6400 Media Direct - HELP :( ??

Hi there everyone

Okay here is the deal - I followed Southern Girls posting on re-installing my new notebook. However I cannot gte Media Direct to work. When clicking on the Media Direct button I get the following error - "Unable to launch Dell Media Experience.Please install this software and try again".

This was my process;

Put the XP OS cd into the drive, deleted the 3GB & 88.7GB partitions and left the 47MB partition.

Reloaded XP, drivers, updates, 2 applications, Nero and Symantec.

Then I ran the repair with the ISO from the driver R113024 which I downloaded from Dell.

I stuck the cd in, rebooted - F12, cd\MD2\repair - got the "Done!" reply. Restarted the notebook and hit the Media Direct only to get the error stated above.

Please, please help!

Question that I have - did I have to run the repair straight after I reloaded XP before I started loading all the drivers etc?

Thanks so much

Stormies

 

Just an update

I turned the notebook off and pressed the MediaDirect button and volla - Media Direct started no problems!

So at the moment I cant access MediaDirect from Windows when pressing the button!

Anyone out there have a solution?

Thanks again
Stormies

 

You have to install Dell Media Experience

 

Hi

Would I only be able to get the sooftware from Dell? I checked the website and can't find any download for it

Stormies

 

Stormies,
Does the front panel buttons still work?

 

Hi, yea the front panel buttons work

Just the media direct button does not.

Stormies

 

Nor are you supposed to.

Inside Windows you have access to the Media Center Extension of XP, they will do everything MD can do, plus more.

The point of MD, is too NOT have to open Windows and wait for XP to boot. MD is an "instant" on media application.

Hermit

 

What is Dell Media Experience? Never heard of this before.

Hermit

 

Hi

Okay after 50 min on the phone with Dell support - frustrating !!! here is the story!

I reloaded Win XP and deleted the 2 partitions - 90GB & 3GB and LEFT the 47MB partition.

Reinstall XP Pro, drivers etc - ran the Media Direct Repair utility.

When the notebook is off Media Direct works.

In Windows, clicking the MediaDirect button - it does not work - Dell says that you have to laod the Dell Media Experience software !

Now the joke - they dont have this on their website for download and can only send it to you!

Anyone out there have the software on a FTP server perhaps ?

Stormies

 

I've messed with my E1505 so I can't say for sure.... Maybe someone that has a more 'factory-fresh' computer can tell us.

What happens when you depress the MediaDirect button from XP...

1) You get Dell MediaDirect or

2) You get Microsoft Media Center

Just curious...

Mark

 

Mark

When I get my new HD, I'll be able to answer this question. I will need at least 24 hours to overcome my fear and be annoyed by the bloat.

But, now that I've installed XP 10 times, I'm getting quite good at it.

Hermit

 

Factory fresh system here (other than bloatware removal, first laptop, arrived yesterday). Inside windows pushing the MediaDirect button...nothing.

 

Hey.... that wasn't one of the available choices!!!

What kind of 'pushing' technique are you using anyway????

Kidding aside, that does seem 'odd'. What all did you 'clean' anyway???

Mark

ps I guess I should ask... Is MediaDirect.exe a running process [Ctrl-Alt-Del 'Processes' tab]??? Is MediaDirect.exe still on your system???

 

Hi

That does not sound right.

New notebook - factory install - pushing the media direct button within windows should start meda direct for you.

Stormies

 

I'm not sure if this will work on the newer system, but on the 9300, you must have Dell Media Experience and Dell Quickset installed. Dell Quickset has the ability to push "Play to start Media Direct" which i'm assuming on the new system, you'll need it in order to push the Media Direct button to launch Media Experience.

Dell Media Experience is the software in XP that allows you to choose if you want to watch a movie or gives you the option on what music to listen to. I haven't seen what Media Direct does when XP is off, so I can't say if Media Experience does the same thing as Media Direct does.

Here is how it works (based on what i've seen from the 9300)
Dell Media Direct controls your laptop when you are no in XP, but when you are in XP, it loads Dell Media Experience. In order for dell media experience to load when you push the button, you must have dell quickset running and have the "media direct" feature enable (right click on dell quickset, and there should be an option for it. )

That's just my input on how it all fits together.

With the older versions, they have the software available online under "Downloads & Drivers" then applications. It is also on our drivers disc, so you might check to see if it is on the disc.

 

Just got by e1505 yesterday

Pressing the MediaDirect button in Windows XP MCE causes the Windows Media Center app to run. Hope this helps!

-Tom

 

Thanks Tom!!!!

