Dell Remote not recognized as an MCE remote (1 Viewer)

[miguelal007]

Hi,

My DELL computer came with a Dell remote control to be used with their Dell Media Experience (DMX) software. This remote looks very similar to the Microsoft one (v2), but the home button is blue instead of green. I believe this is an MCE compatible remote manufactured by Cyberlink.

I uninstalled Dell Media Experience and installed Media Protal instead (RC4), since this one is a way better product than DMX. But the remote does not seem to work (only the 'ok' key and cursor keys work, and to go back I have to press the 'clear' key instead of the 'back' one).

I also installed mptray (with mphook) hoping that I would be able to start Media Portal by pressing the home button (in this case blue), but this does not work either.

However, this remote works fine with Microsoft MCE 2005.

Is Media Portal compatible with this remote?
Is there anybody else using this remote with Media Portal?
Does anybody know what makes this remote so different?

I am using the remote drivers that came with the computer. Do I have to install different drivers?

This is the information in the Media Portal log file:

08/05/2006 21:49:58 MCE: Initializing MCE remote
08/05/2006 21:49:58 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_046d&pid_c016#6&31e180da&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
08/05/2006 21:49:58 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_00#7&185a3d6c&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
08/05/2006 21:49:58 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_01&col01#7&96b127&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
08/05/2006 21:49:58 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_01&col02#7&96b127&0&0001#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
08/05/2006 21:49:58 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_01&col03#7&96b127&0&0002#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
08/05/2006 21:49:58 MCE: No MCE remote found - support disabled until MP restart
08/05/2006 21:49:58 running...
08/05/2006 21:49:58 Commandprocessor:starting

And if I unplug the IR receiver this is the information I get in the log file when I start Media Portal:

08/05/2006 22:30:58 MCE: Initializing MCE remote
08/05/2006 22:30:58 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_046d&pid_c016#6&31e180da&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
08/05/2006 22:30:58 MCE: No MCE remote found - support disabled until MP restart
08/05/2006 22:30:58 Commandprocessor:starting

Other information:

Area: Media Portal Program
MediaPortal Version: 0.2.0.0 RC4 (SVN 2006-05-09)
MediaPortal Skin: BlueTwo
Windows Version: Windows XP Pro
.NET CLR Version: 2.0.50727
DirectX Version: 4.09.00.0904 (9.0c)
Audio Codec: MPEG/AC3/DTS/LPCM Audio Decoder
Video Codec: MPeg2Dec Filter
CPU Type: Intel Pentium 4
Memory: 512
Motherboard: -
TV Card Model: -
TV Card Type: -
TV Card Driver: -
Video Card Model: Integrated Intel Extreme Graphics 2
Video Card Driver: -
Video Card Resolution: 1024x768
Video Render Type: -
Audio Card Model: AC97
Audio Card Driver: -

Please let me know if you need any other information to identify the problem.

Any information regarding this issue would be very much appreciated.

Regards,
miguel

 

[mPod]

Wow! Marvellous! First post and you did all a dev can dream of!

You read previous posts and supplied exactly that information I need to support your remote. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Try this build (or later), it should work there.

 

[miguelal007]

MCE: Failed to open remote (5)

Hi mPod,

Thank you very much for your prompt response. I am impressed how fast you were able to reply to my post with a new build, but unfortunately that did not do the trick.

The remote is still not working, but now I am getting different information in the log file:

09/05/2006 20:45:58 MCE: Initializing MCE remote
09/05/2006 20:45:58 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_046d&pid_c016#6&31e180da&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 20:45:58 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_00#7&185a3d6c&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 20:45:58 MCE: Using: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_00#7&185a3d6c&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 20:45:58 MCE: Failed to open remote (5) - support disabled until MP restart
09/05/2006 20:45:58 Commandprocessor:starting

I hope this helps you figure out the problem, but please let me know if you need any other information from me.

Thanks again for your help.

Regards,
miguel

 

[mPod]

Interesting. Could be that we have to do some trial & error now.

Check this build.

 

[miguelal007]

MCE remote enabled

Hi again,

I think we are getting closer. Now the log file indicates that an MCE remote was found, however the remote still does not work.

Here is the section of the log file:

09/05/2006 22:02:25 MCE: Initializing MCE remote
09/05/2006 22:02:25 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_046d&pid_c016#6&31e180da&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 22:02:25 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_00#7&185a3d6c&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 22:02:25 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_01&col01#7&96b127&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 22:02:25 MCE: Using: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_01&col01#7&96b127&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 22:02:25 MCE: MCE remote enabled
09/05/2006 22:02:25 MAP: using default mappings for Microsoft MCE
09/05/2006 22:02:25 Commandprocessor:starting

Would it help if I give you information from the windows device manager?
Do I need to restart the computer after the upgrade?

