Adding codecs to direct boot MediaDirect3

I would like to play Divx files on my Vostro 1400 using Media Direct without boot up the OS. The manual said it is possible but it does not tell you how. I was trying to install codecs in MediaDirect3 direct boot and I could not find a very clear and simple instruction in doing that on a computer running Vista. The original instruction for doing that in XP does not work in Vista. In addition, there were different ways suggested to map and unmap the MediaDirect partition. I've tried both and found only one way works (at least in Vista Ultimate). Finally I got it done and here is the simple step by step instruction in Vista:

(Note: I did the following using administrator account with UAC on. Others have reported it only worked with UAC off during the process.)


1. Download or copy MD3UTILS.EXE to C:\ (can be other directories, but it is easier at c:\). Click here.

2. On Vista, go to Control Panel/Folder Options and uncheck the followings:
Hide extensions for known file types
Hide protected operating system files

3. Click on Start and type "cmd" in the search box. Run the cmd.exe.

4. Type "C:\MD3UTILS.EXE /MAPMD3=D:" (change the directory accordingly if you store the file elsewhere).

5. Go back to Vista and click on Computer. Now the D: drive is MediaDirect although it is still labelled as Recovery.

6. Delete the file hiberfil.sys in the D: root directory.

7. Go to D:\Windows\System32\ and rename taskmgr.ex_ into taskmgr.exe.

8. Go to D:\Program Files\Dell\Media Direct\ and rename BGDismount.exe into BGDismount.ex_

9. Switch back to the command prompt window and type "C:\MD3UTILS.EXE /UNMAPMD3=D:"

10. Type exit to close command prompt.

11. Download K-Lite codec (3.4 basic works but 3.4 standard works better). Link for lazy guys like me.

12. Shut down the computer and restart with the MediaDirect button.

13. Launch the taskmanager by Ctl-Shift-Esc when you see the pointer on blue screen.

14. In TaskManager, \File\New and enter "explorer" in the box.

15. Now point to the codec pack file in Windows Explorer and run it. If you use the standard pack, make sure you do not install the media player (uncheck
the box) or change any file association (do not check any other box).

16. Restart the computer from the Taskmanager menu.

17. Restart into Vista. Click on Start and type "cmd" in the search box. Run the cmd.exe.

18. Type "C:\MD3UTILS.EXE /MAPMD3=D:"

19. Go to D: and rename \Program Files\Dell\Media Direct\BGDismount.ex_ back to BGDismount.exe.

20. Type "C:\MD3UTILS.EXE /UNMAPMD3=D:"

21. Exit command prompt. Now you may want to change the folder options back to protect system files.

22. It is done.

You can leave the taskmgr.exe as it is or rename it back. It does not matter.
Now you can play Divx, xViD, etc in direct boot MediaDirect.
Do not waste your time to do the Ext2 thing.

For installing from XP, google search the instruction posted in Notebookforums.

 

So I tried a similar thing but I just installed FFDShow, it will play in Media Player in MD but the actual Media Direct app won't play it in the direct boot environment.

Just to confirm, the MD application (that has instant office and such in it) can indeed play Divx Files?

 

I read your other post. Yes, this way can play Divx in direct boot. For the MD inside Vista, you can just run the codec packs directly in Vista.

 

Someone posted the same thing in another thread after me too.

 

Interesting, I will have to look into that more... wonder why FFDshow doesn't work right...

 

Check the options carefully during codec installation. Most of the FFDshow addins are not chosen by default. You may also try the full version of K-Lite which contains more codecs. I started with 3.4 basic and found one Divx file shown in quarter screen in duplicate. Then I install the 3.4 standard and the problem is solved. There are definitely more options for the FFDshow in the full version which I am installing in the Vista environment.

 

Ok i followed the steps, changed taskmgr.ex_ to taskmgr.exe ... pressed ctrl+shift+esc and it didnt work on media direct., task manager did not show on media direct

 

Did you delete the image file and rename the BGDismount first? Make sure you complete all the steps in one process or MediaDirect may regenerate the image file and boot into the program before you have a chance to trigger taskmanager.

