Mediadirect Repair did not work, request options please

Question

Hello,
I have Inspiron 640M/E1405 with Windows XP Home Edition, and I believe Mediadirect 2.1 (on my original system configuration, the following was indicated, not sure if it's talking about mediadirect: MODULE, SOFTWARE, DELL MEDIA MANAGER, BASIC, 2.1, INSPIRON).

I have a Meidadirect button on the middle bottom of mylaptop, and I have followed the instructions that came with the Owner's Manual in repairing Mediadirect using the "Drivers and Utilities CD." The process went fine, I got a "Done" message at teh end of the process, but when I pressed the mediadirect button on my laptop after the system was turned off completely, I got the same old problem of the Mediadirect start page, but afterwards a blank screen with a mouse pointer only, and it remains that way for ever. Even if I insert a movie DVD, nothing changes, the screen is still blank with only the white mouse cursor.

When the computer is turned on and I press the Mediadirect button on my laptop, I don't get anything.

I suspect that something went wrong with my system after I donwloaded the update for Sonic Cineplayer. But even after the update download, the Mediadirect button worked fine. But, the Cineplayer became corrupt in a sense that it would not load at all, so I had to reinstall it, and in doing so, I was prompted to remove Dell Media Experience as well, so I had to do that. I reinstalled Cineplayer using the CD I received from Dell for reinstalling Cineplayer, then I reinstalled Media Experience using another CD I got from Dell as well. Both the Cineplayer and Media Experience work fine, but even after repairing Mediadirect, it still does not work.

I read on Dell Support page that reinstalling Mediadirect would erase everything on my hard drive, so I guess I can't simply reinstall Mediadirect then? If so, is my only choice to get Mediadirect working again is to do a PC Restore by Symantec which puts my hard drive to the point when it was originally shipped? Is this the only option, and would doing the PC Restore (not System Restore) work in making the Mediadirect work well again? (BTW, I've already tried doing Systems Restore to the point just before I updated the Cineplayer update, but that didn't work, and it ended up screwing up the Cineplayer, hence I had to reinstall as mentioned above)

Thanks for your time and input in advance,
Calla

mombodog · Answer

Here is a thread with some info you can glean out of it, hopefully.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?s=401c8f896ba8ff80f65f6bff60af9ca0&t=54366&page=2

Here is some more in depth info on how the partition works

http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/mediadirect.htm

Message Edited by mombodog on 09-22-2007 07:47 PM

Calla Lily · Answer

Hello Bellboy,
I just found your post after I posted my reply to mombodog's reply.

Forgive me for my lack of computer knowledge, but what is DSR, what does it stand for, and what is Disk Management (how do I go about using it?).

If you could answer the questions that I posted above, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you,

Calla

Message Edited by Calla Lily on 09-22-2007 06:25 PM

BELL BOY · Answer

Can you still see MediaDirect partition in Disk Management?

Could be the Dell modified MBR is corrupt (similar to the DSR launch problems)

Subject is covered in Dan Goodell’s web site as already provided by mombodog

Also, if not already seen, MediaDirect Repair Utility (total list) is here (not applicable for MediaDirect 3.0+)

Calla Lily · Answer

Hello,
Thanks for the reply. I visited the websites given, but from what I understand so far, the information is primarily for people who have a brand new hard disk. I'm still using the one that was shipped with my laptop.

If someone could address the questions that I asked above, it would be greatly appreciated. In addition, I would like to ask if it's possible to use the Mediadirect re-installation CD that Dell sent me in the current condition without the CD wiping out my OS and screwing everything up. And also, as I mention above, whether it's possible to restore the Mediadirect in working order if I use the PC Restore by Symantec.
Thank you,
Calla

BELL BOY · Answer

Hi again Calla Lily

1. Dell PC Restore by Symantec a.k.a. Dell System Restore (DSR) utility

2. To open Computer Management (local)

Start > right click My Computer > click on Manage

In LHS pane, click on Storage to expand, then click on Disk Management

RHS pane will now show computer disk information & partitions

If you still have a working DSR utility (i.e. both DSR partition & MBR are OK)

