Do it manually in vista like this.  Dont thank me thank Richard Miller I just dug up the link and then checked Vista for the registry keys, and changed a few things.  If it doesnt work then you can blame me for that.

Link

Registry key - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HidIr\Remotes\745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da

Registry value - CodeSetNum7

Registry value data type - REG_DWORD

This setting also requires deleting the following registry values:

Registry key - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HidIr\Remotes\745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da

Registry value - CodeSetNum0

Registry value - CodeSetNum1

Registry value - CodeSetNum2

Registry value - CodeSetNum3

Note:  I verified the registry keys are there, I have not yet verified the registry keys work.  I will try this as soon as I can, but for now you will just have to try it in vista and see.  I used 7 here assuming you already used 1 or 8 on the 2K5 MCE machine.  If 7 doesnt work try 1 2 or 3.  (insert registry hacking can be bad disclaimer here)

Anyone know if changing the remote ID in Vista would make it different from Xbox 360? I have my VMC and Xbox360 on each side of the TV and everytime I attempt to put my VMC to sleep, the Xbox360 turns on and vice versa - it's a real pain, I end up unplugging the 360 half the time.

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/168032.aspx

On the Xbox 360, got to the System blade, then choose: Console Settings/Remote Control.

You can set it to ONLYwork with the Xbox 360 Media Remote or to work with all remotes.

 

In other words you can change either the Vista remote, the Xbox remote or both.

Tokay:

This is a great thread.  I'm doing this so I can control my Xbox 360 with one remote and the Media Center next to it with another, without interference; both remotes are MCE remotes.

Now that I have the Remote Control ID set on both the Media Center and the MCE remote (7), things are working great; the XBOX remote is set to (8).  However, now the "MCE" keys on my MCE keyboard are not functioning (as expected) with my media center, but I am not sure how to change the remote ID on it.

Holding the DVD Menu + 1-8 on the MCE keyboard does not seem to do the trick.  Anyone know how to program the keyboard??

Rob

 

Sure you can change the remote ID of the keyboard... Put the keyboard in learning mode (INFO + OK for a couple of seconds) wait untill the transmitting led is blinking and press the desired number on the keyboard (1-8). The led will confirm with 2 blinks. Now your remote keyboard has a new remote ID.

 

I know this is a very old topic, but the awnser on this one was wasn't posted here yet ;)