Microsoft finds 1GB of extra space on Xbox 360 DVDs

If you compare games on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 there is very little to choose between them now. The PS3 was notoriously difficult to squeeze performance out of when it first got released, not because it wasn’t there, but because the system architecture made it so difficult to utilize. But developers have caught up and at the very least equalized the platforms. One area where Microsoft can’t compete with PS3 is on Blu-ray. Not only can the PS3 playback Blu-ray content, it also offers developers up to 50GB of storage space for a game. That means better quality videos and higher resolution graphics can be stored without worry of reaching the upper limits of the disc. The Xbox 360 on the other hand can only offer up 6.8GB of space. When the console first appeared this wasn’t an issue as developers were making smaller games or using lower resolution assets. But as a platform matures the ability to build bigger and use better art assets also becomes an option. 6.8GB no longer looks like a lot of space today. While Microsoft would never accept a Blu-ray drive as part of an Xbox console, it has found a way to unlock more storage for developers on a DVD. The DVD disc can actually store 7.95GB of data, but 1GB of that is reserved for anti-piracy solutions and DVD-Video. As 360 developers don’t need such features Microsoft has removed them and pushed the storage limit up. Although Microsoft hasn’t officially announced this new disc, it has been discovered by a hacker who has access to the 360 SDK. The new media is called xgd3 and is supported in the new 20500 SDK. If you live in the U.S., and sign up for the new Xbox 360 System Update Preview announced by Major Nelson yesterday, you may in fact receive...

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Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows

As the latest wave of gaming consoles have offered more powerful hardware and more sophisticated online experiences, PC gaming has seemed on the defensive. The first-person shooter, once the exclusive denizen of the PC, is already firmly entrenched on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, while role-playing games and even real-time strategy titles are popping up on consoles as well. But Microsoft is hoping to breathe new life into PC gaming. The company's Vista operating system and a new Games for Windows drive is a one-two punch aimed at making the free-for-all of PC gaming a more standardized plug-and-play experience--in other words, a lot more like playing games on a console. The Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows ($15.76 list) is the latest salvo in that campaign. It's a tiny peripheral that lets you use your any of your wireless Xbox 360 accessories on your Windows XP or Vista PC. The biggest thing about the Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows is its mouthful of a name. The device itself is a sliver of white plastic that's smaller than the tiniest of cell phones. It's featureless except for a single green LED and a button, and connects to your PC with a 6-foot long USB cable (once again, going "wireless" always seems to require wires). As such, the Gaming Receiver is not much different from a dongle that might have come with your wireless mouse or keyboard, except that it's designed to communicate with any and all Xbox 360 wireless peripherals. To date, that's a pretty exclusive list: the standard 360 wireless gamepad, the Xbox 360 Wireless Headset, and a wireless racing wheel for racing games. If and when additional 360 wireless peripherals are released, however, they should...

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How to Transfer XBox Hard Drive Data

Many Xbox 360 gamers choose to upgrade to a larger hard drive (HDD) in order to store more media files or copy more games. However, this often poses a problem; what to do with the data on the older, smaller HDD? Fortunately, Microsoft sells a transfer kit that allows gamers to transfer all of their data from a smaller HDD to their new larger HDD. Users can also transfer data using the console's built-in data transfer features, but this can only be performed between a single HDD and memory unit or USB flash drive. Additionally, gamers can also transfer their Gamertag data from hard drive to hard drive using Xbox LIVE's Gamertag recovery feature. Instructions things you'll need:   XBOX360 hard drive transfer cable    1. Move Files Using the Hard Drive Transfer Kit       1. Turn off the Xbox 360.       2. Disconnect all devices attached to the console except for one controller and the HDD from which you wish to move the data.       3. Plug the HDD transfer cable into the empty USB controller port on the console.       4. Plug the other end of the HDD transfer cable into the HDD that will be receiving the data.       5. Open the disc drive and place the transfer kit's disc into the tray and close it. The transfer program will launch. An introduction screen will appear.       6. Highlight "Next" and press "A" after reading the introduction to the transfer process.       7. Highlight "Transfer Data" then press the "A" button to begin the transfer process.       Transfer Single Files Between a Hard Drive...

