Fresh Install of Vista and still keep MD 3.3 intact

So I have Vista Basic on my Vostro and I have the Dell Vista Premium OEM re-install disk that I plan to use to install Premium.
I want to use the Vista OS DVD to format my OS partition only and leave all other partitions intact. Can I do that?

Also what is the best approach to keeping MD3.3 as is so I can use it with my laptop off and on. I read that you have to install it again and it may not work in Vista OS.

Below is my current config of the partitions, I already have separate OS and Data partitions.

 

It works fine with Vista else Dell wouldn't be shipping it on their Vista machines...

Just put the Media Direct disk in first and follow the instructions on screen and all will go well...

I'm also going to assume you can't use the AHCI mode in the BIOS for SATA since MD doesn't have the Intel drivers... It won't be able to see the HD... So keep the HD in IDE mode and all should be fine...

 

You dont have to keep the HD in ATA and can use it in AHCI just fine...Follow my instructions below for a clean install.

 

If it is from Vista to Vista HP, you don't need to format the HD. Just do a clean installation and it will backup the old file in Windows.old directory. It will take around 10GB of space but you can remove it later on. It is important to have that folder as that would allow you to recover some of the applications and drivers that cannot be re-installed from the CD/DVDs or downloaded files. Even with this way, I needed to run through the MediaDirect installation in Vista but it just took a minute or 2.

 

Vista HP??? I know its early but what is Vista HP?

 

Read more and you'll know. Vista HP stands for Vista Home Premium. It is pretty common in forums discussing notebook deals.

 

You're guide simply says the same thing I just said minus the no ACHI mode... I know how to do a clean install so it isn't all that useful to me...

Media Direct hasn't worked for me since I've changed to ACHI mode. It didn't work when I formatted and when Dell sent me a replacement HD with MD already installed it still failed (unless ACHI was off). So based on that I recommend the user use ATA/IDE emulation over ACHI if he desires Media Direct...

It wasn't an important feature to me so I just nuked Media Direct all together and forgot about it...

 

I understand what your saying but that is an error in your installation, not anothers. I can probably figure yours out as well if you want to try.

I think it is DEFINITELY not right to recommend anyone else to use ATA mode vice ACHI if the reasoning is simply because it doesnt work in your case. You are the only one that I know of that has this problem and hasn't found a way to fix it or work around it.

I have always used ACHI with MediaDirect without a problem.

Using ATA vice ACHI slows down your system significantly, especially with a hard drive. I have already documented this elsewhere through HDTune tests.

I know of two others who have had a similar problem to you and they HAD to install MD initially with the default partition and then, when first installing Vista, choose the repair and install drivers option. From there, they had to properly direct the menu to the ACHI driver before continuing the installation.

You will probably find all will fall in place after that.

As for MediaDirect, many people find it to be useful especially when accessing just contact, pictures or sound files. It does wonders to your battery life. I use it for watching DVDs on the go and it is a great utility. Aside from that, it would bother me having a button that has no use on my system knowing there is something not right with it.

Just trying to help is all..

 

I recommended ATA as the user said they desired Media Direct. I'm not going to argue performance differences with a user as it is their preference to which is more important (similar to how you regularly advise against caring about Dual Channel even though there is a performance loss assosiated with that decision).

I'm not retrying Media Direct as the 3 times I have tested it it didn't work in ACHI mode. Which, as I said, makes perfect sense seeing as how ACHI mode requires Intel's SATA drivers. I doubt it is purely my configuration as it was tested on 2 formats and 1 HD imaged by Dell (eliminating error on my part)...

Installing Media Direct isn't that complicated so I'm sure that was done correctly...

 

Your taking offence to a situation thats not needed.

1. If you ever find a thread or post in my past that advises for or against dual channel, point it out to me. I have never commented on it either way. My guess must be then that you are mixing me up with someone else.

2. If you have tried and accepted that your system does not work in ACHI with Media Direct, that is a fault with your system and, so far as I know, never has been an issue with anyone elses. It would be patently incorrect to then advise someone incorrectly based on your negative experience, especially since they will take your advice at word not realizing that their system could run at a much higher standard.

