Quick Question: MediaDirect + XP Pro?

I just purchased a refurbed E1505 from Dell. As per usual, I did not get any software with it, so I called them for an XP CD. They are shipping it out.

My question is that I would prefer XP Pro on the laptop instead of MCE. Now providing I don't hose the MediaDirect HPA (I will kill the restore and existing XP partitions), can I install XP Pro and use the MediaDirect Repair utility to make everything kosher again?

So in even quicker terms, will MediaDirect work with XP Pro, or does it need MCE?

My appologies, I tried searching Google and here for like the last hour, if this has been covered already I am sorry.

 

It should work fine, since you can order an E1505 with Windows XP Pro and it still comes with Media Direct.

 

If you search this site, you will find that MCE is basically pro. (It's built on pro). There's only like 2 functions missing and they are used by business type users and not most home users.

 

yes, you will not have any problems. Media Direct is HPA, and does not depend on the XP partition. It needs to have its own bootable partition, and you will have to repair Media Direct - which is standard if you format XP. Directions for the repair is in the Reformat guide (see link in sig).

SG

 

Thanks everyone, I finally got my machine up and running. I really needed IIS for work, so I was VERY happy to find out that MCE is basically Pro.

 

so have u successfully installed XP PRO and Media Direct on your machine?? if yes please post a guide that how u did it.

Thanks

 

It should be the same process as the rest of the laptops. The only thing different is after you repair it, you need to install Dell Media Experience which gives you the same thing that MCE would in XP - it gives you the option to choose DVD/Music/Picture.

 

MCE is pro but with all the media stuff

 

I never put XP Pro on it, I stuck with MCE because it has "IIS-ability" to it.