Use this R/C receiver for your computer to control all your things very good for people with htpc.

Step 1: Preperation

This is a very cheap receiver but can work with 99% of remotes and it cost me less than 5$.

Parts:
IR receiver
Capacitor 4.7k uf 25 or 50 V
Resistor 4.7k
Diode N4148
7805 Regulator
D-sub 9 Connection (like on a old comp mouse)
D-sub 9 hood
pcb line board
3 line cable

Tools:
Soldering Iron
Solder

Step 2: Solder the D-sub Connection

Solder 3 wires to these pins you might want to connect pin 7 as red because it is + and connect pin 5 as black ground and connect pin 1 as a green or yellow

Step 3: Solder the Rest

Solder all the rest like this diagram
you can also look at google far an etching diagram

Step 4: Finishing

if youve finished it should look something like this:
when your done plug it in to the computer and download http://winlirc.sourceforge.net or http://www.lirc.org there are many programs and most are open source so look for your prefered program.