MediaDirect Resintallation CD for E1705?

I think you have to run the repair utility before you install windows. I hate to suggest it but I think the only way to fix it is either reinstall windows or possibly reformat.

Sorry

 

I'm screwed with this build now I know it. Gotta rebuild yet again and will try using the repair utility before/after installing xp...will let you know how it goes.

 

i have made the same passages untill point 5.after that idon't know exactly if i have installed first media experience and than i have restart but for me the button works but it load always windows xp desktop and then the media experience(media experience boot only from windows also when note is off )

 

Well in order for it to boot without windows, you need to have the 1308 or 8mb partition for it, and I believe Dell's Quickset running.

 

Hmmm - well I don't have the Dell Media Experience CD to install that so I just assumed that would mean it didn't work from the xp desktop until i install that. Case in point, mediadirect seems to work fine right now from powered off so media experience is needed for use from the os only.

I'm about to do another fresh install and will use the mediarepair cd before and after the os install as recommended.

 

It works fine without booting into windows, the problem is windows won't boot now.

 

I meant for my last post to be for cloud.

i think the repair utility formats the partition so it can boot mediadirect without windows. I would guess that when you repaired it after windows install that it formatted that partition so it would boot up mediadirect

 

That's what I'm thinking too. I'm a quarter way through the new build now having followed robjbw's instructions this time.

BTW - what is the difference between regular format and quick format (besides speed)?

 

So while I'm trying my next build, assuming it works this time, what if any progress has been made to address the issue of not being able to access local hard drive content? Is there a config file with a path or something that needs to be modified.

 

The regular format checks for bad sectors using chkdsk while the quick format just does the format. They both delete and format the partition.

 

Ahhhh - always wondered about that thank you!!!!

 

Okay. Rebuild done. Right after the desktop came up I immediately restarted and boot up with the repair cd, ran it, shut down and tried mediadirect which worked. Exited and shut down properly. Started windows no problem. So far so good. On with the drivers installation now...

Dell is shipping me the Media Experience 3.0 Basic CD (72 business hours) so I won't be able to see if it works from the desktop until next week.

 

You should be able to get Media Experience on the driver's webpage.

 

Nope, just checked and it isn't there.

 

k, sorry about that. For the older versions, dell has it on their website.

 

When I got my 1705 It came with one disk and that disk was a free 6month AOL subscription..... Well I have tryed to get dell to send me the proper disks but I have not ben getting to far with them. Can someone please list the disks I need to get from them. I'm sure that there all here on this thread but I am getting a little confused.
P.S.
I am running xp media center.

Thanks

 

Hey All,

Well I madly installed all the os updates, installed my productivity software last night. Before bed I shut down and thought I would try the mediadirect again. It didn't work. I was tired and confused so went to bed.

This morning I thought about it some more. When it didn't work last night I had setup my second monitor and made the new screen the primary display. When I tried mediadirect it gave me the splash screen and that's it. So today, I switched the primary display back to the laptop screen and shut down tried mediadirect. First it gave me a black screen saying something about not shutting down properly (from the night before i guess) and an option to "delete the restoration data and continue with boot" or "continue with boot" Note: I'm not sure of the exact words. First I tried option 2 continue with boot and it didn't work. Shut down tried again, same options, picked option 1 delete restoration data and continue with boot (or something) and voila, it worked fine. I thought for sure the joke would be on me and that windows wouldn't boot now but windows works fine too.

Anyone have this experience??

All I know is that I have deleted every partition on the drive and have mediadirect working fine as intended from shutdown. From windows, I expect it will work fine once i get the media experience 3.0 basic cd from dell next week and install it along with quickset.

Question for you all - what is the deal with quickset? What all and exactly does it do besides making mediadirect work? I hate that it starts up at windows and runs in the app tray, is that necessary?? Can it just be installed and not auto running in the app tray?

Now, also very interesting, mediadirect absolutely finds my local content no problem. I was expecting to only be able to use the cd/dvd drive or usb device as rob's post had said but that is not the case!!! I followed his instructions exactly. It found all the mp3's I had copied into my My Music folder and they played fine.

