Remote is sending keystrokes on HTPC but mce events on other

[verneyst]

Please go easy on me as I am a newbie (to both EG & using forums)

My MCE remote is sending three or more keystrokes on my HTPC. However, the frustrating thing is that I tested my EG config on my laptop, got it working beautifully and then copied the file to my HTPC. I only have this problem on my HTPC.

I tried the suggestions on other forums but it only resulted in adding the assigned keystroke to the list of other- where there were three events, there are now four.

Both systems are running the same version of Vista Service Pack 2 and most recent version of EG. I am using a Leadtek WinFast DTV dongle with IR remote.

What have I done wrong?? Please help as I am getting so frustrated.

[verneyst]

I just keep going round and round in circles. How can the same version of EvenGhost log different events with the same dongle & remote?

Please, please, please. . . .someone help me???

[stottle]

You haven't provided enough information to know for sure, but my guess is that there is a driver difference between the two machines. The OS drivers often need to be set in a particular way, either to allow EG to receive events or to not have EG and the OS both respond. If the configuration changed the OS drivers on one machine, copying the XML to the other might not change the drivers.

To tell what EG is doing and what the OS is doing, you can take a look at what response you get from the remote when EG is not running (try using the remote with a notepad.exe window as the frontmost window, for instance).

Brett

[verneyst]

Thank you so much for your reply Brett. I am really lost here.

I tried as you suggested. In notepad some of the buttons did send keystrokes (e.g. Red Teletext Button sent "R", Green sent "G", Next sent "n") and some of them did nothing but make windows go "ding" (I guess due to a combo that does nothing?).

I also checked that I had the same driver installed for the Dongle and they are both identical - same as on the installation CD that came with the thing.

I know I am asking a lot but. . . what does this mean and how do I fix it?

Thanks again for your help. You are saving me from a lot of grey hairs!!!

Chris

[stottle]

If you are getting dings and letters in notepad when EG isn't running, then the OS is responding. When you start EG, it will trigger whatever macros you have set up, but that will be in addition to whatever the OS is doing. Get that part?

So what you need to do is get the OS to stop responding, so only EG (which is easier to configure) does any reacting.

Which plugin are you using to receive events in EG? If you look at its configuration, are there any options for enabling/disabling OS responses?

Brett

[verneyst]

If you are getting dings and letters in notepad when EG isn't running, then the OS is responding. When you start EG, it will trigger whatever macros you have set up, but that will be in addition to whatever the OS is doing. Get that part?

That does make sense- I hadn't thought of that.

On my laptop (where EG is logging MCERemote presses) I am using the MCE Remote plugin. When I use this plugin on my HTPC, I get nothing logged. I can only get EG to log when using the keyboard login.

As far as I can see, there is no OS response able/disable option in either of these.

[stottle]

For the MCE remote, there are registry keys that need to be disabled in order for EG's plugin to work. Since you are getting OS responses, this hasn't been done.

Also, if you use the MceRemote plugin that comes with EG, then you need to turn off UAC and run as an administrator for the plugin to be able to connect to the device. There's another plugin that works better on Vista/Win7 (here) as it doesn't require UAC/Admin. But again, that isn't the problem, you first need to disable the registry keys. If you double click the plugin on the tree, it should open the config dialog, which will have an option to check the registry (I forget what it is called). The new plugin will set the registry when you install the service from the config dialog.

Brett

[verneyst]

I am so sorry cos now I feel like I just pestering you. I really do appreciate the help and I feel so slow.

I followed your instructions with installing the new plugin but got a whole load of error messages from EG when I tried installing it from within EG.

Heres what I did:
I unzipped the file into EG\plugins
Ran "AlternateMceIrInstaller_x86.msi"
Rebooted
Opened EG, addedd MCE_Remote_Vista plugin
Clicked the install button

What did I do wrong?

[stottle]

The install button runs the correct msi (32 or 64 bit). The error messages just say that the service is already installed (since you ran the msi directly).

If you reboot (the installer changes the registry keys, but you need a restart with the keys in place to allow the plugin to attach to the IR receiver instead of the OS) and restart EG everything should start working.

Brett