Q: Missing Infrared Receiver Option

There's no dedicated infrared receiver -- the iSight is used. The problem may be that you have not paired the remote with the computer.

Go to System Preferences > Security > General and click the "Pair ..." button next to the language about the remote.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/8993.html

In addition to the pairing suggestion JD offered above, have you checked to be sure your IR port is enabled? http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/8995.html

This and other suggestions from http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1722 may be helpful.

BTW, although iSight can test whether the remote is sending infrared, my Macs do NOT use iSight as the infrared receiver for operating the Remote.  From the User Guide manual that came with your Mac, you should be able to tell whether yours also uses an infrared receiver.  I offer the following example.

Because you bought your MBP in Jan 2007, I inferred it might be a 2006 model.  As shown near the top of page 35 of the manual for the 2006 MBP

( http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/MacBook_Pro_Users_Guide.pdf )

Your Apple Remote works with ... the built-in infrared (IR) receiver, ... located next to the display release button ...

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac Pro Quad Core (Early09) 2.93Ghz OSX 10.7.2   24" LED Cinema Display
iPad2 iOS 5.0.1                               5th Gen AEBS
MBP 15" i7  (Early'11) OSX 10.7.2               External iSights
13" MBP (Mid'09) 2.26GHz OSX 10.7.2              iBook SE 366MHz OSX 10.3.9

evan_p wrote: ... I have no idea how to show it on the security pref pane...

Follow the step-by-step Snow Leopard instructions in the first link I posted in my initial response.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Hmmm.  My Mac Pro dialog box looks exactly like yours when I boot it into Snow Leopard.  However, my MacPro does not have an infrared remote receiver, so I figured that was why mine did not show the "Disable remote control infrared receiver". Both of my MacBook Pros are upgraded to Lion, so I cannot test SL on them.

You are using a MacBook Pro, right?

Do you have File Vault enabled?

Have you tried everything else from http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1722 ?

Have you uninstalled or modified your system or apps software in any way?

Have you used your SL install disk's Disk Utility to repair your disk?

If nothing else works, my only remaining suggestion is to contact Apple or a local Apple-Authorized Service Provider to have your MBP checked out.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac Pro Quad Core (Early09) 2.93Ghz OSX 10.7.2   24" LED Cinema Display
iPad2 iOS 5.0.1                               5th Gen AEBS
MBP 15" i7  (Early'11) OSX 10.7.2               External iSights
13" MBP (Mid'09) 2.26GHz OSX 10.7.2              iBook SE 366MHz OSX 10.3.9