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    Problems setting MediaDirect button to launch Linux

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by DerKaiser, Nov 3, 2007.

  1. DerKaiser

    DerKaiser Notebook Geek

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    Hello all,

    Using guides I found on this forum, I'm trying to get the Mediadirect button to launch Ubuntu. Using the info in this thread, I tried to run the rmbr program from the command line (within Vista) using D:\Dellkit\rmbr Dell 2 3. I get a small error window appearing that is entitled CyberLink PCM InstantOn and the error says "Replace MBR failed -- error code 1".

    I went to the task manager and quit the Cyberlink PCMService.exe that was running and got the same error when I tried to run rmbr again.

    Anyone have any idea how I can run rmbr successfully? I tried booting from the MediaDirect CD but couldn't find the rmbr exe.
     
  2. DerKaiser

    DerKaiser Notebook Geek

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    Actually, I was able to get it to work by running cmd as Administrator. Now I just have to figure out how to install GRUB on the right partition. When I installed Ubuntu, it didn't give me a choice of where to install GRUB and it put it on the MBR by default. I managed to fix that, but now I can't boot Ubuntu.

    I think I should be able to install GRUB properly from the LiveCD.
     
  3. Sredni Vashtar

    Sredni Vashtar Notebook Evangelist

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    Here's my experience with it: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=180591
    You should already have the grub folder with stage1 and stage2 on your ubuntu partition. Under /boot/
     
  4. DerKaiser

    DerKaiser Notebook Geek

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    I couldn't figure out how to install grub after booting from the LiveCD.

    I tried "sudo grub-install hd0,2" but I got an error. I had to reinstall and at step 6 of the install, I hit the advanced button and told the installer to put grub on hd0,2 and that worked. I can now boot Ubuntu with the MediaDirect button. Pretty slick. Thanks to you and others for the advice.

    Now I just have to get the wireless card working.

    FYI, to remove grub from the mbr, I followed the directions in this thread at Arstechnica. I had tried to remove it with an XP Pro CD (using FixMbr), but it blue-screened before I could get to the Recovery Console, presumably because of a lack of SATA drivers. I should probably have put the drive into ATA mode before trying.
     
  5. GrantusMaximus

    GrantusMaximus Newbie

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    Running as administrator fix this problem for me