The following posts are from another thread I started elsewhere. As some of you may not venture far from NBF, I thought I'd post them here as well...

btw.... I'll offer this to those that are just looking for info on how to avoid MediaDirect problems during a Windows reinstall -- do NOT delete the Dell Utility [~40MB] partition. Leave that in-place, install Windows, and then run MediaDirect Repair utility [See 'Short' Repair post].

NOTE!!!! This post/thread pertains to MediaDirect 2.0 and NOT the newer version [MediaDirect 3.0] recently installed by Dell. From the information available, it appears that the location, reinstallation and repair of MediaDirect 3.0 is substantially different.
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As there is information on MediaDirect 2.0 spread all over the place, I thought it might be helpful to pull things 'together' into one place and provide a bit of a 'recap' of what is known about MediaDirect 2.0 in the newer Dell laptops.

I hope not to further confuse things, but if I do... I apologize. This information is the best I have been able to gather from observing what happens on my e1505 and reading thru the posts/experiences of others. Is it 100% complete/correct??? Probably not, so I ask for corrections to include omissions.

vr

Mark

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1. MediaDirect Operation

From Windows XP MCE

a. Prerequisites????

For the Insprion 9300 ...'QuickSet... is necessary for Dell MediaDirect to function. Changing or disabling QuickSet’s default settings can limit Dell MediaDirect’s functionality.' It is unclear if this holds true for MediaDirect 2.0

Dell Media Experience [aka DMX] is NOT needed [However, see para 4.a. for XP Pro/Home]

b. 'Normal' Operation

With Power ON and complete boot to Windows XP MCE, momentarily depressing the MediaDirect button will launch Microsoft MediaCenter [Note: This is NOT Dell Media Experience]; Depending on which option you select when exiting the application, Microsoft MediaCenter will either 1) Close MediaCenter and resume Windows 2) Log Off 3) Shutdown the computer, 4) Restart the computer or 5) Place the computer in Stand By

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From Power OFF

With Power OFF, momentarily depressing the MediaDirect button powers on the computer and causes the BIOS to display a momentary MediaDirect 'splash' screen. If present, the Dell boot code will then launch Dell-Cyberlink MediaDirect [On my system it was version 2.0.20060118c.CH756]. The first time MediaDirect is run you will be displayed a black and white 'progress' screen followed by a 'Welcome to Dell MediaDriect... Building your Dell MediaDirect files' screen. This takes about 30-45 sec or so. On subsequent starts, MediaDirect will load quite quickly.

Function Keys

F1 - Help
F7 - Toggles Speaker On/Off
F8 - Volume Down in 5% increments
F9 - Volume Up in 5% increments

Upon exit of MediaDirect, the computer will resume a Power OFF state.