Then using DSR will only restore (overwrite) the Windows Operating System (OS) partition (normally the second partition), it doesn’t overwrite any other partitions (e.g. MediaDirect partition)

So only if your problem is being caused by corrupt/missing applications in Windows then DSR will fix it, but it won’t fix damage (if any) on the MediaDirect partition

As already mentioned, it sounds like your problem could be Dell modified MBR is corrupt (used to boot to both DSR & MediaDirect partitions)

Hope above answers your questions?

Calla Lily · Answer

Hello Bell boy,
Thank you for replying back. I was able to see under Disk Management and what I found was that I have 3 partitions, all three list that they are "Healthy," and the last partition said: 3.81GB FAT32 Healthy (Unknown partition). Is this the Mediadirect? I'm not too clear on what you said in your recent post. Are you saying that there are 2 possibilities for the cause of the Mediadirect not working, one being that there could be something faulty with the Windows OS and so doing the PC Restore by Symantec will solve the problem, or secondly, that it could be that the Mediadirect is faulty on its own and so doing a PC System Restore by Symantec will NOT correct Mediadirect? As a third option for the cause of this problem, could it be that both the Windows XP AND Mediadirect is faulty? Or is it one cause or the other?

How should I proceed at this point?
Thanks again for any help,
Calla

BELL BOY · Answer

Assumptions: you have not reformatted your hard disk drive (HDD), reinstalled Windows or used any HDD MBR repair Command Prompt entries, like fixmbr or fdisk /mbr If correct then both MediaDirect partition & the Dell modified MBR should be OK If you can only see one FAT32 then MediaDirect Partition must be Host-Protected Area (HPA) based, i.e. totally hidden. The 3.81GB FAT32 is the DSR partition Just for information, MediaDirect 3 appears in logical type partition & actually shows up in Disk Management as MediaDirect 'How should I proceed at this point?' First check you haven’t changed QuickSet default settings, if OK then: Based on (1) above assumptions & (2) various downloads, uninstalls & reinstalls you have done: I’d try using DSR to restore Windows OS partition, this will fix all OS based applications/drivers associated with MediaDirect functionality

Calla Lily · Answer

Hello,
Thank you for taking the time again to reply. Since my last post, I have actually used PC Restore by Symantec a number of times, but this did not correct the problem of loading Mediadirect when the computer is turned off and the Mediadirect button is pressed. I was also able to create the Mediadirect Repair Utility CD using the latest version A05, but this did not fix the problem. I have also used my Drivers & utilities CD to fix this, but still, I have the same problem.

So as of right now, my problem is that when I press the Mediadirect button when the laptop is turned off, then all I get is the Mediadirect page, then it goes pitch dark with only the white mouse cursor present. Prior to using the Repair Utility CD, it used to take a long time to shut down the Mediadirect, but now, the Windows screen pops up saying it will now exit.

As for when the computer is on and I press the Mediadirect button, only the Cineplayer pops up. I used to have both Media Experience and Cineplayer pop up together, but not anymore.

It seems that the only option left would be to reinstall Mediadirect, but I don't think the DVD that Dell gave me is the same version as the one I have installed right now. I think mine is version 2, and as I read somewhere, version 3 installs itself differently from version 2, so I think I might screw things up. Also, if I were to use this version 3 DVD for re-installing Mediadirect, would this erase all the data on my current hard disk which contains the PC Restore by Symantec? Is re-installing Mediadirect like reformatting the hard drive?

I would like to stress that I have the original hard drive that came shipped with my laptop, have not formatted it or re-installed the Windows OS manually. The only thing I've done is do a number of PC Restore by Symantec.

