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How to Use a Laptop as an Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter With Vista

Windows Vista allows additional computers or other devices to share its networks in a process called bridging. This feature can be useful to Xbox 360 owners who wish to access Xbox Live wirelessly. Microsoft sells a wireless adapter for those who must connect their console&'s via router, but gamers can use their existing Windows Vista laptop as a network adapter, saving them money. Bridge your laptop&'s wireless Internet connection with your Xbox 360 to allow your console to sign into Xbox Live.

Things You'll Need

Cat 5 Ethernet cable
Laptop with wireless card and running Windows Vista

Instructions

- 1
  Hook your Cat 5 Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port in the rear of your console, then connect the other end into your Windows Vista laptop. This connection is termed a local area network, commonly referred to as LAN.
- 2
  Right-click the "Local Area Network" icon, resembling two computers, in the taskbar, located in the lower right corner. Click "Network and Sharing Center" when the menu appears. A new window will pop up where you can begin to set up network connections.
- 3
  Left-click "Manage network connections," located in the left-hand pane. A new screen will appear, displaying your computer&'s networks.
- 4
  Hold down the "CTRL" key, then select the LAN and wireless Internet connections. Pressing the "CTRL" key while clicking those connections allows you to select both.
- 5
  Right-click one of the highlighted connection icons, then choose "Bridge Connections."

Xbox 360