Can't get your console to show when clicking ½/§/' or better known as the "tilde"-key in The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion? There can be many different reasons, and we're going to try and assemble a collection of every fix available.

Remove "Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver" & "ENE CIR Receiver"

If you're on Windows Vista or 7, it's usually always because of the two components called "Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver" and "ENE CIR Receiver". Most people don't use these, and if you're using them, you probably know it already. If you use a remote that uses infrared, you might be using one of them.

The smart reader might already have tried deactivating them, and found that the option is greyed out. What we're going to do is to stop Windows from installing them, because without drivers, we can disable them. If you need a quick fix, you can uninstall them from the "Device Manager" and play. But after a restart they will be automatically reinstalled. How do we get rid of them for good? Follow the instructions:

I. Stop Windows Update from installing drivers
We need to it to stop installing the drivers so we can remove them for good.

Windows Vista:

Start Menu -> Right click "Computer" -> "Properties" -> "Advanced System Settings" -> "Hardware" -> "Windows Update Driver Settings" -> Select "Never check for drivers when I connect a device." -> "Ok" -> "Apply" -> "Ok".

Windows 7:

Start Menu -> Right click "Computer" -> "Properties" -> "Advanced System Settings" -> "Hardware" -> "Device Installation Settings" -> Select "No, let me choose what to do" -> Select "Never install driver software from Windows Update" -> "Save Changes" -> "Apply" -> "Ok".


II. Turn off "SSDP Discovery"
The "SSDP Discovery"-service controls the Universal Plug-n-Play in your computer, and we have to turn it off.

Windows 7/Vista:

Start Menu -> Search for "services.msc" OR search for "Run" and type in "services.msc" -> Find "SSDP Discovery" -> Right click -> "Properties" -> There is a drop down menu called "Startup Type", change it to "Disabled" -> "Apply" -> "Ok"

III. Uninstall "Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver" & "ENE CIR Receiver"
Time to let the bastards go.

Windows 7/Vista:

Start Menu -> Right click "Computer" -> "Properties" -> "Device Manager" -> Expand "Human Interface Devices" -> Right click "ENE CIR Receiver" -> Check "Delete driver software for this device" (This should remove the "eHome Infrared Trasceiver" as well.) -> "Ok" -> "Reboot".

If it doesn't uninstall the "Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver", just do the above and choose it instead of the "ENE CIR Receiver".

IV. Make sure it never installs it again!
Upon booting you will be able to tell Windows never to bother you again concerning those devices.

Choose "Never for this device" in the prompt.

V. Make sure your computer runs smoothly again!
Complete step I and II, this time backwards. The SSDP was set to "Manual", if you forgot

Use "Ring of Console" to force the console to open

If you don't feel like messing with Windows, you can mod your way out of the problem. Skycaptain made a mod which simply adds a ring to your inventory. When equipped, it opens your console.

The mod requires "Oblivion Script Extender" which can be downloaded from: http://obse.silverlock.org/

The "Ring of Console" can be downloaded from TES Nexus: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=13133

If none of these tricks fixed your problem, or if you have other solutions, please post them to help others