Media Direct Button(other uses)

hello all,

I wasn't really impressed with the Dell Media Experience, but the fact the button was on my M1210 bugged me. I did some looking around on how to use it for something else, I managed to find some guy who did a bunch of renaming of files to get that button working with other programs.
This worked, but was limited to renaming and remembering what you did, blah blah... after doing some file & reg monitoring, it seems Quickset is hardcoded to launch DMX.exe, and although it doesnt care where it may be installed, the launchable program must be called "DMX.exe"
I decided to make my own workaround, and came up with this nifty launcher
you can get here http://www.killbox.net/downloads/DMX.zip

Basically all it does is let you launch any program you want from the Media Direct Button. I personally like Nero Showtime, and have that launching instead.
This only affects the button in Windows mode only, pressing the Media Direct from the laptops power off state still will launch the Media Direct Application.
Anyway a FYI, this is a beta type release, I only tested it on my own book, but it makes very little changes, if anyone tries it out give me some feedback about how it works etc.

 

Thanks for this great app. I think you're the first one to make this launcher.

It works for me, but it doesn't create the .reg file for me.

Can u upload it in case i want to revert my settings?

I think there's a bug that it wont create a dmx.reg file.

thank you.

 

I have this error when I open DME launcher.exe



I have Microsoft .NET Framework version 1.1 and 2.0.

Here's the error report in detail.

Despite that, I am still able to use the launcher and change to a diff app if I choose continue.

 

calvin_gsc

Thanks for the review

I just finished that app last nite, I thought I worked out all the error possibilities, the error you got looks as though you tried to run it while it was in use , I'll patch that up today.
The screen shot looks as though you are running Vista?? though your tag says Windows XP Pro SP2 ??
The DMX.reg file is created only if there were previous(Dell Media Experience)
I'll fix that as well, and perhaps add a default reset/uninstall to revert back to "Dell Media Experience" so the backup would not be needed.

 

Hey, it's a really great app despite it's bugs.

Yeah, I tried to run it when it already has been used for the first time.

I am just using the Vista interface, I am running Windows XP Pro SP2. Sorry if i made it confusing for you.

But all the best and keep us updated ok?

Thanks a lot!

 

Yay! Now I don't have a worthless MediaDirect button anymore.

 

Is it possible to make the media button act as a key command? ctrl + alt + del for example

 

useless!? i find the media buttons on my e1505 so useful when i am listenig to music on itunes and want to stop/play next song etc!

 

You're confusing the Media buttons on the front of your E1505 and the Media Direct Button across from the Power Button. His program remaps the Media Direct button not the Media control keys.

 

Well I used the DME Launcher to set it to cyberlink power dvd, but it does not open with the media direct button. When I press it nothing happens, but opening the DMX.exe opens up cyberlink power dvd.

 

Thanks for the input,
I'll upgrade with suggestions etc.
as for

possibly useful, I'll see if that can work with the restrictions of Quickset DMX.exe hooks

I'm not getting this?? The button doesnt work? I know the PowerDVD has a service involved, you may need the commandline & arguments for it to run.
and are we talking PowerDVD that is part of Media Experience or the stand alone version like PowerDVD5,6 or 7?

I uploaded a small revision(same link, ver 1.1) that should address the exception error, and original settings.(provided they were not changed)

 

I set C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe and it wont launch, the mediadirect button does nothing. Manually launching dmx.exe runs ie no problem.
Firefox wont launch either.
Also tried C:\Progra~1\Intern~1\iexplore.exe

xp pro sp2
inspiron 6400

i know the button works, it takes me out of suspend.

if you need anything else let me know

 

Thats great , since i reinstalled windows xp pro and it became unusefull to me - it didnt load anything.
i just wanted to say that i tried it on e1405 and it worked on it too.

 

I am talking about the stand along PowerDVD 7. What happens is when I press the media direct button on my laptop after I set PowerDVD in the launcher nothing happens. However if I run the dmx.exe file it opens PowerDVD. If I need to commandline and arguments to run it then that's a different story. I have no idea where to find those.

 

skanadian & maimone

I see Quickset looks in more than 1 place to load from that button, but I think I found a solution to this, I'll update the utility as soon as I can.

Do either of you have the Dell Media Experience Software installed still? or your running XP media edition.

 

I removed mine a few days after getting my laptop.

Completely formatted my laptop.

Looking forward to the new app.

 

Nah, I'm running a clean copy of xp pro on my laptop. I use it for work, so no media edition either. No prepackaged Dell software at all.

