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    Media Direct + Decoders

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by defect, May 11, 2006.

  1. defect

    defect Newbie

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    Searched the forums and came up with nothing, and I have yet to recieve my laptop so yea bear with me...

    I am trying to determine if using the Media Direct Repair Utility alone (without installing Cyberlink software) will provide DVD playback functionality in the "half boot mode" (dunno what else to call it :))... I've read that Media Direct has a sort of integrated PowerDVD decoder which will work in half boot but not from the Windows OS. Can anybody confirm this? I ask because I am interested in installing a different decoder for use in MCE, but I do not want it to effect what goes with Dell Media Direct. Sorry if that was unclear. TIA

    -chris
     
    defect, May 11, 2006
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  2. MarkMcK

    MarkMcK Notebook Evangelist

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    Understand....

    Dell's MediaDirect is a 'package' deal and includes DVD play capability out of the box. So you'll be good to go there.

    As far as MCE, it too will initially have a DVD play capability [PowerDVD]. You can manually remove it or perform a Windows reinstall and you'll be ready for your own DVD player software.

    Neither will do anything wrt the MediaDirect player as that is in a 'special' area of the hard drive. But....

    After a Windows Reinstall, you must restore the Dell boot code by using the MediaDirect Repair Utility. If you don't, you won't be able to access MediaDirect.

    So, if I understand where you're heading....

    Reinstall Windows leaving the Dell partitions alone [or as a minimum the
    Dell Utility ~40MB partition]. IOW reinstall Windows over the original system partition.

    Run MediaDirect Repair

    Customize your Windows install as desired.

    You'll have Power DVD in MediaDirect, and whatever you choose in Windows...

    hth

    Mark
     
    MarkMcK, May 11, 2006
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