New Dell MediaDirect

Don't think it has anything to do with chipset, just make sure you have the latest BIOS.

DMX is unrelated to MD and just installs via windows.

MD you have to prep your HD first by booting off the DVD (erases all data on the HD) then install your OS, then install MD via windows. Or do what I did and ghost your partition off and then back on after MD prep runs.

 

Yeah on MD3 when you check for updates it brings you to a cyberlink site with like /oem/dell/MD3 or something like that. Maybe if someone searches their FTPs they can find the image of it somewhere.

 

I just received the MediaDirect CD from Dell. I ran through the installation process:
Shoved in the CD
let the install run
pressed return
took out the disk
shut-down
booted via the MediaDirect button
when all had finished - shut down, booted back into windows

The MediaDirect button still does nothing in Windows XP except display an error message saying that i need to install MediaDirect!

Little help? Can I only do this on a CLEAN version of windows?

Thank you

rafiKi

 

.... wait - the error when you click the MediaDirect button while already running Windows mentions Media Experience... do you have to have both installed?!

rafiKi

 

If you are in XP, you MUST have Media Experience installed if you are using XP Pro or Home.

Media Direct is the software that works outside of XP. When you are logged into XP, pressing the MD button loads Media Experience or MCE if you have XP MCE. This is also the same reason why you must have Dell Quickset installed.


Just a reminder to all of our users, please do not post links that have MD 3.0 upload. I understand the frustration with Dell, but MD 3.0 is not available to download from Dell, so any files uploaded are considered piracy and not supported by NBR.

 

Not that I know of. I didn't install DMX. MD "Express" runs from power off. MD "Full" runs from within windows. DMX not required.

 

Read the instructions that came with it. All you did was prep your drive. You now need to install MD via windows. If you have MD already, just run the repair.

 

Wait wait wait. if I install MediaExpreience, can I somehow still have MCE load with the media buttion and not MediaExperience? The only reason I even loaded it was so that I could alter the settings for Media Direct (since the 3.1 told me I had to change settings in Windows, not the booted Express. I even tried to alter them and they wouldn't budge).

 

Since before you install Media Direct, that button loads the MCE, I'm assuming there is some way to set it back that way, didn't try. Not sure what MediaExperience has to do with that. I only installed MD and that's now what launches with the MD button. Seemed to make sense to me.

Once you have installed MediaDirect via Windows, that button now launches media direct, you don't need to install MediaExperience to change settings for Media Direct.

 

Well, I started by just installing Media Direct Express 3. When I went to setting by booting into it, it said I needed to change settings for it within a "Windows Environment" so I installed MediaExperience to do so. I'll look for a setting when I get home I suppose.

 

Again, to avoid confusion:

MD2: Previous Version of MediaDirect
MD3: Latest MediaDirect with Instant Office feature

DMX3.1: Latest Media Experience. As far as I know not needed for (or related to) MD3. I think this is what you get if you buy a cheaper laptop without MD.

MediaDirect Express: What loads when you press MD button from power off state

MediaDirect: What loads when you press MD button from Windows. Looks a lot like the MCE menu and can do all the same stuff for the most part, except TV Tuner/DVR features. Lets you set up MD Express settings too.

 

I don't think its possible to install MD3 Express only???

You have to
1. Boot off MD3 DVD and follow instructions. This sets up partitions. Doesn't install anything. Wipes your HD
2. Install OS and drivers
3. Install MD3 off DVD via Windows.

That installs both MD Express and regular MD. I did not install MediaExperience (not unless MD installs it automatically). When pressing the MD button in Windows, I get a MediaDirect menu, powered by Cyberlink. So it is just telling you to change the settings via regular MD not MD Express. But they're both installed at the same time, you shouldn't have had to put anything more on.

 

Hmm, I'll see what's going on then. Here is what I did.

1. Run Media Direct 3 from CD drive. (IE, have it partition the drive.)
2. Restore a Ghost OS partition.
3. Actually install MD3, but NOT DMX3.

Then I installed DMX3.

 

Exactly what I did but didn't install DMX3. After step 3 when going into Windows you should have been able to push the MD button and gotten a screen very much like MD Express....

 

I don't know what I was thinking, it brings up MCE. Ugh, too tired.

 

I have md 2.0 but because of the added office features to md 3.0 i called up tech support and they said no problem and shipped it out today and it's arriving tomorrow,so do i have to re-install windows or will it just update the 2.0 and add the additional features.

 

Who knows. Seems as though it wants a bigger partition. But let us know when you try, it will tell you right away if it can install or not.

 

Will do, as soon as i get it

 

I'm sorry but I'm getting really confused. I have Media Center on my computer with Media Direct. It does not have the new instant office features. I want the new MediaDirect with the instant office features. What is the part number for the newest one?

What is Dell Media Experience?

 

All the info is in the thread. Don't know if they'll give it to you as a "free upgrade". I got it as my computer already had it. You may or may not have luck.

 

Wrong!


