Sharing Files With Your XBox 360

I had been meaning to look into this since we got our XBox 360, but I never seemed to find (or make) the time; the question was "how can I share files with my XBox 360?" I know that Microsoft Windows Media Center PCs do this out of the box, but I only run XP Home and XP Pro. The answer was surprisingly simple and took only a few minutes to set up. The solution is to install the Zune software on your PC where your media files are located. Unlike the poor experience Engadget had,I found installing the Zune software pretty straightforward and painless. It probably helped that I already have a "Windows Live ID," and if you have the 360, you probably have one too. After installation, the software scans your PC and finds your photos, music, and videos and imports them into your library.

Now to sync with the 360 - In the Zune software, go to Options –> Library –> Media Sharing. Assuming your XBox 360 is networked, you’ll see it in this window. You can then name your library something (like "Sarah’s Library") and check which types of files (photos, videos, music) you want to share. Finally, play your media from the 360! In the XBox Dashboard, scroll over to "media" and select either Music, Pictures, or Video. The shared files from your Zune library are right there and ready to be enjoyed!