Thank you,
Calla

GreyMack · Answer

Just to clarify, Dell PC Restore may restore the Windows partition to it's original factory condition, not the entire disk. GM

BELL BOY · Answer

What can I say – strange results but looks like some progress

DSR utility should have restored required applications & drivers associated with MediaDirect, e.g. Quickset, Sonic & Cyberlink, assuming (normally the case) they are part of original build spec preinstalled software & are saved in DSR utility stored image

Just to complicate things, it may or not be relevant, but from details in your last post?

Since you have WXPHE (rather than Windows MediaCenter) when you press the MediaDirect button (when already in WXP) your computer tries to launch MediaCenter but will not function correctly unless Dell Media Experience (DMX) is installed in WXP

But would have thought that DMX was preinstalled therefore should be in DSR image

Your mentioned uninstalling & reinstalling DMX, not sure what version but something you should check-out, for DMX 3.0, Dell site recommends the following must be installed before installing DMX

DirectX 9.0c (or newer)

.NET framework 1.1

Windows Media Player 9 or 10

CyberLink PowerDVD 5.1 or 5.3

Using MediaDirect Repair Utility version A05 should have fixed (if damaged) corrupt MBR problems, your quote ”used to take a long time to shut down” may indicate some MBR correction?

Note: if MediaDirect is launched from Power Off status then after exiting, you must always first boot to & exit from WXP before booting to DOS (for example using a CD)

Finally, just double-checking but did Repair Utility version A05 run OK?

Calla Lily · Answer

Hello, The Repair Utility CD as well as the Drivers & Utilities CD worked fine.  I always got a 'Done' message at the end of the process and apparently, that's how things should turn out.  But, the problem remains unsolved.  I used the above mentioend CDs a number of times, but I still ahve the same result.  As of right now, I did the DSR, and then, I re-installed Cineplayer version 3 and Dell Media Experience 3.1.  When I press the Mediadirect button in a Power Off state, the same thing continues to occur: a blank screen with only the white mouse cursor.  I can move around the cursor, and unlike the pointy tipped cursor that you generally see, this cursor has one finger pointing upwards and the cursor is in the image of a person's hand.    As it was previously mentioend, I think the MBR is fine, otherwise I don't think the Mediadirect would load when power is on, and when it's activated from a power off position, I think I would get a message saying something to the effect of not being able to load Mediadirect.   Could it be possible that the Mediadirect software itself is faulty?  Or that the particular sector of the hard disk which houses the Mediadirect is faulty, but then why would it start to load in a power off position?   I'm totally puzzled by this.  Someone on this forum mentioned re-installing Mediadirect by using PC Restore by Symantec.  Is this possible?  From what I read about re-installation of Mediadirect, when you pop the re-install CD, it will wipe out the entire hard disk.  I also found out that I DO have Mediadirect version number 2, but the DVD that Dell sent me is version 3.   Thank you, Calla

BELL BOY · Answer

Hi again Calla

Never say never, but doubt if MediaDirect partition is corrupt – could be corrupt/bad HDD sectors but unlikely?

Probably correct MBR is fine, also obvious that the DSR MBR code is working fine

But since 90+% of MediaDirect not loading problems are caused by corrupt MBR – just in case & only mention it again because it’s a very-very common mistake, but when you ran Repair Utility version A05, using the cd \MD2 command, assume you did leave a space between cd & \MD2?

It’s not clear how the problem started, unless it was after reinstalling Cineplayer & removing DMX then reinstalling both? If correct, then anything done or any clues from just before Cineplayer wouldn’t load problem?

Previously suggested Windows OS applications & drivers associated with MediaDirect would be restored using DSR (albeit MediaDirect platform boots separate from OS). Just a question, after using DSR & rebooting to Windows, did you then try MediaDirect from both Windows & Power off before installing Cineplayer 3.0 & DMX 3.1??

Would have thought versions of Cineplayer & DMX would have been OS preinstalled hence included in DSR image, if correct then it’s not clear why you then reinstalled versions 3.0 & 3.1?

Did you have above-mentioned applications (DirectX 9.0c etc), installed before installing DMX 3.1?

