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    Reinstalling XP on Vostro 1500

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Carrot Muncher, Jan 19, 2008.

  1. Carrot Muncher

    Carrot Muncher Notebook Evangelist

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    I just got my vostro a few days ago, has anyone reinstalled windows and dell media direct? did you run into any problems?

    I was reading the little bit about dell media direct that you get with the cd and it says, 'after reinstalling media direct, exit the program then using the start menu turn the computer off. After its turned off press the media direct button to launch media direct??? is that a typo it makes no sense.

    Also do you have to backup/burn anything thats already on the laptop? I've copied the dell and drivers folder but is there anything that I should copy before its gone?

    Reason I want to reinstall, even though its new it somehow feels like im using someone elses laptop with all the crap on here. Theres was about 60 odd running process, Ive uninstalled some things and got it down to about 50 atm. How many running process do you lot have, I know that the dell stuff on here will put up the process but to me it seems a bit crazy? My desktop running xp has only 31ish running process at idle.

    Not as bad as my aunts dell 1520 with vista basic, about 77 running process!
     
  2. M1chel

    M1chel Notebook Geek

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    Backup: probably not necessary. You should have the drivers CD or DVD too. Or maybe download the latest versions from Dell and/or the relevant manufacturers (Intel and such).

    MediaDirect: search around, loads of discussions. I ditched it. As to your "reinstalling" bit, maybe they are talking about the phase where you (re)install it in Windows? I believe (but not sure) that you first install MD on the hard disk in its own "secret" partition, then install Windows, and then install MD "again" as a regular Windows application. Kinda crazy. Anyway, I only consider myself expert at removing it, not installing it! :)
     
  3. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

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    Will you actually use media direct?
     
  4. Carrot Muncher

    Carrot Muncher Notebook Evangelist

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    TBH no I won't use MD.

    But I'm am just thinking if MD is on a seperate hidden partition then I will have to uninstall it before reinstalling windows right?
    Just remove it from add/remove programs?
    I'll have a gander see if I can assign the button to open something else.