category's main screen every time you enter.


Old XBMC versions
Go to "Settings" at the bottom of the main screen.

Click on SMB Share (or if you don't see it, Network, and then SMB Share)
- Settings Mode = Normal User
- SMB IP = Enter in your computer's IP Address
------ To find your IP Address in Windows XP and 2000, hit Start> Settings>Network Connections. Right click on your Network Adapter and hit Status (should be in bold) amd then hit Support. You will see your IP address listed here.
- SMB Workgroup = I put mine as Workgroup even though my PC's workgroup is XnataS and it made no difference.
- SMB Username/Password = username and password are usually blank.

Click Apply Changes Now
Reboot the xbox

Extra
If you have a crossover cable (or a router) and an extra xbox, you can hook them up to each other. XBMC usually picks up another xbox automatically so you can share between the two. Using the Files button, you can FTP between the two boxes. If you have both xboxes hooked up to your PC or your router, you can open up FlashFXP and connect to both xboxes simultaneously. Hooking two xboxes up cuts out the middle man and saves a lot of time.

---

That is it. If you have any questions and the like, PM, Email or check me out on the site linked in this article.

One more thing:
One problem I've run into on some machines is Windows Media Connect was not installed. I'm petty sure I've still streamed files without it but I can't remember. MS built this into Media Player 11 or 12 or whatever the latest one they're putting out is, so you won't be able to download it from Windows Update anymore. The only way to get it is by downloading the latest WMP.

I'm not sure whether or not this is absolutely necessary but I know there were a couple instances where downloading it made everything work, so it may be the same for other people.

all i ever had to do was

set Share on PC  then go to workgroup in XBMC and Done

have done this on meany xbox's and PC's never need to set pc ip in XBMC befor =/

Edited guide. Fiddled. Pushed buttons, turned knobs.

much respect this a great tut n real useful cuz u dont have 2 keep transferring stuff to the XB. thanx very much.

skip

Streaming is the best way for me because my Xboxs 120gb went down the drain a couple of months ago  :'(, so I started streaming all 75gbs of my music and all of my games.


It gets MY seal too! Keep up the good work.

lol, Yes! Thanks. It's pretty straight forward really but it certainly gets over looked by a lot of people. It's just really basic home networking, nothing too complicated.

streaming all 75gbs of my music and all of my games.    <----

Hope you don't  Mean Xbox games as that will not work

Roms... but for needing a quick fix on my Xbox games I just free up enough space on E: , which the max I can get is 3.0gb because the stupid Shadow C, and I transfer over a game then play it and delete it.

I only wish streaming Xbox games was possible.

Is this network sharing also possible with the crossover cable connection or the router is necessary

As stated


So yes. Yes this is very possible. Also, sometimes it's quicker to just try these things than to post. There's no harm in asking and I don't mind answering, but you have to start experimenting somewhere's if you're ever to discover what you can do.

well what can i say .. u r rite abt that

Added pictures. It's not only n00dpr00fed,  I tard pr00fed it. Very simple.

thanks, really diggin the pics. question thos... is the SMB IP the same as the IP u use to connect to ur xbox via FTP? tthanks.

No. The SMB IP is your computer's IP. If you are using a crossover cable, it's the network card on your PC you're connecting to. If you are using the a router, it is the IP of the network card connected to the router.

Hey i enabled the folder on the shared folder in the my computer--> Shared Documents to be opend and carp so i can do the SMB and all, i set it up like it was nothing, now all im worried is that will anyone be able to access from the internet ex.hackers, people idk, Yachi?? you know


I wanna be the one and ONLY one to acess it no matter wat even if im on the net

thanks man.

