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    M1330 Media Center

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by MPC, May 31, 2008.

  1. MPC

    MPC Notebook Consultant

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    I will be ordering the laptop with vista home premium or ultimate. If I am correct, that means that I will get windows media center right? so I don't need Dell MediaDirect?

    How do I get rid of Dell Media Direct? How do I use Windows Media Center? Can I still just press the media direct button? Do My media files have to be in a certain spot to access in Windows Media Center?

    sorry for the ton of questions - thanks
     
    MPC, May 31, 2008
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  2. darthsat

    darthsat Notebook Deity

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    Yes, Premium and Ultimate come with Windows Media Center. WMC is software built into the Vista OS, so you will need to run it through Vista. Dell MediaDirect is very similar to WMC in vista, but it allows you to press the Mediadirect button on the m1330 from a turned off state to just load MediaDirect.

    For WMC, it will detect all your media files in any folder on your HDD, and you can browse them and play whatever you want.

    You can get rid of mediadirect completely by reformatting your laptop and deleting the MediaDirect partition completely. This will free up 3GB of HDD space for you to use, but it will result in not being able to use Mediadirect at all. That means the button on the laptop to access it will become a dummy button and will do nothing. You cannot use that button to access WMC.
     
    darthsat, May 31, 2008
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  3. MPC

    MPC Notebook Consultant

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    so which is better to use? What is the point of WMC if I still have to boot up to use it? Does Dell Mediadirect detect all files on my hdd?
     
    MPC, May 31, 2008
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  4. Lucanesti

    Lucanesti Notebook Deity

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    Kind of crappy you cant reconfigure the button to do something else.
     
    Lucanesti, May 31, 2008
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  5. Kreeeee

    Kreeeee Notebook Evangelist

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    Mine boots up firefox and many people use it do launch a second OS via dual boot.
     
    Kreeeee, May 31, 2008
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  6. paper_wastage

    paper_wastage Beat this 7x7x7 Cube

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    i haven't used Dell MEdiaDirect, but i can say that Vista's MC is lag-free and responsive.... might be a good idea to get a TV tuner if u want to
     
    paper_wastage, May 31, 2008
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  7. Samuel613

    Samuel613 Notebook Evangelist

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    You ** can** reconfigure the MD button. Search the threads; some guy was able to use it to launch Firefox - there's nor reason it can't launch WMC if you figure out the key mappings, as he did.

    In any event, there's no need to wipe your HDD, unless you need those 3 GB. Just leave everything as is, and, if you really want to get rid of MediaDirect, uninstall the Windows Vista portion of MediaDirect by going to Programs and Features in Control Panel. Note that in non-MC versions of Vista (and in XP) you might lose your DVD decoding abilities, as MD performs that function, too.
     
    Samuel613, May 31, 2008
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  8. MPC

    MPC Notebook Consultant

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    Does Dell Mediadirect detect all files on my hdd?
     
    MPC, May 31, 2008
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  9. MPC

    MPC Notebook Consultant

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    can anyone answer or help?
     
    MPC, Jun 2, 2008
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  10. MPC

    MPC Notebook Consultant

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    how do you use dell mediadirect? Is there like a button?
     
    MPC, Jun 3, 2008
    #10