Media Direct Problem witn more then 2 disk paritons.

There are no System Recovery CDs included with the computer. The recovery data required to return the computer to the original, factory-installed condition is included on a special partition of the hard drive. Follow this procedure to create the Recovery Media Kit (a set of Recovery Discs), which can be used to restore the recovery partition and return the computer to the original, factory-installed condition.

1. Ensure all open programs are closed.
2. Ensure all network connections are disconnected.
3. Ensure all peripheral devices are disconnected.
4. From within the VAIO Recovery Wizard application, in the Create Recovery Discs window, click Next.
5. Under Create Recovery Discs (Step 1 of 3), click to select the option to use either DVD or CD media.
6. Click the Next button.
7. At the Insert a blank... dialog box, insert the appropriate disc.
8. Click the OK button.
9. Insert a new disc when necessary as instructed.
10. When all the disks have been created, click the Finish button.

ScreenPlay Director Partitions
There are five partitions on the ScreenPlay Director's hard disk. Three partitions are grayed out and will list as "Healthy-Unknown" in Windows Device Manager. These partitions contain the ScreenPlay TV interface and system settings and are not available to store media files.
The two active partitions both appear as "Untitled". The larger partition is formatted with an NTFS file system. Use this partition to store your media files when you connect to the ScreenPlay Director from a networked computer or transfer files via direct USB connection.
The smaller partition is formatted FAT32 and is used only when updating the ScreenPlay Director firmware. Do not place your media files on this partition! If you accidentally store media files on the FAT32 partition, you can use a computer to move them to the larger NTFS-formatted partition. You will not be able to see media files on the FAT32-formatted partition when using the ScreenPlay TV interface.
Formatting the data partition will erase all existing data! If you have files on the ScreenPlay Director you want to save, move them to another drive or volume before reformatting.

************************************CAUTION!************************************************ Do not change (format or delete) the partitioning on the ScreenPlay Director hard disk as this will remove the firmware that enables the ScreenPlay Director to communicate with your TV set. Only media files stored on the active data partition (the largest partition) can be viewed or played on a TV. The ONLY partition that can be formatted is the data partition (the largest partition).
Conclusion: If you have deleted or formatted any of the first 4 partitions on the unit that is not the data partition. You now own a BRICKED ScreenPlay which HAS to be replaced. No if ands or buts about it. YOUR DEVICE IS DEAD.

ScreenPlay Director Partitions
There are five partitions on the ScreenPlay Director's hard disk. Three partitions are grayed out and will list as "Healthy-Unknown" in Windows Device Manager. These partitions contain the ScreenPlay TV interface and system settings and are not available to store media files.
The two active partitions both appear as "Untitled". The larger partition is formatted with an NTFS file system. Use this partition to store your media files when you connect to the ScreenPlay Director from a networked computer or transfer files via direct USB connection.
The smaller partition is formatted FAT32 and is used only when updating the ScreenPlay Director firmware. Do not place your media files on this partition! If you accidentally store media files on the FAT32 partition, you can use a computer to move them to the larger NTFS-formatted partition. You will not be able to see media files on the FAT32-formatted partition when using the ScreenPlay TV interface.
Formatting the data partition will erase all existing data! If you have files on the ScreenPlay Director you want to save, move them to another drive or volume before reformatting.

*******************************************CAUTION!********************************************************* Do not change (format or delete) the partitioning on the ScreenPlay Director hard disk as this will remove the firmware that enables the ScreenPlay Director to communicate with your TV set. Only media files stored on the active data partition (the largest partition) can be viewed or played on a TV. The ONLY partition that can be formatted is the data partition (the largest partition).
Conclusion: If you have deleted or formatted any of the first 4 partitions on the unit that is not the data partition. You now own a BRICKED ScreenPlay which HAS to be replaced. No if ands or buts about it. YOUR DEVICE IS DEAD.

ScreenPlay Director Partitions There are five partitions on the ScreenPlay Director's hard disk. Three partitions are grayed out and will list as "Healthy-Unknown" in Windows Device Manager. These partitions contain the ScreenPlay TV interface and system settings and are not available to store media files. The two active partitions both appear as "Untitled". The larger partition is formatted with an NTFS file system. Use this partition to store your media files when you connect to the ScreenPlay Director from a networked computer or transfer files via direct USB connection. The smaller partition is formatted FAT32 and is used only when updating the ScreenPlay Director firmware. Do not place your media files on this partition! If you accidentally store media files on the FAT32 partition, you can use a computer to move them to the larger NTFS-formatted partition. You will not be able to see media files on the FAT32-formatted partition when using the ScreenPlay TV interface. Formatting the data partition will erase all existing data! If you have files on the ScreenPlay Director you want to save, move them to another drive or volume before reformatting.
*******************************************CAUTION!********************************************************* Do not change (format or delete) the partitioning on the ScreenPlay Director hard disk as this will remove the firmware that enables the ScreenPlay Director to communicate with your TV set. Only media files stored on the active data partition (the largest partition) can be viewed or played on a TV. The ONLY partition that can be formatted is the data partition (the largest partition).
Conclusion: If you have deleted or formatted any of the first 4 partitions on the unit that is not the data partition. You now own a BRICKED ScreenPlay which HAS to be replaced. No if ands or buts about it.