HAHA i was jk Yachi

I hate trying to revive the dead....but I'm having a problem doing just this....and now your pics are gone....

it's no longer tard proof ;)

I'm pinging fine, ftp works great....I renamed then restarted my pc....

told it to follow: smb://MSHOME//PCNAME//SHAREDFOLDERNAME

and it's saying the pc name is wrong :S

wish it work for me like it works for you zzk XD

Well did you make sure u enabled that folder to be shared? and try to browse for it, cause every time i add a new smb folder, i just browse for it and it turns up on my xbmc  ;) hopes this helps

Yeah Snipes, I made sure to share it, and browsing turns up nothing....says invalid computer name :S

Check the properties on your My Computer and try renaming it again and give it another shot, cause other then that i have no clue why i would be saying invalid computer name if your typing it right :-\

I'm trying to get the syntax figured, so point me where I'm wrong...I'm gonna use the actual workgroup/pcname/foldername

smb://COESTER/HOME/XBOXFILES


single slashes or double?

This is the correct way

smb://COESTER/HOME/XBOXFILES

But maybe you should try reinstalling a completely new dash from T3CH
http://t3ch.yi.se/

then give it another shot, cause it seems like your doing every thing right on your computer now, but the problem maybe the XBMC  :-\ so just try deleting your old XBMC and reinstall it

now that scares the HELL out of Snipes  :o

Just how hard is dash reinstall?

its not that hard to replace XBMC at all, long as XBMC isn't your main dash when you boot up; is it?
ex. E:/Dashboard
Wat exploit did you use to softmod your xbox?

well ofcourse it's my main dash XD

and damned if I remember...it was the one most commonly used here....

but I recently re did it with zzk's all in one disk.

If your going to change your dash remeber to use a dash on a disc while swapping.

could I stream with something else? like avalaunch? and if it worked there, I'd know it was the xbmc?

I've never heard of Ava streaming but give it a shot if it can.

To replace XBMC with a new clean copy

First off make sure you have a backup copy of your xbox eeprom safe in your computer and make sure you still have your exploit game save on you xbox as well, just in case something dose happen.

ok wat you can do if you want to is go to another dash thats in your F or E apps folder or any other dash as long as its out of the E:/dashboard like ava, evo, or unleashx. Just make sure your not in XBMC, and then you can use FTP to delete your old XBMC in your E:/Dashboard then send over a brand spanking new copy from your computer to your xbox E:/Dashboard. Just make sure you know wat im talking about, and you know wat your doing. And wat ever you do please dont leave your E:/Dashboard empty.


BUT ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON DOING THIS

Or just watch zzk2001 video, it has the same theory/principle and much easier just to watch   

clap clap snipes, good job, bring it to the people dont send them searching :P

So it's as simple as changing the "default.xbe" file out?

LOL well Thanks, its been a while since i really had a good post, so yeah; but dont forget to thank zzk2001 8) to for his awesome tut videos. I just hoped this helped FallenGuardian on his problem ;D

no just cause you switch out the default.xbe doesn't mean you fixed the problem, all the default.xbe is the dash it self. See XBMC if you just replace the default.xbe, nothing going to change cause of the configuration files it has inside just like every other dash.

So what ever is messed up in the configuration files is still going to be messed up, and their are a lot of configuration files in XBMC; thats why i said just replace the hole dash.

Just like zzk2001 deleted the hole other dash and then replaced it with XBMC; thats wat you need to do just with a fresh download copy of XBMC

XBMC2007-12-03 SVN rev10891
http://ftp.endpoint.nu/pub/repository/t3ch/XBMC-SVN_2007-12-03_rev10891-T3CH.rar
This is the newest copy of XBMC

alright Snipes, should be the last question(s).

I've watched the video twice...any idea what he was using as the main dash when he did that?

Does it matter that XBMC is my main dash when I go in and delete all those files, then move them back over?

Is there any reason I can't just move them over and let them replace themselves? or will it not work like that?

Provided that it doesn't matter if XBMC is my main dash, I just go by the video and all will be well?

1. The dash that was deleted in the video was unleash x ;)

2. NO, it doesn't matter that XBMC is your main dash; its all the same, delete the old XBMC and then place the new fresh copy of XBMC in

3. Yes, you can do that as well, if you want try it, then if it didn't work try it the way i first told you to do.

4. Yes if you delete your XBMC dash, and then replace it with a NEW FRESH COPY of XBMC from your computer just like in the video show and tells/explains it you; all will be well BUT MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR eeprom.bin is backed up on your computer. PLEASE TELL ME YOU DO

Remember its your choice in doing this bro, you don't have to if you don't want to or if it doesn't feel safe :)

I'll have to update this and bring back the pics for the new XBMC versions. Basically, if you have trouble with SMB shares, try using the IP address instead of the share name. They've made it a whole lot easier than the previous method but even that was already pretty simple.

