Dell Media Direct versions 3.5 and 4

Hi guys

I have been having terrible problems with Dell Media Direct. All started when I done the dell factory restore and after that the dell media direct fast boot option no longer worked. The hidden partition I suspect somehow corrupted. It worked okay under Windows Vista though.

Anyway I tried many fixes this without resorting to the drastic measure of repartitioning and losing my windows installation (which has taken me months to get it how I want). The other I day I uninstalled Dell Media Direct under add/remove programs on vista. I then tried to reinstall it but now I cannot get the software to reinstall under vista. I have done this before several times without a hitch so I do not know why it is now causing problems. I run dellkit.exe and it goes through the percentage bar so looks like it is installing. However there is very little cd drive activity indicating it is not doing an awful look. Eventually at approx 17% it suddenly pops up saying it's installed. It isn't though. Nowhere to be found! This is with dell media direct 3.5.

As I still wanted the software I harassed Dell and asked for them to send me dell media direct 4 as it is a standalone windows app now. The cheeky sods made me pay £40 for the pleasure. Trying to install this I have exactly the same problem except version 4 probably gets to about 70% before falsely claiming it is installed!

With both versions I tried the WindowsMD folder also and ran setup.exe. This just errors out saying I need Windows Media Player 9 or above to proceed. I have version 11 so this is a load of baloney!

I suspect maybe when I last uninstalled dell media direct it probably didn't fully uninstall. I can't find any folders on the C: drive that relate to dell media direct. However maybe there are lingering registry entries that need removing first. Perhaps this is preventing the installation from working properly? My laptop works and installs every bit of other software going absolutely fine so there is not a depp rooted problem.

Anyone got any ideas?

Thanks,
Wayne

 

Any ideas on how to get this installed again? I had a backup from drive image XML so I copied the dell media direct folder back onto my C: drive. It now launches but cannot detect the dvd drive. Presumably as this is not a proper installation method. Can browse pics but dvd's not working. All other dvd players on laptop such as media center, media player & realplayer function fine.

 

Why to use MediaDirect? I had it almost 2 years and never worked flawless to me. Ok, with some workarounds I could live with it.

Now I changed to Windows 7 and can't even install MD3.5. So I decided to discontinue and installed WinDVD.

I know I have now a useless MediaDirect button, but that's life. My Blu-Ray works now without problems.

 

Well I know it's not the greatest piece of software but I like the true theater and clarity of sound it produces. Am really baffled as to why it won't install, either versions 3.5 or 4. Something is obviously conflicting with it. I am beyond trying to get the fast boot media direct to work. I just want the software to install under windows so I can use it in Vista. I can understand media direct 3.5 being quirky but Media direct 4 is a standalone windows app so no longer relies on the hidden partition. Any ideas anyone on how to install it, pleeeease?

Thanks,
Wayne