Need Help Installing Windows, Linux, and MediaDirect

I have the MDR 3.1 disc, Ubuntu Edgy Eft, and XP MCE 2005. I want to install all 3 on my system. I have 4 partitions right now. A 55 mb partion, a 6.83 gb partition, a 17.21 gb "backup" d drive (is this what contains the ctrl+f11 restore), and the c drive. What is on each?

First, how do I preserve the Dell Restore partition?

Second, how do I partition/what should I use to partition?

Third, what sizes need to be allocated for each? I want to use Ubuntu primarily and xp for the things I can't do in ubuntu.

 

Sad thing is, you can only have 4 partitions.

So, if you want Media Direct, Windows, and Linux, that's 3 right there. And I am pretty sure you need that 55mb partition to let media direct work. That's your 4. You would have to sacrifice Linux or the restore partition to keep MediaDirect.

From how I see it that is.

 

So do I need to have that 55 mb partition? And are you sure about the 4 partition limit?

 

Pretty sure on the 4 limit (in windows you can't even create over 4 primary partitions), but I have no idea with the 55mb partition.

 

If you have a Windows install disc, you don't need the restore partition. I think that's just the factory image with all the AOL type stuff on it.

I nuked mine with no problems.

 

So you have no diagnostics partition but MD runs fine?

becuase I left it thinking it mattered, but I like having a partition just for my music, so I may blast it and make another one

EDIT: Oh, you said restore partition, not diagnostics. Oops.

 

I have 4 partitions.

1. 47MB Media Direct
2. ~145GB with Windows and most of my files.
3. 2GB Media Direct
4. ~5GB with some games on it, that was my restore partition

I could not connect 2 and 4 together because of 3.

 

How big is Media Direct 1???

 

1. is 47MB.
3. is 2GB

 

Thanks, that helps a lot

 

I still don't understand, can I get rid of the 47-55 mb partition? Which partition hold the Dell Restore feature? And is my around 7 gb partition media direct?

 

In my case, both Media Direct partitions were labeled as such in the partition part of the format/install.

No, you can't get rid of the 47MB one, in my case that was one of the two Media Direct partitions.

The ~7GB partition is probably the System Restore partition.

 

Another option is to run other OS's in VMWare player. Run 2 or more OS simultaneously in VMWare. VMWare player is free.

 

I'd really like a definite answer on the 47 mb partition. Some people say that it's just the Diagnostics on others saying it's needed for MediaDirect. Obviously Dell was no help, all she told me was no don't delete it, it has important files that will cause Windows to not boot if deleted.

 

I've never heard of "Diagnostics."

When I went to format my hard drive using the OEM XP MCE DVD... lol... it showed me the 4 partitions I detailed in post #7.

Here is one person's experience deleting MD. Maybe the stupid no-good lying Dell rep was right?

Here is a search of this Dell forum for "media direct partition"

 

If you hit F12 on the bootup there should be a Diagnostics selection that will run through a 1hour+ diagnostics of everything

 

Interesting. Well both the 47MB and the 2GB were clearly labeled as Media Direct for me. Does not mean that they are both actually Media Direct, but, that is what the Partition/Format part of the clean install revealed unto me.

 

It serves a dual purpose. If you have MD 2.0, the 47mb partition is required if you are interested in MediaDirect. When you repair MD, then it will use the 47mb partition as a boot partition. It is easy to tell if you have MD 2.0 because you will not have a separate partition labeled Media Direct. You will have 3 or 4 partitions ranging from different sizes but none will be labeled Media Direct.

If you have Media Direct 3.0 (this applies to users who have ordered their laptop with in the last month), then I'm not sure if it is required or not. Based on Count's description, i would say that it is required for Media Direct also. If you are interested in Media Direct, then I would strongly suggest to leave it cause it is a pain in the butt if you screw up the partitions for Media Direct.

Yes it is called the diagnostics partition because it does have the diagnostics utility on it, but like i said, it serves a dual purpose.

 

I am trying to install the new Media Direct. I have two primary partitions (55mb and 19.53 gb ntfs for windows), an extended partition for Ubuntu Linux, and I left 2.44 gb of unallocated space for Media Direct. However, the setup keeps saying that "Installation stopped due to failure when copying file" at 10%. Does anyone have a solution or encountered this?

 

Please do not create a new thread for issues related to previous threads. It causes a lot of confusion and double posting between users to have multiple threads.

Which version of MD are you installing? MD 2.0 requires 1.5gb of unpartition space at the end of your HDD in order to install. MD 3.0 should reformat the HDD all together and setup the partition to the way it wants.

 

I am trying to install MD3. When I'm in Windows I just put the CD in and click Enter to start the installation. Does the unallocated space need to be at the end of the hard drive? Right now it is in the middle between Windows and Linux

 

Any word on getting Media Direct to work with Ubuntu 6.10 ? Can Media Direct work with EXT3 partitions?

 

i just got my new e1505 newyears and when i reformmated i deleted the diagnostic and restore partition so i only have the MD partition and Main OS now. I duno whihc MD i got but i am guesing its 3.0 and it still works fine.

 

For mediadirect 2 you do not need a 47mb partition at all, i have wiped my drive of all partitions and created 1 partiton of 92 gig, and left the rest unallocated at the end of the disc. When installing mediadirect 2 it will see the unallocated space and use it. Its thats simple ive done it lots of times.
Ive just got md3 today and will be trying that very shortly.

 

Hey everyone.

I did a search with these terms "deleting media direct partition" and this one seems the thread most related to what I want to do.

So here's the thing. I got my Inspiron 9400 last november (I think that's E1705, or something, right?). First thing I did was delete everything and start all over with a clean HD. So with some minor quibbles I got a perfectly functional XP Media Center 2005. I also installed Media Direct 3.0 correctly (tried it out a few times). I've been using this laptop for a while and you know what? I NEVER EVER use media direct because I feel the programs I use in windows for the same things are far more useful and flexible. I even tried booting Media Direct recently, and it plays audio and video files but without any sound at all. I tried fiddling with configurations for media direct and media center, but none helped.

What I want to do is just get rid of all media direct partitions and stuff without having to reinstall XP and reclaim that wasted space. In fact, I'd like to make a dual boot into Ubuntu and XP, which I couldn't due to the limit on partitions and HD space. I really have to idea as to go about this without making my laptop inoperable at some point. I guess an added bonus would be to remap media direct button to boot into Ubuntu, but I think that's just harder.

Any tips I could use?