 

Bluetooth: Post #112 in this thread lists it quite clearly!

 

Just want to ask a question since my MediaDirect button works but cannot find my files on the harddrive. How I installed MediaDirect was by creating a 1308MB partition using PartionMagic, and running the reinstallation CD, then I updated with the Daylight Savings patch, but I cannot get my laptop to read the Repair Utility CD I created using Dell's version of Sonic RecordNow! using the F12 to boot from optical drive.

I take it that without running the repair disk, I won't be able to use MD to the fullest potential.

Any work arounds for this without having to reformat the drive?

 

Not even sure what the sonic recordnow cd is, I don't have that at all. You must mean the mediadirect repair boot cd that you create from an .iso?? Use that following rob's instructions a couple of pages back in this thread and you will be set. I've completely formatted and rebuilt and everything works fully including local disk music, video etc. Follow his guide exactly and it should work for you too. It only takes an hour or two to rebuild completely (save for other software you have to install: games, office etc.)

Good Luck, I'm off for a weekend ski trip now everyone so hope you all have a good weekend and are able to solve your mediadirect problem like I have!

 

scuse me all i have a big problem.i want to reinsatll media direct using rob method.the operating sistem that i'm usingis windows xp pro sp1(not the 1 shipped by dell). THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN I CREATE THE 2 PARTITION THE FIRST (8 mb) IS COLLED C: WHILE THE SECOND(OPEARTING SISTEM -1308 MB)IS COLLED D:.
NOW THERE ARE 2 PROBLEM:

1)WHEN I TRY TI INSTALL WIN XP HE ASK ME TO FORMAT ALSO THE FIRST PARTITION(8 MB)

2)WHE I TRY TO INSTALL DELL MEDIA DIRECT IT CHECK IN MY C:\WINDOWS\SISTEM32.... BUT WINDOWS IS LOCATED IN D: PARTITION.

SO WHAT I HEVE TO DO.PROBABLY I HAVE TO CREATE FIRST OPERATING SYSTEM PARTITION AND THEN THE OTHER ONE (8 MB) BUT IN THE GUIDE IS UNDERLINED THAT I HAVE TO CREATE FIRST THE 8 MB PARTITION AND THEN THE OPERATING SISTEM PARTITION.

PLEASE HELP ME IS THE 4 TIME THAT I FORMAT THE NOTE IN A WEEK

 

please don't use CAPS

 

did u format that 8mb partition? if so i dont think u should have done.

 

have you used the operating sistem that comes whaen you buy the notes or another one

 

can someone says me how is called the 8 MB partition (c: or d and the operative sistem partition???how i can change the name of the partition befor installing windows?????

 

scuse me for the ripetition of my post but can someone say how media experience work. when note is off and media direct button is pushed the note have to load media experience without loading windows operating sistem or it loads first windows operating sistem and then media experience.
someone helm me please i'm going maddd

 

Haven't met that 2 options that you received but this discussion on another forum has some info. They said it's about hibernation.

It's necessary
AFAIK, the Fn key in your keyboard will not function if quickset isnt running. Then Dell said Quickset is required for MediaDirect so I suggest that you leave it as is.

Many things is strange with MediaDirect. For example: To me, installing Windows, drivers, quickset, mediadirect gave no issue. I can browse also the content of the hard drive, disk in the DVD drive and I can listen to music files while lid of the notebook is close.
To others, running repair utility worked like a charm. WHile to some, it gave headache even after following the guide - error, blue screen etc.

 

This is how it works:
When you are in windows, if you press play (assuming you have quickset on) it will load and start playing the dvd/music.

When you have the laptop shut off, if you press play, it will use the smaller partition to load media direct (which loads media experience i think), but it does not boot into windows.


As for the quickset question, yes Donna is right. You have to have it. It runs some of the FN keys, the popup boxes for volume/brightness, but more importantly for most of you -- it enables the play button to start Media Experience/Direct Media.

