Getting your MCE button to open Boxee

[Craysh]

I got sick and tired of windows media center running every time I hit the annoying green button.

I googled like a fiend trying to find a way to usurp the seemingly hardwired functionality of that green button to start my sexy Boxee installation.

I finally went with the nuclear option:


Took ownership of C:\Windows\ehome\ehshell.exe
Renamed ehshell.exe to ehshellold.exe
Created a batch file named ehshell.bat and put the following into it:

START /d "C:\Program Files (x86)\Boxee\" BOXEE.exe -p
EXIT
Get a bat to exe converter (search download.com for one)
Put the new ehshell.exe file into the C:\Windows\ehome directory
Profit!


*Note: I use this on my gyration :)

[dslate69]

I did this a while back and has made a world of difference in my enjoyment of using my pc from the remote. I renamed the original ehshell.exe to mediacenter.exe so I could still launch it. I would look into autoit (google it) as you can do so much more than with simple batch files; it also compiles to an exe.
I have the MCE remote launching boxee, xbmc, hulu desktop and mediacenter with just one script. A little extra logic is in their if the app is already running to take me to the home screen. I supplement all the individual commands to my personal preference with eventghost but the launching of the apps is done with a script that looks something like this...
This is written with AutoIt.
-----------------

Dim $Button

If $CmdLine[0] = 0 Then $Button = "NONE"
If $CmdLine[0] > 0 Then $Button = $CmdLine[1]

If $Button = "NONE" Then
If ProcessExists ("boxee.exe") Then WinActivate ("BOXEE")
If ProcessExists ("boxee.exe") Then Send ("h")
If ProcessExists ("boxee.exe") Then EXIT
If FileExists ("C:\Program Files\Boxee\BOXEE.exe") Then Run ("C:\Program Files\Boxee\boxee.exe -fs -p")
If FileExists ("C:\Program Files (x86)\Boxee\BOXEE.exe") Then Run ("C:\Program Files (x86)\Boxee\boxee.exe -fs -p")
EXIT
EndIf

If $Button = "/homepage:RecordedTV.BrowsePage.xml" Then
If ProcessExists ("boxee.exe") Then WinActivate ("BOXEE")
If ProcessExists ("boxee.exe") Then Send ("h")
If ProcessExists ("boxee.exe") Then EXIT
If FileExists ("C:\Program Files\Boxee\BOXEE.exe") Then Run ("C:\Program Files\Boxee\boxee.exe -fs -p")
If FileExists ("C:\Program Files (x86)\Boxee\BOXEE.exe") Then Run ("C:\Program Files (x86)\Boxee\boxee.exe -fs -p")
EXIT
EndIf

If $Button = "/homepage:VideoGuide.xml" Then
If ProcessExists ("xbmc.exe") Then WinActivate ("XBMC Media Center")
If ProcessExists ("xbmc.exe") Then Send ("{TAB}")
If ProcessExists ("xbmc.exe") Then EXIT
If FileExists ("C:\Program Files\xbmc\xbmc.exe") Then Run ("C:\Program Files\xbmc\xbmc.exe -fs", @ScriptDir, @SW_MAXIMIZE)
If FileExists ("C:\Program Files (x86)\xbmc\xbmc.exe") Then Run ("C:\Program Files (x86)\xbmc\xbmc.exe -fs", @ScriptDir, @SW_MAXIMIZE)
EXIT
EndIf

If $Button = "/homepage:VideoFullscreen.xml" Then
Run ("c:\windows\ehome\MediaCenter.exe")
EXIT
EndIf

If $Button = "/homepage:DVDFullscreen.xml" Then
Run (""%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\HuluDesktop\HuluDesktop.exe"", @ScriptDir, @SW_HIDE)
EXIT
EndIf

[Craysh]

Wow, AutoIt looks amazing in general O.o
Thanks for the info :D

[keamas]

I got sick and tired of windows media center running every time I hit the annoying green button.

I googled like a fiend trying to find a way to usurp the seemingly hardwired functionality of that green button to start my sexy Boxee installation.

I finally went with the nuclear option:


Took ownership of C:\Windows\ehome\ehshell.exe
Renamed ehshell.exe to ehshellold.exe
Created a batch file named ehshell.bat and put the following into it:

START /d "C:\Program Files (x86)\Boxee\" BOXEE.exe -p
EXIT
Get a bat to exe converter (search download.com for one)
Put the new ehshell.exe file into the C:\Windows\ehome directory
Profit!


*Note: I use this on my gyration :)

Hi, what OS are you using ? I am using Windows XP Pro but it is not working can you help me (without Windows Media Center)?

[twistybox]

If you have XP without Media Center you may have to install the IR support files that come with the media center versions of XP including the "roll-ups." If you can't locate that info from Microsoft, the guys at the green button forum should probably be able to point you in the right place to get the IRSYS and other few files required.

For managing or taking control of your remotes in Windows there are a lot of options available if you don't want/need to rely on the built-in support in specific media applications.

You can use third-paty remote mapping/action utilities to basically control any/all apps on your system.

There are quite a few of them available, but some off the top of my head include: Girdir, HiP from Byremote, EventGhost and IRSS (IR Server Suite)