new MceIr.dll for MCE remote on Vista with default driver

[jleeca]

Another question out of curiosity:
In the code you have implemented the Vista support through some fallback code that is triggered if the first CreateFile doesn't succeed. Then you call CreateFile again with slightly modified parameters. Does the second form also work on XP directly (so we can get rid of this dual handling of Vista and the rest)?
I can't currently try it out, since I have no VC8 compiler installed (only VC7.1 since all Python C-extensions need to be build with it).

Even though I have a lot of computers, I only have one IR receiver that is already attached (a kind of hard wired) to my MCE pc, and I can't use if for testing with XP system. However I'm sure that Vista requires the fallback code and the original doesn't work on Vista. But, I can't confirm if the new code works with XP, or not.

[Tyborg]

I had some trouble with the remote after resuming from standby. When running the default driver, with the registry changes it would not function after resuming. EG wasn't posting any activity from the remote in the log window either.

When I installed the alternative driver for the receiver while using the new dll in EG it worked fine after resume from standby. In your instructions jleeca it says to reinstall the original IR driver, but for me it would not work when I resumed from standby. Has anybody else had this problem? Works fine with the alternative driver for the receiver.

[jleeca]

Since I always keep my computer running 24/7, I haven't had a chance to test suspend/resume. I will take look at the problem and will fix the driver.

[mojo_lo]

this new dll seems to work fine when the MCE receiver is used with the MCE remote.

however, it doesn't seem to be as reliable when you are using another remote with the MCE receiver.

i am using a logitech harmony with an MCE IR receiver. i have programmed the Harmony to use Sony codes (DVP-NS9100ES & HT-7000DH) to control different programs on my PC. This has worked fine with my two previous set ups:

- i used to use Girder w/girder's mceir.dll on WinXP (default MS mceir.sys driver).
- i then switched to IR Server suite on Vista 32 (default MS mceir.sys driver).

i would prefer to use EG over both either of the programs above, but EG is not responding reliably to subsequent presses of the same remote button. For example, I have the FF key on my Harmony programmed to send a specific Sony code:

-The first time I press the FF button, EG will pick it up as MceRemote.2D18.
-If I press the FF button a second time, EG does not pick it up at all.
-At this point, I must press another remote button, eg. RW. Event Ghost has no problem recognizing this new button press.
-And finally, if I push the FF button again, EG will now pick it up again as MceRemote.2D18.

Not sure if many other people are using a Harmony in this fashion, but it would be great if a solution for this could be implemented. since the other variations of mceir.dll in the past have been able to recognize Sony codes without problem, i would think this should be possible for EG too.

[Bitmonster]

@mojo_lo
It is a bug in EG's code actually, not in the DLL in the first degree. Get the latest beta.

@jleeca
I just installed Visual Studio 2008 and tried the Vista CreateFile method on XP. It doesn't seem to work.

[mojo_lo]

thanks so much for the quick reply bitmonster.

just downloaded and installed v0.3.6.1478. preliminary testing before going to work shows that everything seems to be working fine now. will report back if i come across any complications. thx!

[jleeca]

I just installed Visual Studio 2008 and tried the Vista CreateFile method on XP. It doesn't seem to work.

Thanks for the update, and it looks like that we need to keep using both mechanisms to support XP/Vista. BTW, I've decided to install a Visual studio 2008 on my HTPC and hopefully it speed up my development.

[Flual]

Thx, for the great new Beta.

I only have one problem. It's not possible to work with the new MCE-Remote-Plugin as a restricted Windows-User.
As a result i get following error message:

Code: Select all

Error starting plugin: Microsoft MCE Remote
Traceback (most recent call last) (1476):
  File "C:\Program Files\EventGhost\eg\Classes\PluginInfo.py", line 299, in Start
  File "C:\Program Files\EventGhost\plugins\MceRemote\__init__.py", line 272, in __start__
  File "C:\Program Files\EventGhost\plugins\MceRemote\__init__.py", line 315, in CheckHidState
WindowsError: [Error 5] Zugriff verweigert

It would be no problem to work as Win-Admin without password-assignment, but my Admin has got a password and EG starts with Win-Autostart. You see I always have to type in my password for EG-working.
It's not very comfortable for htpc-usage.

For Win Vista, is there any solution known?

[Tyborg]

@Flual - You could autologin with a password if you don't want to have to type it in each time. This is how I set mine up.

Click ÔÇ£StartÔÇØ and then type ÔÇ£netplwizÔÇØ in the search box. A new window will pop-up. Uncheck ÔÇ£Users must enter a username and password to use this computerÔÇØ box. Then click apply. Another box will pop-up, now you need to type in the name of the account you want to autologon with. If you have a password then enter it. If you do not have a password then leave it blank. This is a simple way to create an autologon in Vista.

from this site http://www.windowvistarepair.com/articl ... Vista.html

[Flual]

Hey Tyborg!

Thanks for your reply, but you didn't understand my concern.
Autologin works fine and I know the "netplwiz"-command.
I have two users - either "Administrator (with password)" or "RestrictedUser (no password)"
Autologin is set to "RestrictedUser", so Vista always starts with this one and no password is necessary.

Problem:
- I power-on my HTPC and Win always login to "RestrictedUser" automatically
- EG will be started by Win-Autostart
- With "RestrictedUser" EG shows the message below/with "Administrator" EG works normally
- Therefore I wanted to execute EG in "RestrictedUser" as "Administrator" - RightClick EG-icon -> settings -> compatibility -> "execute program as admin"...but this will not work.
- You see it's not possible to get the MCE-Plugin working with a restricted user

By the way: The error-message only appears since new Beta is out.

[Bitmonster]

Try 0.3.6.1479. It will only try to open the registry with write access, if it really needs to. So once the settings have been applied (as administrator) it should work as restricted user.

[Flual]

The new Beta works perfectly...
Thank you, for the great work.

[Auron]

I've just installed EventGhost 0.3.6.1479, on Vista Home Premium x64 - I'm having some problems though.

The MCE remote plugin doesn't seem to pick up any buttonpresses on my remote, though it previously worked with Media Center before I did anything (and I've also disabled HID service in the configuration). Any help would be appreciated, as this looks very useful if I could get it working

[F3d0r]

I had some trouble with the remote after resuming from standby. When running the default driver, with the registry changes it would not function after resuming. EG wasn't posting any activity from the remote in the log window either.

I can confirm this problem, no events in the EG logs after resume.
Only restarting EG makes things working again (disabling/re-enabling the MCE plugin makes no difference).

[jleeca]

I have installed VStudio 2008 on my HTPC hoping that It'll speed up the development. However, I found that it's really hard to do development tasks on my HTPC, and I started to think if I have an extra MCE receiver & remote, then it'll really help the development. Is there anyone who can donate a hardware, or can I get the reward that Bitmonster mentioned a while ago so I can purchase one with that fund?

Currently, the following is in my TODO list;
1. Vista 64bit support
2. Suspend/resume bug fix
3. Implementation of New event delivery & replay mechanism