 

someone can explain me how to create partition.what name have you give to the 8 MB partition(C: or D .What name have you give to operating sistem partition(c: or d . the guide say that you have to create first the 8 MB partition
and then the other partition but in this way you call 8MB partition C: and operating partition D: and this will break down the installation of media direct

 

Howdy folks,

I received my E1705 last Monday and reformatted/reinstalled almost immediately. I failed, however, to fully research the reinstallation of MediaDirect in terms of partition requirements. I am currently trying to determine whether or not I must start from scratch... First, here is what I have done so far:

1. Deleted all old partitions except for the first unlabeled diagnostics partition (30 Mb, I think).
2. Partitioned and reformatted the balance of the HD, leaving 8 Mb at the end as is the default when using the Win XP cd.
3. Reinstalled Win XP MCE.
4. Reinstalled drivers, updates, productivity, security, etc, etc...

Pressing the MediaDirect button with the computer off, I get the splash screen followed by Win XP boot. That's typical from what I've read. It's interesting, thought that the splash screen appears at all...

While IT isn't my specialty, I understand that the button is hard-wired with it's own stuff which reads its own niche on the HD, and therein lies the problem. But, I've spend far too many hours, now, reading these threads in addition to the more limited threads on the Dell Support forums. Here is what I understand to be fact (I still have questions...those will follow):

-- .NET Framework and Dell QuickSet are required for MediaDirect to funtion as advertised.
-- A seperate partition is required for MD. Dell instructs 1308 left unpartitioned.
-- MD must be installed, and MD Repair must be run PRIOR TOWin XP installation. Otherwise, the Repair Utility will corrupt the Windows master boot record.

Now, where am I wrong? It seems that nobody can definitively pin down where MD resides on a computer straight out of the box. Some say recovery partition. Others say 30 Mb diagnotics partition. Yet others write of a mysterious secret partition that cannot be deleted. What is Dell hiding from us? Enough X-Files already!! Can someone please set the record straight??

SouthernGirl, Flames, Rob, et al... I appreciate your efforts so far. If you care to chime in to help another newbie, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks and enjoy the rest of your weekend!!

 

since you have not deleted the first 40 meg partition (wich I think thats where MediaDirect is), all you have to do now, is to run the MediaDirect Repair cd. You can download the ISO at Dell.com and make a cd out of it. Im not 100% sure if thats going to work cause you say that "you think that you did not deleted all partitions). Make sure to save important files into a cd or usb hard drive beofre doing this. If it does not work, your windows might not be bootable anymore. If this happens, just follow the thread #129 here http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=40902&page=13 .Hope things work out for you.

 

Dell MediaDirect: With the computer off, one press of the MediaDirect button will allow users to play videos, music or photo slideshows stored on the hard drive, optical drive, a USB key or from the integrated 5-in-1 media card without starting Windows!

Okay guys. I found the solution to properly get Dell MediaDirect feature working if you deleted the original Hard Drive partitions when reinstalling Windows XP OS and you will be able to browse your internal Hard Drive folders for pictures and videos. I first thought that Media Direct was in the ram, but I was wrong. Well, follow the steps below if the guide from Dell Media Direct reinstallation CD did not work for you, cause it sure did not work for me. NOTE: these steps are intended for Inspiron 9400/E1705. Please back up any important files before doing anything. Don’t be angry at me if things do not work out for you.

Here are the steps.
TO BOOT FROM THE CD/DVD DRIVE: When Laptop is started, Press F12 key and select the DVD/CD Drive to boot from it (make sure the correct cd is in it).

1) Boot your Laptop with the Windows XP OS CD. When in Windows OS installation, in Windows OS partition selection screen, delete all partitions.

2) Now create FIRST! An 8 Meg bytes partition...and do not format It. Now create your Windows OS partition with the remaining space.
YOU should have now, first an 8 Meg partition (FIRST!!!)
Then your Windows OS partition (The Windows XP OS partition will be the biggest)
And then a 7.8 or 8 more unallocated space left (not a partition but space remaining depending in the size of your OS you created)

3) Now, quit the Windows XP OS setup by pressing F3 and then hold the power off button on you laptop to shut off the laptop.

