How to use Windows File Sharing with XBMC 

Written by DJB on the 24th of September, 2004 

 

Introduction 

This small document will show you how to set up File Sharing between your Xbox 
and PC. It is very simple (even more simple than what a lot of people would expect). 

 
Xbox Media Center has a nice little feature included called Samba. Basically, what 

Samba does is provide a translation of Windows File Shares to Non-Windows 
environments. 

 

“Samba is software that can be run on a platform other than Microsoft Windows, for example, 

UNIX, Linux, IBM System 390, OpenVMS, and other operating systems. Samba uses the 
TCP/IP protocol that is installed on the host server. When correctly configured, it allows that 

host to interact with a Microsoft Windows client or server as if it is a Windows file and print 

server.” 

 
Quote taken from 

http://us3.samba.org/samba/docs/man/Samba-Guide/

 
So, all these other programs that stream data from your PC are not necessary, you 

have everything you need within XBMC and Windows already. 
 

I have tested this configuration on Windows XP Pro, but it should work on Windows 
2000 Pro/Server and Windows 2003 Server as well. For Windows 98 and ME users, I 

am not certain about this, but it’s still worth testing. Maybe some of these users can 
leave feedback reporting if it works or not. 

 
Anyways, I hope this helps some of you out… 

Configuring the File Shares 

 
Firstly, make sure you have Administrative privileges (or log in to the Administrator’s 

account) on your PC. You will not be able to set up shares otherwise. By default, 
XBMC uses the workgroup name WORKGROUP as the location to look for Samba 

shares, usually Windows will now set the default name as MSHOME (only Windows 
XP and later), make sure that you either change the xboxmediacenter.xml file, or set 
your workgroup to WORKGROUP in Windows. This is what the section of code looks 

like in the xboxmediacenter.xml file: 
 
  <samba> 

   

<workgroup>WORKGROUP</workgroup> 

   

<winsserver>-</winsserver> 

   

<debuglevel>0</debuglevel> 

   

<defaultusername>-</defaultusername> 

   

<defaultpassword>-</defaultpassword>   

 

  </samba> 

 

It’s pretty obvious what you need to change, just leave the other settings default. 
 

With Windows XP Pro, it’s as 
easy as right-clicking on the 

folder or drive you want to 
share, and selecting 

“Sharing & Security”. 
Other Windows versions 

might want to try just 
selecting “Properties” then 

“Sharing”. 
 
This is a screenshot of the 

window that is shown on 
Windows XP Pro: 

 
In the Network sharing 

and security section, tick 
the box that says “Share this 

folder on the network”. 
Then, The Share name box 
will light up, giving you the 

option of selecting a share 
name. Windows will 

automatically generate a 
name for you, which is OK to 

use, but if you want to have 
customized share names, 

this is the place to do it. 
After this, Click Apply then 
OK. Your folder is shared… 

 

Accessing files on XBMC 

 
When you browse for files with XBMC, you will see this option in the menu where you 

select the drive / share location: Workgroups (SMB) 
 
This is where your new shares are located. When you click on the above location, 

there are a few folders to navigate through: 
 

<Workgroup Name>  

- This is the name of your Workgroup 

     <Computer Name(s)>  - This lists the names of the PCs on your Workgroup 

          <Share Name(s)> 

- This lists the shares available. 

 

Once you’re in your desired share folder, you should see all the files that XBMC can 
recognize.