I remember last year there was no driver with the older MX880's. Is that still the case? Universal even told me they weren't going to make a driver for Windows 7 so you aren't able to communicate/program the older MX880 remotes with Windows 7 using the software. Basically, if you have Windows 7 and an older MX880 remote you have a dead remote. Have there been any resolutions to this issue since I've been here? I haven't stopped back in a while. And the last thing I want to do is keep a 13 year operating system loaded or a large VM just to program remotes. Are there any alternatives to this situation? This was one of the big reasons why I wanted to get away from UR. They wouldn't help or support me in anyway and when you have over 20 MX880 remotes out there that can't be programmed under Windows 7 it starts to become a real big problem. For me and customer. I argued with UR for a little bit begging then to make a new driver for their older MX880 remotes for Windows 7. When you are in this situation and can't help customer's or program many remotes out there it is a pain in the neck.

I dont know about the MX880 but i have been working with an MX880z with windows 7.

The MX880Z has been updated and will work with Windows 7. URC made quite a few of the regular MX-880's that do not work with Windows 7, so if you happen to have upgraded to Windows 7 and have one of the original MX-880 remotes you will not be able to communicate that remote with the Total Control software to program it. BUMMER.

No matter what operating system you have, you will never be able to program a MX880 of any age with Total Control software.

Yea, we get it. Complete Control.



Also, URC can die in hell for not support a $400 remote control with Windows 7. How dare they expect everyone to just go out and drop $400 on a new remote in these times of financial problems. What a crap company, sorry, they are.

The 880 is a pro remote, they don't expect an end user to pay 400 and program it themselves. A real pro would understand the limitations of old hardware and would keep a windows XP machine around for these instances. This is a perfect example of why URC changed their business model and no longer provides software for the pro remotes to end users.

It is matter of opinion and perspective on this one. It doesn't matter if you are consumer that doesn't know what they are doing or think you are a pro and know everything the fact still remains URC didn't want to provide support for one of their current selling models for an operating system that came out while the remote was still being sold as the same model number. Really, the last thing I would want to do is keep around a 12 year old operating system. Be it a VM or a computer. Just waste of resources in my opinion. It really gets to me the arrogance the "contractor" has, even in other industries. As a home owner I do most things myself, weather it is to install new electrical lines, run network lines, replace a hot water heater, whatever, programming a remote is just another thing on the list that I'll do myself. While I may stumble a little with something new I certainly can learn and comprehend.

I just have a sore spot for "contractors" since I've seen my share of way too many dishonest ones across multiple industries. And it's not an uncommon issue, just talk to a few people and most likely they all have been duped at one point or another. It really is hard these days to find completely honest people. And the largest of these industries is of course the automotive. While I can do just about anything it is not having the tools that prohibits me to do so.

I'm sure there are many honest and fair contractors out there, I just haven't been lucky enough to find any and I end up doing everything myself eventually. I eventually figure it out, but I'm human and don't know everything.

I have been able to program URC remotes with all our laptops. The only exception has been msc-400 and mx-950 that the hardware in those units did not allow them to function with newer operating systems.

Have you looked at this thread?

[Link: remotecentral.com]

I run into 880s frequently. I did run into an older one that windows didn't recognize, and I simply had to manually point Windows 7 (64 bit) to the right drivers.

This is the first I have heard of support being dropped for this device. I know that they have dropped support for the MSC-400 (though you can still buy it new), unless you are running 32 bit xp or vista (or 32 bit xp mode on 32 bit windows 7).

Do you want me to send you the drivers I have for the 880?

Here is a thread in CI Lounge about trouble using Windows 7/8. It can be a pain but it can be done. You have to follow the instructions very carefully.

[Link: remotecentral.com]

Thanks for the info, I'm in the IT field and have access to multiple XP VM's which I can use. I don't want to pollute my Windows7/8 systems with the integration of XP unity mode. I just have an older model MX-880 which there is no driver for under Windows 7/8. It has been confirmed with URC that they changed how it connects and talks with the computer.

Drivers won't help. When the first MX-880 remotes were made they used a special software driver to use with XP. When Windows 7 came out URC changed the MX-880 to work with Windows 7 but never provided support for their old 880's and Windows 7.

I remember seeing something on a label of an 880 box. Why can't you do XP mode on windows 7?

This is what eventually I had to end up doing. I just didn't want to pollute my Windows 7/8 environment with XP and I really don't like Windows Virtual PC mode at all. But in the end, it does work and it free to download.

This seems like a no brainer to me.

I think I lose more time trying to make existing old gear work than just getting a new product. I am not advocating replacing every part at an install, but realistically, if the company has dropped support, it is time to get a new model. I realize this may not be a popular idea or even feasible for some clients, but how much time was spent on this singular issue?

I often counter the amount a customer pays for services per hour against how much they would pay to upgrade to a new device. If I spend an hour on a remote that won't work, the customer is already half-way into paying for a new one. And that means when they upgrade their A/V gear in the future (and they will), they won't once again be stuck with a half working remote that the manufacture stopped supporting.

....just a thought.

Like the msc-400. Why waste any time trying to find a machine for that when you can upgrade to TC and an MRX-10 for really not that much more and move into the future?