 

As much as I felt comfortable cleaning (still checking to see if I can get rid of anything else)! Most of dell's stuff (maybe why it does nothing inside MCE), google's stuff, antivirus prog, sheesh, too much to remember. Media Direct does work, however, when windows is off, which is what I thought the point of it was anyway. I don't really need it inside Windows I don't think... I mean isn't that what MediaCenter is for? I can just open that with the mouse.

 

Hi there

Did you receive a Application CD with your new E1505?

I spoke to Dell and they will be sending me a CD that will have the Dell Media Experience software on apparently!

How are you "cleaning" up your notebook - reformat, deleting partitions or just add / remove programs ?

Stormies

 

I just did the "Add / Remove" programs so far. I'm wondering if I can blow the "Dell restore" partition away without reformatting. I'm going to be running a registry cleaner tonight. I recieved two CD's, the Win MCE install disk (I ordered it for ten bucks) and some other dell disk. Oh yeah, and the AOL Disk (gag).

 

My 2 cents: When off, button launches MediaDirect. On WinXP MCE, launches Windows Media Center.

I wonder... what are people with XP Home or Pro supposed to get when they press the MediaDirect button in windows? Can someone share?

Got my 6400 a week ago, and have been looking for info about formatting... I was wondering, I haven't seen any info on keeping the one program installed I care about after a reinstall, PowerDVD. Is it inside any CDs you people got from Dell? (Only CDs I got were McAfee and Works).

 

I got a copy of PowerDVD when I requested the MediaDirect 2.0 reinstall CD.

However, there is a version difference:
Your Laptop has v5.7, the CD I got from Dell is v5.5.
FWIW, the 5.5 CD is P/N Y9837 Rev. A00

Hermit

 

Thanks SouthernGirl,

Helpful summary. Is not Media Experience solely related to the TV tuner? So if you don't have the TV tuner, no need for Media Experience.

Quickset, OTOH, still haven't quite figured out what it does. Over at NBF's a guy claimed you needed Quickset up before doing the MediaDirect reinstall. Since we now know, thanks to Mark, MediaDirect reinstall is only for new HD's, its a bit of a moot point.

Hermit

 

Actually.... that is what's on the CD. My experience has been that the Dell 'reps' work with what's on the sleeve label. In this case.... FC097

 

Don't know for a fact, but someone that has replaced MCE with Pro reports...

Don't know what would happen if you replace MCE with Pro and then installed Dell Media Experience [would have to get that from somewhere]... Would be a 'non-standard' configuration.

I have a vague recollection that there's a post somewhere speaking to this....

Mark

 

Media experience is basically the same as MCE but instead of being operating system, it is software. So, if you have XP Pro or Home, you'll need this to use the Media Direct (as far as I know).

Quickset enable some FN keys, allows you to change quickly between power management profiles.

 

Hi

Just an update or some clarification that Dell gave me for what it's worth after a 50 minute call to Dell.......highly irritated!

Okay - XP Pro as mentioned above;

Recieved 3 CD's on delivery;

1.XP Pro SP2 Re-installation CD -----$10 still disagree on having to pay for this! Dell's argument is that they provide you with the restore partition!
2.Drivers and Utilities CD PN 0G3714 - totally wrong CD for my 6400------hate the fact that more bloatware gets loaded on inserting the CD into your drive!
3.WordPerfect CD----why I am not sure!

And that is it!

So - the deal is this;

Dell are apparently sending me the following;

1.

 

Oops - hit ENTER by mistake.....

1.Driver cd specific for the 6400 (there was a posting with the right PN - it was X0...something)
2.Power dvd CD
3.Sonic dvd

And a App CD that has all the bloatware and the infamous Media Experience!

Part # N7174

Let's see

 

Been there too.... received the G3714 with the computer. Wrong!!!! The one that seems right to me after having a chance to look it over is XF088.

wrt N7174 I think you're going to be disappointed. I've already received on of 'those' at it's not what you'll need.

Even if you get the 'right' one.. not sure there's anything useful on there... For example here's the list from N7174....

R82030 Adobe Systeem Reader Rev A00
R68973 AOL Version 9 Rev A02
R77061 Dell Media Experience
R67906 Dell Support 2.1 Rev A03
R64177 Earthlink TotalAccess 2003 Rev A00
R67807 JASC Paint Shop Pro 8.0 Rev A01
R67804 JASC Paintshop Photo Album 4.0 Rev A01
R78333 MusicMatch Dell Jukebox V8.1 Rev A00
R70567 Network Associates McAfee Security Center 5.0 Rev Aj04
R70564 Symantec Norton Internet Security 2004 Rev A07
R83241 United Online Net Zero Rev NetZero 7.0

What Dell is giving the reps to use wrt cross-referencing computer models to proper media is either really 'hosed' or the reps are too busy to look closely enough.

