MediaDirect Resintallation CD for E1705?

Did you change your folder location or something? I've seen a few users say that they had to reinstall MediaDirect when they did that. I don't think doing a reinstall of MediaDirect hasn't been giving anyone problems. The problem has been with the repair software.

 

Installed to default locations. My question is do i have to install media direct if i didn't smoke the other partitions or is it already installed on the 1308mb partition that I left. Of course media direct does not show up in add/remove software for me.

Does it seem that the only way to get Mediadirect to work is to delete all partitions following the posted steps and that you can't get it to work if you leave the other 2 partitions on the drive while doing a fresh xp install? Has anyone made it work who didn't delete the partitions?

 

MediaDirect should be showing up in your add/remove software. It actually installs on the XP partition, but uses the smaller partition for booting.

So even if you haven't mess with the smaller partitions, I'm guessing that you either removed some software or did a clean install (can't remember if you said that in a previous post), so it should work once you install it again.

SG

 

I did a clean install of xp and didn't install media direct. I'll try that and see how it works in a few hours.....

 

k, let us know how it works out. This Media Direct thing is a mess.

 

Put no drive letter, cause when you run windows xp setup program, you will select that partition where windows os will be installed. So, after all the steps, when you boot your pc up again with MediaDirect repair boot cd, and run cd/md2 repair, it will see that the 1038gig partition the active drive and will repair it, not the windows one. It worked for me. But I really dont know if it will for you. PLEASE back up your hardrive with ghost or trueimage before attempting the steps.

 

Thanks Rob.

Wondering though if there is a way to keep from having to reinstall the OS and apps, etc... do you think I could use ghost or someother method to backup my existing environment to a USB drive (maxtor 300gb)... then do the partitioning you described and install XP again... THEN restore the backedup ghost environment and overlay the just recently installed XP? And THEN run the MediaDirect Repair Boot CD the 2nd time and run the cd/md2 repair, etc...This would prevent me from having to spend another 10 hour day reinstalling my OS and all my apps again.

Your method of reinstalling MediaDirect2 makes sense to me though... just wish there was a way to keep from reinstalling all my apps again. arggggh!

Is this the only way?


I've already reserved the 1308+ mb UN-partitioned space per the reinstall instructions in the PDF file when I initially began deleting partitions and reformatting. But it sounds like from what everyone is saying is that the PDF file instructions for reinstalling is bogus and doesn't really work?

Thanks,

Ben

 

ygohome, i tried that, but it did not work for me. you can try it and see if it will work for you, but i had no luck.

Yes, the intructions of MediaDirect reinstallation cd is bogus. it does install if you have 1308 of unllocated space, but when you turn off you pc and press the mediadirect button, you will get a windows error blue screen. But the power button will load windows normally. Now, if you try to repair that problem, the mediadirect button will work!, BUT!!!!! windows now will not load. You will get an error blue screen.

DELL really needs to come out with a guide on how to repair the MediaDirect partition and keep you OS parition intact.

 

I couldn't agree more that Dell needs to provide a set of MediaDirect Reinstallation instructions that work without hosing Windows XP.

See this message from earlier in the thread. It describes how I largely followed a some Dell Forum instructions (which admittedly seemed odd) to get Windows XP installed and having MediaDirect working after having earlier removed the MediaDirect partition.

It involved running the MediaDirect Repair utility BEFORE installing the Windows OS, and then again after. I don't claim to understand the rational for some of the steps provided, but it did work.

 

rtbond, we got on how to make the mediadirect working again(dont know if it is the right way,but it works) by following those steps and i also got it working my own way wich is similar to those steps. But the problem is, people don't want to reinstall windows os again (start all over). They want a solution on repairing the mediadirect feature and having their current windows os + their entire sofware intact. And this is very difficult. Cause mediadiret needs that 1308 parition to be the active partiton before aplying the mediadirect repair. After you apply it, the windows os will be the active,.... It's so very confusing(i myself dont know how it works). I personally just did everything all over again following the steps and reinstalled all my softwares. Then i just made a image of my driver(im taking about backing up the whole "DISK" wich includes the windows partition and the 1308 parition, NOT just the C: driver.. and saved into my external hard driver. I chose the setting on acronis trueimage to split the image at 4.34gig to save it later on a DVD-R

