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Topic:
MX500 Software for Windows 7 x64
This thread has 10 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Wednesday August 26, 2015 at 19:00
QuiGonJohn
Long Time Member
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23
I recently had to retire my XP computer. I went to install the software for my Home Theater Master MX-500 remote and it says OS not compatible.

Where can I get software for my remote that will work in Windows 7?

I think what I need is the IRCLONE software.

Last edited by QuiGonJohn on August 26, 2015 21:32.
Post 2 made on Thursday August 27, 2015 at 11:16
Mikejl
Long Time Member
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February 2003
45
I'm pretty sure you are out of luck.  The IRClone software & hardware was developed around 12 years ago.  The software has long since been orphaned.

Many of us bought the IRClone software/hardware package and loved it for our MX-500's.  However, the majority of MX-500 owner's moved on to the newer HTM remotes that came with their own programming software. So interest in IRClone dropped to where it was not worth it to South Shore Technologies time to keep it updated.

I think your best bet may be to create a Windows XP VM on your computer and use that to program your remote using your existing software.

Mike
OP | Post 3 made on Thursday August 27, 2015 at 16:41
QuiGonJohn
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23
FYI, after some research I found that the version I had, 500e200beta.zip, (the last and latest version), does work in Windows 7 x64. The trick is to right click the .exe and change it to Windows XP SP3 Compatible, then run the install. I got it working and got my MX-500 reprogrammed. I hope to be able to keep using it for a long time. I have one new unused MX-500 still, available if this one ever up and dies.
Post 4 made on Sunday September 6, 2015 at 01:09
Dundas
Founding Member
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331
I have it working on Windows 8.1
The trick is that you have to use an older FDTI driver than the one Windows automatically installs.
I got the 2.10.0.0 driver from here:
[Link: ftdichip.com]
I could not get Windows to let me install the older driver so I used the "Driver backup and restore function" in the DriverMax freeware software to force the install of the older driver. I think you could also use Glary Utilities to do this.
The IRClone device is listed as "USB Serial Converter" in Device Manager.
Post 5 made on Friday September 11, 2015 at 19:11
aeneas1
Lurking Member
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September 2015
9
i'm a little confused, i didn't think the mx-500 remotes were software programmable, at least not via rs232...
Post 6 made on Saturday September 12, 2015 at 09:55
RandyWalters
Long Time Member
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December 2006
97
On September 11, 2015 at 19:11, aeneas1 said...
i'm a little confused, i didn't think the mx-500 remotes were software programmable, at least not via rs232...

It's been about 10 years since i looked into it, but IIRC, IRClone was a software/hardware editor package that sends the file you created to the MX-500 via it's cloning feature, instead of physically connecting the remote to your PC.
Randy
URC MX-890, MX-780, MX-450, R40, MX-500, Sony XBR-55X900E, Panny TC-P55ST60, Tivo Roamio Pro & Premiere & OTA, TWC Arris DVR, Onkyo 333 AVR, Roku Express 4K, Panasonic Blu-Ray
Post 7 made on Friday September 9, 2016 at 12:28
Jim in CA
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5
I recently updated to a new PC running Windows 10. I still have three MX-500 remotes that I update using IRClone from South Shores Technology, which is long since gone. (And two new ones still in the box in reserve.) I am proud to say I now have it working on Windows 10, thanks to hints in the above post from Dundas.

Windows 10 loaded the driver version 2.12.16.0, and this version did not work. I tried 2.10.0.0 as referenced above, and it still did not work. It gave me the green indicator showing it had found the IRClone, but it would not upload/download. I found that I was using version 2.08.14 with my old Windows 7 machine, so I found it and loaded it. IT WORKS!!!

I used the Windows 10 Device Manager to "update" the driver, and manually directed it to the downloaded 2.08.14 driver. No need for third party software.

If I did not have the IRClone device and software, I would have switched to another remote. But now that I found it works with the new PC, I will keep using my MX-500's for now.
Jim in CA
Post 8 made on Sunday September 11, 2016 at 14:22
Dundas
Founding Member
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Jim,
Glad to hear you got it working.
I have it running on a Windows 10 desktop that was upgraded from 8.1
using FTDI driver 2.8.30.0. Also working on a 8.1 laptop and if all else fails I am saving a 11 year old XP machine. I have 3 IRClone devices and 7 active remotes plus several backups. Not looking forward to the day when I have change but so far I am able to do everything I want.

Let me know if I can be of any help with anything MX500/IRCLONE related (codes, conversion utilities, etc.)
Post 9 made on Friday May 5, 2017 at 20:29
Jim in CA
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September 2016
5
Thanks for the response and the help offer. I have only one IRClone device, 3 active remotes, and 2 virgin remotes still in the box for safe keeping. (And one that went bad.) Glad to know I am not the only one still using IRClone and MX-500's. So far I have been able to do everything I need. It does not like my LG smart TV's remote, but I was able to teach it a couple of commands to at least be able to turn it on and off. Once the TV was set up using the factory remote, I really don't need anything else in normal use. I thought I was going to have to consider changing when I got my Roku that is only RF, but I found different model Roku that is IR as well as RF. So I bought a cheap IR remote for it, and used the "learn" feature.

Windows 10 was kind enough to update my driver, so I had to load the older one again.

Have you ever tried running IRClone on Linux? I converted an old laptop to Linux Mint. The laptop had been my "when all else fails" machine.
Jim in CA
Post 10 made on Saturday May 6, 2017 at 14:06
Dundas
Founding Member
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331
These days I am finding that, no matter what I do, Windows 10 is constantly updating the FTDI driver. When I want to use the IRCLONE-MX 500e Editor I run the 2.08.24 FTDI setup executable which is available on the link in post 4. This little utility quickly and easily changes the driver. You may or may not have to unplug and reconnect the IRClone device after running the utility.

I do not have any Linux experience.

I have sent you a PM
Post 11 made on Friday November 3, 2017 at 14:24
bauerej
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November 2017
1
Dunda, thank you VERY much for this valuable advice. I also have two MX500 remotes still in use and an IRClone. I have been debating whether to trash a 10 yr old WinXP desktop which I haven't used in 3 years. but is the only thing that I knew would be able to program my MX500 remotes. I had been unsuccessful in the past with running the MX500 editor on my Win 10 laptop. Today in installed the driver that you mention (2.8.24), and installed the MX500 editor in compatibility mode on my Win10 laptop. This worked perfectly in recognizing the IRClone device, and let me make backups of my remotes current programming. Now my XP desktop is one step closer to the trash can!


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