While attempting to connect your Xbox 360 console as a Media Center Extender to a computer, you receive the error message: "Session Terminated"

When you try to connect your Xbox 360 console to a Microsoft Windows Media Center-based computer, you cannot connect. Additionally, you receive the following error message on your Xbox 360 console:

There are many reasons for the session between the Media Center-based computer and the Xbox 360 Media Center Extender to disconnect. The "What to try" section lists several of these causes and steps to resolve the problem.

Method 1

When interactive logon messages are used, the interactive logon message is initiated during the Media Center Extender logon procedure and prevents the procedure from completing.

Use the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) manager to disable Interactive Logon for the Windows XP Media Center-based computer. Interactive Logon settings are defined in local or domain computer policies. To review and change these settings, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type gpedit.msc, and then click OK.
2. In Group Policy, expand Local Computer Policy, expand Computer Configuration, expand Windows Settings, expand Security Settings, expand Local Policies, and then select Security Options.
3. Double-click Interactive logon: Message text for users attempting to log on, clear any text for this entry, and then click OK.
4. Double-click Interactive logon: Message title for users attempting to log on, clear any text for this entry, and then click OK.
5. On the File menu, click Exit to exit the Group Policy snap-in.

Method 2

The Xbox 360 console uses Fast-User Switching to connect to a computer that is running Windows Media Center. If Fast-User Switching has been disabled, the Xbox 360 session will fail. To examine the status of Fast-User Switching, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type nusrmgr.cpl, and then click OK.
2. Click Change the way users log on or off.
3. Make sure that the Use Fast User Switching box is selected.
4. Click Apply Options.

Method 3

If a session terminates when you try to access My Videos, some content in the folders that are shared with your Xbox 360 console may be causing a delay in the session and an eventual termination.

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. View the following default video folders that are shared with your Xbox 360:
   • <drive letter>:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Videos
   • <drive letter>:\Documents and Settings\Administrators\My Documents\My Videos
2. Move any content that would not be considered video content to a separate location on the hard drive.
3. Complete these same steps for any folders that were added after the first installation of your Xbox 360.

Method 4

Programs that are running on the system may be trying to send messages to your Xbox 360 console when it has a session with the Media Center. Unauthorized messages will cause the session between the Media Center and your Xbox 360 console to disconnect.

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type eventvwr.msc, and then click OK.
2. Click Application, and then find any event where Error appears under Type and where Media Remote Manager appears under Source.
3. Double-click each item that satisfies these two conditions to view the description of the event. Look for a description that is similar to the following:
   Unauthorized window was detected while running the Media Center Experience, with file name 'C:\PROGRA~1\........
   This message will report the program that is trying to send the message to your Xbox 360 console.
4. Remove or disable the notification service for the application that is listed under Description. For more information about how to remove or disable the notification service for the application, see the manual for the application, or contact the manufacturer of the application.

Method 5

Networking equipment may cause the session to end. To determine if this is your problem, connect the Media Center-based computer and your Xbox 360 console to one other by using a network cable (straight-through or crossover).

If you can create and maintain the session in this environment, put the Media Center-based computer and your Xbox 360 console back into the original environment, and then troubleshoot the network equipment between them. For example, you can troubleshoot the network equipment by configuring the firewall settings.

Method 6

Sometimes other media programs (such as Ahead Nero) that are installed on the Media Center-based computer can prevent your Xbox 360 console from playing the content. These other media programs should be temporarily removed to determine whether they are causing the conflict.

Method 7

The correct firewall ports may not be open on the Media Centre-based computer. For more information about which firewall ports to open, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

For more information about Media Center Extenders, visit the following Microsoft Web site: For firewall configuration and troubleshooting steps, visit the following Microsoft Web site: The following list is a list of other causes of session termination that are being investigated:

• The Data Execution Prevention (DEP) services in Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) can cause a session to end when it is configured. We are still investigating this issue.
• Your hard drive may be formatted as FAT32. Examine the configuration of your hard drive. If your hard drive has been formatted as FAT32, change the hard drives to NTFS file system basic disks.
• The hard drive is using a dynamic disk. Media Center Extenders, such as the Xbox 360, do not work under a dynamic disk configuration. Users have to use basic disks.

Additional support

If the steps in the previous section did not resolve your issue, your console may have to be repaired. For more information about how to start the online repair process, please visit one of the following Web Page links: For more information about how to contact Xbox Customer Support directly, please visit the following Microsoft Web site: