HP Express Card Mini Remote Mappings, Issues, Woahs, Questions. [ Edited ]

[kelendral]

Ok, I am trying to actually get this Mini-Remote to be useful for my DV5-1235DX.

First, is there an easy way to remap the buttons on the remote control?  I will never use HP Smart DVD.  I do not use HP Smart Menu.  I will not use Media Center.  I prefer my own software over those packages. 

1). Any way to map those buttons to something else and stop the calls they make starting the existing software?

2). Is there a full list of which media functions the remaining buttons are mapped to?  I have found some so far provided below.

Remote Button    Virtual Key              Media Key
Stop             VK_MEDIA_STOP            MEDIA_STOP
Rewind                                    MEDIA_FASTFORWARD
Play/Pause       VK_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE      MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE
Fast Forward                              MEDIA_REWIND
Previous         VK_MEDIA_PREVIOUS_TRACK  MEDIA_PREVIOUSTRACK
Next             VK_MEDIA_NEXT_TRACK      MEDIA_NEXTTRACK
Up                                        MEDIA_CHANNEL_UP
Down                                      MEDIA_CHANNEL_DOWN
Direction Up     VK_UP                    
Direction Down   VK_DOWN                  
Direction Left   VK_LEFT                  
Direction Right  VK_RIGHT                 
OK               VK_RETURN                
Back             VK_BROWSER_BACK          BROWSER_BACKWARD
Settings "i"                              
Volume Down      VK_VOLUME_DOWN           VOLUME_DOWN
Mute             VK_VOLUME_MUTE           VOLUME_MUTE
Volume Up        VK_VOLUME_UP             VOLUME_UP

As can be seen I am still missing some key buttons and their matched Media Key Function Name. 

I would appreciate any and all help on finding the missing button functions and remapping the current app start calls.

Thank you very much in advance for your time,

Kelly

P.S. - EDIT: A programmer friend pointed out the IR Software/Driver may be sending virtual keys and not just media key signals.  With that I was able to map a few more to their virtual key and can use those buttons now as well.

With this new information I can now map all buttons except the little "i" and the 5 buttons across the top (Power, DVD, SmartMenu, Display Switch, MediaCenter).

P.P.S. - Is there even an application that does anything when pressing the "i" button on the remote?  I've tried almost every application that was installed on the laptop and not one has responded when pressing that button.  The HP User Guides section 'HP Mobile Remote Control (Select Models Only) > Button quick reference' lists this button as Settings and says:

"Press to display system information. The button may also be used to display settings menus for some multimedia software."  It does not display system information and I have yet to find any software it displays anything in.

Message Edited by kelendral on 2009-04-25 07:48 PM

[kelendral]

Well, I called HP Support today.

They verified the only reaction they could get from that "Settings" button on a similar model (they did not have the exact DV5-1235dx on hand) was to interrupt the screen saver.  This is the exact and only behavoir I have found with that key.

They were also unable to provide any technical information (such as remote code, key being emulated, virtual key command, or media key mapping).

So basically on a similar model device they experienced the exact same thing, the key appears to have no function in any of the software provided by HP.

It is very disappionting that their technical support was so lacking that they could not describe the functionality of the key even after being sent up a level and passed over to a third tech.

Until I figure out the mapping of this key, it appears to be a nice way to remotely interrupt the screensaver.  Then again any of the other keys will do that as well.

I did find some use for knowing both the VK and MK mappings.  Media Player Classic HomeCinema allows the use of either VK or MK mapping.  It also allows the use of both.  By using both some keys can be made to perform double duty.

Example:  MPC-HC has the Play function mapped to MK of MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE.  By mapping the VK of VK_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE to one of the Jump Backward commands [eg Jump Backward (medium)] then hitting the Play/Pause key while something is playing will pause playback, and do a short rewind.  It will also do another short rewind and start playing again on the next press.  

Example 2: MPC-HC has the Mute function mapped to MK VOLUME_MUTE.  By mapping the VK of VK_VOLUME_MUTE to Toggle Subtitles then pressing Mute will mute the sound and turn subtitles on.  Press again to turn subtitles off and turn the sound back on.

This remote is similar to other HP laptops and so if you happen to know a piece of software which responds to the 'Settings i' button on any model of the HP laptop with any express card style remote running Windows Vista 64-bit please give a shout.

Thanks again,

Kelly

[susoab1791]

well i think the express card remote or any remote was deigned for WINDOWS MEDIA CENTER witch its windows so why not...

the i button shows information to play the song delete it from windows media center or other fun but usless junk 

i really wish that windows media center would play any type of file like mp4s and other file types that are used alot or some one make a program

that will play every thing and any thing and also work with the remote --and also work under neeth other screens becuase well

i hate switching programs to play a diffrent file and work with the remote

even though the remote is excelent to watch movies with even thought that why they invented dvd players for

[Ritik]

Hi there, I actually have an issue that is very similar to yours.

I have an HP DV4T-1400 Series laptop and I am trying to program the mini-remote to work with XBMC.

My question is HOW did you find out the actions that each key-press takes and how do you intend on re-mapping these functions?

Any help would be appreciated.

Also did you find software that registers the 'keystroke' that each button pressed delivers?

Many thanks,

RR

[benjaminw]

Hi Ritik, I just got the remote with my Pavilion working on XBMC by installing the latest version of Event Ghost, loading the XBMC and MCE Remote plugins in Event Ghost, and then associating key strokes from the remote with the XBMC plugin.  It was quick and easy.  For further details, there's several posts on the XBMC forum describing how to do this.

[Angel_Eyez]

Hi Guesss I didnt understood maximum of the things stated above but what I am in need of is that can anybody plz tell me how do I change the functionality of these keys in remote means that I wnt to do something else with those keys not those predefined things ... I am jst amateur in computer so I will be greatly thankful if you kindly tell me the steps to do it... Hope to get help....

[pratikpawar]

hi Angel_Eyez, just visit this forum u'll get all your answers

http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=46595