Dell Media Direct won’t Boot Windows – Maybe Bitlocker – Solution

I’m not sure why Dell can’t actually tell people this. However, if you find yourself stuck booting Dell MediaDirect, and don’t know how to fix it. Try this:

Turn off your computer
Hit the button shaped like a home (the Dell MediaDirect button).

Seriously. When the power is off, the Dell MediaDirect button acts a toggle button to boot the other partition. Try to find that on Dell’s site, and well, I couldn’t find it with several good searches.Thanks to GigaMegaBlog.

Comments (75)

#1 written by Gail
about 5 years ago

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Thank you very, very much. Simple solution when one knows what to do.
#2 written by Wendy
about 5 years ago

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HI! I thought this might be the answer to my problem, but it isn’t. 🙁 Any ideas on this- I can’t get Windows to boot at all-have tried various items in recovery mode and it won’t fully boot–but I CAN access Dell Media Direct. All I really want is to get my photos off of this computer. Is there any way to do that from Dell Media Direct??
#3 written by Kim
about 6 years ago

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Hi Ben! I tried the Media Direct “button” but my laptop (Inspiron 1720-32 bit) will turn on, but it won’t go past the main stage of booting up. I select it to open in “Normal Mode” and then it just sits and “thinks” for hours, not going anywhere….what is going on? Thanks, Kim
#4 written by Aanchal
about 6 years ago

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Thanks !!!! Man saved my laptop I had all the ideas of giving it away !!! It was so simple to do this !!! Thank you !!
#5 written by Renee
about 6 years ago

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OMG!!!! Virtual Hugs!!!!! I’ve had this happen several times and always took my old laptop into the tech spending so much money. I decided this time to Google it!
Thank God! You are brilliant!!! I’ve sat here for hours and stumbled across your page. I am one happy person right now! Worked like a charm
#6 written by Chris
about 6 years ago

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Thanks. My 2 year old obtained “usage” of our laptop while my wife was paying bills. My computer “guy” would not call me back. I knew there was a simple fix and you helped. Thanks again.
#7 written by orlando
about 6 years ago

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Bless you
#8 written by Aboodi
about 6 years ago

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I have an old Dell … just had this Problem …..
Thanks a million dude 🙂
#9 written by Angela
about 7 years ago

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Thank you thank you thank you!!
I’ve now bookmarked you as one of my favourites in fact you should come as a standard favourite on every desktop!
#10 written by Tia
about 7 years ago

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I’ve tried what you listed above, but to no avail. I called Dell, but they want $129 for a one time fix. Please help! Any and all help is welcomed!
#11 written by Robert Pontow
about 7 years ago

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Wow! Such an easy fix as compared to throwing it against a wall in frustration. Somehow, my 3 year-old hit a button that caused this.

Please don’t ever remove this page. People like me are still very thankful it’s out there.
#12 written by Doug Young
about 7 years ago

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Wow. Such a simple soloution which I would’ve never found on Dell’s website. Thanks
- #13 written by Ben Holt
  about 7 years ago
  
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  Glad it helped!
#14 written by triago
about 7 years ago

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thanks! I hate Dell. But you’re great!
#15 written by Lynda
about 8 years ago

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This worked!!! Thank you!!! 🙂
#16 written by peri
about 8 years ago

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OMG, Ben! You are a genius! I’m crying tears of joy! I have a motion for summary judgment to write, the cat sat on the laptop, and I was stuck in blue screen of death. We are back in business. Thank goodness I was able to find your post on the back-up computer.
- #17 written by Ben Holt
  about 8 years ago
  
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  Wow. Being in the legal profession, I share your pain. I’ve only lost work twice due to a computer malfunction. But it was so painful.
  
  Glad it helped!
  –Ben
#18 written by Daniel
about 8 years ago

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The most pleasant fix I had ever done. Found your writeup and instructed my wife over the phone to fix her system’s laptop in another state. It did wonder!

Prior to that, we tried F2, F5, F8, looking at partition, the hard disk, Dell technical support. Another person had tried the recovery disc, …

Thank you!
- #19 written by Ben Holt
  about 8 years ago
  
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  Glad it worked. There are a lot of people that shared our frustration.
  
  –Ben
#20 written by Ann
about 8 years ago

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Magic! Fixed! Thank you!!!! I was afraid I was finally going to have to replace my Dell Inspiron 1520 “Sherman Tank” laptop that has endured more from my 22 year old son with Autism than could be described here. You are an answer to my prayers!!!
- #21 written by Ben Holt
  about 8 years ago
  
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  Glad it worked!
#22 written by Vincent
about 8 years ago

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My sister give me that laptop because she was told that there was anaything to do with it !

Since she discover the tablet wolrd she doesnt use it anymore then if i can repair it, i can keep it for my daughter.

There was no repair to do, just hit the home button !!!

