The latest version of media direct is 4.0 and if you want to install the media direct you need to have the disk for that and you need to create the partion first on the hard drive at least 10 to 15 GB and install teh media direct

Thanks.

>media direct is 4.0 and if you want to install the media direct you need to have the disk for that

Is it necessary to have the Disk?    I found that V.4 MD could be downloaded from Dell.   I under stood that you meant to burn the downloaded v. 4 to CD disk for the installation.   Is that correct?

Or you might have meant to have the origianl VD v. 20 disk ready.    I have the original CD.

Could you please clarifiy my confusion?  Your comment would be helpful for the re-installation of MD.

hummer  

Thanks dcgtls, 

I ordered the new v. 4 Media Direct from Dell about 15 min ago.  It is coming in 1-3 weeks!!!

I also have the same problem as you have:  My MD  did not play movie when I tried on Friday.

So I thought that I messed up Medica Direct.

 To me, partitioning on HD is an easy part.   When I got the Vostro laptop, I once reformatted the HD and insalled Media Direct.  It was not easy.   I ended up an endless loop of formatting and installing Media Direct (v. 2).  It was a pain.

When I googled Media Direct today, what I learned is the installation of v. 3 and above uses a different approach from that of  v. 2.0.   I hope that v. 4 would make a lot easier to install Media Direct.  When I get MD v. 4,   I will post how it goes.   Thanks.  Hummer

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@hummer7 wrote:

Thanks.

 

>media direct is 4.0 and if you want to install the media direct you need to have the disk for that

 

Is it necessary to have the Disk?    I found that V.4 MD could be downloaded from Dell.   I under stood that you meant to burn the downloaded v. 4 to CD disk for the installation.   Is that correct?

 

Or you might have meant to have the origianl VD v. 20 disk ready.    I have the original CD.

Could you please clarifiy my confusion?  Your comment would be helpful for the re-installation of MD.

hummer  

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There are 2 parts to Media Direct. The first part creates the partitions, you need the disk for this. The 2nd part is the application, this is what you install from withing windows. What is available for download has always been the 2nd part.

I do not know if you can install a newer version of Media Direct because it may be looking at something with the hardware. You will need to get you hands on the newer disk and give it a try.

I have version 3.3 on my 1720 and do not use it because it is unable to play any of my movies (all .avi format encoded with Divix) and can not play most of my music (all MP3 format). When I spoke with tech support on this about a year ago they said that it was because they were not created using Media Direct, as you know the Dell support does not know what they are talking about.

If you find that it is possible to run a newer version please post back and let us know. It might be worth blowing away the laptop to upgrade if it works.

Thanks dcgtls,    I ordered the new v. 4 Media Direct from Dell about 15 min ago.  It is coming in 1-3 weeks!!!   I also have the same problem as you have:  My MD  did not play movie when I tried on Friday. So I thought that I messed up Medica Direct.    To me, partitioning on HD is an easy part.   When I got the Vostro laptop, I once reformatted the HD and insalled Media Direct.  It was not easy.   I ended up an endless loop of formatting and installing Media Direct (v. 2).  It was a pain.   When I googled Media Direct today, what I learned is the installation of v. 3 and above uses a different approach from that of  v. 2.0.   I hope that v. 4 would make a lot easier to install Media Direct.  When I get MD v. 4,   I will post how it goes.   Thanks.  Hummer

I agree with this poster above this one that it would be worth "BLOWING AWAY" my hard drive if this works.

But the problem isn't with jusy Media Direct, the same thing happens to me if I try Windows Media Center or WMP.

Can't play any mp3 files.  I keep getting needs mpeg-1 (50) codec, sends me to Microsoft Website, which sends me to WMPplugins, which of coarse tells me they don't have it.

Which tells me to try a Web Search which is a total waste.

And my Lappy is a 1 month old Inspiron 1721. Vista Home Premium SP1.

If I as you say blow away my hard drive I'll be putting on Ubuntu 8.10 which I've already tried live.

I've used Ubuntu and Linux before so it really isn't anything new.

If I figure this out I'll let you know.