Using MCE Keyboard with Windows XP Professional?

[Frank]

I have a Microsoft Remote Keyboard for Windows XP Media Center Edition (http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Remote-Keyboard-Windows-ZV1-00004/dp/B000AOAAN8) that I purchased with a media center build that never happened. I would like to try it out with my Windows XP professional box but I can't get the keyboard or built in mouse to work. The "extra" buttons (IE: Sleep, Volume, etc.) work fine but the base keyboard and mouse does not.

Is there any way I can get this to work on my XP Pro box without resulting to install MCE?

[RatherLargeBear]

There should be no reason why it wouldn't work Frank. MCE is Windows XP.

You have the correct drivers installed?

Is there a USB/PS2 dongle?

[Kevin.]

Try running Windows Update and see if anything for the keyboard comes up. If so, install it, and see if that works.

[Frank]

There should be no reason why it wouldn't work Frank. MCE is Windows XP.

You have the correct drivers installed?

Is there a USB/PS2 dongle?

There is no drivers that come with this keyboard. From what I understand there is an update pack fro MCE that includes the functionality for this keyboard. There is a USB attachment that works with the Microsoft Remotes as well as this keyboard. The keyboard does show under devices.

Try running Windows Update and see if anything for the keyboard comes up. If so, install it, and see if that works.

I will try that.

[y_notm]

you could also try installing the intellitype drivers and see if that activates the functionality

[hawker1986]

you could also try installing the intellitype drivers and see if that activates the functionality

+1 there, that was exactly what I thought when I read the post, you probably need to download these from the MS site.

Hope that sorts it.

Hawker

[Sean B. Veteran]

After some researching on this, the only solution I found is that you need to install this patch on your machine. Various users said it worked for them and some didn't. Try it and if not I'll do some more digging.

[+allan MVC]

While you folks may be right about the Intellitype driver, it's difficult for me to believe that a driver is needed for basic keyboard funtionality. Keyboard drivers are typically only needed to utilize advanced functions and buttons on keyboards. What I find unusual is that the keyboard appears in Device Manager and some buttons work, but not the standard keys.

You might open the entry in Device Manager, click on the Driver Tab and then Update Driver. I don't know if it will help, but it can't hurt. Also, I assume you've tried a different USB port for the remote receiver.

EDIT: Just saw the above post (it was posted simultaneously with mine) and that sounds more like it.

[y_notm]

While you folks may be right about the Intellitype driver, it's difficult for me to believe that a driver is needed for basic keyboard funtionality. Keyboard drivers are typically only needed to utilize advanced functions and buttons on keyboards. What I find unusual is that the keyboard appears in Device Manager and some buttons work, but not the standard keys.

You might open the entry in Device Manager, click on the Driver Tab and then Update Driver. I don't know if it will help, but it can't hurt. Also, I assume you've tried a different USB port for the remote receiver.

EDIT: Just saw the above post (it was posted simultaneously with mine) and that sounds more like it.

my bad. I read the question the opposite way (that is, i thought he said standard buttons work but not enhanced keys). In that case, then, you're right, intellitype drivers probably won't fix the problem and he should try the patch above.

[Frank]

After some researching on this, the only solution I found is that you need to install this patch on your machine. Various users said it worked for them and some didn't. Try it and if not I'll do some more digging.

That is the patch I was talking about above. The only issue is that patch is for Windows XP Media Center Edition. I am trying to get this to work on Windows XP Pro. I will try and install it to see if it checks the version.

While you folks may be right about the Intellitype driver, it's difficult for me to believe that a driver is needed for basic keyboard funtionality. Keyboard drivers are typically only needed to utilize advanced functions and buttons on keyboards. What I find unusual is that the keyboard appears in Device Manager and some buttons work, but not the standard keys.

You might open the entry in Device Manager, click on the Driver Tab and then Update Driver. I don't know if it will help, but it can't hurt. Also, I assume you've tried a different USB port for the remote receiver.

EDIT: Just saw the above post (it was posted simultaneously with mine) and that sounds more like it.

Yeah, I just don't know why Microsoft would have forced any users who want to use this keyboard onto MCE. I know the keyboard is designed for MCE functions but the basic functions should work in regular Windows XP.