I very much appreciate you looking into this problem.

Thanks,
miguel

 

[mPod]

Re: MCE remote enabled

Would it help if I give you information from the windows device manager?

Nope, the log already gave me more information than the device manager can supply. :wink:

Do I need to restart the computer after the upgrade?

Nope, but can't harm.

Try this build.

 

[miguelal007]

Device Manager Information

Hi mPod,

I am not sure if this information will help you, but just in case.

I belive the remote control has five entries in the 'Human Interface Devices' section and one entry in the 'Universal Serial Bus controllers' section. I figured this out by pluging and unpluging the IR receiver

'Human Interface Devices'
1) HID-compliant consumer control device
Device Instance Id:
HID\VID_413C&PID_2505&MI_01&COL02\7&96B127&0&0001
2) HID-compliant device
Device Instance Id:
HID\VID_413C&PID_2505&MI_01&COL01\7&96B127&0&0000
3) HID-compliant device
Device Instance Id:
HID\VID_413C&PID_2505&MI_01&COL03\7&96B127&0&0002
4) USB Human Interface Device
Device Instance Id:
USB\VID_413C&PID_2505&MI_00\6&1C7D27D0&0&0000
5) USB Human Interface Device
Device Instance Id:
USB\VID_413C&PID_2505&MI_01\6&1C7D27D0&0&0001

'Universal Serial Bus controllers'
1) USB Composite Device
Device Instance Id:
USB\VID_413C&PID_2505\5&768B61B&0&1

In the 'Details' tab there are other information values (Hardware Ids, Compatible Ids, etc.), let me know if you need any of these.

All these devices use drivers from Microsoft, I can send you the details if you like.

Thanks,
miguel

 

[miguelal007]

Sorry to bother you again, but that did not work either.

Have we run out of options? Or is there a last 'device id' we can try with? I bet you anything it is going to be the last possible option.

Here is the log information, I think MP is now using a different 'device id' as the MCE remote:

09/05/2006 22:53:43 MCE: Initializing MCE remote
09/05/2006 22:53:43 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_046d&pid_c016#6&31e180da&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 22:53:43 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_00#7&185a3d6c&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 22:53:43 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_01&col01#7&96b127&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 22:53:43 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_01&col02#7&96b127&0&0001#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 22:53:43 MCE: Using: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_01&col02#7&96b127&0&0001#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 22:53:43 MCE: MCE remote enabled
09/05/2006 22:53:43 MAP: using default mappings for Microsoft MCE
09/05/2006 22:53:43 running...
09/05/2006 22:53:43 Commandprocessor:starting


Thanks,
miguel

 

[mPod]

Uhm... doesn't it say "Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver" in device manager? If not, chances are very bad that it works with MediaPortal 0.2 RC4 and later, I'm afraid. Looks like dell did some generic there.

Anyway, one more option left. Try this build.

 

[miguelal007]

Bad News

Hi mPod,

That's too bad, that did not work either.

No, it does not say "Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver" in the device manager. However all the devices seem to be using Microsoft drivers:
hidserv.dll
hidclass.sys
hidparse.sys
hidusb.sys
hid.dll
usbccgp.sys

This is very weird, since this remote works fine with Microsoft MCE 2005.

Do you think I may have to install some other drivers?
Do I have any other alternatives if I want to continue using MediaPortal? Apart from buying a new remote... ;-)

Thanks a lot for your time anyways.

Here is the log:
09/05/2006 23:12:17 MCE: Initializing MCE remote
09/05/2006 23:12:17 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_046d&pid_c016#6&31e180da&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 23:12:17 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_00#7&185a3d6c&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 23:12:17 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_01&col01#7&96b127&0&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 23:12:17 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_01&col02#7&96b127&0&0001#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 23:12:17 MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_01&col03#7&96b127&0&0002#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 23:12:17 MCE: Using: \\?\hid#vid_413c&pid_2505&mi_01&col03#7&96b127&0&0002#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
09/05/2006 23:12:17 MCE: MCE remote enabled
09/05/2006 23:12:17 MAP: using default mappings for Microsoft MCE
09/05/2006 23:12:17 Commandprocessor:starting

Regards,
miguel