 

ok thanks, explains alot.

updated again http://www.killbox.net/downloads/DMX.zip

This update will search for both load locations, and adjust settings so which ever Quickset prefers, and it will load your Program instead.
I'm not sure if Quickset versions from model to model have different code, If the problems some are having are due to "clean installs" from a Non-DELL CD. Dell's $OEM install may add registry keys, expecting the computer to have the Media Direct button, I dunno

 

Hey Option^Explicit, even with the latest version, i still get this error.

But, I am glad that it still can make my MD button work for any program. But I am just wondering, what kind of error is that.

What is the PCM.exe file for?

 

i just wanted to let you know that this version worked without any errors compared to the older one , where i was getting the same error message as the guy above me.
Im using new clean XP pro updated. Also using Deep Freeze which freezes the system so i can test different versions of your tools without worries, because every restart my system comes back to its frozen state.

 

also confirming the program works without any errors. I installed the latest version on a clean install of Windows XP and Winamp launches without any errors. Thank you for posting this great app.

I killed the media direct partition as I have no need for it.

 

Im still having problems, the app doesn't launch. I tried a few, iexplore, winamp. Running dmx.exe manually works. Any other thoughts? Need anything? Im savvy.

 

skanadian

Do you have Dell's Quickset installed?

Quickset makes the call for DMX.exe to run, the button is dead otherwise

 

ya, installing quickset fixed it. cool app, thanks!!

 

Thanks Option^Explicit, this is just what I'm looking for!! MediaDirect sucks compared to Windows Media Center (what I want to use the button for).
I noticed a process, pcmservice.exe, from MediaDirect was taking over 150,000KB of memory when not even in use, so I disabled that at startup.(anyone else notice that) Anyway you should think about spreading the word for this app, I know I will. Very nice!! Thanks!

 

Works a treat for me cheers

 

Vista Business.

Program runs and operates, but Dell MediaExperience still loads, not iTunes. Any ideas?

 

Thabks for this , i will try it when i get home.

 

has anyone gotten this to work w/ Vista? I don't have Dell Media Experience installed (or the partition) but I do have QuickSet installed and the Media Direct button still doesn't do anything after I set DMX. running DMX.exe manually DOES run the desired app though. I know the button works as it responds when in suspend as well.

 

hmm, this program doesn't seem to work on my e1705? I'm running on windows media edition, SP2, i have dell quickset install, i followed the instructions. I just extracted it, ran DME launcher, selected a program (winamp) and press set. I closed it and pressed the MediaDirect button but it doesn't work, it still opens up media center. Any suggestions?

 

does it work under Windows VISTA Ultimate, because i tried it and it shows that the file is protected.

 

wow, this old thread still active?
I finally got my own Dell Vista upgrade and was able to take a closer look at the differences. I notice the updated quickset program does not have the same calls as it did in XP, and the reason this wont work in Vista.
I'll research this a bit more and see if I can get this to work in the vista enviroment.

 

please help, i really want this to work but the MediaDirect Button still goes to media center. However, when i go into the DMX launcher folder in my program files and double click DMX.exe, it runs the program i chose. Everything is set up correctly, my hot keys work, i have dell quickset, but the MediaDirect button is still set to media center.

or am i suppose to add something in the argument. I want it to run adobe photoshop cs

 

Please do come up with a new version for Vista.

I also upgraded to Vista Home Premium.

Would like the MD button to run Windows Media Center.

 

Can it run under Vista Ultimate, because currently this button does nothing at all.

 

Any updates on the launcher for Vista?

 

Hi Everyone,

I recently reformatted my harddrive into two seperate partitions - one with XP PRO SP2, and the other with Vista. I installed the dell quickset on both operating systems. The MediaDirect button works fine on Vista, but doesn't work at all on XP pro. It says :

"Unable to launch Dell Media Experience. Please install this software and try again".

...So I tried the CD that came with Dell to reinstall the MediaDirect, which didn't work because it says that it's "ALREADY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED" (it was on my Vista partition) and cancels itself after 10%.

I tried the software that Option^Explicit developed - but upon running the DME Launcher.exe it says:

"The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000135). Click on OK to terminate the application"


Is there anyway to disable the program or remap the key?


Thanks,
Cal.

 

sorry to dig up an old thread here but was this ever resolved. i think i'm going to choose to use windows media center over dell media direct, would be nice to use this button for that.

 

Hello. First at all, sorry for my english. I´m Argentinian, and i live in Spain.