As stated in my previous post DSR only restores the original OS partition image

Using MediaDirect CD to reinstall will wipe your HDD you will lose everything, including DSR & even if you first unhide & then image DSR (to reinstall), the DSR MBR code will be lost after reinstalling Windows, that is the Ctrl+F11 keys won’t work but this can (sometimes) be fixed using Dan Goodell dsrfix utility

Some geeks have even created a “new” DSR image that can be launched using Ctrl+F11 keys, a bit heavy going but if really interested let me know.

At the end of day, the Dell design of HDD partitioning for DSR & MediaDirect & the modified MBR to boot to these partitions is very handy & user friendly – until things go wrong!

The first thing that a lot of people do when they receive their new Dell computer is completely wipe HDD (often to get rid of all the Dell preinstalled “fluff stuff”) then repartition & reformat HDD & reinstall OS plus whatever else then use imaging software to create a complete HDD image restore CD. A much more flexible recovery mechanism but some argue you need to use imaging software & if the restore image is now on a CD, it could be lost whereas DSR image is already on your HDD. Windows Vista has it’s own built-in imaging application – ImageX

Finally, a very long-shot, but have you made any changes to your computer since new, hardware or BIOS?

BIOS changes shouldn’t impact on OS but may impact on certain boot select processes – just a thought

Bell Boy

Calla Lily · Answer

Hello Bell Boy,

First of all, thank you so much for tkaing the time to resolve this issue. I really appreciate it. To answer your questions:

when you ran Repair Utility version A05, using the cd \MD2 command, assume you did leave a space between cd & \MD2

Yes, I did leave a space between CD and \MD2. But still, the problem remains the same.

It’s not clear how the problem started, unless it was after reinstalling Cineplayer & removing DMX then reinstalling both? If correct, then anything done or any clues from just before Cineplayer wouldn’t load problem?

The problem began about 4-5 days after I downloaded the Critical Update December 2006 for Cineplayer. Reason why I downloded this is because the Installshield software popped up saying I ought to download this. I don't know what verison fo Cineplayer I had prior to doing the latest re-install. I think it was version 3. As for the update patch for Cineplayer, well, Dell released another patch following that December 2006, and I did install that AFTER I began having problems with the Mediadirect. But, I could not install it, because during the installation of the patch file, it said that the patch was not for my Cineplayer.

Just a question, after using DSR & rebooting to Windows, did you then try MediaDirect from both Windows & Power off before installing Cineplayer 3.0 & DMX 3.1??

Yes, I tried both from the Windows with the power on position, and when the laptop was in the off position. The problem remained the same.

Would have thought versions of Cineplayer & DMX would have been OS preinstalled hence included in DSR image, if correct then it’s not clear why you then reinstalled versions 3.0 & 3.1?

Reason being, I wanted to rule out every possibility for the cuase of this problem. And so I re-installed Cineplayer and Media Experience. I think the re-installtion of Media Experinece is more recent than the one that came installed with my laptop when I first got it last year. Also, during my attempt at trying to fix the problem, I ran into a situation where the Cinepalyer stopped loading properly. I thought that I might have the same problem again even after doing PC Restore by Symantec, so I removed the versions that was originally installed on my laptop, and reinstalled the versions that came with the CDs that Dell sent me. The CDs that Dell sent, their versions may be more of the latest version, I know for certain that Media Experience is more updated than the version that was installed on my laptop when it was shipped out to me originally.

Finally, a very long-shot, but have you made any changes to your computer since new, hardware or BIOS?

I have not changed any hardware since getting this in August 2006, but as for BIOS, I updated it to the latest version A10. though the install said it was successful, I've been having problems with high pitched sound coming from the top right hand corner of the laptop, jsut above the keyboard ever since this BIOS update. But this update was done at around April of this year, and Mediadirect was working fine from the power off position up until about last Thrusday or Friday.

