Cannot "disable remote control infrared receiver"

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Level 1

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Cannot "disable remote control infrared receiver"

Hi,

I just got a fancy new Sandybridge MacBook Pro 13" and instantly updated it to 10.6.7.
Now I found a very annoying bug. I use a Harmony One remote control at home, due to that I awlays switch of the infrared remote control receiver when I am at home. This does not seem to work anymore, it just always responds.

The problem is not with the Harmony One, the MacBook Pro responds to any remote, no matter whether the box to disable the control is ticked or not.

This really bothers me a lot...anyone having similar problems? Or even better - a solution?

Cheers,
Tim

MacBookPro8,1, Mac OS X (10.6.7), 2.7GHz i7, 8GB, 120GB SSD, 500GB HDD

Posted on Apr 4, 2011 3:23 PM

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Answer 1

VincsenVegor Author

Level 1

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Apr 5, 2011 1:56 AM in response to VincsenVegor

Does no one have any idea?

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Answer 2

Apr 5, 2011 4:36 AM in response to VincsenVegor

Put a piece of black tape over the IR sensor on the MBP or place a book in front of the sensor.

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Answer 3

captfred

Level 7

26,422 points

Apr 5, 2011 5:01 AM in response to VincsenVegor

Pair it with another remote, then it should ignore the Harmony remote.

Regards

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Answer 4

VincsenVegor Author

Level 1

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Apr 5, 2011 1:37 PM in response to captfred

No, pairing didn't work as well, tried that.
When I pair it still reacts to all other remotes (tried a few).

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Answer 5

Apr 7, 2011 1:13 PM in response to VincsenVegor

VincsenVegor wrote:
the MacBook Pro responds to any remote

You should find an option to disable the MacBook's remote receiver in the Security panel of System Preferences.

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Answer 6

eww

Level 9

53,028 points

Apr 7, 2011 1:42 PM in response to VincsenVegor

So cover the IR receiver window — just put something opaque in front of it.

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Answer 7

VincsenVegor Author

Level 1

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Apr 7, 2011 1:45 PM in response to eww

...covering it up really isn't something that appeals to me.
The option in the security panel should work, shouldn't it?
Worked with both of my MacBooks before...

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Answer 8

eww

Level 9

53,028 points

Apr 7, 2011 1:52 PM in response to VincsenVegor

Sure it should, and if you want it fixed, just take your computer to an Apple Store or AASP and drop it off to be repaired. But if you'd rather have the use of your computer and save yourself two trips to the store, cover the receiver. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

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Answer 9

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Apr 7, 2011 2:20 PM in response to VincsenVegor

what does /Library/Preferences/com.apple.driver.AppleIRController.plist say ?
open it in Pref Setter or similar, or use

defaults read /Library/Preferences/com.apple.driver.AppleIRController

in Terminal

if the output is

{
DeviceEnabled = 0;
UIDFilter = none;
}

specifically the DeviceEnabled = 0
then it would seem the setting's being changed, but not followed - in which case you might try a reinstall, or test first in a fresh install on a new partition if that's convenient. No doubt a PRAM and/or SMC reset won't hurt, or maybe help... but worth a try perhaps. You've restarted the mac ?.

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Answer 10

Apr 7, 2011 11:26 PM in response to VincsenVegor

I'm having the same issue, and it's particularly annoying because I have 2 MBP's that I use at the same time. Since this started happening, my apple remote is worthless because disabling the receiver is not working, so it always controls both macs at the same time. To be clear, this is a software issue, likely to do the 10.6.7 OS X update. These are 2 different Macbooks, of different generations. One is a late 2010 unibody model, the other is a 2008 pre-unibody. Disabling the IR in the security panel is not working on EITHER Mac now, and it used to work fine on both.

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Answer 11

VincsenVegor Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 8, 2011 10:33 AM in response to kcrommett

Ah, finally someone else with the same problem 😉
I also think it has to do with the 10.6.7, because I updated my old MacBook and have exactly the same problem.

By the way, AppleIRController.plist switches to 0 and 1, when I disable/enable the controller.

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Answer 12

Apr 9, 2011 9:42 PM in response to VincsenVegor

I have the same issue and I have an Apple TV, a MacBook Pro 2011, and a Mac Mini in the same room, so it is very annoying.

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Answer 13

Apr 10, 2011 12:52 PM in response to mrfreitag

mrfreitag wrote:
I have the same issue and I have an Apple TV, a MacBook Pro 2011, and a Mac Mini in the same room

Have you tried "pairing" the remote with the Apple TV (presuming that's what you want)?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1555

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Answer 14

Apr 10, 2011 12:58 PM in response to VincsenVegor

Like somebody else stated. Go to System Preferences, Security, and Check on Disable Remote Control Infrared Receiver.

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Answer 15

Apr 10, 2011 12:59 PM in response to VincsenVegor

VincsenVegor wrote:
the MacBook Pro responds to any remote, no matter whether the box to disable the control is ticked or not.

You might try this command in a Terminal session:

sudo kextunload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleIRController.kext

You'll be prompted for your administrative password. If you're not happy with the results, just reboot. If you like the results, you'll have to run that command each time you boot.

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