Reinstalling Dell Media Direct... What REALLY works!?!?!

I've been browing these forums for hours and this thread in particular: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=40902

I have tried a few things in that thread with no luck. Here's what you need to know...

1. I completely deleted all partitions when I recieved my e1505
2. I have been sent and now have the Dell Media Direct 2.0 Installation CD
3. I need STEP BY STEP instructions on how to get this installed and working properly, it's driving me nuts!!

I greatly appreciate any info and/or solutions to this, thanks!!

 

I'm having the same trouble, and talked to dell suport and this is the e-mail that they sent me. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any luck.


Reinstall MediaDirect

These instructions are to assist you during the Windows XP installation process after your hard drive has been replaced with a blank one. The first section below is to be performed while you are running the Windows XP operating system install. The second section below is to be performed after you have installed Windows XP, your hardware drivers, and software applications using the Dell Reinstall Guides available on support.dell.com.

Prepare for MediaDirect Reinstallation

During the Windows XP installation you will need to partition the hard drive so that 1308 MB of space is left unpartitioned.

To create a partition while installing Windows XP perform the following steps:

NOTE: During the Windows XP installation After you press the <F8> key to agree to the license agreement the Windows XP Setup partition window appears. Follow the steps below when you are at that screen.



Use the Arrow keys on the keyboard to select the unpartitioned space, and then press the <C> key to create a new partition using unpartitioned space.

Type the size in megabytes (MB) that you want to use for the new partition. This will be the total size of your hard drive minus 1308, to leave space for the MediaDirect application.

NOTE: To calculate the size to use for the new partition look at the amount of space available. Subtract 1308 from the total amount of space available. The result is the amount of space to use when creating the partition to install Windows XP.



Press the <Enter> key.
Use the Arrow keys to select the partition you created to install Windows XP, and then press <Enter>.
Select Format the partition by using the NTFS file system, and then press the <Enter> key.
Return to the Windows XP install guide to complete the installation of Windows XP. When you have finished all of the steps in the Windows XP install guide you will be ready to reinstall the MediaDirect software.

Reinstall MediaDirect

When Windows XP has been fully installed and you have finished installing all of your hardware drivers and software perform the following steps to install the MediaDirect software:

NOTE: If you did not follow the directions to Prepare for MediaDirect Reinstallation you will receive an error when attempting to follow the steps below.

Insert the MediaDirect Reinstallation CD into the CD drive.
The Dell MediaDirect™ Powered by Cyberlink window opens.
Press the <Enter> key on the keyboard to install the MediaDirect application.
The Installation progress is shown, when complete, the message Installation Complete appears.
Remove the MediaDirect Reinstallation CD and Press the <Enter> key to exit the installation window.
Shut down the computer.
Use the MediaDirect button on your computer and launch the program to complete the installation process.

 

Believe it or not you haven't deleted MediaDirect. Why? MD is on a HPA of your HD and even WinXP can NOT see it. MarkMck is the resident guru on this and find and read his threads for more insight.

Because you haven't deleted MD, this CD is of no use. All you need is the MD repair utility.

Easy:
Start over and delete everything using your WinXP MCE DVD. First create a small partition, 40MB is enough, Mark explains why, please read his explanation. Now use all the remaining space for your NTFS primary partition. Install XP on this. When you see the 30 min flashing banner, do NOT interrupt this. Now run the MD repair CD, takes about 5 sec. All should be working.

Basically, your problems started when you deleted ALL the partitions. The small Dell utility partition, ~30MB, is not important for its files, only its location in the partition table, before the primary partition. Because of this, MD repair can't correctly set the pointer to the HPA to get MD working. Why Dell won't create a white paper explaining all this is beyond me.

HTH
Hermit

 

In my case.
When I reinstall Window I did keep 40M partition (For Media direct). After reinstall Window, I did repair MD and everything works fine...However, after few time work with MD I got problem: there is message: " Dummy Mixer Callback Window: PCM2.exe Application Error"
The instruction at "0x01403f65" referenced memory at "0x000000". The memory could not be read. Click OK to terminate the program.
This problem happen only when I select watch Pictures.
I did reinstall Window agains 4 times...And everytime after reinstall Window it just work few times running and after that the message appeared again. I did request MD/CD from DELL and they will sent me the CD...But I would like to know how do I reinstall Media Direct? Run it from window or from F12 with option run from CD drive?
Thanks

 

hth

Mark

 