 

I was unable to locate the file to delete, it wasn't in the D: . I was only able to rename the "BGD" file. So i tried it, still doesnt work when i start off media direct. There isnt even a blue screen with a pointer, goes straight to the Options in media direct.

 

chiew, ctrl+shift+esc didn't work for me either for some odd reason. Try ctrl+alt+del instead. I know that both key combos bring up task manager, but the latter worked better for me. Worth a try...

 

Thanks for the heads up

 

I was unable to find the file:
hiberfil.sys
It wasnt anywhere on the mediadirect drive

so i could not complete the steps.

 

That is the reason why it did not work for you. You have to change the folder options as described in the procedure to review hidden files. And you'll have to delete that file in order to launch taskmanger.
You may need to log on as administrator for some of these steps.

By the way, this procedure is for Vista environment. If you are doing that in XP, follow the procedure in notebookforum.

 

To get around finding hyberfile.sys try forcing the computer off in the middle of loading MD3, the next time you boot it should ask if you want to delete restore info and load clean or something like that, choose that option and it will be just like deleting hyberfile.

 

i followed the steps, even the unchecking those folders you indicated. And i am using vista premium 32bit.

 

Then you should be able to see the hiberfil.sys in the root of your D drive. Everytime you restart the MD, it will re-create that file if it does not have one already.

Did you successfully map the MediaDirect partition to D: using the MD3utils file?

 

My hiberfil.sys did not show up when I mapped MD to D: (I had show hidden checked, too), but after turning it on once, going back into vista and rechanging the file names it reverted, and then turning it on again, it worked.

Thanks for posting this, I was just going to erase MD and use the button to boot Ubuntu because MD is useless to me without DivX/Xvid.

 

It is not there at all.. is removing the hiberfil.sys make the bluescreen with the pointer show on mediadirect?

 

I got a bluescreen after I renamed the files (but couldn't find hiberfil.sys)., but when I went back to vista, re-renamed the files, and booted into MD again it worked. 2nd times a charm?

 

Thanks for the thread Billcsho. I'm interested in doing this with ffdshow, but I note some people had problems there - anyone managed this?

 

Using the same method, you can use other codec that works in Windows XP in your media direct. So if you know an ffdshow codec works for you, you may use it. I know the full version of K-lite includes ffdshow but you'll have to try it. I have one Divx file that I cannot play with the K-lite standard codec but the full version.
The funny thing is, even with the same codec pack installed, some files can be played in MediaDirect but not Windows Media Center (and vice versa) inside Vista. That may be the case in direct boot MediaDirect too.

 

I installed the full version of K-lite (including ffdshow) and everything works fine for me.

 

Followed the instruction, couldn't not find the hiberfil.sys file in the MD partition. Was unable to bring up task manager with either methods (ctrl+alt+del and ctrl+shift+esc). I'm able to .sys files in vista. What am I doing wrong here?

 

For those who have problem in finding the hiberfil.sys, I'll suggest to rename the BGDismount back, shut down the computer, and then boot into MediaDirect. That should regenerate the hiberfil.sys file. I was doing all these steps in administrator account. I am not sure if that does matter or not, but Vista has some strange security setting that may block you from certain files if you are not logged in using the real administrator (not a user with administrator power) account.

 

Great instructions, however I no longer have a D recovery partition on my M1330 because I reformatted to get rid of all the bloatware (following the other guide on here).
So how do I go about accessing the medaidirect partition? I cant mount it using md3util, keeps giving me an error.. Plus D is my DVD drive anyway. Any tips would be appreciated.

 

You don't need the Recovery Partition for this. Indeed, you should be able to use drive letters other than D. I was just saying it is okay even set the MD drive to D which was the recovery partition. Just use other drive letter in place of D:.

 

Thanks for the quick reply.
I tired e, f etc but nothing worked.
Error message is: "Unable to get a partition number using label= or logno=0
So basically is just wont/cant map it meaning i cant get access... What do you think I should do?