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How to Transfer From an Xbox 360 to a PC

Since Xbox 360 hard drives have limited space there may come a time when you need to transfer your files to an external source like your PC hard drive. Xbox has built in menus to help you copy or move files to a memory unit, USB device or a PC. You can also use these menus to delete files and increase the amount of free space on your Xbox 360. There is also a Transfer Content Wizard to handle moving multiple files between storage devices. Instructions 1. Connect one end of your USB cable to a port on your Xbox 360 and the other end to a port on your PC while they are both turned off. 2. Turn on your Xbox 360 console and your PC. Once your Dashboard loads, use your controller to select "My Xbox" and then "System Settings." On this page select "Memory." 3. Highlight the storage device that has the files you want to copy and press "A." In this case you would choose your Xbox 360 hard drive. Then choose the type of content you would like to transfer and the item. 4. Use your controller to select "Copy, Move or Delete" and then specify the storage device you would like to transfer the item to. 5. Transfer multiple files by following steps 1 and 2 as described above. Then select your Xbox 360 hard drive with your controller and press "Y" to activate the Transfer Content Wizard. 6. Highlight the destination device with your controller, your PC in this case, and press "A". Then select the content you want to transfer and press "A" if you would like to view individual items. If viewing files individually, press "B" to go back to the content type screen. From that screen highlight "Start" and press "A" to begin the transfer. 7. Shut down both your Xbox 360 and your PC when the transfer is finished. Disconnect your USB cable...

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My Xbox Won't Play a Disc

At some point or another, gaming consoles tend to run into a problem, whether it's a simple fix or a complete mess. It can be frustrating trying to get your games to run smoothly. Learning your way around your Xbox console and how it works will benefit you in the future---should any other issues arise. The Xbox console may not be working for many reasons, but a frequent one is the disc will not play.   Basic Fixes       1 Clean the disc you are trying to play on your Xbox console. Be sure to note if there is an excessive number of scratches or dents on your disc. This will prevent the the game or data from being read.       2 Try playing another game disc or DVD to test the Xbox. If this game or DVD loads, try another. If these discs work but your original does not, this is a signal your disc is the problem, not your Xbox.       3 Turn off your console and unplug your Xbox power cord. Remove any memory cards, external hard drives, or USB flash drives. Plug in the power cord and turn your Xbox back on to attempt to play the disc again. If your disc plays, it was a faulty drive error. You must replace the original external drive or memory card and transfer your data to the new drive.   On The System Fixes---Clear Your Cache       1  If your Xbox is not reading multiple game discs, clear your system's cache. On your main Xbox screen, go to "My Xbox" and select "System Settings".       2  Select "Memory" from this screen.       3  Highlight your main storage device (or the storage device you are using to play your games) and press "Y" on your Xbox...

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How to Connect Xbox to Windows?

The Xbox 360 is a video game console manufactured by Microsoft that lets you play high-definition video games, view photos, listen to music and watch videos. The Xbox 360 also allows you to stream video, music and image files from your PC to your television. Connecting your Xbox 360 to your Windows PC can be done in a few minutes. Instructions    1. Connect your Xbox 360 and Windows PC via an Ethernet cord.    2. Power on both your PC and Xbox 360.    3. Click on "Start," and select "Control Panel."    4. Choose "Network and Internet," and click "Choose Home Group and Network Options."    5. Click on "Change Advanced Sharing Settings."    6. Select "Choose Media Streaming Options," and click "Turn on Media Streaming."    7. Type in a name or click on "Choose Default Settings," and select the "OK" button. Your PC is now connected to your Xbox 360.    8. Go the "Media" area on your Xbox 360.    9. Select either "Music," "Pictures" or "Video."   10. Choose "Computer," and select something to play or view. US$37.50 Wireless Controller for Xbox 360 US$15.76 Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows US$29.80 Wired Controller for XBOX 360 US$56.00 250GB HDD Hard Drive for Xbox 360 Sli...

