Uninstall MediaDirect

Question

I am planning to do a second clean reinstall of Win XP Pro on my new Inspiron 1520 (it came with Vista). I have been having problems since I installed XP, then hit the MediaDirect launch button and nearly couldn't recover it to XP. My plan is to delete all partitions (including the Media Direct partition) and recreate two (C: for operating system and D: for data), plus leave a few GB unpartitioned. I don't plan to reinstall MediaDirect. Questions:

1. Will this disable the MediaDirect button near the power button (don't want another crash)?
2. Will this disable the front panel buttons for sound volume and so on? These buttons are somewhat useful.
3. Will leaving some unpartitioned space (at least 5GB) allow for future reinstall of MediaDirect?
4. Will the MediaDirect version (3.3) reinstall disk that I received with the original Vista machine allow reinstalling after XP is reinstalled without crashing everything? In other words, is MD 3.3 compatible with XP?

Thanks for any help that you savvy users or Dell techs out there can provide. Svenfran

Svenfran · Answer

A Dell rep just confirmed by phone that the MediaDirect 3.3 reinstall CD that came with my new Inspiron 1520 is NOT compatible with XP. She is sending me a reinstall CD for MediaDirect 3.0 that she says works with XP. I did a clean reinstall of XP last night, deleting all partitions, including the MediaDirect partition, created new C and D partitions, left about 10 GB unpartitioned space, then reinstalled all drivers, etc. So far the XP reinstall works fine, but I have NOT hit the MediaDirect button!

There is one minor symptom that may be MediaDirect related: right after the BIOS screen at bootup, I get a screen asking me to confirm which of two Windows installations I want to launch. Both listed installations are labeled "Windows XP Professional." I have only launched the first listed XP Pro, because I think the other one may be MediaDirect in disguise (generated by the BIOS?).

I don't know whether I'll risk crashing my XP installation again by installing MediaDirect 3.0, but she assured me it's compatible with XP. Based on PsionMage's earlier cautions, I'll probably just leave well enough alone and hope nobody hits the MediaDirect button.

Questions, if anyone can respond:
1. How do I bypass the screen asking me which Windows installation I want to launch?
2. IS MediaDirect 3.0 in fact compatible with XP, and can I install it from XP without blowing it up (there should be more than enough unpartitioned space on my hard drive)?

Rebel9 · Answer

Read the instructions for Media Direct installation very carefully. You'll have to start over again with the Media Direct install cd, partition the drive (according to the Media Direct requirements) and then reinstall XP. As far as I know, you can't simply install Media Direct from within an existing XP installation.

Calla Lily · Answer

Hi to the original poster, I have a question that is sort of related to your post, and I was wondering when you did the clean reinstall of Windows OS, I assume that you wiped out the PC Restore by Symantec?  If so, did you happen to make a copy of it?  If you did, would you be able to let me know how you can go about in doing that, and whether it's possible to make an image of PC Restore by using ISO Recorder.   Right now, I'm having a situation where my mediadirect version 2 is not loading properly form the ocmputer in its power off position.  Looks liek I may hve to reformat the hard drive to re-install mediadirect, but don't particularly want to do that since that would mean losing PC Restore for good.   I would also like to know whether version 2 of Mediadirect is compatible with Windows XP AND Vista, and similarly, whether verison 3 of Mediadirect is compatible with both of the OS.   Thank you, Calla

Svenfran · Answer

Calla-   I deleted all partitions with the intent of removing all Dell and other software so that I could clean-install XP and not have extra Dell overhead.  I am not sure if Symantec PC Restore was even on there.  I have the Dell reinstall disks, so I know I can always get my original Vista installation and other original software back, but don't know if those would work on a non-Inspiron 1520 machine.  If you're still in the support period, I found Dell's tech support 800 number rep. very responsive.  She told me on Monday she would send me a MediaDirect 3.0 reinstall CD and I received it on Wednesday.   She told me MD 3.0 is compatible with XP, but I don't know about Vista.  MD 3.3 that came with my machine in July is only compatible with Vista, but I don't know if 3.0 is.  Similarly, I don't know if MD 2.0 is forward-compatible to Vista, but I doubt it, since my Dell site and other research shows that 2.0 has been around for several years.   This stuff is really hard to get to the bottom of.  I would encourage you, therefore, to try the 800 number on Dell's tech support site, unless you have a lot of time for web research.  Good luck,   Svenfran

Calla Lily · Answer

Hello, Thanks for your reply.  Unfortunately, I'm not having much luck with Technical Support.  They said they would send me a particular CD, but then end up sending me something completely different.  As for my Mediadirect problem, it's at a dead end.  The only option so far, is to wipe out the hard drive, meaning lose PC Restore by Symantec.   Anyway, thanks again, Calla

Windows General

Uninstall MediaDirect

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