RichardP
Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 108 Location: UK |
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 11:19 am Post subject: DiscreteOn and DiscreteOff for XP MCE - Solution |
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Windows XP Media Centre does not have discrete On and Off commands, only a power toggle. This make it difficult to use with complex macros on multiple device systems as you have to rely on ToadTogs to let remote know the current state of the PC.
I've found another solution, which does not rely on ToadTogs, this works with MCE 2005 with update rollup 1 installed. Here is what you have to do (assuming your remote is already setup to control XP MCE):
1) Set the action on the Sleep Key to 'No Action' in Windows control panel 'power options' applet. This causes the normal power toggle command to become a Discrete On as the BIOS responds to the power on command and Windows does not respond so it does not power down.
2) Create a shortcut on the desktop to a program which will cause Windows to enter suspend mode. You can use the Windows Shutdown command - but this will only fully power down the PC which may mean that scheduled recordings etc will not take place, it depends on your PC's power management. I have written a utility to do this, it can be downloaded from here. If you use this program use the SUSPEND command line option. Add a shortcut key to the program, I used Ctrl+Alt+Z, the upgrade below assumes this key combination. The underlying command was captured from a Microsoft Media Center Keyboard.
3) Thanks to Rob for creating the following device and protocol upgrade which maps the Ctrl+Alt+Z key combination to the power button of the Sat/Cable 2000 device. My remote is a URC8060.
Upgrade Code 0 = 0F D0 (Cable/2000) MCE Keyboard Temp (KM v8.35)
FF 00 11 20 20 00 E8 20
End
Upgrade protocol 0 = 01 FF (S3C8+) PB v3.11
47 93 41 8B 13 87 C5 10 08 04 00 98 00 84 00 98
00 84 96 23 05 78 00 00 8D 01 46
End
You can now create a key move for DiscreteOff using the Sat/Cable device 2000 with the hex values 20 20 00 E8 20, or use the standard Power button for Sat/Cable device 2000 as DiscreteOff.
That's it. Finally a DiscreteOn/Off for XP MCE!
The original discussion thread is here
Hope this is of use for someone,
Richard |
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