Shutting Off MCE WIthout Turning Off The MCE Remote

[ToughRowToHoe]

I've got a problem and haven't found a solution that I'm capable of implementing (pretty low bar). I've searched here and the web and I'm not having much success. This is a Vista computer running NPVR 1.5.36 with the latest patches.

I have my harmony remote set to emulate an MCE remote. It is working perfectly except that it launches MCE when I select the NPVR function (Watch a Movie). Once I close MCE, the remote doesn't relaunch MCE until the next time I "start" NPVR. Stopping the Harmony from sending the launch instructions appears to be a bridge too far (honestly there is no list of specific individual actions the remote is taking other than powering it on and setting it to one of the folders).

I've turned off (disabled) the 4 functions in Services but haven't turned off the ehome Startup activity since I need the remote to function: http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/02/23...-in-vista/

I assume that setting the power button in the registry per this thread would work but I'm at a loss regarding how to edit the table properly: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...MCE+remote

Anybody know how to shut off MCE in Vista without disabling the MCE remote?

[ToughRowToHoe]

Well, I just imported the MCE remote mappings that pBS put together. It didn't work. MCE still starts. I've also reset the Harmony remote to leave the computer on (no powertoggle on or off) and yet it still launches MCE.

[smajor]

Depending on your remote, you could give LMRemote a whirl. It will let you remap that power button (and the others, including the color media buttons) to anything else.

My MCE power button just turns off my computer now (issues a shutdown command).

It could probably be done with HIP or EventGhost as well, I'm just more familiar with LMRemote and know it works, at least for me.

[imagn]

I have done this on both computers, one win 7 and one vista. You will need to disable the ehome startup activity if you want this to work properly. This does not disable the ability of windows to listen for remote commands, but they must be intercepted by a program like lmremote (i use this one) eventghost or hip. LMremote is the easiest to use in my opinion. You will need to map your keys out in LMremote and then all should work fine. I have my mce key mapped to the exe of NPVR and it starts it up.

MCE does not start anymore with this setup

[ToughRowToHoe]

Actually, after rebooting the machine it no longer launches MCE, however the remote no longer works with NPVR either. I guess I will give LMremote a try. I'm not getting anywhere as it is. Thanks.

[pBS]

run this from an elevated[admin] cmd prompt:

Code:

reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaCenter /v MediaCenter /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

remote should still work and media center disallowed to start..
doesn't seem to show dialog about being prevented from starting from remote this way..[see dialog by trying to run vmc from start menu] unless you push it a few times in a row..

remember to put remote keys back to normal..this is all that's needed..
just checked and also works in win7...

[ToughRowToHoe]

Thanks pBS. I guess that is the group policy angle? Anyhow, I was getting a dialog box so the Harmony remote must be sending multiple keystrokes.

I did just have an idea. I will just create a new NPVR - MCE device in the Harmony remote software and I'll just teach it the MCE commands needed. Should have thought of doing this a while ago. It might also help future Harmony/NPVR users.

The one regret I have is that I didn't image my computer right before messing with the registry. Tried System Restore which didn't work and the latest image is a little old.

[pBS]

oh, in that case you should be able to just delete reg key and ehome device in device manager reboot and it should rebuild reg key for you...
but the no-software trick does work in win7...but only for mce remotes codes.. [which should be what your harmony emulates] and only for mce dongles...

or if you don't need VMC you can just uninstall it completely..then no dialog about being unallowed to start..
dism /online /disable-feature /featureName:MediaCenter

or '%windir%\ehome\mcspad.exe hideicons' is same as reg entry from above post..

i use IRSS and it has option to disable media center and it works great without disabling anything..plus it seems easier to use than others..[and works great in win7/vista]

[ToughRowToHoe]

Dang! Wish I had checked this thread again before re-imaging the hard drive... Not only did I waste the time, but for some reason my remote still isn't working. My dongle is the HP version which from what I understand from the wiki and elsewhere on the web is the same as MCE. It uses all MCE drivers and the like. The LED on the dongle lights up when I press the remote buttons but NPVR doesn't respond. Re-imaging should have restored it to opening MCE but it isn't doing that either. Argh!

[ToughRowToHoe]

Sure enough. Unplugging the dongle and plugging it back in fixed it.

Now I have the quandry of which thing to try next... Plenty of options. Thank you all.