 

I saw on another thread that you've solved the problem with UAC off. Indeed I mentioned right above your earlier post that the use of administrator account may be crucial. See above.

 

I've already tried renaming everything back to what it was and booting MD, but that doesn't seem to generate hiberfil.sys. As for the real administrator, I'm using the only user account on this system, so of course it says it's the administrator account. Are you saying there is a seperate admin account that I don't see? Sorry, just started using vista, so not sure about all these hidden vista things. I do have UAC off so that shouldn't be my problem, right?

 

can anyone link the instructions on how to do this in windows xp?

can't seem to find it, maybe my keywords are a bit off =/

 

Here is instruction for doing this in XP. My guide was extracted from the information under that thread. The procedure is pretty much the same except for the change of a couple file names and the way the task manager is launched.

 

is there a way to add the codecs without installing k-lite? i have an aversion to codec packs.

 

You can use other codecs instead of the K-Lite one. It is just convenient to add all the codecs at the same time. I have tried the K-Lite basic, standard, and full. I found the basic one cannot read some MP4 file. I am now using the full version.

 

i followed all the steps but instead of k-lite i installed the cccp without any problems.

mediadirect can now play .avi (DivX) files, but still doesn't recognise other formats like H264, OGM, etc. also, seeking through divx files doesn't work.

any suggestions?

 

bump!

also, how's about subtitles (.srt, etc)?

 

please? anybody?

 

When I enter

md3utils.exe/mapmd3=D:

I get an error as below

[mapmd3partiton] error - unable to get a partition number number using
Label= or logno=0

Any help on what I am doing wrong or what else I can try is appreciated.

I have media direct version 3.3.3404 and a vostro 1400

thanks

 

Use E, F, or G instead of D. You must have something using the D drive letter.

 

so does this work with media direct 3.5?

 

I can confirm that this method works for 3.5

 

hi, i could find my hiberfil.sys file either.

i'm giving up with this method, but i cant see my recovery partition.

what do need to type tp use md3utils to remount my recovery partition as d:?

 

Use "/UNMAPMD3=D:" to unmap MediaDirect. The drive letter should automatically be remapped back to the recovery partition.

 

thanks, i just needed to reboot, for the drive to reappear

 

It worked for me too after some time.

Altough today when I started up media direct it gave me an error saying: can't find md2fixer.exe on c:\..............
Don't know why it says this. (And if I think about it the file is probably on d:, no?)

When I then exit Media direct it gives no problem but when i directly restart it using the md button vista starts up?!? en it starts MD in vista.

Anyone any idea what the prob could be?

thx

 

Sometimes that happens and it usually fixes by itself after restarting the laptop a couple times. If not, you may need to fix the boot record. So far I experienced that 2-3 times and it resumed to normal after I restarting in MD/Windows a couple times.

 

what do you mean by fixing the boot record?
Because it still can't find md2fixer?

THx

 

i noticed that this guide has the assumption that the laptop still the factory installed settings where there is a D: drive for recovery purposes. however, because i reformatted my laptop, it only has drive C: installed with Vista and drive D: which is my optical drive. i tried to map my md3 onto drive E: many times but to no avail.

note: i used "manage" from My Computer to shrink my drive C: and created a new partition called drive E: and labelled it Recovery in attempts to stimulate environments as close to this guide as possible. but even after formatting drive E: with NTFS or FAT32, i still could not map md3 onto the partitions. the error message was always "[mapmd3partiton] error - unable to get a partition number number using
Label= or logno=0"

i am running a dell inspiron 1525, running windows vista, and have dell mediadirect 3.5 installed.

please help!

 

i ALS CAN NOT FIND ThE FILE hiberfil.sys , and I unchecked in folder options like it said in the guide.
I also started mediadirect and shut it down when loading but after powering up again media direct started but nothing appeared.
If I click on exit on media direct, it appears that image black with white and it stays there.

 

ther is a problem