ScreenPlay Director Partitions There are five partitions on the ScreenPlay Director's hard disk. Three partitions are grayed out and will list as "Healthy-Unknown" in Windows Device Manager. These partitions contain the ScreenPlay TV interface and system settings and are not available to store media files. The two active partitions both appear as "Untitled". The larger partition is formatted with an NTFS file system. Use this partition to store your media files when you connect to the ScreenPlay Director from a networked computer or transfer files via direct USB connection. The smaller partition is formatted FAT32 and is used only when updating the ScreenPlay Director firmware. Do not place your media files on this partition! If you accidentally store media files on the FAT32 partition, you can use a computer to move them to the larger NTFS-formatted partition. You will not be able to see media files on the FAT32-formatted partition when using the ScreenPlay TV interface. Formatting the data partition will erase all existing data! If you have files on the ScreenPlay Director you want to save, move them to another drive or volume before reformatting.
*******************************************CAUTION!********************************************************* Do not change (format or delete) the partitioning on the ScreenPlay Director hard disk as this will remove the firmware that enables the ScreenPlay Director to communicate with your TV set. Only media files stored on the active data partition (the largest partition) can be viewed or played on a TV. The ONLY partition that can be formatted is the data partition (the largest partition).
Conclusion: If you have deleted or formatted any of the first 4 partitions on the unit that is not the data partition. You now own a BRICKED ScreenPlay which HAS to be replaced. No if ands or buts about it. YOUR DEVICE IS DEAD.

Make sure you do not have a bootable CD or DVD in the drive. If that does not resolve, then try holding the "home" (Media Direct) button while pressing the Power button on.

Most likely, it could be the amount of ram you have in your computer. If your running low on ram and it is using the virtual memory your computer can be running all the time causing a slow down in whatever you do. Check to see how much ram you have :)

ScreenPlay Director Partitions
There are five partitions on the ScreenPlay Director's hard disk. Three partitions are grayed out and will list as "Healthy-Unknown" in Windows Device Manager. These partitions contain the ScreenPlay TV interface and system settings and are not available to store media files.

The two active partitions both appear as "Untitled". The larger partition is formatted with an NTFS file system. Use this partition to store your media files when you connect to the ScreenPlay Director from a networked computer or transfer files via direct USB connection.

The smaller partition is formatted FAT32 and is used only when updating the ScreenPlay Director firmware. Do not place your media files on this partition! If you accidentally store media files on the FAT32 partition, you can use a computer to move them to the larger NTFS-formatted partition. You will not be able to see media files on the FAT32-formatted partition when using the ScreenPlay TV interface.

Formatting the data partition will erase all existing data! If you have files on the ScreenPlay Director you want to save, move them to another drive or volume before reformatting.

************************************CAUTION!************************************************ Do not change (format or delete) the partitioning on the ScreenPlay Director hard disk as this will remove the firmware that enables the ScreenPlay Director to communicate with your TV set. Only media files stored on the active data partition (the largest partition) can be viewed or played on a TV. The ONLY partition that can be formatted is the data partition (the largest partition).

Conclusion: If you have deleted or formatted any of the first 4 partitions on the unit that is not the data partition. You now own a BRICKED ScreenPlay which HAS to be replaced. No if ands or buts about it. YOUR DEVICE IS DEAD.

Hello,

Here is the steps,

1.Turn on your computer.

2.Insert the reinstallation media (Dell Media Direct CD/DVD) into the CD/DVD drive, then restart the computer.

3. press F12 when the bios page comes up and then select CD/DVD drive from the boot menu.

"Option 1" from the menu if you wish to use all of the hard drive for you operating system installation. This is the most common selection and how is your computer was originally shipped to you, unless you specified an operating system partition size at the time you ordered you computer.

"Option 2" to designate a size for your operating system and have a data partition. This allows you to specify a size for the operating system partittion, leaving the remainder, of the hard drive configured as a "data" partition ("D")

4. Once you have prepared the drive and you have returned to the main recovery menu, remove the installation media and replace it with you operating system reinstallation media. Select the option to reboot your computer. If your computer does not automatically start the media, press <F12> to access the boot menu and select the Cd/DVD boot option.

5.Install your operating system, select the Primary partition when prompted. If you have two hard drives, select the primary partition on the same disk where hte media direct partition resides. Once the OS is installed and the necessary drivers are installed you can begin the reinstallation of the dell mediaDirect software.

Good Luck,
Austin

I believe this is due to Media Direct requiring a 2G hidden partition and entries in the MBR. As I understand it you have to boot from the Media Direct disc first for it to recreate the partition assuming it has been deleted then install your OS. If you do not want the Media Direct then you should be able to use the OS disc recovery console to repair the MBR.

More info can be obtained from the Dell Forum