 

A good solution to get Dell MediaDirect feature back is to follow nucomer guide at: http://forums.us.dell.com/supportfo...ps_port_hdd&message.id=92&query.id=374312#M92

But his guide does not include some important information. What he left out is in step 7 from the top ("Then create following partitions:"). Where it says to create 2 partitions, the first the 8 megs, and the other your OS system. BUT!!! before creating the OS system partiton (the second partition), deduct 1308 megs from the total of size left. So, after creating the second partition, you should have 1308 unlllocated space (This is very important!!!!!!). CREATE the 8 meg first, then the OS parition(but deduct 1308 from the size)
---------------------------
After, this, just follow his steps again.
"Once the first and second partitions are created, remove Windows XP CD, put in Dell Drivers & Utilities CD (also, you can download the MediaDirect bootable repair ISO from Dell.com and make the CD)

· Restart computer

and then follow his steps 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, 10,11,12,13,14 (Skip step 10 if you don't need to create another partition (I DID ) so, I do not know if this step works on creating another partition.)
--------------------------------

PS: the unllocated size will probally not be exact 1308 when you leave space behind. But you got to make sure that you leave at least 1308 megs. This space is require when you install MediaDirect reinstallation cd. I checked this guide out and it worked. But make sure to leave 1308 unllocated space.

A BIG THANKS TO nucomer FOR THE GUIDE. IF IT WASN'T FOR HIS GUIDE, MEDIADIRECT FEATURE WOULD STILL BE DRIVING ME CRAZY. Again, thanks.

 

Is it just me or is anyone else wondering why this has to be so difficult.

I would think you could create you small partition, then how many ever large partitions you want. Let the repair do its thing, then install windows. Then install Media Direct.

I'll make sure to update this info into the XP format sticky. Thanks to everyone that contributed on this matter.

 

yes, definately great info here. Thanks Again. And Thanks Rob for clarifying the steps.

Thanks,

Ben

 

its soo confusing @.@
it realy scared me that should i format my notebook anot @.@

 

This is what i'm thinking:

When you are reformatting your laptop, you can delete the restore partition, but leave the remaining partitions. Then add the space from the restore partition to your XP partition so its not sitting there being waisted. After that, you select your XP partition to format, and complete the process. This will leave your remaining partitions, so they should still work. After that, all you would need to do is install Media Direct, since the smaller partition should still be on the harddrive.

Anyone agree with me? or did i make that totally confusing? Anyone that has a new system, can you check to see what partitions you have?

 

Hi All,

What is the price for the MediaDirect v2.0 installation CD at Dell.com?

Also, what was the shipping price within US.

Is it possible to get it from someone?

Thanks.

Lochan

 

Also, is it necessary the 8MB partition because I have already the whole space for XP and an unpartitioned part of 1308MB but I did not create the 8MB partition. Is it necessary because in that case I have to reinstall XP Media Edition one more time. My God, 1 more hour of work after so many days of troubles with this MediaDirect.

As for MediaDirect, I tried the downloadable file of 38.5MB from dell.com but it does not work. I guess I need the installation CD.

 

The cd is free. You just need to call dell and request it. Usually you'll get it in about 2 business days.

As for the 8mb, i'm not really sure of the answer. Judging from other posts, you can just use the 1308. In the link related to dell, the creater of the thread only created a 8mb partition for Media Direct to boot up on.

He also says that you can create a 1308mb partition for MediaDirect, so to me it sounds like either way will work.

SG

 

Thanks SouthernGirl!!!

 

Since it seems that we solved the problem of the Media Direct installation I have a new question, I might open a new thread within the forum.

For those who have the Windows Media Edition installed ... how to eliminate that boring green colored volume line that appears in the center of the screen anytime we modify the volume?

I find this feature useless since with the Dell Quick Play we have a volume indicator which is smaller and cute (also that appears on the right corner).

Any idea how to remove the volume level indicator from the Windows Media Edition?

 

On other XP versions, it is Dell Quickset that has the popup box, so i'm pretty sure it is the same for you. If uninstall or turn this off, then your "press play to start mediadirect" won't work nor will you have the other popop boxes like brightness control.