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How Do I Rename My Xbox?

For many gamers, naming their Xbox 360 is as important as naming their firstborn child. Having a particular name may make a gamer feel as though he has a certain amount of luck, and can breed confidence during game time. However, sometimes the original name chosen for your console ends up growing tiresome, or in the long run just doesn't feel quite right. At times like these, it is a good idea to rename your Xbox. Instructions   1.  Go to the Xbox "Main Menu."    2. Scroll to "My Xbox," choose "System Settings," and then "Memory."    3. Select "Hard Drive" and hit the "Y" button on your controller. This will take you to the "Device Options" screen.    4.  Entering your Xbox's new name is faster on a USB keyboard.       keyboard #4 image by Adam Borkowski from Fotolia.com       Entering your Xbox's new name is faster on a USB keyboard.       Select the "Rename" option, and use either a handheld Xbox 360 Messenger Kit keyboard, a USB keyboard plugged into your Xbox 360, or the on-screen keyboard, to enter a name that is less than 26 characters.    5. Select "Done" on the screen to save the new name. US$37.50 Wireless Controller for Xbox 360 US$15.76 Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows US$29.80 Wired Controller for XBOX 360 US$56.00 250GB HDD Hard Drive for Xbox 360 Sli...

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How to Connect the Xbox 360 to TV

Instructions       Connect to a Standard Television Set    1. Connect the square end of the HD AV connection cable to the AV port on your Xbox console. The HD AV connector has a set of video and audio connectors on one end and a square AV connector on the other end. The audio connectors are solid red and white; the four video connectors are gray with a single band of color in yellow, green, blue and red.    2. Slide the AV switch on the square end of the HD AV connector to "TV." Insert the yellow-banded video connector on the opposite end of the HD AV connector to the yellow video input on your television. Do not connect the red-, blue- or green-banded connectors.    3. Insert the solid red and white connectors to the audio inputs on your television or stereo receiver. For televisions with one audio input, insert either the red or white connector.    4. Choose the correct video input on your television. Common choices for video input are "Input Select," "Aux," "Line In," "Line," "In," "Input," "Source" or "Ext."             High-Definition Television Connection    5. Attach the HD AV cable to the Xbox 360. Slide the AV switch to "TV" or "HDTV." If your television supports resolutions 480p, 720p, 1080i, or 1080p choose "HDTV."    6. Attach the red-, green- and blue-banded video connectors to the red, green, and blue video inputs on your television. Do not attach the yellow-banded video connector.    7. Insert the solid red and white audio connectors to the audio inputs on your television or stereo receiver.    8. Pick the proper video input on your television. US$37.50 Wireless...

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How to Preformat a 120Gb Hard Drive for an XBox 360

The Xbox 360 is a powerful gaming machine; its games are among the best of the next-gen systems. These high-resolution games sometimes need a lot of space to store their save files. This is why most Xbox 360 systems come with a hard drive to save games, but the Arcade version of the 360 only comes with a basic amount of storage. Xbox does sell a preformatted hard drive; use these steps to save some money. Instructions    1. Place the 120 GB hard drive into the hard drive enclosure.    2. Plug the USB from the enclosure into your computer. An auto-play message should pop-up to show it has been connected; press the "X" to get rid of this window.    3. Go to "Start", then "My Computer", so a window opens showing the attached hard drive.    4. Right-click on the removable hard drive, and choose "Format".    5. Do not quick format the drive. Make sure "FAT32" is selected as the data allocation type.    6. Press "Start"; this will launch another window with a progress bar. When the bar fills, the formatting is complete. Close all windows when the formatting is done.    7. Open the partitioning program. Once in the program, choose the 120GB hard drive in the enclosure, then click the "Delete Partition" button. This button will appear on the program's main screen.    8. Create a new partition by clicking on the button of the same name. Make the partition as big as possible by moving the "Resize Partition" slider to the right.    9. Click the "Apply" button to finalize the changes you have made to your hard drive. This will open a new window.   10. Click the "Start" button on this new window to commence partitioning the drive....

