HP Express Card Mini Remote Mappings, Issues, Woahs, Questions.

Question

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

Answer 1

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