Thanks Mark.
I just remember I did not leave 1308M unpartition when I reinstall Window ( for 4 times reinstall window). Is it a cause of my problem? I knew that each time I did format I saw there is 8M beside my partition Window. Is this 8M partition have been created automaticaly when I reinstall Window?
If somebody say Yes we need to have unpartition 1308M beside Window I will reinstall Window 5th times. I am waiting...
Thanks

 

Sorry,
M140 with Win MCE, unpartition is 1308M OR 1.5M

 

For the Reinstallation to work you must leave room [1.5GB, the Dell instructions are incorrect] of unused, unalloacated hard drive space following all existing partitions on the drive. Do NOT create a 1.5GB partition. The MediaDirect Reinstallation utility will do that for you so that's why you need to leave some space for the partition to be created. If you don't, the reinstall will fail.

hth explain things...

vr

Mark

 

THANK YOU MARK... After doing about 5 formats i followed your instrutions and everything installed fine.

 

Help me!
I lost patition for Dell Media Direct, so I can't run Media Direct on Dell Inspiron 6400. Please sent me MediaDirect Reinstallation CD.
Thanks!

 

Good info thanks

 

I don't know if this has been mentioned, but according to page 49 in the owner's manual MediaDirect will not work if Dell QuickSet is not installed.

 

Hello to all ,I am experiencing similar issues after a clean install of my OS on a inspiron e1705, after reading this thread I contacted dell support(It sucks) and after a couple of hours of wasted time they agreed to send me the direct media 2.0 install cds + the sonic media cd that did not come with my order ,this is after trying to repair the media direct program with the repair disk to no avail.Today I checked my dell account and they are charging me $34 for the software!!, before I make a fuss about this I need to know from the forum members if they were charged, for those of you that got the media direct cd from dell.

Thanks

 

When I phoned Tech Support from the UK the person that answered didn't know about the MediaDirect Reinstallation CD, but I didn't really need that one and got the ones I wanted for free: Dell Applications, Utilities and Drivers, Cyberlink PowerDVD and Sonic RecordNow. They arrived next day.

 

Both times Dell sent me disks they showed up on my account, once as $23 and once as $35. The invoice says this was for internal purposes and I was never charged for them.

Dave

 

Thanks for the info guys!! I was not charged after getting the info from the forum members ,for repairing the MD issue MarkMck has the answer , in terms of the reinstall sofware this is what I got from DELL after a long chat with a supervisor :"Starting March 2005 Dell is no longer shipping three utilities cds with some notebooks ( I have no idea why?)this cds are #P4881 the sonic solutions applications,#FC097 the power dvd and applications and a third dell applications cd #N7174 that has the dell multimedia software, for those of us that reinstalled the OS and formated the whole drive clean to get rid of the Dell crapware and free some space on the disk using a third party disk formatting tool or completely wiped the HD you need as well: #DH371 - "Dell Media Direct 2.0 Reinstall CD With Techsheet", these other cd's are needed to get full functionality of the Media Direct feature, even though media direct can be repaired or reinstalled to get ALL the features or customize the ones you want you should order your CD's from Dell, and if you haven't done so you might need them along the life of your notebooks and it is your right to do so as it is an oversight on their part.

 

wrt Dh371....

I tried that with my E1505 and it did NOT work. I believe it is for 'older' chipset/hardware suites. Dell part number RJ262 worked fine.

YMMV

Mark

 

Thanks Mark! will correct and re-order part RJ262 as I have a e1705 and from what you said the one that I have dh371 will not work on newer systems

 

Instead of having to bother Dell about it, is there any way that somebody could upload an image of the MediaDirect Reinstall 2.0 Disk? I donloaded the 1.1 Repair, but that doesn't work of course. It would be much appreciated.

 

Just got the dell RJ262 reinstall disk , followed your instructions and it works like a charm!!!

Thanks MarkMck

I even got a $75 coupon from Dell for my trouble.

 

OK,

Got an E1705. I formatted leaving the 40mb partition there. Now I was under the impression that after installing a fresh copy of XP PRO, I should just be able to run the MD Repair with the 40mb partition already there. This did not work... Do I need to get the MD installation cd and run this instead? Or do I need to reformat and leave 1.5gig of room vs. the 40mb that is currently there? When I formatted the HD I partitioned it with 20gig (for OS) and the rest for backup plus the 40mb partition that was already there from dell. Now if need be can I partition my back up which is like 35gig with enough space for MD without having to reformat the OS? I'm trying to avoid re-installing the OS.