Mark

ps Maybe I spoke/typed too fast.... I guess you're after Dell Media Experience... so what they're sending might do you the trick.

 

There's a utility that wipes the Dell Restore partition and adds its space to your current partition, without any fuzz. It's called DSRIRRemv2 and on my 6400 it's under C:\dell\utilities\DSR\. Should do precisely what you seek.

 

In order to get Cyberlink PowerDVD and Sonic Record now, you have to request this separetly. Dell does not include it in the XP discs.

 

Let me clear some doubts about dell and the media.

There is something called MRI = Media Reduction Initiative.
Dell would stop sending all the CDs (OS, Drivers, Optical Drive applications) in order to decrease costs. Why? Because the mayority of the consumers never use it.

If you want them, you should request them, and that's it. (You hjave to be on Warranty, though)

 

That's only partially true. Yes, dell did stop sending the CDs automatically. That has been the case for over a year.

But you don't have to request all of the discs. If you order the XP disc when you place your order, you will receive a drivers disc, an applicatoin disc, and I believe a junk software disc. You only have to request Cyberlink PowerDVD and Sonic RecordNow separately.

 

Okay so here is the deal;

I got home this evening to find 2 Dell boxes!

1 box had 3 CD's

Disc 1 - Cyberlink PowerDVD 5.7(which by the wy has to be loaded for Dell Media Experience to play DVD's!)

Disc 2 - Sonic Digital Media v7.LE and MyDVD 6.11LE Software on 1 disc

Disc 3 - PN 0XF088 - suppose to be the correct driver / utility disc for the 6400!! Well Dell certainly know how to get it wrong! Drivers on the disc match my system right up to the display driver. There are 3 vide drivers available on the CD. None of which are for my system (yup I already downloaded the drivers from the website but it's very frustrating when Dell say - oops sorry for shipping you the wrong driver CD but we will send you the "correct" one!)

Drivers are X1300 (NO X1400), 945GM, Angel USB TV Tuner?

Second box contained 1 disc;

On the disc - JUnkware and Dell Media Experience!

So after all of that - I loaded Dell Media Experience and in windows pressing the Media Direct button launches Dell Media Experience.

When the machine is off, pressing the Media Direct button, Media Experience starts up!

Intersting observation - NO PowerDVD installed. Pressing the Media Direct button to launch Media Experience I am able to watch DVD's!

When in Windows without PowerDVD installed and pressing the Media Direct button I am able to access Media Experience but NOT able to watch DVD's!

Installed PowerDVD v6.00 - and I was unable to watch DVD's. Uninstalled and loaded the v 5.7 (disc supplied by Dell) - I was able to watch DVD's!

Questions;

1.Is there a way to re-configure the Media Direct button to start a different application when in Windows.
2.Can you configure Media Experience when in Windows wo use something else other than Power DVD or to use a higher version.
3.What is the real point of using Media Experience within Windows?

Stormies

 

Oh - just tried this a second ago - clicking on the X1300 Video driver I discovered that the description of the driver is for both the X1300 and X1400 driver!

So I take that back on Dell's part - bad description though!

Stormies

 

stormies....

Can you confirm your OS at this point..... Still XP Pro???

Thanx

Mark

 

Hi

XP Pro SP2

Stormies

 

Where can I download the Dell Media Experience? or can I?

 

Not sure you can. Don't hold me to it, but you might be able to get it by asking for a Dell Application CD PN N7174

Mark

 

Thanks Mark. I'll try searching the web first if I can download it.

 

BTW, when I ran Media Direct (computer is off) and then exit, sometimes it won't exit properly. any ideas? thanks.

 

Got any more specifics for everyone????

Mark

 

it won't shutdown/exit properly - only blank screen is displayed. I need to press/hold the Power button to completely turn-off the notebook. The windows is exiting banner was not displayed too.

 

Is this your Dell still pretty much 'as-delivered' or have you reinstalled or changed anything??

Mark

 

reinstalled XP.

 

Is that really it???? Did you run either the MediaDirect Repair or Reinstallation utilities???

Was your XP reinstall back to the original XP partition? Did you leave the Dell Utility and Dell Restore partitions in-place???

Come on now... Fess up!!

Mark