OK.  Did a fresh install of W7.   Added Hulu and the WMC plugin.   Changed my registry to disable Debounce.   Installed the Microsoft IR receiver.   Now the "Back" button works in Hulu to get to the menu, but when I exit, the arrow keys no longer work on the Start menu (the main menu in MC).  The OK button works, and the arrow keys work fine on all the sub-menus, but they will stop working again when I go back to the Start menu.   Hitting the Green button doesn't help, but iconifying and deiconifying MC seems to fix the problem.    Any thoughts?

 Tried the Media Mender solution (now called Media Center Stuido).  It works fine with W7 as far as re-arranging the menu items, but fails to launch HuluDesktop either via the batch file or exe directly.    It seems the new version is a little different than the old one.  You can't browse for the path and the wrapper option appears to be missing (no longer needed?).   In anycase, it's obvious from the event log it doesn't like something.  I'm trying one more time with the Hotkey approach...

Log Name:      Media Center
Source:        ehExtHost
Date:          10/21/2009 1:40:23 PM
Event ID:      0
Task Category: None
Level:         Information
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      HTPC
Description:
Exception Microsoft.MediaCenter.Hosting.Infrastructure.InvalidAddInException: Unable to load invalid add-in Advent.VmcExecute.VmcExecuteAddIn, Advent.VmcExecute, Version=1.0.5.1, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=90f889c3061a024b

at MediaCenter.Extensibility.ExtensibilityPlugInEntryPointInfo.ExtensibilityPlugInLaunchInfo.LoadAddIn()
   at MediaCenter.Extensibility.ExtensibilityPlugInEntryPointInfo.Launch(Object& objState)
   at MediaCenter.Extensibility.ExtensibilityEntryPoint.Launch(PageBasedUCPService ucp, Object objMediaContext, Object[] entryPointParameters, String altPageUrl, ExtensibilityAutomation& exautoUsed)

InnerException System.ArgumentException: Unable to load assembly: Advent.VmcExecute, Version=1.0.5.1, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=90f889c3061a024b
Parameter name: fullName


Server stack trace:
   at MediaCenter.Extensibility.RemoteTypeLoader.CreateInstance(String fullName, Assembly& asm)
   at MediaCenter.Extensibility.AddInLoader.CreateInstance(String fullName)
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging.Message.Dispatch(Object target, Boolean fExecuteInContext)
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging.StackBuilderSink.SyncProcessMessage(IMessage msg, Int32 methodPtr, Boolean fExecuteInContext)

Exception rethrown at [0]:
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.HandleReturnMessage(IMessage reqMsg, IMessage retMsg)
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.PrivateInvoke(MessageData& msgData, Int32 type)
   at MediaCenter.Extensibility.AddInLoader.CreateInstance(String fullName)
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging.StackBuilderSink._PrivateProcessMessage(IntPtr md, Object[] args, Object server, Int32 methodPtr, Boolean fExecuteInContext, Object[]& outArgs)
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging.StackBuilderSink.PrivateProcessMessage(RuntimeMethodHandle md, Object[] args, Object server, Int32 methodPtr, Boolean fExecuteInContext, Object[]& outArgs)
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging.StackBuilderSink.SyncProcessMessage(IMessage msg, Int32 methodPtr, Boolean fExecuteInContext)

Exception rethrown at [1]:
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.HandleReturnMessage(IMessage reqMsg, IMessage retMsg)
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.PrivateInvoke(MessageData& msgData, Int32 type)
   at Microsoft.MediaCenter.Hosting.Infrastructure.IRemoteTypeLoader.CreateInstance(String fullName)
   at MediaCenter.Extensibility.ExtensibilityPlugInEntryPointInfo.ExtensibilityPlugInLaunchInfo.LoadAddIn()

InnerException System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or assembly 'Advent.VmcExecute, Version=1.0.5.1, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=90f889c3061a024b' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.

at System.Reflection.Assembly._nLoad(AssemblyName fileName, String codeBase, Evidence assemblySecurity, Assembly locationHint, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, Boolean throwOnFileNotFound, Boolean forIntrospection)
   at System.Reflection.Assembly.nLoad(AssemblyName fileName, String codeBase, Evidence assemblySecurity, Assembly locationHint, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, Boolean throwOnFileNotFound, Boolean forIntrospection)
   at System.Reflection.Assembly.InternalLoad(AssemblyName assemblyRef, Evidence assemblySecurity, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, Boolean forIntrospection)
   at System.Reflection.Assembly.InternalLoad(String assemblyString, Evidence assemblySecurity, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, Boolean forIntrospection)
   at System.Reflection.Assembly.Load(String assemblyString)
   at MediaCenter.Extensibility.RemoteTypeLoader.LoadAssembly(String assemblyName, Exception& loadException)

Orijnal:

Here's a link to the utility, if anyone else is interested: http://www.easy-share.com/1907317318/WMC_HuluDesktop_Fix.zip

Just unzip it and put a copy of it in the StartUp folder in the Start Menu (to ensures it's running when the machine starts up). Make sure it's running, before you try it out (you'll see a little hulu logo in your system tray). I spent about a half hour on this, and certainly haven't done extensive testing, but I haven't run into any problems with it, yet. It works on 7MC and should work on Vista as well.

Whew Hoo!  This works!  Why use a scaple when a big hammer will do the trick!   Mind if I post this on my site?  I feel like I have to virus scan my machine and take a shower everytime I go to easy-share...

@Mike: thanks for offering to host the file - much appreciated. I'm glad it worked out for you. I've updated my original post to include a link to your site:

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/p/74227/381467.aspx#381467

@kevm14: per our PM thread, I'm looking into addressing your issue. If it's something I can fix, I'll get you a private build tomorrow. If all goes well, then I'll see about getting an updated build out on the server.

Not sure if this was posted, but has anyone else tried this?

 http://huluwmc.teknowebworks.com/

 Is that the same one as Orijnal's?  I think that's the one I installed.

Don't think it is.  It looks like its own plugin that opens and shuts down Hulu without anything in the taskbar.

 Yeah, that's the one I am running.  Whoops!  Sorry Orijnal.  I will have to try yours and see how I like it.

skinnydude:

Not sure if this was posted, but has anyone else tried this?

 http://huluwmc.teknowebworks.com/

Yup, installed this yesterday. No issues so far on my W7 RTM x64 install.

 That one is the one that gives me problems in MY 64-bit RTM install.  Hulu Desktop is not in focus and thus the remote doesn't work until I either use a wireless mouse to restore focus on Hulu or click the green button, let MC reload, then click the Hulu launcher again, which restores focus to Hulu.  I am going to see if Orijnal's solution gives me this problem.

Octavean:

So now that it has been suggested that Hulu may go the way of a pay service I was just wondering who would be willing to continue using Hulu on a subscription bases and if so at what rate?

It seems so obvious to me that they should simply add a commercial free subscription and maintain the current sponsored shows for non-subscribers.

mpatnode76:

It seems so obvious to me that they should simply add a commercial free subscription and maintain the current sponsored shows for non-subscribers.

Millerbrad. Tell me about your HDHomerun setup. Where do you have it in relation to your other equipment? What do you have it connect to receive your recordings? Is it connected to a PC already equipped with TV tuners? Thanks!