PLEASE ANYONE???

 

I left 1.5gb unpartition space when i reinstalled windows xp media. Then I installed MediaDirect using MD V2.0 CD. It's working fine now.

 

Thanks malnik,

So what you suggest is calling Dell and have them send me a MediaDirect CD? Earlier in this thread someone suggested to have someone make an image for people instead of hasseling with Dell. Doe's anyone know if this has been done? Or maybe you malnik? I don't mind calling up Dell but Im going to guess that Im gonna have to talk to 5 different peolple and spend an hour on the phone just to get them to send me a frinkin disc...

 

Go here

https://support.dell.com/support/supportrequests/create.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&request=true&s=dhs

Then write:

I recently reinstalled my Windows XP on my E1705

Please send me a MediaDirect Reinstallation Disk Version 2.0

the automated respond system should pick the message up and send you a MediaDirect CD on the next business day.

Make sure the CD is Item# RJ262 with Description KIT,SW,MDRT,KEYLARGO, WEST

Remember to ask the system politely

 

I guess it's up to you as to whether or not you want to troubleshoot the Repair or go the Reinstall route. You can PM if you like....

vr

Mark

 

Wow, I have to say kudos to all the great support on the forums here, you guys rock. MarkMcK thanks for the support. I went ahead and reformated completely and removed the 40mb partition that was there and then allocated 1.5gig for the new partition. I will need to get the Installation CD once Im back up and running.
I guess I'll email Dell.

Thanks again!

 

When I formatted mine I did the same as above and it worked, but I had also installed Dell QuickSet before doing the MD repair without first knowing that QS needs to be installed for MD to work; well that's what the owner's manual says.

 

Can you add an additional partition,example i have an 80GB hard drive,I left 2GB for media direct installation and the partitioned 58GB as a slave,I then installed XP pro and completed installing all the drivers including quick set.When I tried to re-install the media direct cd i got an error message,If i don't add a second partition it installs with no problem,What i'm I doing wrong? thanks 240zman

 

For All Who It Concerns,

I had the same issue with my reinstallation of Windows XP Media Center Edition (following a computer crash) and did not previously start a partition. I did not want to restart the setup process, so I instead followed the following process to allow the setup to work. I believe you receive an error for MediaDirect like "The Setup Failed....". My steps are optimized for an XP-based operating system, so I am not sure if Windows 2000/NT is the same.

1.) Determined that the installation calls to a drive X:/ (which by making a partition is identified, but I did not create said partition)
2.) Enable Network Sharing and create a folder in your harddrive root called MediaDirect. Then share that folder to your local computer name (e.g.: my computer name is \\laptop so it would be shared as \\laptop\MediaDirect.
3.) Then right-click on your My Computer Icon and go to Create Network Drive. Point the new folder to your MEDIADIRECT folder within the Network Neighborhood. Then on the drive drop-down select the X:/ selection. Following this complete the process and re-start the setup.

By doing this you create a local drive X:/ where the MediaDirect is setup and can continue setup without having to create your own partition. As long as you have network sharing enabled, you can use this method. I also installed Dell Quickset so I am not sure if you can use this method without first installing QuickSet. I hope it helped!

I DID TEST THIS METHOD AND IT DID FAIL. OBVIOUSLY THE WINDOWS XP GUI INTERFACE DOES AUTOMATICALLY CONFIGURE THE X:/ DRIVE TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH MEDIA DIRECT, BUT WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MSDOS/BIOS/BOOT-UP PHASE, IT DOES NOT RECGONIZE THIS CONFIGURATION AND THUS YOU GET A KERNAL ERROR (AS I EXPERIENCED). I HAVE NO EXPERT WITH CONFIGURING THE SOFTWARE TO CHANGE ITS RECOGNITION FROM X:/ TO C:/MEDIADIRECT/... SO UNLESS THERE ARE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMERS THAT CAN SHEAD LIGHT THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO CREATE THE PARTITION.

 

Please upload the Md 2.0 i live in the Netherland and i have the same problem with Dell MD.

upload the file on this site. to help others.

http://www.zshare.net/

http://s11.yousendit.com/

http://www.mediafire.com/

 

Whats wrong in contacting Dell to obtain a copy?

 

There is nothing wrong to call Dell but ,
I bought my Dell from Middel east and i live in Europe therefore it not easy to get it from europe Dealer.

 

This thread was from 2006, the latest is media direct 3.3 now i believe