4) Power on the laptop again and press F12 right away to boot from the CD/DVD Drive. Put the Dell MediaDirect Repair CD into the drive and boot your laptop with it. At the command prompt Type CD MD2, then type Repair and choose Yes/OK... to repair. When it shows DONE! after you click OK to repair. Take the Repair CD out of the Drive and put your Windows XP OS CD into the drive and boot you laptop with it.

5) At the partition selection screen in Windows XP setup, delete your Windows OS partition you created (the second one, the biggest) (You have to delete it cause the repair process changed it) After deleting it, recreate it.

6) Now choose that partition (biggest one) to install Windows XP OS. Choose Quick Format with NTFS file system (quick, because it’s fast).

7) When Windows XP OS is done installing and you have loaded into your Windows XP desktop screen, shutdown your laptop by clicking Start-Turn off Computer-Shutdown.

8) Put your Dell MediaDirect Repair CD into the drive and boot your laptop with it. Then type CD MD2 then Repair and OK to repair. When it shows DONE! Take the Dell MediaDirect CD off the drive and restart your pc to load Windows XP again.

9) Now, in Windows XP, install all device drivers starting with the Notebook system software, (always restart the laptop if asked then proceed with next device installation), then install the Dell Chipset. When all done, put the Dell MediaDirect reinstallation CD in the drive and press Enter to start the installation process. It will take a few minutes.

10) Now reboot your laptop with the MediaDirect repair CD. Again, type CD MD2 then Repair. When it Shows DONE!, turn off your laptop.
11) Now that laptop is off, press the MediaDirect button and right away keep tapping the F8 key. The screen will show a message to either continue with pc restart or delete…..”something”. You want to select the second one, DELETE… ,Now, MediaDirect will reprogram itself with the Windows OS partition. When done, you now should be able to browse your internal Hard Drive for pictures and Videos etc…. also watch DVD if you have a DVD drive. All should work like it should 


PS: when you restart your laptop again into Windows, you might see in “my computer”, another Partition. This is the Dell MediaDirect partition. DO NOT delete it or move anything. I recommend hiding the partition by using either Partition Magic or Acronis Disk director. HIDE it, do not format it or delete.

HOPE THINGS WORKOUT FOR YOU.

 

I just got the MediaDirect installation CD DH371 (part number)

Well it took three shipments to get the right CD. The amazing thing is that I knew the part number (DH371) thanks to this forum and I have been telling them all of the time but they kept sending the wrong one.

Just amazing!! Amazing!! you tell them the part number for the CD and still they send you a different one. I got the Dell Utilities, DVD programs, etc etc

Finally at the third try the send the CD I requested from the very beginning

Anyway, I have the Dell m140

The MediaDirect installation process worked fine with me, super fine, unexpected.

I have a newly formatted hard drive

I have created 1 partition and left an unpartitioned space of 1308MB (this process is explained in the previous messages in this forum)

I did not create any 8MB partition since that is created automathically by windows Xp

I installed windows XP Media Edition.

Then I started the computer again, once in the windows screen (therefore, the OS Operating System XP is fully on) I placed the installation CD in the cd drive. The installation starts, you press ENTER

At the end of the installation, remove the cd and press ENTER. This is a very important step. Don't forget, once the installation is done, remove the CD and then press ENTER (exactly as it is said in the dell paper instruction).

There is a strange window pop up and tells you if you want to continue, ignore or cancel .... at this point nothing works

Just turn off the computer

When the computer is off push the mediadirect buttom.

It worked fine without any repair mediadirect CD.

That easy. The XP Operating System was still there, all the hard drive datas still there, everything perfect, nothing to install again.

Now, my comment on MediaDirect. The program is nothing special. Also, it is not true that saves batteries on your laptop, how said that?

Just like with HP DV1000, you do not save batteries with the no-xp boot up feature.

It is ok to have it there ... but well ... the program in itself is almost useless (I am talking of the MediaDirect).

My mediadirect will remain in the computer but I am not sure how many times I am going to use it.

Just to end my comments.

To install MediaDirect first you must have windows Media Edition installed or Dell Medie Experience ... also Dell Quick Play must be installed.

