No Win Key under Windows 8.1

[hornet77e]

Hello Phil,

first of all, thank you very much for this great program. Really every mice Producer should feel bad that they could not develop such programs. So really Thank you.

I had the problem that i could not simulate the windows key.
If i combined for example win+w i hear an error sound.
If i chose on option from your Drop Down List like "Search Apps WIN+W" the same sound, too.

Your Program is installed and not portable.

One strange behaviour is:
If i installed the program and it starts after installation the wi-key simulation is working very well. After i restart my PC XMBC is starting and works. But no win-key simulation is working.

If i start manuel with admin rights change nothing.
If i try to start it with the task-planer xmbc is not starting.

Is this a known problem?

Thanky you again for your time
Marvin

[phil]

Can you try {LWIN} or {RWIN} instead of just {WIN}? I think that might work (it does here).

But on Windows 8 and later, these options should be in the dropdown, so you should not need to use Simulated Keystrokes

The fact it did work after installation and then stops is concerning - if you still struggle after the above I will have to have a closer look).

Let me know how you get on.

Thanks,
Phil

[hornet77e]

Yes i tried {LWIN} also {RWIN}

Also the options in the dopdown did not work. As i said an windows error sound comes up.

After a new installation it works until i make a system restart and then it did not work anymore.

[hornet77e]

Maybe it help, i copied that from yout log file:


18-10-2013 20:36:24.0562> MouseHookData: Message=0x020e (WM_MOUSEHWHEEL), X=1515, Y=366, mouseData=0xFF880000, flags=0x00000000, time=8826562, dwExtraInfo=0x0, MouseHookPtr=0x670C11
18-10-2013 20:36:24.0562> WM_MOUSEHWHEEL: MouseData 0xff880000 (-120), Flags 0x00000000, Time 8826562ms, ExtraInfo 0
18-10-2013 20:36:24.0562> Translating TiltLeft Button ?? Keystate 0x0: Action 74 (*) becomes Action 28 [Simulated Keys '{LWIN}' (released)]
18-10-2013 20:36:24.0578> Translating TiltLeft Button ? Keystate 0x0: Action 74 (*) becomes Action 28 [Simulated Keys '{LWIN}' (released)]
18-10-2013 20:36:24.0578> SendKeyState: VKCode=0x0 Scancode=0x0 Flags=0x8 Release=0:
18-10-2013 20:36:24.0578> Ignoring key injected by X-Mouse Button Control
18-10-2013 20:36:24.0578> SendKeyState: VKCode=0x0 Scancode=0x0 Flags=0x8 Release=1:
18-10-2013 20:36:24.0578> Ignoring key injected by X-Mouse Button Control

[phil]

I think I need a bit more log than that. Could you PM a copy of the logfile to me, or at least include the entire last run (from "Starting XMBC...") preferably inside a CODE block if its on the forum here!

It looks like you just have {LWIN} in there and I would expect {LWIN}w or {LWIN}x etc.

My guess is that there is a problem with trust - that is, in order to send these keys, UIAcess is required, and in order to do that, the certificate needs to be there, and the software needs to be in the program files folder.
Then again, without the certificate, I would expect it not to work at all.

Did you change the installation location during setup? (I suspect not).

I will have to test this further on my Win 8.1 machine when I get home.

Thanks,
Phil

[hornet77e]

No standard installation in program files....

I though about certificate,too. But if i check the proteries on the XMouseButtonControl.exe and the certificate is there.

I Send you the log file.

[hornet77e]

Yesterday i tested a little and maybe it helps a bit.
I go back to version 2.6 Beta 7 and all works. Furthermore i could start it without admin rights and the
Win-Key simulation is working very well.

So for me everything is fine and i am happy that my brain made no jokes on me.

If i going to 2.62 the problems happen again.

But if you could not repoduce the issue or don't have time no problem, for me is this tool one of the best of my pc.