This is my experience changing the behaviour of media direct button INTO windows vista:
I have a Dell Inspiron 1720, with Vista Premium.
First, i have uninstalled Dell Media Direct (prefer media center), and i wanted the missing function in my Inspiron to turn off my monitor.
I have not formatted (still) the 2,5 or 3 gb hide partition that include Dell Media Direct, only uninstalled it from C:\.
Because it, if i press the button when windows vista is not running, the dell media direct, attempt to run.

My Dell 1720 don`t have the option to turn off the screen, and now, i assigned the "house" button to turn off the screen when i press it.

I was investigating, and I did not have the need to use any other software to do it than a very small program (36kb) to turn off the screen (monitoroff.exe), and put it into a new folder: (C:\program files\Apagar monitor\monitoroff.exe, for example.)
Only, i have used REGEDIT to edit the registry, and this small program.

If you want to do it, you must edit 3 entries named: "HotStartButton --> 0 --> ApplicationPath", and put the path to the program "monitoroff.exe" within each entry .

Next, you must delete the "PathName" and the "ProgramName" entries in: "HKLM\SOFWARE\DELL\MediaDirect", leaving them empty.

It´s that all folks!!! It rune fine in my Inspiron 1720 with vista premium. When i press the "house button", my screen turn off, and when press the keyboard or i move the mouse, the screen turn on.

I hope that this trick is useful for many people.

Rodrigo Leonardo Espinosa Mones

 

this is sweet, thanks!

 

For nothing, that's what we are here. Thanks

 

Anyone tried using this to turn on/off bluetooth on the m1330?

 

will it run on a (non clean install) windows xp sp2 (JAPANESE)?

 

Hey Option^Explicit, thanks for writing this cool little app!

One thing to add is that you need .net 2.0+ to install it.

Also, I couldn't get this work work on XP MCE SP2. Even after committing the values, the Dell Media Direct Button still launches ehshell.exe.

Wait a sec, I'm gonna do a search for that in my registry. One of them should be the entry controlling the Dell Media Direct Button right?

UPDATE: Well, all the instances of ehshell.exe I've found seem like they belong to XP MCE and not the DMDB.

 

Hi Rodrigo, I'm running XP MCE and the XP version of Quickset and there is no

"HKLM\SOFWARE\DELL\MediaDirect"

in my registry?

 

I'd like to set this up to launch Firefox. i have Vista Home Premium and would like to know what to install and what registry entries to edit. the program "monitoroff" doesn't seem to do anything, and the original program doesn't seem to be compatible with vista.

Has anybody have any luck with vista? if so, care to help me out?

 

how I do this?

I don't know nothing about registry

thanks

edit:I did it! and runs very well.

thanks for all

 

When I launch the DME utility it doesn't launch the program I want. I still get this box (presumably because I have a Microsoft Keyboard with Fingerprint Reader installed).

Anyone have any clue how to make the media direct button do what I want it to and get rid of this pop up?

 

Since I lost this thread and I downgraded to XP from Vista i just give it a try to others in the forum change their function of the MEdia Buttons.

 

Hi Option^Explicit,

DMX Launcher works beautifully on my XPS M1730 system running XP SP3 with Vista Transformation Pack v.8 (love the Vista LOOK). Thank you so much!

I made a slight change after first execution: Moved the DMX Launcher folder after executing DMX Launcher.exe for the first time to a new location
C:\Program Files\QuickSet\DMX_Launcher

Kept DMX Launcher.exe in this folder, along with DMX.exe and PCM.exe and made a shortcut to DMX Launcher.exe and placed it in the Start Menu.
Made required changes in the Register to properly reflect the path to the new location.

It is now easy to launch the application and remap the Dell Media Direct button at any time and the new path to the executable is more logical as QuickSet itself is a prerequisite to run DMX Launcher.

Perhaps you would consider adding the option where to place the files when executing the first time?

FYI: Immediately formatted the HD´s and made a clean XP Pro installation on HD0 in a small 20GB partition, holding OS and apps ONLY. The rest of HD0 makes up D:\ with all user folder/files and the 2nd HD E:\. No traces whatsoever was left of the original setup provided from Dell (Vista Home Premium, Media Direct and so on).

Dell graciously provide a complete set of XP drivers for this machine.

Tried Vista for about four months but could not find any compelling reasons to keep it so I made the informed decision to chuck it out. XP performs very well on the system.

I use the Media direct button to launch the TV tuner, a PC card.

Once again, thanks a lot!

Zteir