"Failed to burn" message

[Gtrotter]

SUBJECT: Intermittent "Failed to burn" message when trying to burn a DVD

Nature of the problem
After PictureShow4 has finally finished building the DVD image, it quits before writing on the DVD. Always using the same source, it will usually quit before burning anything but on occasion, it has burned the first copy and then quit before burning the second copy. Once, it completed normally after burning 7 copies of the DVD.

Properties of your source files (format, file size, where did you get it?)
I have 787 7.2 Megapixel pictures from my Sony camera. I also have a short video from the same camera. The project file is 3,237 Kb and the video file correctly created in step 2 is 3,310,518 Mb in size.

What devices are involved and their mode of connection?
All pictures and videos are on my hard drive. I am trying to burn -R DVDs using an internal Memorex Dual Format DVD Recorder.

Project Settings
Maximum write speed, buffer underrun on. Pictures include sound and captions.

Output format (file, DVD, VCD, SVCD)

NTSC

Error Codes (if any)

"Failed to burn" No codes or other error indications

System information in user profile
80 Gb and 200 Gb hard drives, Windows XP Home w/ SP2, 512 Mb RAM I installed the DPS4 Comm Patch but it didn't make any difference.

This is a registered copy of PictureShow 4 that I purchased directly from Ulead. It has been 12 days since I asked tech support for help and they haven't even bothered to reply except for the automated message when they received my query. HELP!!!

[michaeltee]

Since the DPS4_Comm_Patch didn't work, here's another possible fix:

Make sure DVD PictureShow 4 is closed.

Go to http://www.ulead.com/tech/general/burning_engine.htm and download "Build Number: 3.6.17.246" to your desktop. Make a new folder and place the downlloaded zip file "3617246.zip" in it. Open the new folder and extract the files from 3617246.zip. Delete all of the files EXCEPT "LXDVDParser.dll".

Next, go to C:\ > Program Files > Common Files > Ulead Systems and open the folder named "DVD". In the "DVD" folder you'll find LXDVDParser.dll. Remove LXDVDParser.dll and replace it with the new LXDVDParser.dll file you extracted from 3617246.zip

Reboot your PC, launch DVD Picture Show 4 and try burning a DVD.

If this doesn't do the trick you also have the option of outputting your project as a "DVD Folder" and burning your DVD with a 3rd party application such as Nero or Roxio.

Please post your results.

Good luck

[Gtrotter]

Mike, the older LXDVDParser module from Build Number: 3.6.17.246 didn't help. I tried it both with and without the DPS4 Comm Patch with the same results. The PictureShow 4 DVD and the DPS4 Comm Patch both had a 1,104 Kb LXDVDParser.dll module dated 10/24/05. The LXDVDParser.dll module I downloaded in the 3617246.zip package was 872 Kb in length and had a 5/31/04 date.

After installing the LXDVDParser.dll module from the 3617246.zip (the DPS4 Comm Patch was previously installed) I got an additional problem. After the same "Failed to burn" message, if I then installed an new blank DVD in the drive and clicked on Burn, I now get the equally informative message "Unexpected error"!

It is very frustrating to not be able to burn a DVD after spending many hours setting up a program with music and subtitles. This is a great product if it would only burn a DVD!!!

[Gtrotter]

Thanks to a suggestion from Mike, I found a way to get my projects burned on a DVD in spite of PictureShow 4's refusal to do so. Here's how I did it:

On PictureShow 4's burn page, uncheck the "Record to disk" box and supply a location to store the DVD image files. After PictureShow completes normally, point Nero at the DVD image files (VIDEO/TS) and it will burn.