Help with an expresscard remote on XP pro SP2

[infraspace]

Hello everyone,

I recently built up an HP DV9574 pavilion laptop with XP SP2. It came with a little remote control unit that slots into an expresscard slot when not in use.

Some of the buttons on it work (e.g. Directional arrows and the central OK, volume adjusters and mute button), but some do not (e.g Play/Pause) and I was wondering if anyone knows how to get them all working with GB-PVR.

I've not found any drivers online by searching HP support or using the model number (HSTNN-PRO7) in google.

WinLIRC doesn't see it at all. HIP ignores it totally.

It's a proper MCE remote because I used it in Vista HP before going back to XP.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[infraspace]

Anyone?

[nappysolo]

I have the same remote and the same issues. I too would be interested in knowing if anyone has a solution.

[kayleigh]

I looked around for info on this remote on HP's web site. It looks like it runs like a standard Windows MCE remote with fewer buttons. I wonder if the MCE remote driver replacement at http://burningzeroad.free.fr/MceIrApi.rar would work as a driver for you. I've been using a standard MCE remote with these drivers and EventGhost with great results.

*EDIT*
I also found a real basic manual at http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00836197.pdf - not too much info, but it may help you.

[stustunz]

yeah i would give programs "event ghos" or "Hip" a go (both do pretty much the same thing)
if using HIP either load up the mce driver if the last post by kayleigh is correct
or use generic drivers if that doesnt give the desired results

[infraspace]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll give the replacement driver a try with EventGhost.

[nappysolo]

Did you get a solution that works? Just wondering before I try out these suggestions myself.

[infraspace]

Unfortunately not nappysolo. HIP can't see the USB remote, it only works with serial attached devices. EventGhost also failed to recognise the existence of the ExpressCard remote.

[John.Lamar]

The remote is basically just the same keys that are on the keyboard. What you'll have to do is map them somehow to the key combinations used by gbpvr. I *think* this is possible. For example, the ok key is just enter, and the arrows just that. Play/Pause doesn't do anything in gbpvr, so you need to tell it do look for it, and reproduce the action you need. Sorry I can't really help you with that.

Just think, that remote is an extension of the keyboard and your laptop doesn't see it a different. I know this because I've the same series, with the remote, and I've used it in Linux with zero setup and even for selecting the OS in the boot menu.

Essentially you have a software question, and a gbpvr specific one at that! sub maybe able to point you in the right direction (as far as setting up custom keys to control playback).

Trust me, all that remote specific stuff isn't going to work. It's just some extra keys for your keyboard - HP is doing all the work under the hood, which makes the solution to your problem a LOT less complex.

[infraspace]

OK, this is interesting. If I understand you correctly, if I could remap the remote keys so that button [whatever] resulted in a key press that GBPVR can understand, then the problem would be solved.

Question is, how do I do that remapping, there doesn't seem to be any control program for the remote that would allow me to do that.

Interestingly, the play/pause button works fine in Windows Media Player and MediaPortal (if I select the HID interface remote option)

EDIT: OK. The media player keyboard shortcut for Play/Pause is CTRL+P. Maybe if I tell GBPVR to use that same key combo, the remote will work. I'll have a go later at home