So just to recap, my problems are as follows: in the laptop power off state, when Mediadirect button is pressed, the program loads and I get Mediadirect page, then the screen turns pitch black with only a hand shaped mouse cursor that is white in color shows up. I am able to move around the mouse cursor, but the screen forever remains pitch balck. I turn off the laptop by pressing the power on/off button, and I get a Widnows page saying "Exiting."

In the power ON state, and I press the Mediadirect button, I get a Dell Mediaexperince logo, then opens up this program where it has both the Cineplayer and Media Experience loaded. The reason why I know this is because when I click on Help in the program and click on "About," I get 2 choices, Cineplayer and Media Experience.

Just on the side, is it true that Mediadirect 2 is designed for Windows XP only, or can it be used for Vista as well? Also, for Mediadirect 3, is that for Vista only or can it be used with XP Home edition as well?

Thank you for all of your help,

Calla

Message Edited by Calla Lily on 09-25-2007 11:49 PM

Calla Lily · Answer

Hello, Just one more thing that I forgot to mention with regards to your question, I do have the following: DirectX9.0c .NET framework 1.1 Windows Media Player 10, but not Cyberlink Power DVD, I have Roxio My DVD   Also, I contacted Dell Tech support tonight, and the lady there told me that the above requirements are not pre-requisites for installing Media Experience version 3, which is currently installed on my laptop.  If you have the above, then it adds enhancements to the whole Media Experience.  I don't know if this is truly the case, since I'm unable to verify it with a written page somewhere on the Dell web site.   As for my problem with Mediadirect, I was told that the only way to solve this would be re-installing Mediadirect, which would mean losing forever, the loved PC Restore by Symantec.  Also, I was told that Cyberlink DVD was never installed on my laptop when it was originally shipped.  I told her that I see a Cyberlink log when I exit the Mediadirect, and I was told it's because Cyberlink creates Mediadirect for Dell.   I'm still looking for a solution without resorting to reformatting the entire hard disk.  As you mentioned, 'never say never,' and I'm trying to hold onto that.  I wonder if I somehow got a hold of Cyberlink Power DVD then that might resolve the issue?  Or perhaps there is some other way?  I find it so frustrating that you can not get the EXACT same software that came shipped with the computer once you reformat the original hard drive or get a new one. Thanks, Calla

BELL BOY · Answer

Hi

Maybe Dell rep is correct, interesting how Dell chop & change media bundled software, anyway Community Forum DMX sticky is here

Cyberlink Support web site is here but wouldn’t download/install anything unless you can easily uninstall & restore

Assume the Sonic Solutions CinePlayer patch that wouldn’t install is this one here, you may want to further investigate why it wouldn’t install, may be related to your MD problem?

Looks like it’s a choice between keeping DSR utility & not having a working MD Power off or Installing MD 3.0 & using imaging software to make a bootable image restore CD for HDD

Ironic that Dell started preinstalling MD 3.0 October/November 2006, assume that’s why they sent MD 3.0 CD?

Quote

“I thought that I might have the same problem again even after doing PC Restore by Symantec, so I removed the versions that was originally installed on my laptop, and reinstalled the versions that came with the CDs that Dell sent me”

Although Dell supplied CDs may provide newer versions you should have probably checked if Cineplayer was loading properly or not in Windows just after using DSR

The other thing you can do is:

After using DSR to restore Windows OS to out-of-box condition, enable FW & AV then go on-line to download/install Windows & AV DAT updates

Then download this free advisor from www.belarc.com, using it will provide a complete report of everything that’s installed with product keys, software versions, locations etc

Save the report & if required print it off, you will then have a definitive out-of-box “start” point, albeit FW, AV & Windows updates will have been added

You can then use the Dell supplied Cineplayer & DMX install CDs then repeat Belarc advisor scan

I’ve used it & it’s recommended by many Forum members when trying to answer “exactly what’s installed”

Alternatively there is a Dell System Information tool, never used it but link is here

Bell Boy

Windows General

Mediadirect Repair did not work, request options please

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