Error code 203 when connecting Xbox 360 extender to Vista Ultimate

[Derek]

I apologize if this isn't the appropriate section for this question but I
couldn't find a more suitable place.

I've been having an issue when attempting to connect an Xbox 360 extender to
Vista Ultimate x64 MCE. When I get to the third step of the extender
connection setup ("configuring extender settings") the setup fails with the
following vague message:

Configuration Error: An error was encountered while configuring your
computer for use with this extender.

Meanwhile on my TV, I can see it switch over to the black Windows Media
Center screen which just says "connecting..." ad infinitum. This suggests
that my MCE PC and the Xbox 360 have no trouble seeing each other, in
addition to the fact that I also see the little "Extender Found" icon on the
PC every time I start up the Xbox.

I checked Event Viewer and found that I am getting a "203" error code. I
can find no information whatsoever regarding the meaning of this error code,
making it impossible for me to effectively diagnose the issue.

Here are things I have tried so far:

Temporarily turning off all firewalls and AVs
Making sure all MCE certificates are cleaned off of the PC
Testing a connection to my 32 bit Vista laptop, which does work, however I'm
keen on getting it to work with my 64 bit PC. This also suggests that the
issue is related to the PC itself and not the Xbox or the network connection.

So anyway I hope I've provided enough information about my issue and if
anyone has any ideas I would really appreciate it.

[Barb Bowman]

can you copy the entire Event Viewer entry and paste into a reply?
is remote desktop enabled on the PC? what firewalls exactly?

On Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:10:01 -0800, Derek

Post by Derek
I apologize if this isn't the appropriate section for this question but I
couldn't find a more suitable place.
I've been having an issue when attempting to connect an Xbox 360 extender to
Vista Ultimate x64 MCE. When I get to the third step of the extender
connection setup ("configuring extender settings") the setup fails with the
Configuration Error: An error was encountered while configuring your
computer for use with this extender.
Meanwhile on my TV, I can see it switch over to the black Windows Media
Center screen which just says "connecting..." ad infinitum. This suggests
that my MCE PC and the Xbox 360 have no trouble seeing each other, in
addition to the fact that I also see the little "Extender Found" icon on the
PC every time I start up the Xbox.
I checked Event Viewer and found that I am getting a "203" error code. I
can find no information whatsoever regarding the meaning of this error code,
making it impossible for me to effectively diagnose the issue.
Temporarily turning off all firewalls and AVs
Making sure all MCE certificates are cleaned off of the PC
Testing a connection to my 32 bit Vista laptop, which does work, however I'm
keen on getting it to work with my 64 bit PC. This also suggests that the
issue is related to the PC itself and not the Xbox or the network connection.
So anyway I hope I've provided enough information about my issue and if
anyone has any ideas I would really appreciate it.

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

[Derek]

Thanks for your help Barb. To answer your questions, remote desktop is
disabled and the only firewall I'm using is the Windows firewall. Below is
the log from the event viewer although unfortunately as I mentioned earlier
it's very light on specifics:

Log Name: Media Center
Source: Mcx2Dvcs
Event ID: 405
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Description:
Windows Media Center Extender setup failed with the following error code:
-203.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Mcx2Dvcs" />
<EventID Qualifiers="0">405</EventID>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<EventRecordID>373</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Media Center</Channel>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>-203</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

[Barb Bowman]

remote desktop needs to be enabled for extenders to work. can you
please enabled this.

On Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:10:09 -0800, Derek

Post by Derek
Thanks for your help Barb. To answer your questions, remote desktop is
disabled

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

[Derek]

I am surprised that remote desktop must be enabled because that doesn't seem
to be documented anywhere and my other computer with Vista home premium
(which works fine with the extender) doesn't even come with remote desktop.

Nonetheless I did enable on my Vista ultimate machine, and the problem
persists. Do you know if I need to add the Xbox 360 to the remote users
list, and if so, how would I go about that? Thanks.

[Barb Bowman]

Normally the setup program for the extenders open remote desktop and
create a user automatically. it is a special form of RDP so the
normal restriction of not being able to host an RDP session on home
premium doesn't apply.

The setup program should create a user named MCX1 (or 2 or 3, up to
5, depending on how many extenders you have - the limit is 5). Can
you check if one was created?

Can we try to rule out router and/or switch issues by connecting the
360 directly to the computer? (what router are you using, etc.?) and
starting "fresh"..

on the 360, there is a place on the media blade (from memory) where
there is a PC association for MCE. remove it if present.

on the stand alone extenders, go into settings and insure there are
no associated extenders.

unplug the 360

power down the pc

connect one extender directly to the MCE machine, power the
equipment on and see if you can set it up direct connected.