Thank you again, have a nice weekend.
Marvin

P.S. If you need more information or logs i could make it if you want or anything else, no problem.

[phil]

OK thanks for the update, its good news - I will now be able to investigate each change between those versions to try and spot the problem. One question, do you have multiple languages installed?

It is working fine on my 8.1 laptop by the way, but now I have something more to go on, I plan to have a look later today or tomorrow.

Thanks,
Phil

[phil]

I dont suppose you can try 2.6 beta 8 and beta 9 to see at which point it stops working???
I can provide them if you dont have them!

[hornet77e]

Ok test 2.6 Beta 8 works.

With 2.6 Beta 9 it works for time and then it stops. ( I startet the program and close it for a few times, after few times it stopped to simulate the win-key)
I do that a few times cause i could not believe it works and then stop working.
I have now idea for that behavior. After every close i checked with Process Explorer that the program unload the dll and exit. So there is everything fine.

[phil]

OK thanks for the info... I don't understand either how it could work a few times and then stop working - very very strange.

I have just tried to update my desktop from Win 8 to 8.1 via the store... bad mistake. It failed - luckily it reverted back to 8 after about 10 reboots lol. I will have to start from scratch with my MSDN RTM disk - I never usually do upgrades because it always causes trouble, but I'm surprised the store update failed - after all it is MS's main delivery method of 8.1!

So I wont be looking any more at this today - it will have to wait till tomorrow - and then some depending how long it takes to reinstall all my development environment!

PS. I noticed one bug with 8.1 the Win+X and a few other entries (ALT-TAB) are missing from the dropdown lists. They still work for me with Sim Keys so its not the same problem that you are seeing.

I will try and replicate your problem by starting XMBC a few times once I have 8.1 installed.

Oh, just to confirm, when you say you close and restart it - I presume you are just talking about XMBC, not the computer? That is, you didn't reboot/logoff/shutdown also? I just want to know so I can try and reproduce as accurately as possible.

Last thing, can you confirm what language packs/keyboard layouts you have installed (and if you have anything other than English, does using English make any difference?).

Beta 9 is pretty much exactly the same as 2.6/2.6.2 so I'm not surprised so much that the problem is in Beta 9. I will narrow down the changes between beta 8 and 9 now (there weren't many).

Thanks,
Phil

[hornet77e]

No i just exit xmbc with a right click on the symbol of xmbc.
I make no restart.

I have the german edition of windows 8.1Pro from MSDN so only the german language no others. Keyboard layout is also german i delete the english one.
Thats the reason my english is not so good as it should be.

I test it later what happens when i chose the english one.

I installed Windows 8.1 clean, no update or so. Cause normaly i had such problems like you today with upgrade. If something could go wrong in such case i got it
I work a lot with virtual maschine, only if i have to access directly the Hardware with Visual Studio i installed it on the host.

(XMBC of course runs in the host pc not in the Virtual)

For me is no problem if you look tomorrow, next week or later, i am fine with the Beta. All works for me fine.

Thanks again for your time
Marvin

[hornet77e]

Just for my intrest which development enviroment do you use ?

[phil]

2.6 is developed in vs2008 but I think 2.7 will be vs2013! Just downloaded it. It is all c++ though no fan y .Net

I wonder if the German language is the issue - it's the only significant difference between my 8.1 fresh install on the laptop. I will have to download the German version of 8.1 and try it in a VM!

Thanks
Phil

[hornet77e]

Hello Phil,

sorry it tooks so long.
I checked it with the language layout. And it is important.
If i chance my keyboard layout to GB English the win Hotkeys works.

Furthermore i checked the ctrl key. It don't works, too with 2.62.
With Version 2.6 Beta 8 everything works fine.

Back to 2.62 it stopped working. But if i change to the english layout it works again after i restart xmbc!

Can't believe it.

Hope i can help you a bit. Sorry that i take so long.

Best Wishes
Marvin