X-Box 360 and Vista Ultimate: A Match Made in Heaven?

by Chet

This past weekend was my 21st birthday. Last year when my birthday came around I wrote a nice feature story about adulthood being a sham. It had great reviews and people loved it. I considered taking a similar route this year, but instead you’re getting a tech support adventure from me.

Monday, April 20, 2009: The first Monday of the semester when I would not be teaching labs.

7:30 am: The day began.

8:00 am: Shower.

9:00 am: Drop fiance off at class.

9:15 am: Return home and layout the day’s agenda.

  1. Research and write-up internet usage in Romania
  2. Research and write-up history of Romania
  3. Read and summarize “Newspapers need to learn that great online communities should not be dictatorships” for MCM 465.
  4. Finish PR Campaign
  5. Work on Spanish Lab.

9:30 am: Sat on couch, noticed X-Box 360 and laptop and decided to create a Windows Media Extender relationship. (The X-Box is my new toy I received over the weekend.)

9:45 am: Retreived serial code from X-Box, began connection process.

9:45:10 am: Connection Error (!?)

9:45:45 am: Open Firefox, Google “X-Box 360 Windows Media Extender Error”

  • Computer: Error -209 is the most commen problem here.
  • Brain: I must have Error -209, lets not bother to check.
  • Computer: Try deleting your Extender Certificate.
  • Brain: Okay, :-D .
  • Brain: I don’t have a certificate…

10:00 am: Google “X-Box 360 Windows Media Extender Error Vista Ultimate”

  • Computer: Reinstall Vista.
  • Brain: I don’t even think so…
  • Computer: I promise it works!
  • Brain: Not going to work this time!
  • Computer: Okay just uninstall OneCare.
  • Brain: I don’t run OneCare. *fail*
  • Computer: Delete secondary MAC Address on X-Box system.
  • Brain: Awesome, except it doesn’t have one.

10:15 am: Google “X-Box 360 Connection Error Windows Vista not 209″

  • Computer: Error -209 is the most common…
  • Brain: argh!
  • Smart Brain: Why don’t you check your error logs, like everyone else?
  • Brain: because…
  • Smart Brain: *checks error log* See you don’t have Error -209 you have Error -107.
  • Brain: FML

10:30 am: Google “X-Box 360 Connection Error -107″

  • Computer: Error -209 is the most common…
  • Brain: Are you kidding me?
  • Computer: Try everything I already told you to try again.
  • Brain: okay…

10:55 am:

  • Smart Brain: *thinks & considers giving up*
  • Brain: NEVER! We must solve the mystery. We’re like the Hardy Boys!
  • Smart Brain: *Face Palm*
  • Brain: Maybe we need to reconfigure our search function. Try “X-Box 360 Connection Error.”
  • Smart Brain: *Eureka!*

11:05 am: Google “Windows Error Code -107″

  • Computer: It’s about time, here you are. “Error code -107 means that your network is unidentified. Wait until your connection is identified and try again.”
  • Brain: What?
  • Smart Brain: <Network & Sharing Center> Network = Identifying…
  • Brain: oooh…

11:15 am:Reset router. Network identifies instantly.*dances*

11:20 am: Input new X-Box Serial number, select options, connection error. FML.

11:22 am: Check Error Logs. “Error -209″

  • Brain: ouch…

11:25 am: Search and destroy Extender certificate. Target neutralized.

11:30 am: Re-enter X-Box Serial number, select options, go!

11:30: 25 am: Thundercats are go!

11:31 am: Celebratory dance, Fiance calls to meet for lunch.

2:30 pm: Return from lunch, check agenda.

  1. Research and write-up internet usage in Romania
  2. Research and write-up history of Romania
  3. Read and summarize “Newspapers need to learn that great online communities should not be dictatorships” for MCM 465.
  4. Finish PR Campaign
  5. Work on Spanish Lab.

2:35 pm: Declare it a productive day.

Sometimes my friends are appalled by logistic steps I take. I decided that this was a fantastic experience that would allow everyone a quick glimpse into how my brain works. It’s a pretty scary place most days, but at least I can watch videos from my HD laptop on my SDTV.