Yes, you can get a reinstallation disk for Vista (if you did not receive one with the system) by calling tech support and requesting it.
As for dual booting, I haven't done it myself, but from talking to others that have the best plan is to install XP in whatever size partition you want it to have, get it working, then install Vista in the other partition. If you are going to have data you need to access from both OSs, you might consider setting up a third "data" partition for that.
I haven't done it, and it is not something supported by Dell, but as far as I know you can get Media Direct to work on a system configured for Dual boot. I believe a coworker in my last position set up an Inpsiron 6400 with WinXP/Ubuntu/Media Direct and got it all working, so I don't see why it wouldn't work with two version of Windows.
Basically, you would have to set up the Media Direct partition using the Media Direct reinstallation CD (as normal), then set up your two operating systems, and lastly do the final Media Direct "install" in the appropriate operating system (depending on which OS your version of Media Direct is for).
Again, I've never tried it so I don't know what "fun" you might run into doing this, so YMMV. :)
I believe it does set up the diagnostic partition, yes.
As long as you are going to have Vista installed on the system them you don't need to have both teh XP and Vista version of Media Direct installed. Personally, I think you would not be able to have both (XP and Vista version) installed at once since Media Direct makes use of some Windows files in order to run. But again, this isn't something I have done, and haven't heard of anyone else doing, so I really don't know for sure how it will behave.
OK, so, as far as you know, the following process should work?
1. Wipe the HDD completely, removing partitions.
2. Boot to the Media Direct CD and create the following partitions:
Diagnostics, Media Direct, XP, Vista, data (if it will let me at this point, otherwise just create Diagnostics, Media Direct, and a third, creating the others in the XP setup)
3. Boot to WinXP CD, install OS, drivers
4. Boot to Vista DVD, install in other partition, driver up. Vista will create bootloader?
5. Boot to Vista OS, install Media Direct app.
6. Enjoy?
What do you think?
If you do not know, do you have any way of verifying that this process is correct?
That definitely sounds like the correct steps to me, Allochthonous. Steps 1,2,4,5 and 6 are what i used fixing a customers Vista system (which included Media Direct) and I know steps 3,4 and 6 are the steps for setting up an XP-Vista dual boot. Based on that I don't see any reason why your steps, as listed, would not work. I just can't be sure since I haven't tried it and don't know of anyone that has (successful or otherwise).
Do most people just ditch the Medi Direct feature and go straight to dual boot? I would like to try the Media Direct thing and I have also read that if its not there and you push the button, bad things can happen (messes up MBR?)
The only other issue I forsee is the whole SATA drivers not available in XP, but I have a USB floppy drive that should solve this problem. Slipstreaming is another option.
Thanks for your help Larry. If you get a chance, ask around and see if anybody knows anybody who may have experience with this.
Allochthonous
95 Posts
0
May 30th, 2008 20:00
So Larry, can I do this a still save the MediaDirect and Diagnostics partitions? I don't care about the restore partition (if there is one) so much.
PK
Larry R
2 Intern
•
1.7K Posts
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May 30th, 2008 20:00
Yes, you can get a reinstallation disk for Vista (if you did not receive one with the system) by calling tech support and requesting it.
As for dual booting, I haven't done it myself, but from talking to others that have the best plan is to install XP in whatever size partition you want it to have, get it working, then install Vista in the other partition. If you are going to have data you need to access from both OSs, you might consider setting up a third "data" partition for that.
Larry R
2 Intern
•
1.7K Posts
0
June 2nd, 2008 17:00
I haven't done it, and it is not something supported by Dell, but as far as I know you can get Media Direct to work on a system configured for Dual boot. I believe a coworker in my last position set up an Inpsiron 6400 with WinXP/Ubuntu/Media Direct and got it all working, so I don't see why it wouldn't work with two version of Windows.
Basically, you would have to set up the Media Direct partition using the Media Direct reinstallation CD (as normal), then set up your two operating systems, and lastly do the final Media Direct "install" in the appropriate operating system (depending on which OS your version of Media Direct is for).
Again, I've never tried it so I don't know what "fun" you might run into doing this, so YMMV. :)
Allochthonous
95 Posts
0
June 2nd, 2008 23:00
Does it matter what OS you set up MediaDirect for? I assume that I will get the CD for Vista, but should I request the XP CD as well?
The MediaDirect CD also sets up the diagnostic partition, right?
pk
Larry R
2 Intern
•
1.7K Posts
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June 3rd, 2008 13:00
I believe it does set up the diagnostic partition, yes.
As long as you are going to have Vista installed on the system them you don't need to have both teh XP and Vista version of Media Direct installed. Personally, I think you would not be able to have both (XP and Vista version) installed at once since Media Direct makes use of some Windows files in order to run. But again, this isn't something I have done, and haven't heard of anyone else doing, so I really don't know for sure how it will behave.
Allochthonous
95 Posts
0
June 3rd, 2008 14:00
OK, so, as far as you know, the following process should work?
1. Wipe the HDD completely, removing partitions.
2. Boot to the Media Direct CD and create the following partitions:
Diagnostics, Media Direct, XP, Vista, data (if it will let me at this point, otherwise just create Diagnostics, Media Direct, and a third, creating the others in the XP setup)
3. Boot to WinXP CD, install OS, drivers
4. Boot to Vista DVD, install in other partition, driver up. Vista will create bootloader?
5. Boot to Vista OS, install Media Direct app.
6. Enjoy?
What do you think?
If you do not know, do you have any way of verifying that this process is correct?
Thanks!
Paul
Larry R
2 Intern
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1.7K Posts
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June 3rd, 2008 15:00
Allochthonous
95 Posts
0
June 3rd, 2008 16:00
OK, cool.
Do most people just ditch the Medi Direct feature and go straight to dual boot? I would like to try the Media Direct thing and I have also read that if its not there and you push the button, bad things can happen (messes up MBR?)
The only other issue I forsee is the whole SATA drivers not available in XP, but I have a USB floppy drive that should solve this problem. Slipstreaming is another option.
Thanks for your help Larry. If you get a chance, ask around and see if anybody knows anybody who may have experience with this.
PK
Allochthonous
95 Posts
0
June 4th, 2008 11:00
RE: Step 3
In regards to the SATA drivers, do I just need to go tohttp://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R154200&SystemID=VOS_N_1500&servicetag=&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=11530&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=41&fileid=205611
and put those on a floppy (I have will have a USB floppy drive) or slipstream them into an XP CD?
Once in Windows, will I need to install anything else?
Thanks.
PK