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Tutorial How to play MKV video files on XBOX 360

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Alex

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Playing MKV on your XBOX 360

NOTE 1: Before doing this I would first like to tell you that MKV is just a container, not all MKVs will work as they have different audio and video codecs stored within the container and the Xbox has certain codecs it will NEVER open. This is just a proof of concept, showing that the Xbox can open MKV containers under the right circumstances.

NOTE 2: When downloading software please be aware that when installing some software the developers/publishers may try to trick you and include bloatware such as toolbars and emoticon packs for facebook, don't hastily click through the setup, READ IT ALL.


Video


Let's get started:

Okay people in this short tutorial I will be telling you how to play MKV video files on your XBOX 360 through a Media Center connection.


Requirements:
  1. Windows 7
  2. DivX Plus Package
  3. Windows 7 Codec Pack
Quick Guide:
1)Download both files above and install them
2)Set up your Media Center Extender
3)Make sure your MKV files are in the right place (My Videos)
4)Load up MCE and navigate to Pictures and Videos
5)Select Video Library
6)Choose your video and enjoy :smile:
NOTE 3: When installing the codec pack click on the advanced installation, this way you can choose not to install the advertising toolbar.

Setting up DivX and the DNLA sharing server:

  1. Download and install the DivX Package
  2. Once installed run the DivX Player
  3. Press the "Stream" button on the right hand side
  4. Select "Turn ON" and then allow it to bypass Windows Firewall
  5. Now you can select which folders DivX will share, it is best to share the folders that contain your working MKV videos.
Setting up Windows Media Center:

It is pretty straight forward so I will give you a quick run down:

  1. Run Windows Media Center on the dashboard.
  2. It should give you and eight digit code in this format - XXXX-XXXX.
  3. Run Widnows Media Center on the PC/Laptop and select "Add Extender".
  4. Enter the eight digit code and click "Next" on the PC/Laptop and "Continue" on the XBOX 360.
  5. Now wait for the XBOX 360 to display the message saying "Contacting".
  6. You now have your extender set up.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Requirements:

  • Patience
  • Combined Community Codec Pack - Download
  • Windows XP MCE 2005/Windows Vista/Windows 7
Now in short Windows Media Center doesn't support MKV playback but with the CCCP (Community Combined Codec Pack) it will.

Allowing MKV Playback

There are many Codec packs out there but I have had the most success with CCCP.

  1. Go to the CCCP Homepage and download CCCP.
  2. Once downloaded just install it as you would any other file.
  3. At the end it will ask you if you want to change any settings, if you know what you are doing then feel free to, if not then leave it.
  4. Now it is installed move you MKVs to a shared folder, by deafult "Videos" or "My Videos" is shared accross the network. I put them there.
  5. Now you have MKV playback on your console.
Also make sure you update your libraries if you don't see your videos!!

There are playback issues such as fast forwarding, rewinding and resuming a video after leaving it. This is because it wasn't designed to play videos in this container. You will have to make do. Alternatively you can spend hours converting the MKV to AVI. Like I said you need patience.

How to resume a paused video after the error
  1. Leave the error screen and head back to library.
  2. Select another video to play.
  3. Leave that video and hit resume on the video you want to watch.
  4. Wait for the buffering to finish and finish watching.
A lot of messing around once you are in there but in the long run it is quicker than obtaining an AVI or converting the MKV.
 
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MikeLawry

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Is this just for mkv or does it support other formats? Also ive got a little problem my xbox can't dedicate the windows media player any idea what's up?
Also thanks Im going to do this tmrw.
 
Alex

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Is this just for mkv or does it support other formats? Also ive got a little problem my xbox can't dedicate the windows media player any idea what's up?
Also thanks Im going to do this tmrw.

When it cannot find Windows Media Center, launch WMC on the PC and select "Add Extender" then on your console select the option for a new connection, it should then give you the eight digit code to input on the PC.

Also I assume other videos will work as the codecs are being used on the PC.
 
run632

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Hours converting the mkv ?that must be some size file you have .I am going to give the cc pack a try klite keeps
Craping out my system with nero vision .when it works nv is good due to the amount of films I can get on one disk..
 
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Did you try to use the DIVX Plus MKV Codec Pack? because Im using it and it runs MKV smoothly.. but with high quality AVI files its not smooth at all specially with 5.1 Sound files -.-
And I just hear about a codec called "Shark007 codec" its said to be the best Media center Codec out there.
I'll try yours and the one I found and reply later.
thanks alot
 
Hitomi Tanaka

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Thank you, this is quite useful I thought it wasn't possible so this opens up many movie options for me. :tongue:
 
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everytime i use one of these codec workarounds my WMP on the PC will show the .mkv but the 360 will only show the folder, it wont show any of the video files.
please help
 
Alex

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everytime i use one of these codec workarounds my WMP on the PC will show the .mkv but the 360 will only show the folder, it wont show any of the video files.
please help

Are you sure you are using Windows Media Center? By the sounds of it you are using the Windows Based PC video streaming on your XBOX. If you are using WMC then update the file locations. It works for me, my dad and my friends that have tried this.
 
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yea, i just realized it when i typed it out. all i did was open and setup WMC on my server and then voila everyting fell into place! thanks so much.....now if i can just figure out this crazy controller layout...
 
Alex

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yea, i just realized it when i typed it out. all i did was open and setup WMC on my server and then voila everyting fell into place! thanks so much.....now if i can just figure out this crazy controller layout...

Well it is the right stick to pause (I know WTF??). But there is a problem with Fast Forward and Rewind. When you pause it it will also give you a video error. All you need to do is go back to video library start another video then go back to your original video. It would be so much easier if Microsoft supported more video files/containers.
 
Alex

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Will definitely have to try this tonight!

Please let me know how it went and also please confirm you read the bit about the problems. I don't want people coming back and saying they cannot rewind etc.

Thanks for checking out my tutorial too.
 
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yea i found out the rewind will seem to work once you have let it sit there for a while, the thing im having trouble with the most, are the videos not playing at all in the beginning but when i fast forward, and it skips about an hour, the video begins playing in second. very frustrating and my girlfriend is beginning to doubt my networking prowess. lol
 
Alex

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yea i found out the rewind will seem to work once you have let it sit there for a while, the thing im having trouble with the most, are the videos not playing at all in the beginning but when i fast forward, and it skips about an hour, the video begins playing in second. very frustrating and my girlfriend is beginning to doubt my networking prowess. lol

There really shouldn't be a problem with playing the video from the start. I understand it is frustrating but lets just hope we wont have to do this for long. Microsoft should support more codecs!
 
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This is great and thanks for the help... But my MKV issues i solved with GotSent.. Doesn't take long works automatically and preserves quality. Im a newbie but just trying to do my part
 
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Somehow i cant seem to make this work, i've followed the steps exactly and the files work without problems on my PC
 
Alex

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Somehow i cant seem to make this work, i've followed the steps exactly and the files work without problems on my PC
Are the files in a folder shared on your network?
 
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Ah thanks for the reply :smile:

Yep they are, i can see them on my xbox but as soon as i want to open them i get the error on the xbox saying it cant read the file and that i need to restart WMC or the PC.
 
Alex

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Okay, re-install the CCCP (codec pack) restart your PC and establish a *New connection for the extender meaning scrap the old WMC connection between the console and PC.
 
Saturday Night

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Why not just convert the file and throw it on a USB? Better quality than doing this with WMC.
 
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