You can move that box to a better location. Just click and drag on it to where you want.

 

hi all.i'm italian and i have the inspiron 9400,win xp software and dell driver and utilities cd but not media direct 2 reinstall cd.in italy the cd is not send so i have not cd's to reinstall the software.please someone can make a .iso file of media direct and send me the file with e-mule bittorrent or another sharing program.
please this is very important for me please please someone answer me

 

scuse me but media direct and media experience are the same software or it's different

 

I'll make an ISO file this weekend and post here after its been made. Its rediculous trying to get the correct reinstall CD from Dell. They've sent me a ton of disks so far includeding a couple extra copies of my OS backup disk and useless driver/utilites disks for the wrong laptop. lol

 

Can you please just send him the link and not post on the forums?

I'm kind of in a hard spot on this. I understand how difficult it is and sympathize with that, but I still have to consider the legal issues of it.

 

sorry but there is no link to dowload the file.the only way tohave the cd is o request it to dell.i have tried to contact also usa support but they have said me that shipping in italy os impossible.to get the iso you have to talck with other member that have received the cd from dell.this is the only way.please make this iso

 

I meant that once he gets the .iso file uploaded to the web, to send the link to you via email or PM.

If it is posted on here, I'm going to have to delete it. The link would allow US residents on our site to get the file illegally, when they can get it for free from dell.

 

Dear everyone,

Thanks for being so informative about the MediaDirect Reinstallation Issue.
I will be recieving my dell e1705 tomorrow, and want to confirm how many partitions I need to create in order to get MediaDirect to work correctly? DO I create 2 or 3 partitions? I am only interested in a single partition system.

I have a 60 Gig Harddrive.

According to what I have read, I am slightly confused.

Do I:

Create 2 Partitions like this?

Partition 1 - 8MB
Partition 2 - 58960 MB

1302 MB is left unpartitioned for the MediaDirect Software.

If this choice is recommended, my question would be, why the need to set aside a partition for 8MB for MediaDirect when I already have allotted 1302 MB of unpartitioned space?

OR, Do I create partitions like this?

Partition 1 - 1302 MB ( For mediaDirect Software)
Partition 2 - 58698 MB (XP OS and everything else)


Since I have not gotten my Laptop yet, I am not sure if I will be getting the MediaDirect Reinstall software. Will it be found in Drivers and utilities CD included?

Thanks for your response!

 

No you have to request the separate disk which is located on the first page.

Second thing, I think you don't have to create any partitions. When you are reformatting, you'll see several partitions.
1 partition = 8mb (Media Direct)
1 partition = 40mb ( Diagnostics)
1 partition = 5gb (restore)
1 partition = rest of space ( windows partition)

By all indications if you leave the 8mb partition alone, you shouldn't have any problems. The only thing you have to do is reinstall Media Direct. You can delete the other 3 partitions and lump them together so you'll only have 1 partition.

 

FYI - I confirmed this issue is only for e1705 and M140. When I reinstalled XP on the M170 I created 1 partition and loaded XP. The MediaDirect feature works as it did prior to the new install.

Note: M170 uses MediaDirect v1, which actually boots into Windows and opens Windows Media Center to play the DVD.

 

I followed exact steps that someone posted on notebookforums on their dell forums and found that it worked. The problems listed in this thread deal with people that have deleted the first partition. When you prepare to reinstall XP you will find 3 partitions, the first will be about 40MB, the next will depend on the size of your harddive, and the last appears to be dell's system restore. When you are deleting partitions just remember to keep the first one intact. Once you have followed through with all of the steps (xp stuff/drivers), burn the image of the mediadirect repair Here and then when you're ready for a go, place the CD into the laptop and boot directly from the CD, via F12. Then just follow the instructions that were given in the file that you originally downloaded and it should work. Thank jhagg on those forums for the initial guide.

 

Thanks All,

SO let me confirm.....

There is now no need to allocate 1032 MB of unpartitioned space for the MediaDirect anymore?

When I recieve my e1705 Laptop I should see several partitions, the first partition should be 8MB which I should not delete. I than should go ahead and delete all remaining partitions and recreate one single large partition since I am interested in a single partition systen.

