X BOX 360 to pc Help please

mjl_3

Hello I hope someone on here can advise me about this. I'm wanting to connect my desktop pc (xp pro OS) to my x box 360.
I don't want to connect the x box to the net just yet, just share media files from the pc thru the x box to the tv.
I have purchased an ethernet cable from e buyer, been to the xbox site where u download the extender installer for windows media player.
Started the install/setup process, but, I can't get past the section where it flags up the firewall on the pc, not windows xp firewall but good old
Zone Alarm free edition installed. It is telling me that certain ports have to be opened, now I have trawled the net but it appears that the Zone Alarm free edition will not allow the user to open ports manually, the paid for (pro) version will.
Anyone know of a workaround for this problem?
Please, please, don't give me solutions to connecting the 360 to the net, I need to connect to the pc only
I have already installed 3 .exe progs from the windows folder from C drive, which Zone Alarm needs in the "safe zone"
Another clear example of Microsoft products not interfacing with 3rd party sofware without the user having to tear their hair out.
Will I have to install the pro version of Zone Alarm? or can anyone tell me of a free firewall which allows the manual configuration of the pc's ports?
MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE

[Deleted User]

I'd hardly blame Microsoft for the problems caused by a third party, but anyway, have you followed this guide:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/911728

mjl_3

TYVM, all the guides I can find on Microsoft and on Zone Alarm show user configuration in Zone Alarm Pro. The free version of Zone Alarm has no options to configure the pc network ports.

philnicandamy

http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4SUNA_enGB256GB257&q=open+ports+zone+alarm
I found this on google with a quick search



In the free Zone Alarm firewall, go to Overview, Preferences, and click on enable proxy server. Type in your port number, and you're good to go. It seems like it can only do one port at a time, however.

But Windows firewall can do more, and adds UDP and TCP options. Go to Control Panel, Windows Firewall, Security Center, Exceptions, and Add Port. To be even safer, click on go to "change scope" and add the IP addresses of those you wish to play with.

There is no reason anyone should have to pay any money for a firewall to protect them while playing games (unless you want the new fangled thing that detects which game you're playing and inputs the ports for you).