MediaDirect Resintallation CD for E1705?

mornin foeks the easiest fix for m/d is to call dell ged media direct 3.0
back up your os partition
boot the m/d 3.0 dvd
choose option 1
restore your os partition
run the m/d 3.0 in windows
now all works!!
actually very easy
jim

 

Hey guys, this is my situation, maybe someone can help.

Got my Inspiron 9400. Deleted and full formated all visible partitions in the XP MCE reinstallation screen. Stupid me. There was a media direct partition, can't remember the size.

Basically, I want to have a dual boot computer for Ubuntu and win XP, yet be able to have media direct working. How should someone go about doing this? What partitions should I make? In what order should I install stuff? I already have the Ubuntu CD, ready to install. I ordered my latop Nov 1st, which as I am informed makes my Media Direct the 3.0 version. I haven't got the reinstallation CD, which I'm requesting tomorrow. While I wait I want to know exactly what I should do if I want to get all of this working. Is it impossible?

Also, completely unrelated, did anyone have problems getting MCE to get over the decoder error after reinstalling windows? I've installed Power DVD 5.5, but that doesn't seem to suit MCE. It kind of doesn't recognize it. I think its related to the partial Media Direct error I get when I hit the Media Direct button from power OFF. It loads media direct, tries to configure something and then I get blue error screen and it stays there. I got a TSST L632D drive, which it seems is kind of iffy. any thoughts on how to get it working as I reinstall everything?

 

Dell is sending me a new faceplate with no MediaDirect button. This button is like some sort of permanent kill switch and if I had known what it was, I would have bought the sale items such as a 9300. I am very pissed about this switch
and it has ruined my impression of Dell.

 

I am New To The Forum And Would Appreciate any help i can get. I have Dell E1705,with (i assume) Media Direct 2. I Bought a NEW 160GB Hard Drive and Cloned my E1705 and it truncated the new 160GB drive to the Size of My Original HD,about 98.5 GB? I was later told it was caused by HPA Partition? I would like to know,PLEASE, how do i get RID of HPA partition and will this Allow me to Then Clone my Full system to a new 160GB Drive? (My truncated drive is being replaced).I do NOT want to ruin another drive. I have partition Magic 8.0 but don't know how to use it..My goal i guess would be to be remove this HPA Partition, Install MD3 and be able to Clone my computer to the USB SATA Drive. I DO Have bootable iso CD Disk for Usb Enclosure. Is this Possible,and If soo, PLEASE remember I am New To This and will require specific instructions to help me. Thank you in Advance for Any help I may Receive.

 

rayny2e -if you haven't recieved or found a solution in the forums it's here- just read on "reinstalling Dell Media Direct 2" and issues around truncated disk sizes. There are some tools to totally and forever remove the HPA. they work. DL everything and print out the instructions, though in your case, all you'll need is the tool to wipe the drive, then just put in your windows disk and install windows and then Media Direct 3 (which no longer uses any hidden partitions)... if you like the Media Direct BUTTON function, you're in for a tricky road- also if you try and get the ctrl+f11 function to work it will be a major pain- best to just make a GHOST IMAGE of

-I'll get back to ya- wife's water just broke
I'm gonna be a dad!
YAY!

ciao for now

 

Hey guys,

just joined the forums for this huge post. I scanned through it but didn't find concrete information for Media Direct 3.0. I ordered my Dell Vostro 1400 without operating system and hence didn't have the Media Direct installed, I have the installation CD fresh from Dell though.

Since I DO NOT want to destroy my system I need to know what partitions I need to create. I have Norton Partition Magic at my hands so i can basically create/rearrange the partitions to any of MD's likings. I read on Dell's Support website as well as here that MD3 does not need the hidden partition anymore. BUT I also read in the official help pages that it still wants to delete all data on the harddisk - that's a No-No.

As far as I understood it is somehow possible to arbitrarily create partitions/install windows/delete again etc. - I want to do that (plenty of space at 250GB).

I would like to know the steps involved in installing MD3 - let's say:
- Create empty active logical partition of 8 MB in front of all partitions
- Create new logical partition at second position and install windows for laughs
- ...

Thanks in advance guys, you rock
moon