The "elusive" remote control that is pictured is the Philips
PHDVD5. The following is how the instruction manual says
to go about searching for a code:

1. Manually turn on device to be controlled.

2. Press and hold the "Code Search" button until the
red indicator light stays on, then release it.

3. Press and quickly release the desired ode button (TV,
VCR, etc.). The red indicator light should blink once.

4. Press the "Channel Up" button repeatedly (up to 300
times) until the device to be controlled changes channel.
The red indicator light should blink off with each button
press. If you accidentally overshoot the required code,
press the "Channel Down" button to backtrack through the
library until the device changes channel. Pressing "Channel
Up" changes direction again.

5. Press and release "Mute" button to install the code.

If you wish to actually identify the code once this has
been done, this is the procedure:

1. Press and hold the "Code Search" button until the
red indicator stays on. Release the "Code Search" button.

2. Press and release the desired mode button (TV, VCR,
etc.). The red indicator light blinks and then stays
on.

3. Press and release the "Code Search" button. The red
indicator light goes off.

4. To find the first digit for the code stored under
the mode key pressed in "Step 2" press each numeric key
from 1-9 in turn. When the red indicator light blinks
off, the number you pressed is the first digit for the
code you are searching for.

5. To find the second digit, repeat "Step 4," this time
when the red indicator light blinks off, this is the second
digit in your number.

6. Repeat again for the third digit in your code number.

I hope this helps anyone who might have this little unit.
I love mine, but it sure can be a pain if you do not
have the right information to control it!