If you follow the MediaDirect installation instructions, no need to repair the mediadirect as others in the forum wrote ... no need to reinstall windows XP just remember the unpartitioned space of MB1308 ... this is clearly mentioned in the paper instractions that come with the mediadirect installation disc.

I hope this is going to work for everybody out there, I have dell m140 ... the 630m is just the same and everything works the same there. Not sure with other computers from dell though.

Thanks for the postings here, very helpful!!! CIAO

 

Just one more thing I have forgotten to mention. After you install windows media edition, install the dell drivers (as said) including the Dell Quick Play

You can download all of the Dell drivers on-line

Except for Dell MediaDirect version 2, as of today, you have to request the free CD from Dell itself by phone, also free shipping for the Dell CD DH371

As of today, the version you can download online of mediadirect is version 1, not good for Dell m140/630m ... and least it did not work for me.

But the CD DH371 works just great as explained in my previous message.

Good night, GREAT forum here!!!!

 

Hey, MediaDirect is Awesome! In a total of 6 seconds from pressing the MediaDirect Button, I am playing A DVD or listening to my mp3's etc... For Windows XP to load up, 15 to 20 seconds. Then loading all the background device drivers, another 5 seconds.

So, 6 seconds for MediaDirect or 25 seconds for Windows. No brainier. I’m talking about the instant feature of MediaDirect. Not the one that loads Windows first then Media Player etc...

I got the E1705 Duo 2 GHz. And is blazing fast loading stuff. Well, everyone got their opinion. Take care.

 

That is what I experienced. It was easy for me too. No blue screen, no need to use repair utility for MediaDirect. Not sure why other user's of MediaDirect experienced blue screen but since it happened, we can't tell exactly what went wrong or what is wrong. Anyways, I'm happy to know that I was not alone with the "easy" reinstallation of MediaDirect
I have cloned the whole hard drive before proceeding in deleting, repartitioning etc and I played with it by putting back what I cloned then played with it again until I am satisfied playing and noted "what to do" and "what not to do"

I guess it all depends on the user's liking and uses. For me the MediaDirect is a breeze function in a notebook so to me, it is useful because I don't have to boot to Windows if I will only play any media files. To browse the hard drive for media files without booting to windows is another topnotch feature. During presentation (slideshow or any), it will only take seconds to start the show Not much resources is in use too. Can even listen to music without opening the lid of the notebook.
As for battery usage.. it's already known (whatever brand of notebook). The advise by vendors is to use adapter (plug-in the power adapter) if the optical drive will be use. Of course, no problem in using the battery alone but the task in running a device (optical drive as an example) and task in running a Media Software (i.e. Media Experience) will consume more battery. Not to mention if the setting of the user on it's power management is not the default (3).
Also it is known that the battery life of Dell is not that good as other brand.

Yup
Also .NET Framework is required before one can install Media Experience software.
That is only applicable if the user would like to use Media Experience in Windows and to allow the Media Direct button to work while in Windows in addition in when notebook is off

Regards

 

I know I posted this earlier in the thread but Im still having no luck.

Can someone please post the MediaDirect 2.0 software for download - I cant seem to get anywhere with dell and it not available off their website.

version 1.0 does not work on the 630m.

I would really appreciate it if someone could do this.

Thanks

 

Does MediaDirect Comes pre-installed with Inspiron 6000 Systems?

Bcoz my I6000 will be arriving soon and I am planning to do a Repartition + a fresh Install of WinXP.

 

Media Direct is preinstalled on all systems. It is just a matter of whether you'll get version 1.0 or 2.0 as to whether you can watch a dvd/music without booting into XP.

As far as I know, the 6000/9300 systems are still being shipped with version 1.0 so you'll have to boot into XP in order to watch a movie.

I would test it out before you reformat, so you'll know for sure. If it does play movies without booting, then you'll need to follow the directions in one of the above posts. If it requires you to load XP, then you can wipe all of the partitions and install MediaDirect like any other software.

 

Nadesdan, you need to keep trying again and again with dell on the phone.
Call them again and keep tell them the cd number. With me it worked at the third time.

One important thing, with Dell 630m you must get either Windows Medie Center Edition or Dell Experience. Otherwise, the no-xp boot up is not going to work.

