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    Reformatting and Media Direct 9400/E1705

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by some_taxpayer, Apr 21, 2006.

  1. some_taxpayer

    some_taxpayer Notebook Guru

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    I followed SG's guide on reformatting windows XP. When I reformatted I only touched the main partition. So far, I've got Windows Media Center installed, along with the necessary drivers. I can't seem to get mediadirect to start up.

    When my laptop is off and I press the Mediadirect button, the Mediadirect screen pops up for a second, but then windows turns on and loads Windows Media Center. The media buttons on the bottom of my laptop all work correctly and I have dell quickset installed.

    In addition, I have the Mediadirect repair CD with me. I tried doing a one-time CD boot with the Mediadirect repair CD in the CD-drive, but after I press f12 and choose the "boot from cd" option, windows just continues to load.

    I've searched through the forums, but most of the threads deal with the repartitioning aspect of it. I never touched the Mediadirect partition, so I know that's not the problem. Anyone have any input?
     
    some_taxpayer, Apr 21, 2006
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  2. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

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    Did you download the Dell MediaDirect repair utility from the Dell website, and use it to make a CD?
     
    kegobeer, Apr 21, 2006
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  3. MarkMcK

    MarkMcK Notebook Evangelist

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    You're awfully close....

    I have been very frustrated with boot from CD/DVD drive.... Very 'iffy' at 50% of the time it will work....

    If after you select the CD/DVD via F12, it doesn't boot to the CD/DVD drive in short order [2-3 sec], do a Ctrl-Alt-Del to force another reboot. Repeat again... My success rate is like I said about 1/2 the time.

    See what that does....

    Mark
     
    MarkMcK, Apr 21, 2006
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  4. some_taxpayer

    some_taxpayer Notebook Guru

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    I'm using the repair CD that I got after requesting the software CDs from dell.

    I did this about 4 times so far, yet no success. I'll try this a couple more times and see if I can get it to work.

    Does it matter that I'm using the repair CD that was sent to me? Or should I try downloading the one from Dell's support site, ripping it, and using that CD?




    EDIT: I've noticed that instructions that came with the CD refer to a "Repair CD" and a "Reinstallation CD." The CD I have is labeled "Reinstallation CD." I'll rip the "Repair Utility" from the support site and try that.


    Yup, that was the problem. I didn't realize the "Repair CD" and "Reinstallation CD" were two completely different CDs. Problem solved. Thanks for the help.
     
    some_taxpayer, Apr 21, 2006
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  5. MarkMcK

    MarkMcK Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes... the Reinstallation CD is for folks that remove/replace their hard drive with a different one.

    Mark
     
    MarkMcK, Apr 22, 2006
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