I should not require the re-install MediaDirect CD, since I did not delete the 8MB partition but only need the MediaDirect Repair utility CD? Once I have reinstalled XP Pro OS, and all other drivers, than I should place repair utility CD into Drive and boot up via utility CD via F12 and execute repair?

Is this correct?

I will probably check out the partitions once I get the Laptop tomorrow and write back here to print out what I see before proceeding. I want also to confirm what Cds were given to me.

Thanks for all your responses!

 

You shouldn't have to create any partitions and go thru the method.

It is either 8mb or 40mb. I've heard different specs. It should be the smallest partition that you have.

If you tell us which ones you have, we could give you more informaiton. Its hard for me to tell since i don't have an 9400 to test this on.

 

Thanks for the fast response SouthernGirl,

I will post the various partitions on my laptop when I get it.

With quite a number of methods to get the MediaDirect reinstalled again, it would be nice to have a direct how to guide that would settle this issue once and for all!....

But I want to say what a great informative crowd we have here!

 

LOL, yeah I agree. We might need to get a reinstall guide for MediaDirect.

I'm hoping this was just a unfortunate event that happened with the new users of E1705. Nobody could have known about this issue until someone formatted it. Hopefully, if we figure out which partition it is, i'll update the guide for it, and nobody else will have this problem.

 

Hi all. Okay, according to the guide http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=40902&page=7 , the mediadirect while pc is off works after following the guide. But you cannot search your c: drive for pictures or videos. If you attache an external USB drive, it will work properly. It will show the external drive folders etc... But again, the laptop hardrive, cannot be accessed. I guess it has something to do the way we reinstalled the MediaDirect software and used the MediaDirect repair cd to repair the way it read the hardrive. I hope someone will figure this out.

 

well that is one way to do it. I've seen other guides on dell's forums and NBF which has it much simplier. I just don't know if that will work or not.

Like I said, it is really hard for me to say which is better since I don't have the E1705 and can't really test it.

 

Ummm, sorry to chime in like this, but that 8MB partition means absolutely nothing. You will ALWAYS have 8MB left over regardless of what computer (desktop/laptop/manufacturer) you use. This is due to how windows creates partitions. Even if you have only one partition for the entire drive, there will still be 8MB of unused space left over.

Just wanted to clear that up, as we already have enough confusion about all the different partitions...

 

Right. I also posted same information that MediaDirect is installed by default in the PC Restore by Symantec partition. Not in the 8MB or 7.8MB partition

I wrote it in this very topic, page #2, post #29
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=40902&page=2
Also in http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=42147 post #17

 

I have 2 MediaDirect system here.
1 is out-of-the box (no changes on partition nor files)
1 is clean-installed XP then I reinstalled MediaDirect
Both can access the media files (video, pictures, music) that is stored in local disk and in cd drive without attaching external drive if you launched MediaDirect while notebook is off.

Do you have problem accessing your media files?
If so, try to repair the MediaDirect using the repair utility

 

Yes I know that the 8mb is filler, but if you read the guides on how to solve the MediaDirect problem, most of them suggest one of two things:
create an 8mb partition
or
create a 1308

If you do one of those two things and follow the steps, you repair MediaDirect successfully as Rob did. That's why I suggested about the 8mb partition.

MediaDirect most likely is on the restore partition, but it seems like it is only there for backup. Users on NBF and dell forums have said that that there is either a hidden partition that none of us are seeing or the possibility that it is in the Utilities/Diagnostic partition.

If you delete all of the partitions, EXCEPT for the utilities/diagnostics partition, all you have to do is use the repair utility located on the CD or burn your own to a CD. Then reboot, using the CD as 1 time choice. You follow the instructions.

This is how alot of users are apparently doing it.

 

Hi SouthernGirl,

Over here, in another MediaDirect system (I cloned the original hard drive so I can always put it back if I want). I installed PartitionMagic then I merged the 7.8MB unallocated space into the system partiton then I deleted Dell Diagnostic Utility partition. The result is MediaDirect still works while notebook is off and while in Windows.

Looks like different method.. different result

 

Thanks for the info. That seems like alot easier than the other methods.