Unfortunately, we can't post the MediaDirect v 2.0 on this forum. You can get it for free (also free shipping) from Dell. Also, one day they might decide to post it in their web page.

It's so sad

 

Im not sure it was installed on mine, when i first tried the media direct button i got the splash screen and then straight into windows media edition, very annoying as i got the cd and still cant get it to work.

doughy

 

If you press the MediaDirect button while the notebook is off and then the media software (in your case, Windows Media Center Edition) is launched instead of Windows XP Media Center or Windows XP Home or Pro, then you got MediaDirect enabled notebook.

If you want it back, you got to try to do this:
Try to use repair utility of MediaDirect. If it can't repair or if it failed, you need to reinstall MediaDirect. To reinstall MediaDirect -- there are many guides here on how other's succeed in installing MediaDirect so you might want to check the topic again.

 

Like Donna said, turn your laptop off, then press play.

If you have version 2.0, it will start playing the cd with no problems (assuming that you didn't reformat yet). If it boots up into windows, then you've probably got version 1.0.

I'm really not sure which version dell is shipping with the older systems. To be honest, i haven't gotten any confirmation that version 2.0 will work on the 6000/9300.

 

i have a i9400 and when the laptop is off i press the media button and it boots to windows and start media player, I annoyed that ive never had the mediadirect working as it always boots to windows and ive tried all the repair cd and installed media direct from the cd i got from dell.

 

Did you delete any partition or reinstall Windows in your i9400? If yes, that is the reason repair and reinstall failed.
You got to go thru the process of preparing your hard drive to fresh install Windows again (leave 1308MB of unpartitioned space), install device drivers, quickset, then install MediaDirect. You do not need to install Media Experience software because your system is WIndows Media Center Edition.

 

i did delete my partitions and created a 1315mb unallocated after my drive c, i installed media direct which did something to that partition (unallocated one). I shutdown and pressed media button and got a black screen. I then proceeded with the repair cd and after it said done i shutdown and pressed the media button again and it booted to windows and started the media centre program. God knows why this is happening.

doughy

 

Did you install the drivers of your devices and Dell Quickset before you try to install MediaDirect?
Please tell me if this is what you did:
1. You deleted the partitions
2. Created a partition for Windows (your Operating System)
3. Leave 1315MB unallocated space (for MediaDirect)
4. Install all drivers for your devices
5. Install Dell Quickset
6. Install Dell MediaDirect (using the Dell MediaDirect reinstallation CD)

Is the above what you did and still can't get it to work? If yes, you need to go thru again to try your luck again or try the guide of "robjbw" (see his post #182 above) or call Dell Tech support which will guide via phone on how to install it. If you have on-site support subscription, you may request them to come to your house and install MediaDirect.

 

Just a quick question? Will Deleting the Partition + Reformating will make the Play,Rew,Fwd buttons useless without reinstalling mediaDirect? Or will the front panel buttons still work with WINAMP / Mediaplayer without me having to reinstall/repair MediaDirect.?

My say is I would like to reformat my I6000 then be able to still use the front panel buttons with Win.Media Player or Winamp?

I don't want to take a wrong step in reformatting my I6000 knowing that in the end, the Front Panel Buttons won't work with Winamp or MediaPlayer.

Is it really necessary to have a MediaDirect installed on a notebook like mine(I6000) even if it is just the v1.0 MediaDirect? Coz I really want to wipeout all the partitions and recreate a new ones then fresh install a WinXP Pro.

Thanks for all the Help here. SG and others. This forum is really a reliable source of infos.

 

I think you don't have to worry if you only have v1.0 of MediaDirect because the way v1.0 works is not the same as v2.0 as what I understand. Please wait for i6000 users to confirm it.

 

On all of the laptops that have media buttons - the media buttons will work even if you don't have Media Direct/Experience/Quickset. After you do a clean install, there isn't any additional software that you need to install in order for the media buttons to work.

With Winamp, you need to enable hotkeys. They should automatically work with WMP.

Like Donna said, i think the 6000/9300 are still being shipped with version 1.0, so you'll be required to boot to XP in order to play dvd/music.