Connect your Xbox 360 online using your laptop (Simplified for Vista ONLY)

There are a few other Instructables showing you how to do this, but none are used with vista. So, being very confused at the time, I didn't know what to do. Fortunately, I figured it out, and decided to create an Instructable on how to do it.

To do this, you will need:

- An Xbox 360
- A laptop (Vista in this instructable)
- An Ethernet cord long enough to connect the 360 to the laptop
- Wireless router / Wireless internet connection
- Some essential snacks while playing with buddies online (my favorite part)

Step 1 Manage Network Connections

First, you need to have a wireless connection on your laptop. When you are sure your connection to the internet is good, right-click the network icon on the taskbar and select Network and Sharing Center.
NOTE: Take this time to be sure the connection is good enough in your desired place, some routers are stronger than others.

Next,on Network and Sharing Center, select Manage Network Connections on the left side.
Onto the next step.

Comments

[odom41]

Can you help me?The local area connection isn't there and i have the ethernet cable connected to my laptop and 360 but there isn't a local area connection just wireless network connection

[jayman242]

do you see any logo that looks like an ethernet cord end, becease i noticed that many times you can end up accedentlly changing the name. If so than that would be your 'local area connection'

[PuddleOfMudd25]

Not sure. Sorry.

[BIGDADDY12]

HAD ANYONE PLAYED THE NEW CALL OF DUTY

[aarteaga3]

It does the same with me but i dont now how to gett it pass can i get any help...

[moosterboi]

That same with me, ive done all the steps and there successfll but when i run the test on xbox live connection it passes the network point easy but wont pass the internet one plz help

[breakell666]

I have done all this bridged the connections and everything and when i run the test for the xbox live connection the network test is succesful but when its doing the internet one it fails and says it cannot connect to the internet, try your pc so i do and it is fine?? :( what do i do??!

[swiedemer]

thank you! my xbox wouldnt connect after using my network as a shared one for a year, today it stopped this fixed it!

[khocking]

ok i did all of that but after i do i cnt connect to it becuz i haft to have 2 LAN or high speed internet connectins not being used and i dont got those and so it wont let me??

[tfreeze]

Thank you so much you saved me a lot of time and sanity, I'm new to xbox live so i didnt have a clue on how to do anything. but now ima pro:).....Happy Gaming!!!!

[dmoreno2]

Wow Incredible and It just took a few minutes, thank you

[ashrestha7]

Very easy!! Thanks!

[sbloomfield1]

it does really work its a chalenge but if you have windows vista than go to youtue and search it up i dident even have to bridge the conections and it still works use this link it helped me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAw6xVN9vsg

[jhenry8]

best i tryd it and it was working without cable amazing

[nothing.fortune]

Epic Win. Thanks!

[Mistah Parker]

 as soon as i bridge the connections i lose internet and it can't connect to xbox live because of that
can anyone help me?
thanks

[Jedi Striker]

I'm having this problem too. Connections are bridged, but no Internet!!! HELP!!!

[sorryfool]

did all the steps...when i test my connection my network and internet is connected...xbox live will go up a lil under half way and fail...ne suggestions?

[zarmstrong2011]

Does it if you use a crossover cable or ether cable i read some where you have to use a crossover cable

[nstuart-1]

Nah works with ethernet i do it

[lksgurl]

im using windows vista starter and there isnt a bridge network connection what do i do

[cojo]

thanks man your awesome

[azlan_hassan]

thanx dude. really works

[alterseekers]

This is an awesome way to get WiFi connection to the old Xbox 360. If this doesn't work for you though, and you're looking for a nice alternative, I've got just the thing for you. Check out this Xbox 360 Internet Connection Kit from Netgear, it acts the same way as a WiFi adapter, giving wireless internet connectivity for your Xbox 360, and it also works for your PS2, PS3, and PC gaming. Check this link out: http://bit.ly/bByST7, for more information about this wonderful product from Netgear.

[1cocodog]

It took some time since my computer is a bit different but when i got to bridging the connections i highlighted both and right clicked it, but all the my options are grey and doesnt have bridge onnection option there. What do i do?

[serverocks]

there is no LAN option what do i do? reply fast please!

[Skiggs]

I got everything working and connected to Xbox Live. But when I go play an online match on COD: Black Ops after a few minutes it will say connection interrupted or something close to that. It never disconnected during the updating process(which took a while) Have you had this problem before and/or know how to fix it?

Thanks

[young ninja]

for the wirless network connection instead of it having bars it has a cross and i am connected to the internet so it should have it should'nt it

[brownBoy524]

I've gotten connected to the internet by bridging the LAN and wireless connection, but I go to my 360 and it doesnt get past the Network test....Could you help me please?

[louieaw]

 Well, I know there are many questions and problems that people have been having, but please excuse me if this had already been asked...

When I bridge the connection, I can't connect to the internet. I am connected to my wireless network, but no internet. Any advice appreciated. 

[Little Einstein]

Firstly, we need to now wether it's just your Xbox 360 that can't connect to the internet or your laptop can't as well.

On my router, if I am connected to the network but not the internet, it means that my telephone cable (if you use ADSL) is unplugged, or that my internet temporarily went offline. That basically means the internet is down, or your router is not configured correctly. Make sure your cables aren't loose. Then just wait a few seconds. If you still can't connect, then there's something wrong with your router/internet.

Hope that helps (i'm not sure if it will, because we all have different routers/ISP's.)

[george1414]

Don't do the bridge think. right click wireless connection click properties and then click the sharing tab. Make sure both boxes are checked. Then click settings and make sure all those boxes are checked. This is the only thing that worked for me and I spent like an hour trying everything on here.

[SSGMAXEY]

ive bridged the connections but it still wont work. can someone help me out please. and i am using windows vista.

[lilmexi]

Ok forgot to mention the internet ip stuff ain't the problem the problem is that well actuley idk.... but I sorta do like the networkeing thing in other words the ethernet cord ain't connecting the both system adnd the cord ain't broken I tried three so yeah ... it usto work normal but now I screwed it up whhen I go to system setting ad test xbox live connection it won't go past networkeing

[lilmexi]

Ok I read this and seams like a lot of work but I need help ok I have a xboxs 360 elite and I plug it in to my laptop connected to the internet brought up the internet tab just wentt to advance properties and clicked the two boxxes and it worked.... until I tried hookeing up a old. Ps2 I found under my be to the internet through the same laptop I think that screwed something up because now I can't ge internet on my xboxs even though I did. The same as always so I bridged the connections and that was a hug mistake can you just tell me how to. Unbridge the connections and get it to normal so. I can fixs up the rest

[R3L3NT]

i did everthing you said. but it keeps saying it cant find the ip?

[Xboxlive]

Do I need to buy an xbox live card for this, or is it connecting to the internet for free? I just bought an xbox 360 and am trying to figure out this xbox live thing.

[PuddleOfMudd25]

Connecting is free. When you first join you get a free month of gold, which lets you play online. When it expires, you will have silver which lets you download DLC. You can buy gold again when it expires.

[thedicewoman]

THANKS DUDE, YOU JUST SAVED ME A PACKET! :)

[noninjano]

 Okay all you experts out there, read this because I speak for alot of people with the same problem as me.  After bridging the connections, WE LOSE INTERNET CONNECTION.  This is obviously a PROBLEM for connecting to XBOX LIVE.  Sorry for the CAPS but nobody has answered the hundreds of people that ask this question so HELP OUT EVERYONE IF YOU KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS.  Thanks so much guys.