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Inspiron 630m Review (XPS M140) - Page 2

post #21 of 36
1/4/06 at 12:58am
I'm new here and I found this forum b/c I'm thinking of buying an XPS M140, but I haven't found (or seen) a lot about the MediaDirect function. Is it possible for you to post some shots of that? Does it load quickly? Have you formatted the hard drive and had it still work?
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post #22 of 36
1/4/06 at 3:43am
Thread Starter 
After installing my new harddrive, I am still not able to use MediaDirect. I tried using Dell's Software Reinstallation CDs they sent me, no go. Dell also sent me the OS along with drivers and utilities CDs and it still doesn't work. Currently, the sent me the MediaDirect reinstallation CD, hope it's the right one.
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post #23 of 36
1/4/06 at 4:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYCscorpio2000
After installing my new harddrive, I am still not able to use MediaDirect. I tried using Dell's Software Reinstallation CDs they sent me, no go. Dell also sent me the OS along with drivers and utilities CDs and it still doesn't work. Currently, the sent me the MediaDirect reinstallation CD, hope it's the right one.
MediaDirect was a partition on the harddrive. I read Dell Community Forums I think that if you get rid of that partition MediaDirect will not work. So unless that CD is going to partition the drive for you, I think you're SOL.
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post #24 of 36
1/4/06 at 2:25pm
Thread Starter 
Dell has instructions on how to partition the drive (either while reformatting or using a program like Partition Magic) to reinstall MediaDirect on a new harddrive or a reformatted harddrive without the original partition. Only thing we need is the MediaDirect Reinstallation CD which should arrive today at my job, so we'll see.
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post #25 of 36
1/4/06 at 5:36pm
Please let us know how you get it to work if you do get it to work again b/c one of the first things I'll do when I get the laptop is reformat the hard drive. Here are some links I found while trying to find out if it was possible to reinstall MediaDirect.

http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=148039
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=138671

I couldn't find any instructions on Dell's website on how to reinstall MediaDirect.
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post #26 of 36
1/5/06 at 2:00am
Thread Starter 
Today I got the MediaDirect software CD and got the MediaDirect BUTTON & software on the Inspiron 630m to finally work.

After 10+ emails and CD after CD after CD mailed to me, it was the MediaDirect reinstallation CD that I kept asking for and didn't get until today that installed and fixed the laptop. Now I can watch movies, listen to music, and browse pictures without booting up Windows by just pressing the MediaDirect button on the laptop.



Here is the info on the CD for anyone who needs to request it:

Application (Already Installed On Your Computer) For Reinstalling Dell MediaDirect
P/N YG694 Rev. 00
Copyright 2005 (October)

On Order Status Page: Item: DH371 Description: KIT,SW,MDRT,REPAIR,WEST
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post #27 of 36
1/20/06 at 11:23am
NYC, I also have the I630m....I was actually wondering what the media direct button was for...whenever I push it is says: Unable to launch del media experience please install this software and try again....is this the same message you were getting? Do I have to e-mail Dell for that disc?
Also I ran powerstrip yesterday and my screen is the q one ( sorry I can't remember exactly...just that it wasn't the samsung one)...I'm for sure no expert on screens but this one seems great to me...
bobbie
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post #28 of 36
1/20/06 at 4:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bnells
NYC, I also have the I630m....I was actually wondering what the media direct button was for...whenever I push it is says: Unable to launch del media experience please install this software and try again....is this the same message you were getting? Do I have to e-mail Dell for that disc?
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=148039

Download and install the Dell MediaDirect Repair Utility linked above...
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post #29 of 36
1/20/06 at 8:23pm
Thread Starter 
If the repair utility that somms linked doesn't work, have Dell send you a copy of Dell MediaDirect reinstallation CD. Since I plopped in a new harddrive I needed the reinstallation CD to make the button work.
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post #30 of 36
1/21/06 at 1:34am
thanks...will try the repair tomorrow.....
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post #31 of 36
2/22/06 at 5:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYCscorpio2000
Today I got the MediaDirect software CD and got the MediaDirect BUTTON & software on the Inspiron 630m to finally work.

