RC6 MCE Remote Not Working Correctly

Lionmon · 20 Jun 2011

Hi guys,

I have recently reinstalled win 7 on my HTPC and got it set up very nicely. I bought a new remote for it and it worked great for a few weeks.

Recently a few of the buttons have stopped working. Mainly the back button and the volume up/down buttons.

The batteries are fresh and the LED on the remote tells me the button is working. The eHome transceiver is also lighting up so the signals are being emitted.

I tried the trial of Intelliremote which fixed the problem but it costs more than the remote!

I figure it is a driver issue but the stock drivers are very sparse with no function to configure at all.

I can only find some references to the beta versions of win 7. These issues where meant to be fixed in the RC so by SP1 you'd think it should work.

Anyone know a fix for this issue?

Ponmayilal · 21 Jun 2011

I am gonna shoot in the dark since I am not sure whether this is a hardware (Remote/transceiver) failure.

Try this. It does not hurt.

Get into Device Manager, and then click the infrared receiver. The device is typically listed as Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver, but the name may vary depending on your configuration.
On the Action menu, click Uninstall, and then click OK to uninstall the infrared receiver.
On the Action menu, click Scan for hardware changes to reinstall the infrared receiver.

if possible, give me the link to the device if you purchased it online. Lemme check whether I get any more grand ideas.:)

Lionmon · 21 Jun 2011

Thanks for the reply.
I have already tried that about a dozen times. I have also tried uninstalling all the eHome and anything remotely related (around half a dozen drivers) then removing the usb cable and rebooting and letting the drivers reinstall again. Still no joy!

I'm thinking its software (driver) related due to the fact it worked (almost) perfectly after installing the trial of intelliremote. The only issue with this app is that it seems to increase the refresh rate of the remote buttons so it is hard to navigate. I just wish this software wasn't $25.

I bought it off ebay HERE

According to THIS XBMC wiki (note I'm not using xbmc at the moment) it looks most like the Dell version of the Microsoft MCE remote and installs as a Microsoft eHome device.

Thanks again for your help.

Ponmayilal · 21 Jun 2011

OK, here is my final shot and thought on the issue.

I am afraid you have bought a chinese, no-name, sub-standard IR remote/ receiver. Sub-standard in that the defiicient signals from the remote or the deficiency in the IR receiver require a helper in Intelliremote to make up for it.

(Even DELL/HP/Pinnacle remotes/receivers are made in China but to strict quality and specifics imposed by the principals. The clones have no such compulsions.

Microsoft itself stopped manufacturing these long back giving rise to proliferation of such clones. It is a veritable jungle and frustrating to consumers to pick up the right one. Your receiver looks like a HP clone.)

Instead of buying the $24 or so Intelliremote software, you have two options.

1. Buy another good and known-to-work remote/receiver. Here I may refer you to this section of the Australian Media Center Community Forum Other Hardware - Windows 7 - Australian Media Center Community where I have seen a lot of queries and answers on what remote and receiver to buy and wherefrom.

2. Your second option will be to jettison Microsoft, IR altogether and go for other brand IR/RF remote/receiver. The choices are many. I believe that you are quite knowledgeable and no spoon-feed is required. All the same you can have a look at is there a hardware RF PC remote control that will work on win 7 and many other threads/posts on the subject. In the IR category have a look at EZ Commander. http://www.ezcommander.com/a2.html

Good luck.

jmandawg · 16 May 2012

I had this same problem and i found a fix. I previously disabled the "Human Interface Device Access" service. Once i enabled and started the service the back and volume buttons started working again.

turntablejunky · 27 Jan 2014

I just had to register and say thank you to jmandawg. His solution to disable the "Human Interface Device Access," and restart it again, works. Cheers!

wlerant · 30 Dec 2014

Thanks a bunch, had the same issue and was going mad looking for the answer...