MediaDirect: What loads when you press MD button from power off state

MediaDirect Experience: What loads when you press MD button from Windows. Looks a lot like the MCE menu and can do all the same stuff for the most part, except TV Tuner/DVR features. Lets you set up MD Express settings too.

 

The new media direct 3.0 part # is DN293 hope this helps.

 

now im very confused with you guys, all im asking is first whats the version of mediadirect i should be looking for?For my Dell Inspiron 6400....is it md2.0, md 3.0,my os is Win Xp Prof,some say that the md partition of unallocated space should be at the end of the drive the last part i think,1st pat. to be ur os,2nd is ur bakup and lastly unallocated space of 2.9gb?????
anyways if anyone can enlighten me tough appreciate it very much

 

Yes default is the 6400 shipped with version 2.0. And Media Direct 3 is out today. Its your own choice if you want it.

Jeps install partition magic trial and look at your HD structure, it explains a lot. The unallocated space is separated in two parts, 1 for MD and 1 for RESTORE.

Check the pictures on this website http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/ compared this is what happend. In de power off state MD button is pushed and in the HPA (2.9GB) is the MD part (1.5GB) activated (makes readeble format) and cummunicates with your local C:\windows for booting and starting the MD application.

 

No idea where you got that. I pushed the button from both places and reported back what happened. There is no such thing as MediaDirect Experience. If you push the button on power off you get "MediaDirect Express Powered By Cyberlink". In windows you get "Mediadirect Powered by Cyberlink"

Dell Media Experience isn't made by Cyberlink. From what I understand its just some stupid multimedia junk to play with. I didn't install it.

 

Hmmm strange, before in have not installed the DMX and i push the button the 6400 say "instal media direct experience"

DN293 partnumber is not availible in Holland -> GGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

 

From what I've seen, Media Experience is made by Cyberlink. It looks identical to Cyberlink if you have the OEM version of Cyberlink, and has the Cyberlink logo.

Like you said, it is just stupid multimedia junk, but it is important for users who have XP Pro or Home. With XP MCE, pressing the MD button will load MCE, but it can't do that in XP Pro/Home since neither of those OS have the multimedia software.

I know this applies to MD 2.0 and as far as I know, it still applies to MD 3.0. I only suggested that the user needed to install Media Experience because of the error he received when he pressed MD button in XP. I'll try to contact Dell later on and see what the requirements are for 3.0

 

Once you install MD3, pushing the MD button launches that in windows. It looks very similar to the MCE menu. Maybe its different on non-MCE. But it sounds like the error is if you have neither installed maybe?

 

Southern Girl,I have md 2.0 and just recieved the md 3.0 do you happen to know if i need to do a comlete re-install or will it just do an update if i boot it up from md 3.0 cd. thanks

 

No, you need to completely reinstall it. Based on the systems coming from dell, i recommend to use partitioning software. You need to have about 2gb of unpartition space located at the end of your HDD. Then you can install it. Instructions for installing it should come with the disc (i think you install it in XP). You shouldn't have to repair anything.

I strongly recommend two things: 1.) use Norton Ghost or backup software and clone your HDD. 2.)delete the MD 2.0 HPA to make sure there are no conflicts.

I haven't tried to install MD 3.0 so I'm just basing my advice on what i've seen from Dell and other users. You might want to check out a few pages of this thread to see if anyone has successfully installed MD 3.0 yet.

SG

 

I've installed it!

1. Ghost the OS partition
2. Run the MD3.0 disc on boot-up
3. Let it partition the drive
4. Restore the OS partition

Once here, the system WILL NOT BOOT. I had to boot the ghost disc and run x:\support\ghreboot.exe. Tell it to boot the first boot partition it comes to. This will also fix the boot.ini to boot to the OS partition on startup.

After that, works great.

Now if only I could install Divx into MD3.0...

 

can you not do what users of MD2 are able to do (install taskmgr which then lets you launch explorer and install all codecs)? as per http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=147474&highlight=Mediadirect?

 

FYI while this worked with 2.0, simply leaving free space doesn't work with 3.0. You have to run the prep which erases your HD and sets up partitions. The way myself and someone else in this thread did it was ghost off the OS partition, run the MD boot, ghost partition back on, and then install MD from within windows.

Upgrading from 2.0 you might want to uninstall it as step #1, but not sure, I didn't have MD2 installed.

 

Weird I didn't have any problem with that. Just imaged partion to file, then file to partition, didn't affect any MBRs or boot.ini settings so worked fine (was C before, so its still C now, which is mostly what boot.ini cares about).

 

I am thinking that the "MD" button from a running "normal" XP (home/pro) is different depending which system you have.

I have two m1210s that I installed MD3 on. In both case I get an error that Media Experience cannot be found; however, I can navigate to Media Direct and run MD and of course change settings that affect the MD Express ("MD" button from a power off state).

I really don't see any need to install DMX when the new MD (3) gives you the same basic function from within XP, and you have to have that to change settings to MD Express.

I did note that when I first install with BIOS A03 that an error was generated. I Reinstalled after flashing to A04 and no error was encountered.