After 10+ emails and CD after CD after CD mailed to me, it was the MediaDirect reinstallation CD that I kept asking for and didn't get until today that installed and fixed the laptop. Now I can watch movies, listen to music, and browse pictures without booting up Windows by just pressing the MediaDirect button on the laptop.



Here is the info on the CD for anyone who needs to request it:

Application (Already Installed On Your Computer) For Reinstalling Dell MediaDirect
P/N YG694 Rev. 00
Copyright 2005 (October)

On Order Status Page: Item: DH371 Description: KIT,SW,MDRT,REPAIR,WEST

Could you elaborate more on the process of reinstalling MediaDirect? There is A LOT of discussion on this topic on both Dell Support and Notebookreview.com forums. Did you follow the reinstallation instructions as provided by Dell or used guidance found here: http://forums.us.dell.com/supportfor....id=374312#M92

I want to format my drive, create two partitions (one for Windows and one for Linux) and still retain the MediaDirect. Thanks for any info you can provide!
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post #32 of 36
2/23/06 at 5:10pm
Thread Starter 
I installed MediaDirect using Dell's method and it worked flawlessly. Keep in mind I only used 2 partitions, didn't do a third. I am not sure how having two OS partitions might affect MediaDirect reinstallation.
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post #33 of 36
2/24/06 at 5:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYCscorpio2000
I installed MediaDirect using Dell's method and it worked flawlessly. Keep in mind I only used 2 partitions, didn't do a third. I am not sure how having two OS partitions might affect MediaDirect reinstallation.
Well, it worked for me, too! I actually repartitioned the HD creating three new partitions (1st for WinXP, 2nd for Suse Linux 10.0, and 3rd for Linux SWAP files). A sum of all three of those was equal to my total HD capacity LESS 1308 MB of UNPARTITIONED space for MediaDirect. Followed Dell's instructions and everything works! As an added bonus I can confirm now that a dual boot machine is also possible with a fully functional MediaDirect.

I begin to worry why this seems to cause so much probles for people. I already responded to the Neucomer on Dell's forum asking why such complicated work on his part was needed to make the MediaDirect to function.
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post #34 of 36
3/3/06 at 2:30pm
I hope this isn't thread crapping, but please help me out here.. I'm trying to decide between the m140 and a HP DV1000. Due to some "hook-ups" (I got a friend who get employee discount @ hp), I can get the DV1000 with 1.73 cpu for about $700 with 1gb ram and 60gb 5400 rpm HD. I've seen the hp "glossy" screen and I like it. Szyszka mentioned that the achille's heel of the 630m is the samsung display and he had high praise for Compaq's 14inch screen (which is the same as HP's) IS the m140/630m still a better buy? Thanks in advance! (I'm concerned about the DV1000 heat issues, but it seems the m140 can also run hot, guess a side effect of being thin-n-light.)
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post #35 of 36
3/21/06 at 1:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by magbarn
I hope this isn't thread crapping, but please help me out here.. I'm trying to decide between the m140 and a HP DV1000. Due to some "hook-ups" (I got a friend who get employee discount @ hp), I can get the DV1000 with 1.73 cpu for about $700 with 1gb ram and 60gb 5400 rpm HD. I've seen the hp "glossy" screen and I like it. Szyszka mentioned that the achille's heel of the 630m is the samsung display and he had high praise for Compaq's 14inch screen (which is the same as HP's) IS the m140/630m still a better buy? Thanks in advance! (I'm concerned about the DV1000 heat issues, but it seems the m140 can also run hot, guess a side effect of being thin-n-light.)
I got the samsung display with my 630m and it was bad like ppl say on this thread. So I called Dell within the 30 days and they sent me another one (Quanta Display) and this one is fine... I guess they try to get rid of the bad stock and replace it with a good LCD without any questions, only if you complain... for everything else I think it is a very good laptop
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post #36 of 36
3/21/06 at 1:05pm
Thread Starter 
Hey jprac88,

Can you find the item number / part number for that display?

Thanks.
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