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    Reinstall e1505 w. MCE

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by kguo7, Jun 18, 2006.

  1. kguo7

    kguo7 Notebook Consultant

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    I really want to reinstall my e1505 because Dell installed so much crap when they built this laptop. The problem is I have the MCE operating system and I still want to retain the MCE feature (watching movies/videos and listening to music without actually having to boot up Windows). I read SouthernGrl's guide to reintallation and it appears that you have to do weird stuff with making a MCE partition. Can someone link to a website that teaches MCE reinstallation? Also, does Dell offer help on this on its website? I would appreciate any help.
     
    kguo7, Jun 18, 2006
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  2. ejohnson0547

    ejohnson0547 Notebook Enthusiast

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    It really is pretty easy, just make sure you have the DVD to install Windows MCE disk from Dell and the Power DVD 5.7 reinstall CD. Also download all the latest drivers from the Dell website for your computer, and burn them on a CD.

    Boot up off the MCE DVD. It will detect a current version of Windows on your computer and ask if you want to repair it, but I believe you press ESC to not repair. It will then show 3 partitions on your C drive. 50 MB, XX GB (This is main windows partition and depends on size of your HD), and 5 GB restore partition.

    Leave the 50 MB diagnostics partition. The 5 GB is the restore, but it has all the crap that we are getting rid of. I deleted it on mine, but it is up to you if you want to keep or delete. If you want to delete it, delete the 5 GB partition and the XX GB partition. Then you will have the 50 MB partition and unallocated space. Select the unallocated space to install and format using NTFS.

    Just run the install, very easy from here. After its done, install the Chipset drivers, Notebook System software, and all other drivers you need from your CD you burned. Install PowerDVD.

    Then just follow the instructions to repair the Media Direct from here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=1419310&postcount=8
     
    ejohnson0547, Jun 18, 2006
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  3. NOSintake

    NOSintake Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

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    it really isnt that hard. i just reinstalled yesterday, and it went smoothly. just do what SG said, and what johnson just said. just make sure u defrag after the install
     
    NOSintake, Jun 18, 2006
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  4. MarkMcK

    MarkMcK Notebook Evangelist

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    The simplest way to reinstall the operating system is to 'point' the Windows reinstall utility to the same partition as the original operating system. The original OS partition can be identified by its size [it will be the biggest one].

    Once Windows has been installed, then you run the MediaDirect Repair utility [Available as a download from Dell or is on the Dell Drivers and Utilities CD].

    Don't do anything to the partitions, just reinstall Windows over the original and then repair MediaDirect....

    Mark
     
    MarkMcK, Jun 19, 2006
    #4