Quick Tips: Microsoft Remote Display Control / WM5 and VGA
Posted by: Brandon Steili on Jul 19 2006
So - anybody else annoyed that some companies want almost $30 (or more) to be able to connect your PPC to your computer and then use the desktop to control it? Well, even if you aren’t I was. I understand there’s a boat load of development and testing that has to go into these applications, and that they have a lot of added functionality. However, for those of us with VGA devices and just a basic need for remote control, hopefully I can get you up and controlling for free (and not in pixelated ugliness)!
Bear in mind I don’t need all the added functionality of remote control via TCP/IP, printing, etc. so the solution I’m going to provide here is simple and to the point. For those of you unfamiliar with cerdisp, this was a powertool that Microsoft provided for older devices, but little known fact it works on Windows Mobile 5 as well. (Not Microsoft Supported … so don’t ask them for help)
Ok, so let’s get started.
Download Microsoft Remote Display Control and install it. (Make sure your PPC is connected via ActiveSync.
Now read this excellent post by Blutrane. This is a simple explaination of applying a new mui file to force a specific resolution to an application. While you’re there download the .mui zip file at the end of the post. Copy the .MUI file into the same directory as the exe for cerdisp. This is usually just the "Start Menu / Programs" folder in the Windows directory. Rename the file cerdisp.exe.0409.mui.
Now fire up Remote Display Control on your desktop. Then start it up on your PPC. Run through the steps to connect (all defaults). When it connects you should have a nice 640×480 window which shows your PPC screen in full color. The mouse and keyboard will pass through to your PPC, so starting applications and typing text will get put to your PPC asuming you have selected the cerdisp window.
Side Note: Tweaks2k2 has a VGA Brute Force utility that works just as well for this. Simply open Tweaks2k2 go to Tweaks > System Tricks > VGA Brute Force and use the browse function to select cerdisp.exe and hit apply. Same functionality, a lot less messing around.
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It’s interesting that you’re talking about this subject. Last night I downloaded pocketcontroller to see it’s benefits, etc.
While it’s quite fancy, and also adding some “geeky” points from my co-worker, I really can’t seem to justify the $34.95 that this program cost (for what I’m intending to use it for anyway).
I will try this now, and see how this one works on my device.
Great article by the way.
Let me know if you get it working. I did this mostly from memory, because I just used the Tweaks2k2 hack after I hard reset a while back. The thing I love about this .mui is that you don’t have to soft reset for it to work on an application unlike OzVGA or SeVGA which made you reset… and then you couldn’t see a darned thing =)
I didn’t try it with my X50v, so VGA wasn’t a concern for me. Anyway, worked pretty good on my Eten. In fact works exactly like pocketcontroller (minus the fany layout)…
This is great! Save a bunch of $$$…
w00t!
[...] Yesterday, I read an article posted on JustAnotherMobileMonday’s Blog, Netsyd found out that old utility can be “VGA-aware” and like every VGA-aware program, you just need to put the MUI file in the install directory and voila, now the Remote Display is well VGA-aware … [...]
It might be a little hard to tell from the above post, but thanks to SolSie there’s a nice handy zip file that has all the bits needed to make this happen. The package can be found at this link:
http://solsie.com/?p=457
Hey, I’m really loving this. Specially at work. I can “play” around with my device without anyone noticing. I use this plus the quick “ALT-TAB” on my keyboard, then I’m all good.
Is there a away I can make it “always on top”. I sometimes like to display Spb Time, or weather, etc. on my screen, but everytime I switch window it disappear.
Thanks again, Netsyd. Oh, another thing I like about this entering data/text. Now I can use my keyboard to do the typing…. :approved:
Nice. I tried it and working fine with my axim X51v, A12 ROM, both BT active sync and credeled.
Ravi.
I’m not sure of any way to get a “always on top” sort of thing… I think if you could find a way to keep another window always on top it would work for this as well, since its just another application window… hrm.
Can anyone get this running on Windows Vista’s Windows Mobile Device Center?
Vista won’t let me install Activesync here neither will the app work in vista?
Anyone having the same problem?
>Jing Quan Says
>Can anyone get this running on Windows Vista’s Windows >Mobile Device Center?
>Vista won’t let me install Activesync here neither will >the app work in vista?
>Anyone having the same problem?
I’m using it under Windows Vista Ultimate 32bit, works but slower than over XP.
DOn’t install ActiveSync on Vista, just search on Microsoft web-site for “Sync Centre”.
Regards.
Free PDA remote control tool:
You can download EveryWAN Remote Support Personal Edition, which has the same features as pocket controller and is free at
http://www.sparus-software.com/support/remote