Problem: Reformat & Reinstall WinXP MCE

Hi,

I just received the " Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with Update Rollup 2" CD from Dell yesterday, and I'm doing a clean re-installation of WindowsXP on my E1505 laptop right now. Here is the "problem" I encountered so far:

I followed SouthernGirl's Guide to delete the old WinXP MCE partition & Dell Restore partition (I kept the Dell Utility partition), then I created a new partition about 30GB, formated it and proceeded to install WinXP. Installation went smooth, everything looked good - until it got to the very last part where I just completed the Windows Registraion screen and created an user name for Windows screen, then it said Windows installation was complete and asked me to click Finish to load to desktop...so I clicked Finish and it should take me to desktop, right? WRONG!...Next thing I knew, a screen with flashing red title popped up, it read:

"Installing Applications...Please wait up to 30 minutes for the installation to complete...Please do not press any keys while installation is in progress."

The computer warned me not to do anything during this process, so I waited...Then about 10 mins later it finished the installation and loaded to desktop. I checked the Control Panel and here are the installed software:

ESPNMotion
GemMaster Mystic
Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1
Otto
Sonic Encoders

Is any of the above junk software? There were no other Dell softwares installed other than the ones shown above.

My question is, I thought after Window installation it'd take me straight to desktop, so why did the Dell WinXP CD automatically install the applications above prior to loading to desktop the first time? (it's kind of weird that it'd install ESPNMotion but not other junk software). Is this normal?

Did anyone else experience the samething? Did I get a different CD from Dell than the rest of you? Or is this something new from Dell's latest WinXP MCE software version?

Any help is appreciated.

 

ESPNMotion
GemMaster Mystic
Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1
Otto
Sonic Encoders


I believe all of these are part of any install of Windows Media Center - not just unique to Dell. I could be wrong though.

I deleted all except for the Sonic Encoders (i believe Microsoft may have partnered with Sonic and Media Center actually uses these when burning a recorded show) and the .Net Framework as this is typical of any Windows XP install.

Since you did a clean install, you can always delete the Sonic Encoders and then check burning capability within Media Center (not just Windows). If it works then great - if not, reinstall and dont delete them.

Just a thought.

 

So did you also experience the same thing that happened to me?

SouthernGirl's WinXP Reformat/Reinstallation Guide didn't mention anything about the above applications being auto-installed prior to loading Windows for the first time, I wonder if this is has anything to do with the latest version of Dell WinXP MCE CD.

Just a thought, do you think I can remove the WindowsXP CD right before I click "Finish" to load to desktop? Maybe that will avoid automatically installing the softwares mentioned above? But I'm not sure if I'll miss out anything if I do that...Can I get any of those software back from the Resource Utilities CD? (ESPNMotion, GemMaster, Sonic Encoders, etc.).

Update: Negative! I did the clean installation again, and I removed the CD right before it loaded to desktop for the first time, then the computer beeped once and a message popped out said " Insert Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 in DVD drive", so I was forced to put the CD back in, and it went ahead with the flashing red title screen and installed the above mentioned applications again!....hmm, I have no idea what went wrong.

 

Another problem.

When I loaded the Dell ResourceCD and tried to install the drivers, my laptop was detected as "MM061" under System Model (but I have a E1505). Did Dell send me the wrong CD? I don't even know if I should proceed...so confused.

Here is what it says on my Dell Resource CD label:
"Drivers and Utilities - For Reinstalling Dell Inspiron and XPS System Software. P/N UD526 Rev. A03."

 

If it's any consolation, the resource CD Dell sent with my first E1705 back in February didn't even have anything on it for the E1705/9400.

Dell is really slacking off these days... Call em up and say Hi to India from the rest of us here in the US...


'So did you also experience the same thing that happened to me?'

Nope. I just 'pruned' out the HD and deleted all the junkware.

 

What is happening during the " WARNING...." message is that a Microsoft MCE SP2 rollup is being installed. Doesn't tell you that, but it is not Dell 'junkware'.

The applications you mention are Microsoft related. I would NOT remove dotNet Framework as it is a requirement for the SP2 rollup. The others [Microsoft games] are up to you....

Mark

 

I'm guessing that it's a requirement for Win MCE if what you say is true as I have SP2 on my XP Pro install and do NOT have .NET installed. Nor do I want it (which is why I didn't install it).

 

Thanks for the feedback. Do you know if I got the right Resource CD for my E1505? My Dell Resource CD identifies my laptop as "MM061" as System Model (but the actual model number E1505 was not listed), I called Tech Support and they had no clue about it. Wish Dell could've simplified my life...

 

It would be easier to get the needed drivers from your account on Dell's website. After you enter your service tag, you have access to the most recent updated drivers. With the resource CD, your drivers will be out-dated. Like SG mentioned it her guide, you can burn the drivers onto a disk or flashdrive and then proceed from there.

 

That's correct...

For anyone interested here's the Microsoft KB article

Mark

 

Thanks Mark.

You know, I just don't see myself liking Win MCE very much. The features aren't much use to me (I use other software instead) and probably just add more bloat and services.

Think I'm going to install XP Pro when I format instead of it. No MediaDirect either.

 

I was going to get the Resource CD but now I just downloaded all the drivers I'll need for my E1405 onto my Flash drive, that way I have all the "essential" stuff I need for my system to function. I'll worry about getting the software CD's later.

 

Update: I called Dell today and the tech confirmed that P/N UD526 Rev. A03 is the correct Resource CD for Dell E1505 laptop.

Dell previously sent the Resource CD P/N XF088 CD for E1505 laptops, but it's now replaced by the newer version CD P/N UD526 Rev. A03

Hope clears the confusion for other E1505 owners.