Thank you for my budget and my daugther.
- #23 written by Ben Holt
  about 8 years ago
  
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  Woohoo! Score one for you and your daughter!
#24 written by shardee
about 8 years ago

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Genius! Thank u so much
#25 written by Carissa
about 8 years ago

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Unbelievable! The laptop was sitting for 2 years and a 2 minute fix solved the problem! Thank you!!!
#26 written by dan
about 9 years ago

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I did it but now I just have a black screen with the power still on. I can turn on the caps and number lock light but nothing else seems to work.
#27 written by Dicko
about 9 years ago

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Absolutely wonderful, hit it hard a few times and it works a treat. 10 out of 10
#28 written by nikhil batra
about 9 years ago

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It really worked. Thanks a lot.
#29 written by Fawn
about 9 years ago

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Thanks, such a simple solution, should not be so hard to find!
#30 written by shemjaz
about 9 years ago

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I tried multiple times to power down and then press the MediaDirect button. However, after powering down, MediaDirect immediately powers on the laptop; there is no opportunity to toggle. With no battery connected, when I plug in the power cord, the laptop immediately launches with MediaDirect. Your directions are so simple. Am I missing something? DELL XPS M1`210 ….. Help me
- #31 written by Carissa
  about 8 years ago
  
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  I had to try this several times but within 2 minutes it worked!
#32 written by Mara
about 9 years ago

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Thank you so much I pressed the home button by accident & it got stuck. I did the opposite based on your post & got restored. Thank you!!!!!!!!
#33 written by FREDA
about 9 years ago

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Thanks be to God,,, You saved my spouse from a divorce. He hit the Media home button on my Dell laptop. Thank You so,so much.
- #34 written by Ben Holt
  about 9 years ago
  
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  I think this might be the first time I’ve been accused of saving a marriage. 🙂 Glad it worked.
  
  –Ben
#35 written by Roxie371
about 9 years ago

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Very Good advice! Still works terrific! I have a second hand M1730 and have accidentally turned that mess on 2 x now. Somehow managed to get to bios last time and straighten it out. This X I did research and found your advice – turned off PC held button and it rebooted. Looked like it was going straight back to Dell Media but left it alone and it righted itself and moved into the Windows normal mode in a few minutes! (Just before I was going to turn it off again, so wait for it!) I think I may remove this from my pc. I did see some interested articles in Dell about removing it from C drive. Gonna talk to a couple of friends first though. I can’t thank you enough!!!!! Roxie
- #36 written by Ben Holt
  about 9 years ago
  
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  It is a pain. Rather than remove it (which I hear is difficult), you may want to consider just cutting the wires to the media direct button.
  
  –Ben
#37 written by bill
about 9 years ago

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I TAKE MY HAT OFF
#38 written by Eric
about 9 years ago

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My infinite loop just started this evening. I tried multiple times to power down and then press the MediaDirect button. However, after powering down, MediaDirect immediately powers on the laptop; there is no opportunity to toggle. With no battery connected, when I plug in the power cord, the laptop immediately launches with MediaDirect. Your directions are so simple. Am I missing something?
#39 written by Onkar
about 9 years ago

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thanks a lot
#40 written by Chris
about 9 years ago

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The same thing keeps happening to my Vostro 1500. I boot the computer using the power button and it takes me to media direct. I power off the computer and re-boot with the “home” button and it takes me to media direct. Everything I try just takes me to media direct every time I power on the computer.
#41 written by Gabriela Ferro
about 9 years ago

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Oh my God, you just saved my life!! Simples as that!!! Thank u so much, from Brazil!!
#42 written by Betsy
about 9 years ago

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Hey Ben~

I had run into this problem years ago and knew there was an easy fix. But today I couldn’t remember what the heck it was. Thank goodness I ran across your post. I was beginning to get frustrated.

Thanks for your post and ultimate help!
~Betsy
#43 written by Shannon
about 9 years ago

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You.Are.My.Hero. Seriously, I almost used my laptop as a skeet target :-/ Thank you!
#44 written by Troy Ostrander
about 9 years ago

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Thank you!!!!!!!!!!
#45 written by Kurt Orto
about 9 years ago

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Thanks so very much!! I was going to call Dell until I ran across your Great article. You have saved me lots of time and aggravation calling Dell especially after looking on their site for several hours.
#46 written by Abazar
about 9 years ago

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Thank you Ben, for sharing your discovering !
#47 written by Raj
about 9 years ago

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Words can’t suffice how thankful i am to u for this solution, u not just saved me money but a lot of running around too!
#48 written by Mayni
about 9 years ago

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Wow,
Thank you so very much!!!
#49 written by sally
about 10 years ago

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Thank you!! I was able to use my ipad to google this problem with my PC. You saved me a lot of aggravation. Thanks!
#50 written by wai
about 10 years ago

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thank you so much
#51 written by Anon Nymous
about 10 years ago

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Thank you so VERY MUCH! I already thought I f*cked up my roomies laptop…
#52 written by Linda Lee
about 10 years ago