3. As for media Direct, many do find it complicated. In fact, if I can clarify exactly, your problem with that BSOD occurs when you try and complete the installation of MD after completing the installation of Vista. Alot of people, for some reason, believe that your supposed to reboot after installing Vista and once again they boot from the MD disk and try to complete the installation. THIS CAUSES THE BSOD from then and thereafter. One is supposed to start Vista, and then insert the MD3 disk and boot from the file that comes up. I am not saying that you did this, but rather, that this is what many do and does cause what you describe.

Im only trying to help the author first BY SHOWING THEM THE CORRECT method and then by assisting you. Like me, I can see that your a bit stubborn. If you ever decide to try and work through it, advise and I will help.

With respect to my experience in exactly what we speak of, my Clean Install thread speaks for itself by all that have responded.

 

I did a clean installation of Vista Ultimate (not upgrade) on top of Vista HB. No formatting and no switching from ACHI to ATA, and yet, the MediaDirect is working good. I think that is all the OP wants to know.

 

What is Vista HB/HP?

 

Home Basic, Home Premium?

 

So pop in the Vista premium DVD. chose to format the OS partition only and then restart from the OS DVD that will install the premium. After install reboot but after the reboot insert the MD 3.3 DVD? or first the driver CD and add the drivers first?
thx!
I do not want to touch the recovery or the data partition in my install if possible.

 

This will not work if the DVD is not the Dell DVD. You can reinstall Vista in the Vista partition if it is the same Vista that was their previously (ie Dell) You cannot otherwise and there are a few threads describing this if you want to hunt them up.

 

I have the Vista basic that came with the Vostro and I got reinstallation OS DVD from Dell but it happens to be Premium so yes it is DELL OS DVD. Will it work then as I mentioned

"So pop in the Vista premium DVD. chose to format the OS partition only and then restart from the OS DVD that will install the premium. After install reboot but after the reboot insert the MD 3.3 DVD? or first the driver CD and add the drivers first?"

 

It should be a simple upgrade although I would just go with the clean install.

 

Yes, it will work. Just pop the CD in and do a clean install without formatting and do not choose upgrade option either. Them, it will not have any bloat ware and you'll still have the old windows files backed up automatically. After installing Vista HP, go through the drivers and notebook system software installation (using the other CD). And then last, run the MediaDirect installation in Vista.

 

thx flamenko,
I want to keep the recovery partition and MD partitions as is. Since I already have the data and OS on separate partitions I just wanted to format the OS partition only instead of the whole HD. Formating the OS partition should be equal to a fresh install, I think...

billcsho,
can you give more detail run MD installation in Vista.
Does that mean just run the exe called Dellkit?
and do repair only not format or install? thx

 

I have to re-install the flash media devices and recover the bundled notebook network assistance program (not trial version) from the Windows.old folder. If you do format the OS partition, you would not have this option. Nevertheless, you'll recover ~10GB of space by formatting. This can also be done by deleting the windows.old folder later. You can do a clean installation without formatting.

 

Just pop the MediaDirect re-installation disk in Vista and run the setup in Windows. There is no need to touch the MediaDirect partition to restore the MD function in Vista, so you don't need to boot with the MD disk.

 

So you are saying pop in the Vista premium DVD and choose the clean install option? This way atleast I have backed the old files if I need them in future right? will they be saved in the OS partition?

 

Ill try this again...IT WONT WORK!!! Any OS reinstallation you do ruins Mediadirect. It is no good.

This is because, when the initial MediaDirect installation is done, this directory is created in your OS (see picture). When you delete that OS, Mediadirect is dead.

You can only do a clean install as per my instructions below. You cannot save the recovery unless...

Get a program like Acronis Disk Image 15 day trial and make a system backup. The backup is good forever and can be reinstalled whenever.

 

Sorry, seems to be a case of mistaken identity... Strange things happen early in the morning :|

If the OP has sucess with MD with ACHI on then I'll try it again someday in the future...

I don't have BSOD issues when installing Vista as I know how to install the OS ...

I'm just not sure what could cause MD to have any problems with loading beyond ACHI being on and it not having access to the HD due to lack of drivers for Intel's ACHI controller. But as i said earlier Media Direct isn't important to me so I didn't feel like spending a whole night doing formats to get it working properly. I'm sure I'd never use it even if it did work properly. As it takes me less time to boot into Windows and use VLC than it would to load media direct

I'd be interesting on your thoughts as to what on the system could cause a problem though... My understanding is MD depends primarily on being placed on the HD. The HD from Dell's factory had it already provisioned in the drive and worked perfectly until I changed from ATA to ACHI. Then it started giving me "Bitlocker" error messages (basically saying it can't see the HD)...

