I have a new Xbox 360 that I'm using as a Windows Media Center extender. The TV functions work perfectly, but it is not finding the DVD rips that I have that work perfectly on the HTPC. I own all the DVD's, they are just on my Hard Drive to save them from the destructive hands of my kids.

Are there any special tips or tricks (without converting the files) to get the Xbox to find and play the files? They are all in their own folders and play fine in WMC.

Hook the HTPC up to your HDTV, and use your media player of choice (VLC). Xbox won't find your DVD .vob's on your computer's hard drive.

I just put a USB drive into the Xbox. All my movies are .avi

My solution to get the movies to work through Windows Media Center...

1. Convert them to 1 .vob file using the Re-author tool in DVD Shrink (with no compression).

2. Rename that .vob file to a .mpg file.

3. Put them in the correct media folder (in WMC Movie Library) and they work on the Xbox over the network.

The only problem with this method is that you cannot fast forward, rewind, etc. It works ok for kids movies since they watch them all the way through or I can just pause them.

I've tried streaming all kinds of video formats to my 360, I've never been impressed with the video quality,

the PS3 does such a better job, but even that can be temperamental

Video quality has definitely not been the issue with this uncompressed method. The issue I'm having is not being able to scroll (fast forward/rewind), but overall the solution I found was fine.

I find the HD Netflix streaming to be fantastic, even though at 4.3Mbps sometimes it does pause to change to a lower resolution.

you should try PS3 media server it has had support for the 360 and many other DLNA ready devices for a long time now. it allows you to play any video or audio format the 360 does not support Natively