XBOX 360 E User Guide

GAMING OUTSIDE THE BOX
Now you know what the system is capable of. But do you know how to do it? The
following pages will show you, step by step, covering everything from setup to nav-
igating your media using a Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005-based PC.
Sounds like a mouthful? Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds.
Xbox 360™System vs. Xbox 360 Core System
There are two versions of
the Xbox 360 system—the
Xbox 360 and the Xbox
360 Core. In terms of
what the hardware can do
when it comes...

Xbox 360 Core
> Xbox 360 Console
> Wired Controller
> Composite AV Cable
> Power Unit
> Xbox Live 
Xbox 360
> Xbox 360 Console
> Wireless Controller
> Component HD AV Cable
> Hard Drive
> Xbox Live Headset
> Ethernet Cable
> Power Unit
> Xbox Live 
17
Get Started

The Xbox Live
included with both
Xbox 360 packages refers to the Xbox
Live Silver and free
30-day trial of Xbox Live Gold.
NOTE
Protected by copyright. Unauthorized or unlawful copying or downloading \
expressly prohibited.  

To Wire or Not to Wire
The most obvious differ-
ence is in the packaged
controllers. The Xbox 360
Core comes with a wired
controller, while the Xbox
360 comes with the wire-
less controller. The rele-
vance of this depends
entirely on your personal
preference. The controllers
are equally effective when
it comes to playing games;
the wireless controller
offers more freedom at the
cost of two AA batteries or a rechargeable battery pack.If you’re fond of old-school conventions and are
convinced that wired...

Half Empty or
Half Full?
The most significant dif-
ference is the inclusion
(or omission if you’re a
glass-half-empty kind of
person) of the hard drive.
If you’ve purchased an
Xbox 360 Core System,
you’ll need either a hard
drive or an Xbox 360
Memory Unit for game
saves and to store your
gamertag for Xbox Live. If
you want to play your old
Xbox games—of which
more and more are com-
patible with the Xbox 360
each day—you’ll need a
hard drive to house software compatibility scripting.If you plan on doing...

HD vs. Composite
You’ve also noticed that each package comes with a
different type of cord that connects your console to your
television. The Xbox 360 Core System features an Xbox
360 Composite AV Cable, which is a serviceable but
standard type of connection (red, yellow, and white
plugs). Your games will look great, but you won’t be able
to take advantage of high-definition resolutions. If your television has component inputs, then you
definitely, definitely, definitely want to go with the
Xbox 360...

Setting It Up
Connecting your Xbox 360
to your television and
getting it ready to go
couldn’t be easier. For the
benefit of those consider-
ing buying the system,
here is a brief rundown,
complete with diagrams.
Hook It Up!
First, take a peek at the back of the Xbox 360. Notice
the four inputs—one for your video connection, one
for your power supply, one for an Ethernet cable, and
a lone USB port (see diagram).Plug your audio/video cable into the AV slot on the
back of the Xbox 360. Then insert the...

22
Xbox 360™Han dbook

Listen up! If you have a surround-sound systemwith a digital audio input, run down to your
local electronic retailer and pick up a digital audio cable for true surround sound.
Once you have the cable, insert one end into
the base of your Xbox 360’s AV cable (the part
that goes into your console) and the other end
into your surround-sound receiver. That’s it. Well, don’t forget to set your receiver’s channel to
transmit from the digital input...and to do that, friend, you’ll have...

23
Get Started

Before connecting the
power supply unit,
examine the unit itself.
There are two main
components to the
power supply.
1. The large box-likepower unit.
2. The power cord (one end male, the
other female).
Before connecting
either end to the wall
or the Xbox 360,
assemble the unit by
inserting the female
end of the cord into
the hollow cavity in the power unit. That’s it, you’re ready to proceed!
With the power supply
assembled, insert the
power connector (it
looks like a cube with
two edges...

24
Xbox 360™Han dbook

Unless you want to create an expensive drinkcoaster,  do notchange the orientation of the
system with a disc inside. Taking this simple precaution can avoid big problems for your system and games.
CAUTION
Regardless of the orientation you choose for
your Xbox 360, be sure it and the power supply are in well-ventilated areas. The system’s
processing power rivals that of most high-end computers, so expect it to generate a decent amount of heat.
But don’t worry—you won’t be frying...

Now all that’s left to do is plug in your wired
controller. Press the power button on the console
or the Xbox Guide button on your controller, and
your journey begins.
Coming at You Live
While Xbox Live for the original
Xbox had a huge impact on gam-
ing, the updated service for the
Xbox 360 takes its predecessor
a long way down the evolutionary
path. Xbox Live now lets you do much more than play games online.  There are two types of Xbox Live Memberships: Silver and Gold. To get on Xbox Live, you need...