 

Had you been using bit locker? Had you encrypted files or directories???

Also you are using Ultimate as I which makes the AHCI issue and exactly when the driver is to be loaded very touchy, hence why I have the big add on at the end of my Clean Install thread.

Question though...did you get Ultimate with your system and, if so, was AHCI not on by default when you received the system? It should have been with MD3.3.

 

No I'm not using Bitlocker as I don't see the point since the 1520 doesn't include a TPM chip to ensure end to end encryption.

No, my copy of Ultimate is a clean MSDN copy from my company, but that isn't the issue. As I stated, I had the issue on a fresh HD I receieved from Dell for a warranty repair. That has Vista Home Premium installed on it as the machine shipped with.

My machine did not ship with ACHI on by default and the BIOS for the 1520 says ATA mode is the factory default setting. It does ship with MD 3.3 though...

 

Ok I installed premium using the DELL OEM DVD by chosing the clean install. I did not fomat the HD but just the clean install option and ignored the upgrade option.

Now I have 46 process running down from 61.
I have not yet installed works or anything else.
It never asked my for updates of the drivrs where do I do that?

 

K wait...does you MediaDirect still work?

If it doesnt, start from the beginning and erase the whole drive and start fresh as in my article below because you just killed MD3. Im curious to know this.

 

My MD3.3 does work when my computer is OFF but it does not work from inside Windows (I do not really care for that much). Although I plan to run the MD setup and hope it will fix it, will report once done.

Btw, How do I update the drivers? I never got that option or I missed it. I am assuming it used the one from previous install??

 

Thats interesting...ok now...about your other drivers.

Go to device manager...and you will see all kinds of yellow Exclamation Marks!!! We want to get rid of them. they are for such things as your video card, ricoh card slot etc.

There are a few places to get them, the first being on a drivers disk that may have come with your laptop.

If not go to dell.com/support/drivers and enter your tag number. It will bring you to the drivers you need for your system. The best video driver can be found in my Tweaking Article below, #17 I think.

Hope thats a start.

Oh as for mediaDirect, try and throw the disk in and get it installed again. I was very surprised to hear that it started because mediaDirect is dependant on the directories and files (WMP) of your OS to function properly.

 

Thx flamenko, All my drivers are already uptodate except one. It seems since I decided to do clean install option with the OS already present it may have used the drivers from there for the ne install.

I do have onse set called "Other devices" that is showing yellow.
It has three items listed as "Base System Device"
and then the 4th as "Ethernet Controller" all yellow.
I had downloaded all the driver from dell for my tag but it cannot seem to find the right one from them, not sure why.

OK I did run the MD3.3 CD by running the setup. Now MD also works inside the OS too.
So it seems I have been able to do a clean Vista install without losing the MD funtionality at all. I am told that when you do the clean install in Vista it does format the OS partition anyways and a format first is needed but I am not 100% sure how true it is.

 

OK some more updates.

I noticed that doing a clean install from the Vista premium without the HD or drive partition fomat seems to leave some old files and as well as use drivers from previous install so not sure what else is used from the old install and leaves doubt that it is not really a complete clean install.
Because of that I decided to do an install after the format.
So using the Vista OEM DVD formated my OS partition (leaving the data, recovery and MD partition untouched).
After the format loaded OS using the OS DVD by booting with the OS in the drive.
Once the OS was loaded from inside the windows ran the driver utility and added the driver that are checked for my laptop.
Restarted the computer after all the drivers are loaded.
Using the MD3.3 DVD ran the SETUP file (not the dellkit) and then restarted the computer.
From inside the windows checked if MD works and IT DID!
Shutdown laptop and pressed the MD button and that WORKED too!
So now I do have MD3.3 working and have a clean OS with the format.
After installing the AVG and Works when I start my laptop I have 47 processes running. I have not added any other utility type kits as I will install only if I really need them. I will probably do some of the tweak from Flamenko next.

Thx to all for help.
Flamenko's tips and Liquidplasma6 nice video for a clean install