Media direct driving me crazy...

This is pretty long winded and probably getting me more than it should since I am a little OCD about things working right with my computers (I would think around here maybe that's not so abnormal )

OK so this is really driving me nutty... short of it is I have a 1400 that seems to work normally except it won't take an MD install... I always follow the directions exactly to install it and it always comes up with some way of not working.

I have had 2 1400's in my possession (on a replacement) and I did everything I could to narrow down the issue, here's what I tried (I will call then Vostro1 which doesn't take MD and Vostro2 which did take the install fine). This is MD direct boot, not windows client.

Vostro1 on my first attempt to install resulted in a BSOD when trying to load MD.

Vostro2 took the install just fine. After building out the drive I swapped it into Vostro1, which now loads MD fine. So there is no hardware incomparability.

I rebuild again on Vostro1 this time I get a white message on black screen saying it can't boot to this media.

Rebuild again and result is MD loading screen for a second, then Vista and windows MD client loads up.

I dumped an Acronis image I had made of the drive when it freshly built from the 1400 that did work and it works again, but I can't really go dumping the image every time I want to rebuilt my laptop...

I know this sounds like a minimal thing but I have been going crazy here as the replacement that Dell sent me had flaws and had to go back and I a not convinced at all the Dell will get me an overall good 1400 and I may just end up keeping this one as it's flaws are not horrible... if I do end up with that this MD thing is going to really get my goat.

The only thing I can think of is that the replacement vostro was a BIOS A01 and this is an A00...

One other thing I noticed that was interesting was that I have 2 MD install discs (from the 2 Vostros) and they have different part numbers, but are both listed as revision A00 for Vostro 1400 install... yet one of them makes a 3GB MD partition while the the other makes a 2.5GB...

So I guess what I am asking is, does anyone have any idea or recommendation as to what's going on and also (I assume this isn't it) is anyone else having trouble installing MD on an BIOS A00?

Thanks if you read that whole long post and TIA for any suggestions...

 

I don’t understand what you meant by build and rebuild the hard disk; anyways to get MD installed properly you have to first partition (prepare) the Hard disk using the MD installation disk. Then install Windows and run MD setup from Windows.

 

By build I mean reinstall everything. Even with the no bloatware Vostro I still like to do a clean windows install...

So my process is always:

Boot MD disc, follow instructions to setup, let it do it's thing and tell me to install OS

Install OS

Boot OS and run Dellkit from MD disc

Shutdown

Push MD button

The results on my current 1400 after 4 times of doing this process are that MD does not work... however each time with different ways of not working

On my other 1400 (that got sent back and had A01 BIOS) it worked 3 times perfectly.

I even swapped HD so it's not a HD problem.

 

Have you looked at this tutorial, talks about format and then install of fresh OS.
At the same time you can install the MD if you do it before the OS
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=156164

 

Yes I saw that video... no offense to whoever made it but that seems pretty basic as in I am not sure what people were doing wrong without seeing that video... it's just a basic OS install as far as I can see - kind of an equivalent to "how to fill your car with gas" video...

Anyhow, as you can see I do know how to install the software properly, I did it on the replacement Vostro and it worked fine, so it's pretty much a fault with this particular vostro although an odd one to be sure as it's manifested itself in different ways each time. I also reinstalled it on the replacement Vostro a total of 3 times (once with a swapped drive, and once to check if the two different MD discs made any difference) and every time it worked. I have installed it 4 times on the original Vostro and it never works... even with a HD swap so that's why I am finding it so odd...

I mean it doesn't make sense that building the drive on another machine then porting it over works, but you can't build it on that machine.

 

Are th 3 bois the same?
It is possible the 2nd one has the correct bios for proper install where as the 1st one does not. But once installed it does not matter what bios you have.

I have not done the install myslef but I plan to do it soon.
I want ot wipe the HD clean first using the OS DVD and then before the OS install I plan to use the MD DVD to isntall it and then go through the OS install.

Is that pretty much you did?

 

I only had 2 1400's, one with an A01 Bios and one with A00... that was one thing I was asking was has anyone else with an A00 been able to properly install MD as that would let me rule that out as well. Problem is it seems a lot of people just don't bother with MD so I think feedback on that is gonna be a bit slim (also since I didn't put that in the title of this thread).

