windows vista mce remote control, good times
Well having just spent 5 hours of my life trying to work a Vista MCE remote I am asking myself why, why did I not research this more before I did it. Sigh.
I bought the Hauppauge PVR150MCE edition. Why did I not just get the normal edition? I think the name sounded cooler at the time or something. Sigh.
SO anyways, there I was with my copy of Windows XP (just plain old vanilla XP, not MCE) and this darn Vista Remote/Reciever. I plug in the reciever and get a New Device found, which it picks up to be the eHome Infrared Transceiver. Automatic updates doesn’t find anything. So I start googling away, and get more and more depressed and frustrated over the course of about 2 hours. I find a slew of forum posts saying that you should be able to install the Rollup 2 for Windows Media Centre and it will install the correct drivers sweet.
Wrong! Epicly wrong. Times ten. After trying every single combination of random drivers and Updates etc etc the bloody thing was still not working. Why on earth can their not be a simple, Windows XP driver lurking out there???
In the end I ended up editing the INF file for the irblaster drivers by adding the unrecognized device id to the file. Will post up details later. Probably not the best solution but I was able to use HID to program all the remotes functions and mesh it up with GBPVR.
If only I didn’t have a husband that likes watching SKY so much, I could have it all set up by now!! But a certain someone can’t live without un-interrupted TV viewing 
February 6th, 2008 11:49
I know the feeling. I just built my brother a new media computer and got a Hauppage card and it has the Vista only remote too. First I am pissed at Microsoft for pulling this crap. Second I am pissed at Hauppage both for packing a remote like this and more importantly for not making this explicitly apparent on the advertisements for the card. Support said they can swap out the reciever (could take weeks and cost of shipping to me). I would be interested to know if you got it working on your own. Otherwise I might have to pick up a copy of Vista (and no, I am not going to shell out a dime to get it, or Microsoft might get the idea that tactics like this are good for business).
February 19th, 2008 22:00
sorry it took me so long to reply, I didnt actually realise anyone read this blog!! I’m impressed you bothered to contact support and for them to offer to swap out the receiver - I ws determined to make mine work, and well, it hurts me to say this but I wasted so much time. I never got it working properley, I got it recognising the remote though and with girder and HIP and editing the inf file. there is a good post (hugely long though) at the green button forums http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/27/33616/ShowThread.aspx
on a positive note the mce in vista is sexy. but im 100% with you on your last point 
which may help. sorry to say but in the end i got vista
March 25th, 2008 23:37
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July 22nd, 2008 03:23
Had these sorts of dilemmas many times in my illustrious career in software design and multi-tier non-denominational operating system development and integration. Like where you are coming from Laura.
Keep up the great baking and smooth computing.
August 29th, 2008 06:12
anybody here know of a good site to find more info on remote control? I\’ve got this site bookmarked and im gonna keep checking it out, but i still would like to find a site that covers remote control a little more thoroughly..thanks