Robjbw,

I too was struct by the MediaDirect Repair utiliy's ability to fix MediaDirect, but to trash the Windows XP Master Boot Record. I too was only interested in a single partition system.

I did get MediaDirect to finally work by blindly following "nucomer's" original directions, but just not creating the 3rd partition within Windows. In addition I left 1308 MB unparitioned on the hard drive (per Dell's instructions).

With "nucomer's" original instructions (i.e., the 1st post in this thread) I created an 8 MB parition in addition to the Windows XP parition, then ran the MediaDirect Repair (before installing the OS), deleted and the recreated Windows XP partition (not sure why this was done, but I did it - again leaving 1308 MB unpartition), installed Windows XP, installed all system drivers/Dell QuickSet, ran MediaDirect Installation, then ran Media Direct REPAIR (yes again) and this time the MBR was spared and MediaDirect worked from the powered-off state.

Regarding Numcomer's new directions, I never tried them and frankly don't completely understand them either.

A set of instructions with annotations (i.e., a descrpition of what some of the less obvious steps are accomplishing) would be helpful.

--Rob

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@robjbw wrote:

First, thanks for the reply.
And, I’m not interested in having other partitions, so I skipped steps 9 trough 13.

You say that “DO NOT have to do as they advise you to”. You mean not leaving 1308 MB unpartitioned space when creating the OS partition in Windows XP Setup? I tried doing that, creating just one OS partition for Windows XP and not leaving 1308 MB unpartitioned space. But when Windows XP desktop loads up and I try to install the MediaDirect Reinstallation CD, it says that I do not have unallocated space to install MediaDirect. So, the setup cancels.

Now, when I do leave 1308 MB of unpartitioned space for MediaDirect when running the Windows XP setup program (like the installation guide for MediaDirect states). When Windows XP is done installing and Windows Desktop loads up I run the MediaDirect Reinstallation CD. The CD autoruns and asks me to press ENTER to start installing MediaDirect and after pressing enter it formats a drive then copies the files. The when it says complete, it asks me to take the CD off the drive and turn off the laptop and then Press the MediaDirect button to load MediaDirect. I do that. But when I press the button for MediaDirect to load, it shows the MediaDirect logo and then the screen goes dark for a second and then I get a Windows error blue screen stating that Windows has a problem and needs to shutdown to protect my pc from being damage.SO, I turn off the laptop. But, by pressing the power button after pc is off, Windows XP loads up like it should. So now I run the MediaDirect bootable repair CD. Now MediaDirect does load up correctly when I press the MediaDirect button but now When I try to load Windows XP by pressing the power button I get the Windows error blue screen stating that Windows Has a problem and needs to shutdown to protect my pc from being damage. So, by running the MediaDirect repair CD, I do repair MediaDirect, but Windows OS then won’t load. I don’t get it? Dell is the one that formatted the hard drive and reinstalled everything. Why isn’t there a proper guide on how to fix this? It’s not just me having this problem. At http://forum.notebookreview.com in DELL section, a lot of people with E1705/9400 are having the exact same problem as I. If you have a solution for this, please don’t hesitate to respond. Thanks.

BY THE WAY, MediaDirect and Windows XP do load and work when I followed your guide in Page 1 in this thread (use repair cd first then after Windows installation....). BUT, when I do that, I CANNOT browse my own internal hardrive for pictures or Videos.

Message Edited by robjbw on 03-01-2006 07:46 PM

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Wow, that's indeed strange! It appears there would have to be a difference between Inspirons 630m/XPS M140 and E1705/9400 when it comes to MediaDirect reinstallation. Your methods described abvoe should and most likely woul work on Inspiron 630m. I am saying "most likely" only because I have it fully functional on my 630m, however the only difference was (see posts above, aside from creating 3 partitions) that I used 'third party software' (LiveCD linux distribution) to partition my hard drive. I see no reaso why Windows XP partitioning tool would be at fault here but this is worth trying as so many poeple with your machine have problems with MediaDirect reinstallation. I would propose you try partitioning your drive (per dell's instructions) with some other program and see if this works. If not, we clearly have could document that installation instructions for 630m/XPS M140 and E1705/9400 ARE different.

rtbond, I also used that guide and MediaDirect and Windows OS loads up fine. BUT, when done that way, when you have loaded MediaDirect, you cannot browse your own internal hard drive for pictures or videos. Can you browse you internal hardrive for pics and vids??? If you can, then I'm totally down. Also, do you have the E1705/9400?