A01 is not available for download and I already sent back the other 1400 so I don't really have a way to validate other than that...

But any ideas are definitely welcome...

As for your install, booting the MD3 disc goes through a setup that repartitions the hard drive, it will ask you if you want one big C drive or a C and D drive. If you choose the latter it will ask you how big to make the C drive, then do it's thing.

Then you boot the OS CD, you will see the partitions have already been setup, make sure to choose the C drive and complete the install.

On your first boot into windows, run the MD3 disc and choose to autorun the dellkit.exe, it will do its thing, then you shut down and press the house button. MD should then load.

Lemme know if that works and if you want to note your BIOS revision (it's probably A00 or A01) that would be great!

 

Ok I will look for what Bios on my Vostro, my guess will be it is A01 as I got my lap top around Aug 6th.

Do you see the MD partition in HD? I do not see it on my Vostro. Is it hidden?
I see 3 partitions, 1 for recovery (2GB), 2nd for OS (40GB) and last for data (67GB). I chose the option to have OS and data separated when I put in the Vostro order. I think my MD is inside the 40GB OS partition as I saw a folder labeled MD in there although it is not 2GB but barely 1GB.

Btw, I plan to format the OS partition and then do fresh OS install. I plan to do install MD3.3 first before install of OS and not planning to have separate partition for MD.

 

You don't see the MD partition from within windows normally. However when you boot to the Vista install disc, during the part that you choose where to install your OS you should see it if you properly setup the MD by booting it first (you should pretty much always see it if you didn't delete it intentionally).

I know it's too late now but I would not have paid for the partitioning... it's something that will be undone as soon as you reinstall the OS and you can do in about 3 mouse clicks while installing the OS. You can even do it very easily from within windows (Vista can adjust partitions even after the OS installs).

 

Oh ok so that is why I do not see it MD partition.

So if I reboot with the OS DVD and format the OS partition (not the data or recovery) will I also format the MD partition too? It seems if it is outside the OS partition so it should not be touched, right?
I plan to use the OS partition format procedure shown here (around 6:55 mark)
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=156164

If MD is part of the OS partition then I will reboot with MD first so it sets up its own partition first and then reboot the 2nd time with OS DVD to install OS. Once installed run the dellkit.exe to finish MD.

Load drivers that I already have on a flash drive from the Dell website.
Load the quickset as I like the function commands.

You are right initially I was not sure if I will do a fresh install of the OS but now I know and I could have saved the $10.

 

When you see the OS choice screen, if you don't choose to format anything but your OS partition you won't touch the MD parition, you will clearly see the MD partition labeled at the select screen so there should be no confusion there.

I have had success in the past NOT using the MD boot disc the first time if you are just overwriting an existing windows install (ie MD works now, you format only the OS partition, install vista again - then you don't need to boot the MD disc first) however it probably wont hurt to use the MD disc first and then you would be following the instructions to the letter.

To maintain a seperate partition for your data when booting the MD disc the first time, choose option 2, it will ask you how much for the C drive, and the remainder will be your D drive.

 

ok I check my BIOS the version says A00. Which version gave you issues?
Which do you have right now?
Is A01 better, if yes anyway to upgrade.

 

Actually when DELL sends you your PC, the Mediadirect is actually on a HPA (Host-protected area) which even many 3rd party partitioning tools cant see and so I douby the Windows Vista Install will be able to see it.....

This was given on a site called goodells.net

 

So if you only format the OS partition you should in reality only format OS and not the MD. Is this true?
I think you should not have to reinstall MD then?

 

You can format and keep MD or get rid of it. To get rid of it just format and repartition through the OS disk alone. to reinstall MD, use my guide below...it is simple.

Any questions, just ask.

PS and you can reformat just the OS, but there are then complications with MD as it works within as well as separate to the OS.

 

In my experience if you ONLY reformat the OS partition and don't mess with the MD partition, MD will still run from the house button afterwards.

Note this is in a limited number of attempts so there may be cases where this doesn't work.

Also note that if you don't run the MD install within windows after doing this, the MD direct boot will not be able to access your windows stored media files anymore.