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Oh my gosh I have spent hours trying to fix the blue screen of death on my Dell Vostro and then I stumbled on your turn off that little home button and the entire thing came back and is working. That is crazy!! Why is this not listed somewhere in the manual? You are an angel, thank you!
#53 written by Robin
about 10 years ago

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Ben, can’t tell you how much I appreciate you publishing this. I have been searching the Internet for hours trying to help my sister get her computer to boot up properly. Yikes, what a pain in the neck! So glad I found you…thanks again!
#54 written by Ronda
about 10 years ago

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Thank youuu sooo much! I thought I was out of another computer again. I don’t know if you’d be able to help me with this but I have a sony vaio that freezes when I start it up.. any help?
- #55 written by Ben Holt
  about 10 years ago
  
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  Sorry. I would need more information about when it freezes and what it shows. You might try holding the F12/Delete or whatever it flashes when you turn it on. Then I would try the diagnostics.
  
  Good luck!
#56 written by lilly
about 10 years ago

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You’re my freakin hero!!
#57 written by Piera
about 10 years ago

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Thank you so much!! I thought my computer was gone then I tried your method and it worked!! It’s not clear to me why this happened.
#58 written by Morgan
about 10 years ago

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Holy mother of God. I have searched through so many friggin websites trying to find answers to this. I was even messing with Ubuntu (which still didn’t help because the partition was locked and wouldn’t let me access it).

All my sweat and tears and the answer was ‘hit the home button while the computer is off’.

You’re my hero. Seriously. Dell can suck it. I’m getting my files off and burning this computer with gasoline in your honour.
#59 written by htlabs4u@yahoo.com
about 10 years ago

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Thank you, thank you, thank you. I spent hours working on my machine and then I found your site. Two seconds and the problem was solved.
#60 written by mike
about 10 years ago

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Unbelievable, It worked!!
Thank you!
Mike
#61 written by Jeff
about 10 years ago

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Thank you Ben… You are awesome! worked like a charm.
Saved me a lot of $$ and the hassle of dealing with it.
#62 written by Silvia
about 10 years ago

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Thanks a million! 🙂
#63 written by Dian
about 10 years ago

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Omfg I was about to wipe the hard drive over this stupid bit lock thing thank you!
#64 written by Lauren
about 10 years ago

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THANK YOU for the “fix” on the Dell Media Direct issue. I was practically hysterical trying to get my system to boot – thinking about stories I’d been working on that weren’t saved anywhere else, photos I’d taken, and the fact that I could not afford a new computer (but NEED one). This did the trick. It reminded me I need to do regular backups to an external harddrive…
#65 written by Barbie
about 10 years ago

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Thanks! I was thinking a hard drive funeral was going to be in order. I appreciate you taking the time to write this up. 🙂
#66 written by Krissy
about 10 years ago

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Thank you! You rock!
#67 written by Anna
about 10 years ago

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I pressed the home button mistaking it with the power button and it started opening media direct, but suddenly blue screen appeared and when I tried to turn on laptop again it just kept appearing! It won’t even start with the safe mode. I’m not good with computers AT ALL, please help me!! Thanks
- #68 written by Alaina
  about 10 years ago
  
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  I had the same problem just turn off your computer completly and and click the little house button then the start up launch menu will show up click start windows normally and its fixed! hope this helped
  - #69 written by katie
    about 9 years ago
    
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    I have tried this, and it does not work for me. PLEASE HELP.
    - #70 written by Ben Holt
      about 9 years ago
      
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      Hi Katie,
      
      I just sent you an email offline. I will need more information for me to help. Sorry about the frustration. Reply to my email if you still need the help.
      
      –Ben
      - #71 written by Patty
        about 9 years ago
        
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        Please Ben, I’m in the same situation. I accidentally hit the house media direct button instead of power. Can’t get out of dell media direct. Tried rebooting. Got a boot error. Tried booting to windows 7 and won’t boot to that. Now it won’t do anything.
        
        Inspiron 1525 running Windows 7
      - #72 written by Ben Holt
        about 9 years ago
        
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        It sounds like you may have several problems, one of which may be a damaged windows partition. You may want to try and use the repair feature of your windows 7 install disk. Other than that, I have heard of people saying that the part of the motherboard that contains the house button gets damaged. You can open the laptop and see if that is your case.
        
        Good luck,
        
        –Ben
#73 written by John
about 10 years ago

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Thanks a lot Ben, I was about to call the man out and get stung for $200, now I can eat next week!
#74 written by MelindA
about 10 years ago

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Thank you soooooo much!!!!! I thought my computer and all the things on it were gone! This scare has reminded me to back it up. Thanks so much!
- #75 written by Daniel
  about 10 years ago
  
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  Gracias !!! mil gracias
  Con tu explicacion hemos develado el misterio del fu… button.
  Para que Dell abra inventado eso en una epoca que los dispositivos multimedia estan a precio cada vez mas regalado
  …ganas de molestar nomas hermano!
  thank’s again, a lot !!