Can you use the Windows Media Center remote with a normal installation of Windows XP Professional?

I need a basic IR remote to control media players on my computer. I'd like to map the buttons to my Harmony 880, so all I really need is the IR receiver. The MCE remote seems like the easiest bet.

Im sure its possible. Just google for an IR Receiver for windows, and perhaphs get a driver, IDK? Im not a windows person, but a mac-junkie. heh..

You could run something like Media Portal, its open source and is much better than MCE!
It has drivers for the MCE remote and you can do so much with it.

Check it out

http://www.team-mediaportal.com/

yes.

It is recognized has a HID device.

Ok it might say newbie next to my name but I have been working with computers for over 7 years now.. Anyhoo .. Nvidia Cards are sometimes wierd.. My daughters computer that I built has a P 4 processor with 1gig ram and a fx5200 graphics card.. We can play all the movies on vlc with proper codecs using the s-video out on the card going to her lcd tv, but not on her computer screen using the HDMI/VGA hook up on the card unless we are in 800x600 mode.. if you are running xp and you like wmp you need to google all in one codec this may help also pop the res to 800x600 and see if the movies will play...Nvidia has a whole bunch of stuff on there cards @ nvidia.com