[b]PART B- PORT FORWARDING OR DMZ IF YOU'RE CHICKEN[/b] Now we are going to go into your router's software, which is located inside the router, not the computer. You can access it from any computer that's connected to the internet, even a PS3. (By the way if you have a PS3, pick up an oversized mallet and accurately but firmly connect with the device to extract the greatest entertainment value.) Grab that piece of paper with all the numbers on it and type in the local IP address of your router/default gateway, whatever the kids these day call it, and type it into where you usually type www.google.com A login box will pop up, asking you for a login and a password. If you or anyone else have never accessed your router's settings before, these will be set to their default of login= admin and password=password/admin or nothing at all, depending on whether you have a netgear, linksys or a D-link router. If you have another brand, a good place to look for the default login and password is printed on the router itself or if all else fails, a manual! Select your router from [url=http://portforward.com/english/applications/port_forwarding/Xbox_Live_360/Xbox_Live_360index.htm]this list [/url] if you have any more problems; it has a specific guide for each router. Have a browse around the settings and check out all the stuff your router can do. That said, [b]don't touch anything if you don't know what it does[/b] or you won't even be able to visit [url=http://www.youfail.org] this site [/url] [b]Skip this whole bit til i say so if you aren't 1337. Seriously, it will go over networking virgin's heads. Its about having fun with your router including a firmware upgrade (if your router is buggy this will fix your NAT, given that you've opened ports as I cover later on) and wireless passwording.[/b] The first thing you do with a new router if you know what you're doing is to get new firmware for it. Firmware is it's the router's software so download the latest if you want melee and other bugs to be fixed. Google your router's serial number that's on its packaging to find its official site. Within it look for your exact router's download section and download the latest non-beta firmware for it. Then you'll need to go into a menu of the router settings to find a place where you can upload the firmware onto your router. It'll have a browse button for you to select the firmware so you can upload it. When it's done the router will most likely go back to default settings on everything, so that's why we're doing it first before we change anything. If you have a wireless router, one thing to do in here is to change the router login access password from the default, so that laptop hackers in black vans on the side of the road can't get in really easily. You can make it damn near impossible if you activate "WPA-PSK", found in setup- wireless settings for netgear users and in 'be patient and find it yourself' for others. Turn it on by clicking on whatever box you need and enter in a wireless password, which also has another useless three letter acronym - PSK. This will make it so that you have to enter a password to access your internet wirelessly. If you're a paranoid schizophrenic make this "ri32o5fsl3" and make it your dog's name if you expect mum to remember it for her laptop. When you next connect to the internet wirelessly you will be asked for this, so write it the -blam!- down on your paper. Also hit an apply settings button or equivalent, and with some routers, like my new D-link, you even need to go to the system menu and click on "save and reboot." [b] Dummies can start reading again[/b] Now here's where it gets harder for me to explain. You see, every company that makes routers makes their router settings look different. [url=http://portforward.com/english/applications/port_forwarding/Xbox_Live_360/Xbox_Live_360index.htm] That's why I'm gonna show you a site that has a picture guide for nearly ever router in existence.[/url] Following that link will make it really easy to enter in ports. I'll describe the process here anyway in case it doesn't work for your router. What you are looking for is in the router settings and it calls itself "Port Forwarding/Virtual Server" [b]DMZ[/b] or an easy fix that the impatient will enjoy, "DMZ." Your router may not have DMZ, but it's gotta have port forwarding. These'll probably be in the advanced tab. Now while DMZ is an easy fix it is not without risk. It stands for demilitarised zone and has the same effect as plugging your xbox directly into the modem- it will have no firewall and so will accept any incoming connection. Do not, I repeat, do not do this for your computer, as hackers can have a field day accessing it. Hackers can't do much with your Xbox but they can get in if you set this. To turn on DMZ, find DMZ in your router settings without touching any other settings and enter in your Xbox 360's static local IP address and hit OK or equivalent. NAT Open on Xbox. When you're ready for round two, keep reading to find out the holy way. Please note that when you activate both port forwarding and DMZ strangely neither will work. [b]Port Forwarding[/b] Every brand does it differently. But you will be adding 'ports', also known as 'numbers' to a list and assigning them to the static IP address that you have set for your xbox or computer. Click "Add Custom Service", add port, to go to the screen where you can enter in the details of the port you're opening. In some way shape or form you will see: [b]Description of what port does:[/b] Enter in Xbox_live1 and so on. [b]Starting Port: [/b] If I say open 3074, enter 3074. if I say open 200-210, enter 200. [b]Ending Port:[/b] If I say open 3074, enter 3074. if I say open 200-210, enter 210. [i] Some routers also have 'port map' and 'port map end.' Don't try to understand this, trust me, just enter in the same numbers as the other start and end ports. [/i] [b]UDP/TCP:[/b] Just set every port to UDP and TCP, "UDP/TCP." Usually it is specified which is needed, but this will open the port for both kinds of protocols. Don't bother understanding this, just enter in both every time to simplify it. [b]IP address:[/b] This was the whole point of doing the whole static IP shizzle. Enter in your Xbox 360's static IP. If you're opening the port for your computer and the computer has a static IP, enter in the computer's static IP. Easy. Now, open these ports. 80 88 3074 53 There is a list of the ports that are open. Check this to see that to see that they are all in. Then turn on your Xbox, down/up to my xbox, right to settings, network connections, test xbox live connection. One minute later if no error pops up, that means you were successful in getting an open NAT. If you weren't, check for typos in your ports and then use the first question in the FAQ. If you've followed everything in the guide you now know how to open ports for anything, not just xbox live. It maximises the speed of everything that's peer to peer. [url=http://www.portforward.com/cports.htm] Here is the ultimate list of ports.[/url] Also- more information on streaming from your computer's harddrive. Your version of windows must be genuine to do this. Open up Windows Media Player. You all have it. If it isn't version 11 or greater, go for the help menu, and then search for updates. It will say that WMP 11 is out. Download the 25 mb. When it loads up, hit the arrow underneath 'library,' then media sharing. Select the xbox symbol and click allow. Then click the library arrow again and go for add to library. Add in the folders that have your photos, movies and music that you want. You can also select the entire harddrive. In the meantime, apply these ports to your Xbox's IP address: 1900, 2869, 10243, 10280-10284. When the library is finally completed, you can follow the simple prompts on the xbox when you try to access media off the computer. Note that the computer must be on to access the harddrive, but windows media player doesn't need to be on. That's it! Cya on Xbox Live