Hey there,

So recently I have been having trouble with my Media Center Remote control and have no idea on how to fix it.

When I press the buttons it blinks and so does the receiver, but nothing happens on my computer. None of the buttons work, but it still blinks and the receiver still receive's it...

Anyone know what the problem could be? I mean the remote still works for my 360 and everything...

Thanks in advance.

Remove the batteries and then short the + and - terminals on the upper end of the remote control.  This resets the remote control and hopefully will solve your problem.

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1: Dimension 9200 - Vista Ult, 2.4GHz Q6600 Core2Quad, 4GB RAM, 160GB, 750GB, 500GB USB, Nvidia 8300GS, PVR-150, HDTV Wonder, Vbox 3560, X360, DMA2100

2: HP m376n - MCE 2005, 2.6 P4 w/HT, 1GB RAM, 250GB, 400GB USB HD, Nvidia 6200, Emuzed MAUI, X360

I have the exact same issue. I tried shorting out the battery terminals, removing the drivers in Device Manager, removing keyboard.PNF in the \windows\inf folder and even plugged the thing into a different PC. All 4 eh*.exe apps are running, according to TaskMgr. The remote worked just fine on the other PC so I know it's a Vista issue on this specific machine. I have the TV Pack installed but I don't think that has anything to do with the remote because I had the TV Pack installed for quite a while before the remote quit working. It feels like there's something wrong with power management because I'm having other issues with my LCD not coming on after the machine sleeps or has been powered off for a while, but I can't confirm if they're related.

I've been searching for a solution, on and off, for over a week now and no one seems to have an answer. This machine was loaded with RTM Vista almost two years ago so I'm thinking about paving a reinstalling anyway, however I'd like to know how to fix the issue for the next time this happens or so I can help others if it happens to them.

Thanks!

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Media Browser (Formally Video Browser) Developer
http://code.google.com/p/videobrowser/

The last time it happened to me I ended up unplugging the receiver and then uninstalling all of the usb root hub entries in device manager and then rebooting. When windows restarted it reinstalled the drivers for all usb devices and fixed the problem for me.

Who is the manufacturer of the remote and receiver? 

Does the red light flash on the receiver?

Is the USB cable plugged directly into the back of your computer?  Via a USB hub?

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1: Dimension 9200 - Vista Ult, 2.4GHz Q6600 Core2Quad, 4GB RAM, 160GB, 750GB, 500GB USB, Nvidia 8300GS, PVR-150, HDTV Wonder, Vbox 3560, X360, DMA2100

2: HP m376n - MCE 2005, 2.6 P4 w/HT, 1GB RAM, 250GB, 400GB USB HD, Nvidia 6200, Emuzed MAUI, X360

DanH_HP_m376n:

Who is the manufacturer of the remote and receiver?

Ricavision, but it's basically just a reference MS IR MCE remote.

DanH_HP_m376n:

Does the red light flash on the receiver?

Yep. The remote and IR box work on other machines, just not this one.

DanH_HP_m376n:

Is the USB cable plugged directly into the back of your computer?  Via a USB hub?

Hub, but I've tested it directly plugged into the PC with no hubs and it's a no go there too.

It has to be some weird software problem, not a hardware problem. I've just run out of ideas on things to twiddle.

Thanks!

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Media Browser (Formally Video Browser) Developer
http://code.google.com/p/videobrowser/

I was having the exact same problem.  The remote and receiver would light up, but nothing would happen.  Usually rebooting would fix it, but not always.  As a last ditch effort, I changed the batteries in the remote.  I haven't had a problem since.

Well it works fine when I move it to another PC so I really don't think it's the remote or the IR dongle.

I've also tried completely removing all of the devices associated with it in Device Manager, removing the keyboard.pnf file from \windows\inf and then rebooting and plugging the dongle back in, but that didn't help either.

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Media Browser (Formally Video Browser) Developer
http://code.google.com/p/videobrowser/

KungFu_Toe:

I was having the exact same problem.  The remote and receiver would light up, but nothing would happen.  Usually rebooting would fix it, but not always.  As a last ditch effort, I changed the batteries in the remote.  I haven't had a problem since.

Yup.  Exactly.  My wife and I also have noticed when the battery gets low it'll work once or twice when you first pick it up (giving you the false impression everything is OK).  Then, even though the red light blinks on the receiver, nothing happens - there is no response to button presses.  Leave it alone and the batteries will recover enough for you to get another few button presses out of it before it stops responding again.

Two fresh batteries and no more problems.

The MS MCE Remotes: in addition to the above AND the "spaz out" - requiring an occassional "reset" with a paper clip on the battery terminals, WILL ALSO need a good alcohol (rubbing, not grain...) cleaning of the carbon pads and electrical traces inside the remote (PC board and rubbery membrane with the little black pads on it) every now-and-again. 

The traces and/or the carbon pads get fouled and fail to make proper contact.  Usually exhibits as one or more buttons that stop working (while other buttons work just fine) or buttons that you have to press harder than usual or "wiggle" to get them to respond.

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MS Vista Ult x64 * Benq MP620p * ImageQuest L50S * Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H mATX MB w/HD3200 IGP * AMD Phenom 9550 * 2GB RAM * 300GB + 500GB SATA * LG GGC-H20L BD + DVD/RW * Theater 550 Pro PCIe NTSC * DVICO FusionHDTV3-T Gold + HDTV5 Gold USB ATSC tuners

I have another thought as I had a similar problem at one point.  And that may be that there is not enough power getting to the receiver.  Try inserting a powered USB hub between the receiver and the computer.  If you are already using a hub and it is not powered, add power or replace it with one that provides power.

 

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1: Dimension 9200 - Vista Ult, 2.4GHz Q6600 Core2Quad, 4GB RAM, 160GB, 750GB, 500GB USB, Nvidia 8300GS, PVR-150, HDTV Wonder, Vbox 3560, X360, DMA2100

2: HP m376n - MCE 2005, 2.6 P4 w/HT, 1GB RAM, 250GB, 400GB USB HD, Nvidia 6200, Emuzed MAUI, X360

It is connected to a powered hub but just in case I tried moving it to a USB port on the actual box and still no go. And like I said before, it works when I connect it to the other machines in the house, just not this one.

I've covered all the bases. The only other thing I can try is paving the box and reloading the OS. I was planning on doing that anyway (not looking forward to it) but was just curious if there was a proper fix. So far it seems like my issue is completely unique as I've literally tried every technique I could find on here and other sites.

Thanks for the advice even if we weren't able to figure it out.

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Media Browser (Formally Video Browser) Developer
http://code.google.com/p/videobrowser/

Exactly the same problem here.

Mine's worked fine for years with the occasional battery/shorting problem.

Today, I paused the telly, made a cup of tea and it's not worked since.

The remote works fine (tv volume and on/off) and the remote receiver blinks accordingly but Windows simply doesn't respond.

I've reinstalled drivers, replaced batteries, shorted the remote etc but it simply won't work...

Not much help but I though you might like to know you're not alone.

chrismox22:

Exactly the same problem here.

Do you have the TV Pack installed?

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Media Browser (Formally Video Browser) Developer
http://code.google.com/p/videobrowser/

Heh, I just did a test. I put the PC to sleep then used the MCE remote to wake it up. It worked, it woke up. Definitely not a hardware issue. I think my Vista installation is just corrupted.

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Media Browser (Formally Video Browser) Developer
http://code.google.com/p/videobrowser/

Ogre:

chrismox22:

Exactly the same problem here.

Do you have the TV Pack installed?

Nope.