On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:19:01 -0800, Derek

Post by Derek
I am surprised that remote desktop must be enabled because that doesn't seem
to be documented anywhere and my other computer with Vista home premium
(which works fine with the extender) doesn't even come with remote desktop.
Nonetheless I did enable on my Vista ultimate machine, and the problem
persists. Do you know if I need to add the Xbox 360 to the remote users
list, and if so, how would I go about that? Thanks.

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

[Derek]

Before every connection attempt I make sure to delete the certificate on the
PC and remove the association on the Xbox. I tried connecting the PC and the
Xbox directly and experienced the exact same error, so that would seem to
rule out any networking issues. It must be some obscure setting on the PC
which is causing the conflict. I also do not see any created MXC users.
Would there be any way to determine the meaning of a 203 error code? Anyway
thanks for all your help so far.

[Barb Bowman]

I don't have a numerical list of error codes. the user on the PC has
administrative privileges, yes?

can you create a new user, administrator, sign in as that user and
see if you can connect?



On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:34:05 -0800, Derek

Post by Derek
Before every connection attempt I make sure to delete the certificate on the
PC and remove the association on the Xbox. I tried connecting the PC and the
Xbox directly and experienced the exact same error, so that would seem to
rule out any networking issues. It must be some obscure setting on the PC
which is causing the conflict. I also do not see any created MXC users.
Would there be any way to determine the meaning of a 203 error code? Anyway
thanks for all your help so far.

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

[Derek]

No luck with that either I'm afraid. My main account has admin privileges
but I created a second one and that one had the same issue.

[Barb Bowman]

What programs and services are running on the computer when you
attempt the association? That's the only other thing that makes
sense to check

Otherwise, I'm pretty much out of ideas. I know you've posted on the
green button as well. There isn't anything (as you know) on code
203. If you've connected the pc directly to the computer and still
fail, all I can suggest is to open a support case with MS. I
remember one other person with this error code who ended up
performing a clean install, after which there was no problem.

On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:09:01 -0800, Derek

Post by Derek
No luck with that either I'm afraid. My main account has admin privileges
but I created a second one and that one had the same issue.

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

[Derek]

I tried shutting down all of the non-OS processes but didn't have any luck
with that. I guess my only option at this point would be a reformat like you
said, although I'm probably not desperate enough to make this work to resort
to that right now. But thanks for your ideas anyway, if I ever get it
working I'll be sure to report back here so that others might be spared a
similar fate :).

[Barb Bowman]

I didn't get an answer from my contact at MSFT as to what
specifically the 203 error is so unfortunately, I've got nothing new
to share.

On Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:55:01 -0800, Derek

Post by Derek
I tried shutting down all of the non-OS processes but didn't have any luck
with that. I guess my only option at this point would be a reformat like you
said, although I'm probably not desperate enough to make this work to resort
to that right now. But thanks for your ideas anyway, if I ever get it
working I'll be sure to report back here so that others might be spared a
similar fate :).

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

[Barb Bowman]

got an email from MS: "error code (203) means that PNPX is
failing... Something that would help to know is if the user
performed an upgrade to Vista (assuming this is Vista or that the
user had Vista at one point) and has the Zune software installed."

Post by Barb Bowman
I didn't get an answer from my contact at MSFT as to what
specifically the 203 error is so unfortunately, I've got nothing new
to share.
On Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:55:01 -0800, Derek

Post by Derek
I tried shutting down all of the non-OS processes but didn't have any luck
with that. I guess my only option at this point would be a reformat like you
said, although I'm probably not desperate enough to make this work to resort
to that right now. But thanks for your ideas anyway, if I ever get it
working I'll be sure to report back here so that others might be spared a
similar fate :).

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

[Barb Bowman]

final answer from the MCE product group: "Regardless of whether it's
the Zune issue or not, I'm not aware of a fix for PNPX issues. The
user will have to clean install."

Please don't shoot the messenger.

On Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:55:01 -0800, Derek

Post by Derek
I tried shutting down all of the non-OS processes but didn't have any luck
with that. I guess my only option at this point would be a reformat like you
said, although I'm probably not desperate enough to make this work to resort
to that right now. But thanks for your ideas anyway, if I ever get it
working I'll be sure to report back here so that others might be spared a
similar fate :).

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

[Derek]

I have neither upgraded Vista (it was an OEM disc installed on a custom built
machine) nor installed any Zune software, but it's good to know the meaning
of the error code. Thanks for getting that information.

[Barb Bowman]

sorry it has been such a hassle for you...

On Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:08:02 -0800, Derek

Post by Derek
I have neither upgraded Vista (it was an OEM disc installed on a custom built
machine) nor installed any Zune software, but it's good to know the meaning
of the error code. Thanks for getting that information.

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

[Barb Bowman]

I will try to email someone at MS also.

On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:09:01 -0800, Derek

Post by Derek
No luck with that either I'm afraid. My main account has admin privileges
but I created a second one and that one had the same issue.

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com