FAQs

How to connect to Xbox Live at Uni or College

Details

Parent Category: Frequently Asked Xbox Live Questions

Created on Monday, 10 May 2010 19:33

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 April 2013 09:51

Written by Administrator

** WARNING **

I CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU FAILING YOUR DEGREE DUE TO XBOX LIVE!

No seriously, I don't know if this is against your Uni's rules and reg's so do at your own risk.

The instructions below will only get you on Xbox live if your Uni is not blocking the Xbox Live Ports. If they are blocking them, you cannot get on live unless they open them up for you. (The exact ports are listed here in this FAQ)

Some University's networks require you to login before you can access the internet. Obviously you cannot do this on the Xbox. But you can "spoof" a registered device (your PC if you have already registered) so the Uni thinks its your PC that is connected.

Uni/College networks vary but they usually come under one of two categories:-

Browser sign-in every time you want to connect to the network/Internet

If when using your PC/Laptop you have to enter a username/password each time you want to access the Internet via your browser you are not going to be able to do the same on your Xbox 360 as it does not have a browser function, the only possible way to connect your Xbox 360 in this type of set-up is to have your PC/Laptop sign in and then share your connection via ICS see our ICS/Bridging guide for more info.

Single sign-up/registration

If you only need to register your device (PC/Laptop for example) once by its mac address and then never login again after that to access the internet the workarounds below should help out.

To do this, follow the instructions below:-

• XP Users - Click Start, Click Run, type in cmd and click OK. Vista Users - Click the Orb/All Programs/Accessories/Command Prompt
• Type ipconfig /all (there's a space between the g and the /) -  (if this command does not work, turn off your software firewall  until you have finished this and try again)
• Copy the "Physical Address" from your local area connection, it will look something like this 00-E0-98-C1-88-C2
• On your Xbox 360 Choose Settings/System/Network Settings
• Choose Wired or Wireless
• Configure Network
• Additional Settings
• Advanced Settings
• Select "Alternate MAC Address"
• Enter the "Physical Address" you copied from your computer (Do not enter the dashes)
• Select "Done"
• Select "Done"
• Connect the Xbox to the Ethernet port in the wall
• Choose the option to "Test Xbox Live", and you should be on live.

Want to use the Xbox and PC at the same time?

What if you've got multiple Ethernet connections in your room at Uni or a switch/hub connected to the single port?, you might want to use the PC and Xbox at the same time without disconnecting/swapping cables each time when you want to use one or the other.

Well there is a solution, as long as your Uni will let you register multiple devices to the network there is a workaround

Using a neat little program call Macshift (for Windows XP & Vista) you can register the MAC Address of your PC (you've probably already done this) and then change the MAC address of the PC and register it again.

This way you've registered two devices to the Uni network, so you'll be able to use your PC and Xbox at the same time (if you have enough wall sockets, or a hub/switch)

Feel free to use the authors instructions on how to do this, but I've done my own little guide to try to simplify things

One thing to bear in mind:-

Make sure you've already followed the guide above to get your Xbox working on the network, there's no point in doing this if your Xbox won't connect to live using the instructions above

1. Download macshift here
2. Unzip the contents to C:\Macshift
3. Ensure you are connected to the Uni network
4. Click Start/Control Panel/Network Connections
5. Identify the name of network connection that is used to connect to the Uni network (probably Local Area Connection, or Local Area Connection 2) throughout this guide we shall use Local Area Connection as the example
6. XP Users - Click Start, Click Run, type in cmd and click OK. Vista Users - Click the Orb/All Programs/Accessories/ right mouse click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator
7. When the command window appears type in cd c:\macshift (or change directory to the location of where you unzipped the zip file if different)
8. Type in macshift -r -i "Local Area Connection" and press enter
9. The quotes on the command above are important you need them and if your network connection is called something other than Local Area Connection, substitute that on the command above (i.e. macshift -r -i "Local Area Connection 1" or macshift -r -i "My Uni Connection")
10. When the macshift command is run it will display your new MAC Address (Setting MAC on adapter 'Local Area Connection' to new mac address ), note down the new mac address as you may need to know it to register your device on the network
11. If you need to find the new mac address again in the future do this:-
12. XP Users - Click Start, Click Run, type in cmd and click OK. Vista Users - Click the Orb/All Programs/Accessories/Command Prompt
13. Type ipconfig /all (there's a space between the g and the /)
14. Note the "Physical Address" from your local area connection, it will look something like this 00-E0-98-C1-88-C2

That's it. Your PC now has a new MAC Address that can be registered to your Uni network leaving your old mac address to be used by the Xbox.

Proceed to register your PC onto the network by whatever process is needed on your network, you may be required to restart your PC first.

If you need to undo these changes in the future here's how:-

1. XP Users - Click Start, Click Run, type in cmd and click OK. Vista Users - Click the Orb/All Programs/Accessories/ right mouse click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator
2. When the command window appears type in cd c:\macshift (or change directory to the location of where you unzipped the zip file if different)
3. Type in macshift -i "Local Area Connection" -d and press enter or substitute Local Area Connection for your network connection name

You have now reverted the changes macshift has done back to its original settings