Windows 7 and Dell MediaDirect

I have re-assigned the MediaDirect key via the registry to instead open Windows Media Center. I tested this key several times and it works also when computer is in SLEEP mode.

I shut down the computer COMPLETELY and pressed the MediaDirect button and it started to load Dell Media Direct Express. It seems to call up its own program.

So why does it pull from two sources?? It seems when my computer is ON or in SLEEP pressing the MD key opens up Windows Media Center (after I re-assigned it), however when the computer is completely shut down, pressing that same button causes MediaDirect to load.

The reason I ask is that by default in Windows Vista the preferred "shutdown" method seems to be a Sleep mode while in Windows 7 the preferred "shutdown" is to completely shut down the system.

I still am unsure what will happen if I were to wipe out the MediaDirect partition completey.

I noticed that I have a C:\Program Files\Dell\MediaDirect on my C: drive (remember I am still using Vista and haven't performed the clean install of Windows 7 yet) .. What will happen once the clean install removes this directory?

What will pressing the MD button do 1) when the computer is shut down completely and 2) when it is ON or in sleep?

When the machine is powered off, the OS isn't in memory so the registry and it's settings don't exist yet so the registry change you made can't have any effect at that point in time. The Dell hardware responds to the keypress and loads the OS from the MediaDirect partition. Once the machine is booted, then OS monitors keypresses and that's when the change you made in the registry can be in effect.

osu1357 said:

... What will pressing the MD button do 1) when the computer is shut down completely and 2) when it is ON or in sleep?

I already answered that in a previous post, here is the excerpt:

... if I press the MediaDirect button with the machine off, it shows the MediaDirect splash screen for a second or two (I believe it must be embedded in the BIOS) but since the MediaDirect partition no longer exists it just proceeds and loads Win 7. The MediaDirect button has no effect when pressed when the laptop is powered up and running.

So it sounds like MediaDirect is installed in 2 places:

1) On the C: drive
2) Its own partition

Am i close?

with that being said, a clean install of W7 .. how will it affect my system if:

1) Clean install on C: partition (deletes MediaDirect on C: drive), leaving all other partitions as they are (leaves MD on its own partition) .. OR
2) Clean install on C: partition (deletes MediaDirect on C: drive) after deleting all other partitions (including MediaDirect partition)

I understand what you are saying about "... if I press the MediaDirect button with the machine off, it shows the MediaDirect splash screen for a second or two (I believe it must be embedded in the BIOS) but since the MediaDirect partition no longer exists it just proceeds and loads Win 7. The MediaDirect button has no effect when pressed when the laptop is powered up and running."

But how is it then that some people are experiencing issues where they wipe away MediaDirect, accidentally press the MD button (either off or in Windows not sure) and Media Direct creates a new partition on top of the C: drive (basically trying to re-install itself ..

Another option would be to buy a new HDD and install Win 7 on it. That way if you ever wanted to restore back to Vista all you would need to do is replace the new HDD with the original.

My Dell XPS 1330 has a MediaDirect partition and has Win7-64 installed.
Everything works fine with Windows, but not MediaDirect:

When I press only the MediaDirect button, it briefly (2 seconds) shows me the MediaDirect screen, but then goes into the Win7 boot, as though I had pressed the Power-On button that boots my Win OS.

Hadn't worried about this much, since I didn't really use MediaDirect but lately I'm wishing I COULD use only the MediaDirect, without the full OS (which takes over 4 minutes to boot up.)

Any suggestions?

I have a Dell Inspiron with a MediaDirect button
Given the controversy documented on Wikipedia
Dell MediaDirect - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
and known a masters student who lost his work because of the mediadirect button, (had changed installed OS), the correct to set up such systems (prior to version 4) is to
first make a backup you trust
boot from the media direct cd/dvd and let it destroy your drive, and put it's sneaky remapped drive size trick (this is not a partition as you understand it), to reserve an area to put it's winpe files on later.
Take care using partitioning utilities (i.e. Dont!) as they can be confused by the above trick
Install the windows OS (thinks it has the full hard disk) (and that works with your media direct)
Install Mediadirect as though it's an application.
Test whether on starting via the mediadirect button works
Reboot to the OS and update mediadirect.
Install any prerequisite patches for your windows OS of choice
Do an inplace upgrade to your OS of choice. This may take several steps, XP to Vista then Vista to Win7, with SP's in between. Retest mediadirect at each step.
If you need Linux look at Cygwin and/or CoLinux or run it within virtual pc or vmware etc.
If changing to another app to manage your music collection, make sure it leaves your files where MediaPlayer expects to find them.
Basically the mediadirect button turns your system from a general purpose computer into a media player. The guy above is lucky the mediadirect button boots him into win7, as all bets are off when the system bios jumps to an area of the desk set aside for Mediadirect.
Getting mediadirect cd/dvd is a palaver, but this will be your starting point. Otherwise it's a liability to have a button there that can seriously corrupt your system.
Hope this helps someone.

Can the button be completely and permanently avoided while otherwise doing a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7? Or in your experience do people buy the PC expecting the media player conversion feature?