I have a WinXP MCE machine that has an IR port on the front. When I use the computer as a DVR/Reciever/CD and DVD Player without actually starting the OS my remote works fine with it. Even if the computer is completely shut down, I can start it by pushing the power button on the remote. However when I start the OS it doesn't even recognize that even has an IR port. Meaning that I can't use it with anything. I was thinking that the port must work exclusively with the non-windows based software that runs the media center. Any ideas?

I had the same problem with Infrared Monitor not starting. In the end, I found that irda.sys was missing from my C:\windows\system32\Drivers directory. I think that Service Pack 2 re/moved this file, but I can't be sure. Anyway, I got irda.sys out of the C:\windows\driver cache\i386\Driver.cab file (use Winzip to do the extraction), and put it in the system32\drivers directory. After a reboot, the infrared monitor service restarted automatically and finally worked. So try it and write about result, please.

I couldn't find it anywhere in there or in the rest of the HDD. I did some research on the net and found an update for the "ehome infrared receiver" driver. However after installing it, nothing has changed. Nothing for the IR receiver shows up in the Device Manager or under services. It seems as if it does not exist as far as the OS is aware. Now I am really starting to think that the IR receiver is used and controlled exclusively as part of an independent hardware/software package. (just like how many other laptops will play CD's without having to load the OS... mine will do TV/DVD/CD/ and Radio.) Thanks for the help though.