Aghh thats right, i totally forgot about using your IP as the share name; that was many dash updates ago. But still if he is using an old dash, then he should update his dash if he wants to be up to date.

Any way FallenGuardian have you fixed your problem?

not yet...kinda iffy about changing the dash out...

how would I do the IP share? just share C: and run the share back to the PC IP addy?

I have XBMC open right now. I'll slap some screen shots on the site in a minute.

Alright, I'll edit the first post in this thread but here's a guide for the newest XBMC's.

First off, make sure you're sharing something (http://duckweedmafia.com/xbox2/SMB01.jpg) and make sure you know your IP Address (http://duckweedmafia.com/xbox2/SMBXX.jpg).

Go to any category in XBMC like Pictures, Videos, Music, etc.
Click on "Add Source"
Click "Browse" (http://duckweedmafia.com/xbox2/SMB02.jpg)
Scroll down to "Add Network Location"
Click "Server Name" (http://duckweedmafia.com/xbox2/SMB03.jpg) (Browse will scan for any SMB Shares. If you don't have it hooked up, or it doesn't show, simply click on Server Name and enter it manually.)
Click on "IP Address"
Put in the IP (http://duckweedmafia.com/xbox2/SMB04.jpg) (usually 192.168.0.# between 1-255) and press E, then Done.
Back at the "Add Network Location" screen, click OK

Find the IP in the list  (http://duckweedmafia.com/xbox2/SMB05.jpg)(looks like smb://192.168.0.2 or whatever the PC's Address is)
Click OK once you've clicked on the IP. (http://duckweedmafia.com/xbox2/SMB06.jpg) If you click on any of the folders listed inside, then press OK, it will simply list whatever folder you're currently in on the main screen. Ideally, you can use this to set shortcuts for any folders you want quick access too, but I just keep it at the root so I can browse for anything I want)

Click OK, and then you'll find yourself all the way back at the "Add X Source" screen where X is Pictures, Music or Video. Feel free to name the share if you like. If there's no name given it will simply be the IP.

Set Content will allow you to set a default media type for each share or folder. You can choose between TV shows, Movies and the like depending on what media you are in. This allows the box to grab info from the web according to what you're currently viewing or listening to. It's a pretty handy feature if you have the time to sort your media by type.

Pressing OK will list your PC Share under that category's main screen every time you enter.

One problem I've run into on some machines is Windows Media Connect was not installed. I'm petty sure I've still streamed files without it but I can't remember. MS built this into Media Player 11 or 12 or whatever the latest one they're putting out is, so you won't be able to download it from Windows Update anymore. The only way to get it is by downloading the latest WMP.

I'm not sure whether or not this is absolutely necessary but I know there were a couple instances where downloading it made everything work, so it may be the same for other people.

WOW very nice tut SatanX, it must have took you a while. You should make a topic for its so good ;D

Mucho thanks. If I get some more time I wouldn't mind doing some more things with XBMC.

Thanks for all the help yall :D

Now here's a story:

Since my last reply, I'd been trying to decide whether or not to re-install the dash. My son got a computer for christmas. Had to put it on the network. I decided for poops and grins, just let me see. Went surfing for a network folder through XBMC again, and lo and behold, what pops up? My son's computer  :o

I've got the 2 pcs networked, so they see eachother just fine....but the Xbox just refuses to look at my pc.

Funny huh?

on youre pc you might have to use the network setup wizard in the control panel, and make it able to share files, always had to on mine

Well that sucks, every one but you can stream off the box except you :P ouch
And yeah, try updating the dash; it never hurts to try :D

Updating your Windows Media Player might do the trick as well as it's now bundled with that media sharing update that used to be separate. Worst case scenario, if you have the latest Xbox Media Centre, just click on Browse when you select Add New Source, and if your PC is available on the network, it will show up in the list.