Recently I upgraded my HTPC case for my spare/test HTPC so that I could set it up in my bedroom and play around with windows 7 media center, and get more hands on use with it. Since there isn’t a softsled solution for media center I still require a Linksys Media Center Extender in the room as well. Since both are media center devices they share the same IR codes which caused problems trying to use one or the other.

 

Today I had remembered that VMC supported 9 IR codes, so that you could effectively run 8 (since code 0 and 1 share the same codes) different media center HTPC’s and IR blasters all at the same time, in the same room, and not interfere with each other. So while thinking about that I set off trying to find any information on how to change the control ID’s for media center. Not being able to find anything on Google, I went to the “HTPC Collective” on Twitter, and within minutes Ian Dixon, Mike Brown and Richard Miller answered the call.

 

Ian with this link. Mike with this, and Richard with this. Follow the instructions located on each page, I went into the registry, changed the “Set Remote Control ID” to 2, deleted the other remote control ID’s as instructed, then programmed my MCE remote also as instructed. These same instructions, originally set out for vista media center, also work for windows 7 media center (7MC).

 

Enable Universal Remote Control – If you have a universal remote control you may need to enable it. A reboot is required for this setting to take effect.

• Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HidIr\Remotes\745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da
• Registry value – EnableDebounce
• Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
• Registry value data – 1 = enable universal remote control; 0 = disable universal remote control

Set Remote Control ID – To enable your Media Center to respond to a specific remote control ID do the following; 1. Press and hold the DVD Menu key on the remote then press a number button (1-8) for 5 seconds. Remotes with visible LED signal indicators will blink twice to confirm the change.  2. Enter that same number below. 3. Save. 4. Restart the Media Center PC.  Note: To enable Media Center to respond to all remotes use the number 0. A reboot is required for this setting to take effect.

• Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HidIr\Remotes\745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da
• Registry value – CodeSetNum0
• Registry value data type – REG_DWORD

This setting also requires deleting the following registry values:

• Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HidIr\Remotes\745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da
• Registry value – CodeSetNum1
• Registry value – CodeSetNum2
• Registry value – CodeSetNum3

 

I then took my newly configured setup, and went one step further. I programmed my Logitech Harmony 550 to control the new remote control ID, and added a new activity so that I can now use and control my Linksys Media Center Extender, my 7MC HTPC, and my TV all with one single remote. In order to program my Harmony remote with the new remote ID I had to manually configure the harmony remote, one button at a time, which with the Logitech software it actually makes it a breeze to configure.

 

So if you are like me, have more than one media center pc, extender, 360, ect… this solution will work for you.

 

- Josh