Media Direct Button: Can it be remapped for Ubuntu?

Les · 10-21-2007, 06:10 AM

Simple question for those much much much smarter than I...

Can I remap my MediaDirect button on my M1330 so it will start Ubuntu as a separate OS to Vista?

It sounds like a logical thought, two buttons and two OS's.

deadsimple · 10-21-2007, 09:28 AM

I haven't tried to do this, but here are a couple of links that may help:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=3113451

http://www.notebookforums.com/showpost.php?p=2010767

(Edit: I don't know if posting to other forums is allowed or not, just trying to help as I was researching this topic earlier)

Sredni Vashtar · 10-21-2007, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadsimple

I haven't tried to do this, but here are a couple of links that may help:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=3113451

This seems to clarify how rmbr works.
If the OP has the following partitions
1. DELL DIAG
2. RECOVERY
3. VISTA or XP
4. Ubuntu

All he has to do is to (backup all his data and then) install GRUB on the ubuntu partition by running, from within Ubuntu

Code:

sudo grub
grub> root (hd0,3)
grub> setup (hd0,3)

then switch into windows, pop in the MediaDirect install Cd and fix the MBR with

Code:

rmbr DELL 3 4

He should be able to boot Vista with the power button and ubuntu with the mediadirect button.

I am about to try the Extended partition mod, since my Linuxes are on logical partitions within the extended partition. If you don't hear from me in a couple of days, say a prayer for my MBR.

Kossel · 10-22-2007, 08:32 PM

hi, hope to hear you soon lol.

My ubuntu is installed in a partition which was resized from the vista's primary parition. does my ubuntu installed in logical or primary partition?

or any command to know that?

shoyer · 10-25-2007, 11:36 AM

I was able to get GRUB for Ubuntu booting from the MediaDirect button following a procedure along Sredni's suggestion.

I have four partitions, all setup as primary partitions.
1 Dell Diagnostics
2 Vista
3 Ubuntu (ext3)
4 Linux swap

When I installed Ubuntu (Gutsy) from the Live CD, I setup the partitions myself manually using Gparted first (System > Administration > Partition Editor). The primary partition should be ext3, and a swap partition needs to be created as well that should be at least as large as the amount of memory you have.

Then I started the Ubuntu install with manual partitioning, selecting the ext3 partition as root (/). In the final stage before actually installing I clicked on the "Advanced" button and selected to install GRUB to my Ubuntu root partition (h0,2) as Linux counts partitions from 0.

Returning to Windows, I ran the rmbr command off of my MediaDirect 3.3 install CD in the command line:
d:\dellkit\rmbr.exe DELL 2 3

I believe the first number refers to the Windows partition, and the second number to the MediaDirect partition (though in this case we want the "MediaDirect" partition to be where Ubuntu is). Here the partition count starts from 1.

Disclaimer: it's all too easy to **** up your boot settings when you're experimenting with partitions and boot records. I had Windows unbootable for half of yesterday with obscure error messages I couldn't fix from the command line on the Windows CD because I accidentally unchecked the "Boot" checkbox in Gparted. Proceed at your own risk.

Kossel: if you look at Gparted from a Linux Live CD, you should be able to see where your partitions are contained inside another box. That larger box means they are in extended partition.

Les · 10-25-2007, 11:37 AM

I understand that Grub serves as an OS selection interface.

Im just wondering if I can hit the media Direct button and Ubuntu starts. Hit it again and its off.

Then hit the power button and Vista starts. Hit it again and it shuts down.

shoyer · 10-25-2007, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamenko

I understand that Grub serves as an OS selection interface.

Im just wondering if I can hit the media Direct button and Ubuntu starts. Hit it again and its off.

Then hit the power button and Vista starts. Hit it again and it shuts down.

Yes, this is the setup I now have (well, I haven't gotten around to configuring Ubuntu shutdown options yet).

You can adjust the timeout in GRUB as the delay before Ubuntu starts immediately. Just set it to 0 seconds. I think there's even a user interface for editing GRUB options now in Gutsy, though I haven't worried about that yet.

Les · 10-25-2007, 11:48 AM

I WANT THAT!!!!!! Today Im getting another SSD that I have to test than Im finishing off an article for NBR.

After that, Im going to be all over you! Your more than welcome to doing a step by step on how to get exactly that. It would work such that, the mediaDirect button is the power button for Ubuntu and the regular power buton is the power button for Vista.

I know there are several people looking for exactly that.

Thanks. Your now bookmarked!

Kossel · 10-25-2007, 04:10 PM

yeah please please write the tutorial

, I want to try it tonight :P

I'm using grub for booting vista and ubuntu now, i think i should change ubuntu boot record to linux partition right? can I do that if my ubuntu is installed on a logical partition? or should it be on a primary partition?

this is what my gparted shows (i have already installed ubuntu 7.10)

image below

shoyer · 10-25-2007, 05:42 PM

I'm not sure if I'll have the chance to write a full tutorial since I'm not 100% sure how this works and I've got a lot of stuff going on, but let me know if this works for you.

Kossel, you already have Ubuntu installed on a primary partition (It's the 3rd partition in your list) so we should be able to get this to work without any messing around with partitions.

Try this procedure:

1) First, install GRUB on the partition where you installed Ubuntu. In a command line in Ubuntu (a live CD should work, too):

Code:

sudo grub

Then double check where Ubuntu is installed:

Code:

find /boot/grub/stage1

That should list the root devices grub is installed on. Look for something like (hd0,?) (probably (hd0,2), but it might be (hd0,3)).
Then

Code:

root (hd0,?)
setup (hd0,?)

where ? is that number from the last step.

2. Then configure Dell MediaDirect. From the Windows command line where you have the MediaDirect 3.3 install CD inserted:

Code:

d:\dellkit\rmbr.exe DELL 2 3

I'm not entirely sure about the numbers here, but I would guess these are the right ones. If you were told that you have Ubuntu installed on hd0,3, then try "DELL 2 4" instead.

Now you should get to GRUB when you hit the MediaDirect button when the computer is off. You'll see the MediaDirect background for a short time and then GRUB will appear.

3. Finally, once that's working, reset the power button so it boots Windows directly. Boot from the Vista install CD and click Repair when the option comes up. Then click the option for command line, and type in the following:

Code:

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot

Now Windows should be booting directly when you press the power button.

Once you've got all this working, it's just a matter of minor refinement to get other things working like adjusting the GRUB timing and so forth.