What can you control w/ Vostro IR Remote?

Hi,

Can you start media center with the vostro IR remote/inspiron remote?


I don't see a button on it from the pics.

How "complete" is the functionality given by the remote?

 

I don't think that the vostro comes with the IR... inspiron only and maybe the others !

 

You can buy it separately for about 10 bucks refurbished

 

oh that's right... with a usb connection ?

 

Nope. Wireless. People have said it works with the 1400.

 

I know it's wireless but you have to plug somthing in the usb port no ?

 

Jay, wireless means no wires!

On my Vostro 1500, I have an infra-red window, on the front panel, that will recieve signals from the remote control. I'm thinking about ordering a refurbished remote control.

simonz

 

ohhh ok !! I know wireless mean no wires but I didn't know that the vostro came with an infra-red window

 

The Vostro 1400 also has an infra-red window on the front of the computer. through Dell NZ the remote comes bundled with the creative earbuds as well. $16 NZD all up.

 

So if I'm sitting on my bed and have the remote in my hand....can I start up media center to play a movie or some music with just the remote?


I see no way to initially start up media center!

Anyone want to answer my original question?

 

I don't think there's a way. It looks like you have to start the application you want to control first. Kind of annoying, but still better than not having a remote at all.

 

Can you control any mouse clicks or anything in Windows? for example..if I had a powerpoint presentation can you use it to advance slides, or is it a media center only thing?

 

I never saw any documentation that said it would work with PPT, so I was kind of worried as that was the main thing I wanted to use it for while I teach. It works fine though, no problem. It will advance and reverse slides.

 

Great, thanks for the info smeg36....... how does the IR device show up in Device Manager? I was looking through on my Vostro 1500, and I don't see any devices that match. Is it tied to something else and not listed as an IR port or something?

 

why device manager didn't show any infrared device in vostro 1400?

 

Do you mean MediaDirect? (Media Center is just a media program in Windows). Vostros come with two operating systems: Windows and MediaDirect. (MediaDirect is actually a highly streamlined and customized version of Windows XP.) Vostros have two power buttons: the standard power button on the right boots Windows (or Linux if installed), and the power button on the left (with the house icon) is for booting up MediaDirect (which exists on a specially hidden partition on the hard-drive).
It would have been nice if Dell had given the Vostro's BIOS the ability to wake from hibernation via IR signal so that you could wake the Vostro with its own IR remote, but via peripherals the Vostro will only wake via ethernet or USB signal. A USB dongle with an infrared receiver could wake the Vostro from hibernation if the dongle registers a signal from the Vostro's IR remote. With such a setup, you could wake MediaDirect from hibernation with the IR remote.