I know there are several methods to this. I've been searching for the past week, and it is like searching for a needle in haystack. I just wish we could figure what was causing all the problems.

 

You're welcome. It works because I didn't delete the PC Restore.
Was playing with those hidden partitions and MediaDirect the past few weeks after I cloned the hard drive.

In another test, I deleted both hidden partition (the 7.8MB, the diagnostic and the PC Restore partitions), reinstalled MediaDirect in the 1308MB unallocated space. It works - the MediaDirect button while notebook is off and while in Windows.

I created a guide at my blog page on How To Reinstall MediaDirect hoping to help anyone who will search google with the words "How to reinstall MediaDirect".
I blogged it last Feb. 24 only and so far Google has not indexed it yet. What Google indexed is my other blog entry " Dell MediaDirect, PC Restore, Diagnostic Utility and the hidden partitions"
That is OK I think.. at least it will let some searchers later on.

Dell's guide in reinstalling MediaDirect is confusing or shall I say, it is missing some steps.

 

Ok SouthernGirl,

I just got my Laptop, was shocked to see a gaping hole at the side of my box after the UPS man dropped it off...BUT hopefully nothin bad happened to the laptop. I will now print out what I see in my screen for the original partitions.

This is what I see exactly, I have a 60 Gig Harddrive:

- artition1[FAT] 47MB
C artition2[NTFS} 52243 MB
E artition3[FAT32] 3499MB
Unpartition Space 8MB

So, in light of all the current posts so far, which partitions can I safely delete so that when I reinstall XP OS, I can just use the DirectMedia Repair Utility that can be found on the Blue Drivers and Utilities CD that shipped with the system?

Thanks for your response.

 

Sorry, But I forgot to ask. What is the part number for the MediaDirect reinstallation CD? I know that Dell reps sometimes will misunderstand and send the MediaDirect Repair CD instead and I want to avoid this possibility by telling them the actual part number of the reinstallation CD. Can anyone who has this CD sent to them here in the US tell me the part number?

Thanks!

 

You can delete partitions 2 and 3, make sure not to delete the first partition and after everything is loaded you can just run the repair utility and you should be fine.

 

Part # DH371 - "Dell Media Direct 2.0 Reinstall CD With Techsheet"

 

I had asked for the reinstall CD on friday and they had originally placed the order for DH371. They then cancelled that one and created a new one:

UD525 KIT,CDSK,PTCD,INSP,9400

My mediadirect is working so I guess I'll just keep this CD incase of any problems but I wanted to know if anyone knew what this CD was?

 

Ok everyone,
I am going to attempt the reinstall of my OS tonite and want to make sure I get the steps correct. The process seems to be simplified a great deal now. Please do correct me if I am wrong. Hopefully this can serve as the most updated guide for anyone doing a fresh install when they first get their laptop.

In my case I have a 60 gig HD. This is what I see as the original partitions of my HD:

- artition1[FAT] 47MB
C artition2[NTFS} 52243 MB
E artition3[FAT32] 3499MB
Unpartition Space 8MB


Step 1 - According to current info, I should be able to delete partitions 2 and 3 BUT leave partition 1 intact.

Step 2 - I will go ahead and create a new partition with the remaining space since I am only interested in a 1 partition system.

step 3 - I will next install the XO Pro OS into the one large new partition.

step 4 - I will go ahead and install and update all drivers.

step 5 - Remove the XP OS CD and restart/boot with Dell provided applications and tools blue color CD to use the MediaDirect Repair program. Once booted into Dos, I should type cd/md2 and type repair.

Once the above steps are done, I should have a perfectly working Dell DirectMedia machine? I hope so!
Btw, I don't recall seeing an instruction for the reinstall of Dell Media experience software. I think this software is neccessary to run with the MediaDirect Program, but I am not sure where to go about finding it or when to install it, I mean, at which stage of the above listed steps.

I also see no mention of maintening a need for the 1308 MB of space and I guess this is becuase I left the first partition of 47 MB intact? Is this true? If not, do I in addition have to create another partition with 1308 MB or do I make sure that there is 1308 MB of unpartitioned space after creating the one large single partition and leaving the first 47 MB partition intact?

I hope I was clear in my explanation and questions.

Thanks for your feedback based on your experience!