I fixed my MediaDirect 2.0 button.....herre's how. - Page 3

i left my 49mb partition alone just in case

Yea I deleted the partition, where can you get the Media Direct installation CD?

i think you have to order this from dell, look at this thread. last two pages talk about the media direct disks.
http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=102715

im so mad. i never checked to see if windows worked properly after fixing media direct. turns out it doesnt. it tells me something weird about loading something and then sata or whatever. then it just sits there. so im gonna have to reinstall windows on it. good times. fook media direct.

MediaDirect reinstallation does not complete

I deleted every partition on my hard drive. I then made a 92 GB partition which is my c:\ and which is where Windows XP is located.

I also left a 1318MB unallocated unpartitioned space when installing Windows XP and I confirmed in Disk management under ADMIN tools that it is indeed still there.

When I run the MediaDirect Reinstallation software (which Dell - el cheapo had to send me a few days ago ) it gets to 10% and then says unable to write the files. - Check the configuration of your computer.

I then also tried using the repair utility and it said Done! - then I tired the reinstall and the same message appears. It says in the instructions for the MediaDirect to leave 1308MB of unpartitioned space so more space shouldnt hurt I wouldnt think.

Someone over at the DELL forums said that the 1308MB of space is wrong, and actually it needs to be 1428MB.

Any idea on this?


DELL's instructions for repairing and reinstalling MediaDirect can be found here. Huh - if you can call these instructions.
http://support.dell.com/support/topi...hs&~mode=popup

no idea, my other partition is only 49mb, unless its hidden but i doubt that.

Ok guys, I got the XP CD, Resource CD and Media Direct CD from Dell. This is what I did and what I discovered. I reloaded my os and left 1.4 gb disk space for Media Direct. The Media Direct docs says it needs just over 1.3 gb. After installing my OS and all drivers, I then tried to install Media Direct and in the middle of doing that, it failed...from the Media Direct CD. I then read about how to run the repair with the Resource CD as it comes with the Media Direct Repair tool. I booted into the resource CD and selected 'Q' to exit the little dos menu. Then I changed directory to MD2 (cd md2). Then I typed 'repair'. Within a couple seconds it said it was done. I then powered off and pressed the Media Direct button and all works fine. Then...to make certain that I could do this again, and because I am a glutten for punsihment, I reloaded the OS with XP Pro taking up all disk space except for the 40mb fat32 partition (I still want to run Diags upon booting if I ever feel I need to). After installing the OS, I ran the repair and the Media Direct button works fine. So, as mentioned earlier, Media Direct is in the board (in a chip) and no installation is necessary. That's my experience!

Ok I need to know this, are you saying you do not have to leave space on the HD for Media Direct. Can you pleas tell us what you did step by step I have done things that where said at the front of this form and now I can not boot to windows but I can use the Media Direct button I would like to know the steps to doing this as it is it seems like people are just giving parts as to how they did it I would like a list like this.

1: Deleted all partition
2: Made one partition and left 1380 MB
3: Did a low level format or if you just did a fast format
4: Installed OS and Drivers
5: Ran the Media Direct repair
6: all is working

Some thing like this would help a lot.

Thanks.

The problem normally seems to entail when people delete ALL original partitions on their hard drives and FORMAT the ENTIRE hard drive. This is what I as alot of people have done. I in fact replaced the HD that came with my e1705 with the 7k100 100gb Hiatchi as it was alot cheaper than ordering it from Dell.

People that seem to leave some of the orignal partition and reminense of something left over from Dell at the factory are having better luck. However the MediaDirect instructions says you can reinstall and fix mediadirect if you change the partitions and format the drive.

The thing that is funny is it says under REPAIR method and REINSTALL method that if you change the way your HD method or if you install a new drive then use only the repair method. Then it says this for the REINSTALL to only use that. They must have had a monkey wright these instructions.

I just recieved a call from a tech support supervisor - that you will not believe it - IS IN MY COUNTRY - and he said some of the senior techs there are awaiting the arrival of MediaDirect reinstall CDs to play around and see under what conditions they can get it working. Including several techs for their own personal 9400s/e1705s.

I will keep everyone updated.

ok thanks for the info and if you can get more and like I ask if you can give steps as to how to go about it on a clean install thanks. Like I said after I did it I got it to work but now I can't boot to windows. Going to try and fix windows but it is not looking good it is like i can have one and not the other.

Just a little update. I am posting the below in several threads over at Dell forums and a few here. So maybe we can collaberate with more and more people and nail this thing down.

Check out mine and others posts here on this issue:
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportfor...essage.id=2781

http://www.notebookforums.com/showth...=1#post1853017

http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=136833

Ok I read it all and I still don't get it can some one tell me how to fix this if I just want one partision on the drive?

Thanks for the help.

I don't know. I tried it with just 2 partitions and now I have just one (the c:\). It will not work for me. And Dell cant figure it out either (talked to over 5 techs)... I am awaiting to hear from the tech supervisor.

I will keep you updated.

I just tryed it again and I can get Media Direct to work but in doing so I can not load in to the OS I get some Dell screen and some thing like this [754d] !ATA I don't get it I am trying this one more time and then I give up.

Ok I got it to work and this is what I did.

This is for Windows XPmc

1: Start with the OS CD get to where you can make the partitons.

2: I made a 8mb partition and you can not put windos on this at this point after you have that you want to take out the OS CD and put in the Media Direct Repair CD Turn off the comp with the button.

3: Restart the comp and hit F12 and boot the CD Type in cd\md2 then go to OK you will see Done. Take out the CD and put back in the OS CD.

4: turn off the comp and then turn it back on hit F12 when in the windows install you will see the 8mb partiton and you will see your free space mack a new partiton in this space you need to leave room for Media Direct install windows.

5: After it installs tack out the OS CD and put in the Media Direct Repair CD and start up hit F12 and do the Repair again when you are done turn off the comp.

6: Test the Media Direct button it should work. Turn it off.

7: Start Media Direct Hit F8 this time a screen is going to come up with Delete on it do this.

Now you should be set it should work for you I see when it loads that the screen that it use to hang on shows up for like a min when I boot the OS but it is working.

Hope this helps and like I said this was with Windos XPmc sorry if this is a mess I am doing after like 4 trys.

If you have questions ask hear ans I will try to help.

So after you make partition 1 which is 8 megs. Then with windows install you take up the rest of the available disk space with a new partition, while leaving that original 8 meg section in tack?

Is that 8 meg section you install to where media direct goes too or is it C drive?

-raymond j

as far as I can tell yes it will go to the 8mb and when you go back to install the OS you will see that the 8mb no longer has a drive letter but like I said do not get rid of it you will need it till the end.

Hope that helps.

what partion stores the diagnose software that comes with dell. Im sure I need to keep that also since dell uses that to check allot of your problems . .

-raymond j

The diagnosis partition is about a 40mb - 50mb partition. However, the diagnosis software is available on your bootable Dell Drivers CD as well as for download from the Dell drivers section.

I for got to say you will still need to leave room for Media Direct on the HD so it would look like this you make the 8mb then do a repair of Media Direct then you go back in and in to make a partition but you need to leave space for Media Direct I think it is like 1324 some one said and the rest you make as the C drive then after you install windosw to the space you want you have to put the repair CD for Media Direct back in the drive and run it again.

Hope this is more of the info you needed.