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Mark Dirnt
8 Posts
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January 2nd, 2008 15:00
MediaDirect critical problem
Hi, I own an Inspiron 1521, bought with Vista since I hadn't choice. Due to job programs compatibility reasons I had to install XP after formatting. I didn't know anything about MediaDirect, so I just formatted and installed the OS like on a normal PC. Unfortunately I hit MediaDirect button instead of the power switch (on Inspiron 1521 they are both close and similar in shape and dimension...who had this brilliant idea?!), MediaDirect tried to boot itself, but failed not finding its files. Later I learned that it used an HPA, and how it worked. And realised that not starting up correctly and hence not closing in the right way, it didn't restore the right MBR settings. So my HD looks almost completely empty and unformatted, and all my datas seem lost. Is there anything I can do? Thank you in advance.
- I've been successful recovering files using PC Tools File Recover. It can read the sectors and recover certain types of files.If you have the right file types, you can run it and see if it can get some of your files back.I don't know who's brilliant idea Media Direct was but having it wipe your hard drive if it's not there is not the most consumer friendly thing. I'd check and see if you can disable it in the BIOS before restoring your system.You also might try booting the Windows CD and trying to run FIXMBR to see if you can recover it. I don't know if anyone was ever successful doing this after MD hosed their system.
Mark Dirnt
8 Posts
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Posted January 2nd, 2008 21:00
Guys, thanks for your help, really.
@ Bacillus:
I've heard about 2 different discs, one is MD reinstallation cd, the other is MD repair utility...which one are you referring to?
@ JCN:
I completely agree about the consumer friendliness...in fact I'm trying to enquire directly at Dell's HQ through paper mail claiming my right, and I'll let you know what will be sorting out. And thanks for the link man, I'll try it right away. I was hoping of some appl. less expensive than professional data recovery companies =)
@ Rich:
I chose Inspiron also for aestethic reasons, and my concern isn't due to XP or Vista, but to MediaDirect...not knowing its dangers, I could have formatted the Vostro as well as the Inspiron, and reinstalled everything without MD...and probably encountering the same trouble.
Message Edited by Mark Dirnt on 01-03-2008 12:53 AMrich in stl
13 Posts
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Posted January 2nd, 2008 21:00
Its probably too late for you now, but you could have ought a Vostro 1500 (same as the Insipid 1520) with Win XP.- if you are reinstalling you should use the MD reinstallation cd.
you get 2 options when you boot from it, first is to make one partition C on your hdd (the md partition is automatically made) or 2 partitions (not including the md partition). Mark Dirnt
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Posted January 3rd, 2008 09:00
I know how to reinstall MD, but I'm trying to reinstate the old MBR to be able to get my files. If I write a new MBR reinstalling MD, chances that new sector heads will match the older ones are nearly zero...audiosears
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Posted January 8th, 2008 14:00
Everyone,I have also had the same issues. I chose the Vostro series because Dell finally adopted a trend towards NOT installing lots of trialware and focusing on good quality small-business appropriate hardware.I had no knowledge of MediaDirect before deciding on Vostro as more or less our new company laptop series, and I am appalled that the MediaDirect button actually totally modifies your MBR if the original partitions aren't set up as per the factory default.I have been building systems since DOS 3, and I always prefer the ability to set up my own installation of hardware, software and OS. I wiped the factory partitions and installed as always, only to discover the mediaDirect button's actions.Running XP on a dual-core machine with plenty of memory, there's no need for an embedded version of the OS for 'quick' access to media files, ESPECIALLY when you can set up the machine to sleep / hibernate already to achieve that same goal of productivity. I am now faced with the risk of work stoppage from the press of a single button because there is yet no BIOS setting to disable the MediaDirect functionality.I'm sure some folks are using it as it was intended, but I would very much like the ability to eliminate the risk of screwing up the MBR for curious users, or when someone takes their machine home and some unwitting persona accidentally trashes their installation. I myself have accidentally done this as well, so I was wondering if anyone heard any rumors as to Dell's response to this. Could there be a BIOS fix in the works?Mark Dirnt
8 Posts
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Posted January 10th, 2008 15:00
Hi audiosears,
so I assume that Vostro laptop series has MediaDirect button as well?
From what I understood there's a HD partition that is hidden in factory defaults, that contains MD files. When the button is pressed, something tells to the HDD to modify MBR activating the hidden partition (HPA): since to be hidden it is set with a "strange" Partition Descriptor, that is not read by most of the applications and OSs, to be activated the laptop swaps HPA descriptor with the one from another partition on the HDD, making that partition look like unallocated, and unveiling the HPA.
It says more here: http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/mediadirect.htm
Since you have great and historic experience from what I read, do you think that recovering tools which scan the surface for file sequences can be useful?
And in the link above, read about MD repair utility (the only official thing I've been able to find about doing something if MD locks up and you're stuck with your HPA exposed), and tell me if it's a good try...
If anything fails, I can tell you I already sent a certified mail to Dell's HQ, and are waiting for reply. I'll report you what I get, but it won't be too soon I guess. Anyway, if you agree to start a collective action I'm in.- OK, after perusing the Goodells site, something came to mind. Once you get the machine into the state where it won't boot, try booting BartPE and see what the drive looks like.It sounds like it's not replacing the partition table entry for your C: drive but it's replacing one of the others. If that's the case, you should be able to see the other partitions and possibly your data. Recovering from the MD corruption may be as simple as making the C: drive partition active again.Has anyone tried this? I don't have any systems with MD and from these discussions, it sounds like this is really some questionable engineering on Dell's part. Sorry to say that guys but pressing a button should never cause anything to be written into the partition table without verifying you're really overwriting what you think should be there and also having a way to recover the original partition contents when/if things go wrong.
bacillus
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14378 Posts
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Posted January 2nd, 2008 17:00
before doing so get dell to send you the mediadirect cd so that you can properly prepare your hdd for you install.