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How to Lock & Unlock an Xbox Hard Drive

The internal components of a hard drive. span data-copy="hard drive image by iMAGINE from Fotolia.com">hard drive image by iMAGINE from Fotolia.com The Xbox 360 game console comes with a rectangular hard drive that locks in on the side of the unit and can be replaced if you are having problems with it. The good news is that these hard drives are designed for quick and simple removal, even if you don't know very much about electronics. Because the hard drive is located on the exterior of the unit, there is no need to disassemble the Xbox.  Instructions    1.  Power off your Xbox and turn it on its side, so the hard drive is visible. The hard drive is rectangular in shape and has "HDD" written on it.    2.  To unlock, locate the circular release button at the end of the hard drive. Press this button in to unlock it and simultaneously pull the drive off of the Xbox to remove it.    3.  To lock, fit the hard drive back over the side of the Xbox and press it down until the button locks it in place. US$37.50 Wireless Controller for Xbox 360 US$15.76 Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows US$29.80 Wired Controller for XBOX 360 US$56.00 250GB HDD Hard Drive for Xbox 360 Sli...

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How to Retrieve Data From an Xbox 360 Hard Drive

The Microsoft Xbox 360 contains an internal hard drive that can be used to store files. If you want to access these files, the steps you will take will vary slightly depending on what type of file you're trying to view. If you want to view audio or video files, for example, you will need to go through the audio and video playlists that are built into your Xbox 360's main menu. Instructions    1. Turn on your Xbox 360; this will load your Xbox 360's main menu. If a game is inserted into the console, the game may automatically load. If this is the case, use the controller to back out of the game and return to the main menu.    2. Select "Media" from the Xbox 360's main menu. This will load the utility that allows you to retrieve information from the gaming console's hard drive.    3. Select "Music" if you want to listen to music that you have stored on your Xbox 360 hard drive. Select the name of a song and that song will automatically begin to play.    4. Select "Pictures" if you want to view pictures that you have stored on your Xbox 360's hard drive. Select the name of the picture to view it on screen, or select "Slideshow" to view a slideshow of all your photos.    5. Select "Videos" if you want to watch a video from your Xbox 360's hard drive. As with music, selecting the name of the video will get the video to play on your television. US$37.50 Wireless Controller for Xbox 360 US$15.76 Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows US$29.80 Wired Controller for XBOX 360 US$56.00 250GB HDD Hard Drive for Xbox 360 Sli...

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How to Use a Hard Drive on Two Xbox 360 Consoles

Instead of hauling your Xbox 360 with you wherever you go, simply take the gaming console's hard drive. This way, you can maintain your Xbox gamer achievements, account information and Gamertag. Since Xbox 360 hard drives are detachable, you can connect them to different consoles without losing data. Use a hard drive on two Xbox 360 consoles by switching the drive whenever you want. Instructions Remove Hard Drive    1.  Locate the hard drive on the top of the console.    2.  Press the release button on the hard drive.    3.  Lift the drive off of the console to remove it.       Attach Hard Drive    1.  Align the back of the hard drive with the back of the console's hard drive bay.    2.  Press the front end of the hard drive downward until it clicks into place.    3.  Turn on the console and navigate to the 360 Dashboard to access your information. US$37.50 Wireless Controller for Xbox 360 US$15.76 Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows US$29.80 Wired Controller for XBOX 360 US$56.00 250GB HDD Hard Drive for Xbox 360 Slim...

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