Dual boot - Boot linux using the Dell Media direct button and windows using power button in 2 easy steps

Note: Tested with Media Direct 3....cant guarantee for 1 and 2 try at your own risk
Note2. Expected that you already have a working Dual boot setup up and running.

Most of us don't use the Media direct functionality that comes bundled with Dell and would have removed it. The Media direct button which is used for launching it (the button with home symbol on it) can be used to boot into Linux.
Press MD button -> Boot into Linux
Press Power button -> Boot into windows

Before starting backup your MBR using dd command
dd if=/dev/sda of=path/sda.mbr count=1 bs=512
if anything goes wrong you can restore MBR using
dd if=path/sda.mbr of=/dev/sda


Step 1. Install grub to a primary partition.Here im installing it to my last primary partition under which i have my linux extended partitions.(Even if you have it installed to MBR no problem..just install it again to another primary partition....the second step will overwrite your MBR)

grub-install /dev/sda4

reboot to windows

Step 2. Put in the Media direct 3 CD that comes with your dell laptop.Start cmd (in vista u have to run as administrator)

cd H:\DellKit
rmbr.exe DELL 1 4

here 1 is for your Windows partition and 4 is for the partition which u have installed grub to )

Done.Shutdown.

Optional step. Set grub timeout to 0 in boot/grub/menu.lst and it wont show the grub menu.

Next time u press the power button it will boot into XP/Vista(Or XP + vista if u have both :-) ) and if u press Media Direct button it will boot into linux.
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