Message Edited by robjbw on 03-02-2006 11:14 AM

Message Edited by robjbw on 03-02-2006 11:15 AM

Hi,
I would like to clarify on the 1304 MB partition confusion. I have a brand new i9400/e1705 on which I removed the DirectMedia partition. Thereafter, while trying to reinstall it, I 'created' an unformatted partition of size 1400 MB and tried to reinstall as per instructions. It did not work!


What the installation utility wants to do is to use the 'free space' to 'create' a partition and then install the MediaDirect modules.

SO what I would suggest you to do is create a partition for windows, and leave the rest as free space and not as a partition and thereafter follow nucomer's instructions.

A 'free space' and an 'empty partition' are two different things.


Regards
Dj
--------------
Inspiron 6400
T2300, 512 MB, 80 GB
running Debian Linux 3.1 (Sarge)

Message Edited by i8000_coastal on 03-31-2006 04:50 AM

Hey:

Followed your steps to a T.  The additional partitions caused problems.  Partition 2 and 3 would not fly with Dell MediaDirect, it would only launch if I deleted the additional partitions...  It wouldn't even work with 1 additional partition, only the primary and the Dell MediaDirect space...  I even left 2 gigs for Dell MediaDirect...

Any suggestions?

Hey,

 

This thread was originally created by me.  The instructions posted here are strictly for those with Dell Inspiron 630m or Dell XPS140 who wanna create multiple partitions while being able to use and access Dell MediaDirect feature.  Following is a lengthy step by step instruction, make sure you do it exactly as instructed, otherwise it won't work.

 

1. Put Windows XP CD in optical drive
2. Press F12 to select Boot from CD
3. Press any key to continue
4. Press F8 when the next screen shows
5. Press ESC (Escape) to install a fresh copy of windows
6. Delete all old partitions
7. Then create following partitions:

·        First partition with only 8MB of space (this space is eventually used by your Dell computer as a RAM Drive for MediaDirect Master Boot Record, besides it has no other use at all)

·        Second partition is the system partition where Windows XP Operating System will be installed, so choose however large you want it to be (for me personally, I create a 10000 MB of space for it since I have some programs to install besides Windows XP)

·        Once the first and second partitions are created, remove Windows XP CD, put in Dell Drivers & Utilities CD

·        Restart computer

1. Press F12 to select boot from CD
2. At the prompt, select Q, press Enter, and at the prompt again type cd /md2   then press Enter, then type Repair, when Done! now, remove Dell Drivers & Utilities CD, put back in Windows XP CD
3. Restart computer, press F12 to select boot from CD, press any key to continue
4. When the next screen shows, press F8, Esc, go back to partitions screen
5. Delete the second partition
6. Recreate that second partition
7. Select second partition to install Windows XP
8. When Windows XP installation process finishes, remove Windows XP CD, put in Dell MediaDirect Experience installation CD
9. CD will autorun, click Enter to install, when installation completes, click Enter again finish, remove CD
10. Right click My Computer, click Manage, click Disk Management, right click the free space after the drive where Windows XP was just installed (usually it’s a C drive), click New Partition, click Primary Partition, click Format, select all available space, select Quick Format, give it name if you want to, when Done you have just successfully created a second drive for your computer
11. Now repair Master Boot Record for Dell MediaDirect by putting back in Dell Drivers & Utilities CD, restart computer, Press F12 to select boot from CD
12. At the prompt, select Q, press Enter, and at the prompt again type cd /md2   then press Enter, then type Repair, when Done! shows, remove Dell Drivers & Utilities CD , restart computer
13. Then install all needed drivers and softwares using Dell Drivers & Utilities CD and other CD’s you have, when done, remove CD, shut down computer
14. Now press Media Direct button on the front panel of your computer, follow instructions and configure setting to your likings

 

Good luck,

 

Nucomer

Hello,
enjoyed all information you have provided. I've got Latitude d410 and bought 100GB new hard drive to install xp and Linux Suse both together, but do not know any thing about linux yet,that's why trying to work on it. So any useful information for installation procedure is very welcomed.
Thank you

My MediaDirect work on My e1505, but I am unable to get any mp3s or pictures to show properly. When I browse to my documents my pictures folders, it wont show any photos no mattwe what the format is.