Router-Dude

 

Well, I ahven't tried. but I don't think so. I didn't see another drive while it was installing either. Ugh, I'll try again I suppose.

 

Good point, no clue if BIOS/system has anything to do with it (I'd think BIOS rather than model if anything). Though BIOS shouldn't affect you in Windows? Who knows

Mine had the latest BIOS when I got it (E1505) so not sure.

 

To be honest, 3 adds the office software, but 2 is much more asthetically pleasing, so I may go back anyways. Who knows

 

FYI got an email today advertising the new MD. Looks like 3.0 is the correct version for the latest.

Get your Dell Inspiron Notebook
with new MediaDirect 3.0
Stay organized with just one touch.
Available on most notebooks.
More Details

Dell Inspiron E1505 notebook

Features external media buttons to easily adjust volume and playback

Equipped with a 15.4" widescreen display

MediaDirect 3.0 gives you one button access to your Outlook® calendar and
contacts, photos, music, and videos without booting your PC

 

It just kills me that it says in 3 that divx may need an extra codec installed, but doesn't tell you how to do it at all!

Is there a way, even outside of windows, to move data to this logical drive? Maybe in a Linux environment or something?

 

I've got a Q here. I'm in a position to be able to remove the HPA partition from my drive for MD2. (the partition changes while booting up md2 but it crashes -- another boot of md2 reverts the changes back). Would it be safe to remove if I am going to be installing MD3 in its place?

P.S. - I know the partition table would be pretty well trashed so I would be backing up my OS partition first.

 

You do not have to remove the HPA partiton; however, it will not be used for MD3 so if you do not remove then you are effectively wasting space.

I chose to remove mine using "taft.exe" and then used "mbrtool.exe" to completely wipe the MBR and Track 0 before I started the MD 3 install. Of course this was done after I had backed up the OS partition using Ghost. I chose to wipe Track 0 because if you do not and you ever run Dell MD repair, it will find the HPA data in Sector 3 of Track 0 and will reactivate the HPA settings ... hosing whatever partition uses the space of the sectors that will be "hidden" by the new Set Max User Address that HPA uses.

*Make sure that you put a leading "0" in the new hex address to remove HPA, if you don't know what this means, then I would not recommend that you NOT even attempt to remove your HPA (i.e., df94baf = 0df94baf)*

NOTE: Taft.exe and MBRTOOL.exe CAN be destructive to any existing data on the HD. Make a Backup *and verify* before you attempt any operations with tools of this nature.

Keep in mind that you only need to restore the OS partiton as the MD 3 install will recreate and populate the Dell Diagnostic partition.

SG: May I post a link to the MD3 (english) Install PDF that I scanned? This is a 4 page PDF, no links to software.

Router-Dude

 

I think the error I saw was something like "Setting BIOS MD button press bit" so apparently BIOS detects the MD button press and sets a bit in a memory address, the Dell MBR then detects the set bit and takes an action.

Router-Dude

 

You do need to backup; however, on an aside removing the HPA will not mess up your partition table, you will just find "unallocated" space exists at the end of the HD after removing it.

Router-Dude

 

Yes it does work. Once you finish the windows install and you boot into windows and run the MD 3 install do the following:

Copy taskmgr.exe to clipboard. (C:\windows\system32)
Open my computer where you can see the drive letters.
Start the MD 3 install
Watch the "my computer" window, you will see and "X:" drive added.
Open "X:" drive.
Refresh (F5) until you see a "windows" directory created.
Switch to X:\windows
Refresh (F5) until you see a "System32" folder added.
Immediately copy the contents of your clipboard (taskmgr.exe) to x:\windows\system32 (you should be able to r-click on windows and select paste).

You are done, now when you press MD button from power off you should be able to press ctl-alt-del in MD express and get a task manager.

Where you go from here .. I don't know good luck.

Router-Dude

 

Ok, a fresh install (ghost at least) AGAIN tonight I suppose XD

This is like #6 on this laptop.

 

I believe where you go from there is open task manager, select File, New Task, Run, and enter Explorer.exe and hit Ok. Then use Windows Explorer to find the Codec installation program and install it.

 

I can tell you from experience if the CODEC installation uses MS Installer (MSI) it will not install. MD 3 does not have MSI installed. Make sure you got to MS's site and download the MS Installer if you find that you need it.

Router-Dude

 

Question:

For peeps that have sucessfully installed MD3.

1. What laptop model?
2. BIOS?
3. OS?
4. Did you Install Media Experience (DMX)?
5. What does pressing the MD button while in normal OS do?

Router-Dude

 

To My own Question:

1. What laptop model?
XPS m1210
2. BIOS?
A04
3. OS?
XP Pro w/SP2
4. Did you Install Media Experience (DMX)?
No
5. What does pressing the MD button while in normal OS do?
Popup box "Unable to launch Dell Media Experience. Please instal this software and try again.

As you guys may guess I am trying to get my MD button to call up MD *not* DMX. The Dell Quick Set guide mentions changing the behavior of the MD button, but I do not have an option to do so. (Dell QS Version 7.1.10 A38)

Router-Dude