Restoring "value-add" software after OS reinstall

I did a clean install of Vista on my Studio XPS 16. This, of course, blew away the applications that came on the machine, such as PowerDVD. Is there a way to get them back somehow or am I stuck without them?

I tried the Dell Download Store, but it doesn't recognize my Service Tag. I have a support incident open on the Service Tag issue with Dell, but that and their incompetence is a topic for another thread...

 

didn't you get an install/utility disc with these programs on it with your lappy?

 

Did it come with a PowerDVD install disc (or is it MediaDirect)? Honestly, all the "value-add" software is lost, unless it came on one of the discs supplied with your Studio XPS 16. But then again, your system should be significantly faster than before reinstalling Vista. I don't even use most of the "extra" software~

 

Not that I can see. It only came with the Drivers/Utilities and the Vista DVD.

 

Yep, check your documentation, unless they have changed things with the new XPS systems you should have recieved the following:

A Windows Vista Recovery DVD

A Resource CD containing Drivers/QuickSet

MediaDirect (I have a Latitude, so I'm not sure about whether this is on a seperate disc or if it's on the Resource CD)

CD's/DVD's for the software that came on your computer (Microsoft Works, security suite, PowerDVD)

If any of these are missing, contact Dell and request the missing discs.

 

I would normally agree, but I cant watch Blueray without some software.

 

No, only 2 discs. (I didn't order Works or security)

 

Definitely contact Dell. Should have came with the MediaDirect disc as well (unless there was a change, but I doubt that).

 

No, there was definitely a change, as my SXPS didn't come with a mediadirect disk either, and I did not see it either on the invoice or during customization. I think this line doesn't have the option for it.

 

I am just chatting with Dell to send me the DVD's. He(?) offered to send me MediaDirect as well, curious about that one...

Edit: He's now checking if MediaDirect is supported or not.

Edit2: No MediaDirect

 

Well, the sole utility of the thing is to access media without using the OS in its entirety, but how exactly you'd turn it on at start up is questionable, since there's not a dedicated button. I'm sure you can fix it, but all the same, for now I'm sticking with media center.

 

Just noticed the Studio XPS line doesn't have a MediaDirect button. Well, it should have at least come with a PowerDVD disc as a means to play Blu-Ray. Unless Media Center supports Blu-Ray play that is...

 

Not on Vista, on Windows 7, it will. They are sending me the PowerDVD disc.

 

Presumably, if it doesn't come with a MediaDirect button, the XPS line doesn't have a MediaDirect partition or anything either? It sounds like it's just not supported or available anymore.

 

It's really not needed: MediaDirect doesn't support BlueRay, AFAIK. Also, the machine is so quick to boot that it doesn't really matter that you have to wait an extra minute. And yes, no partition.

 

IIRC MediaDirect 4 has support for Blu-Ray. Also, it doesn't have a seperate partition anymore. Anyways, hopefully you can run your Blu-Ray discs with the PowerDVD disc Dell's sending you~