Trial VS11+ Installation conflicts with Windows MP 11

DLCPhoto · Post by **DLCPhoto** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 1:25 am

I am running XP Home/SP2, all critical updates installed, well maintained system. Gateway 700XL.

I have begun dabbling in video, and just downloaded and installed the Trial Version of VideoStudio 11+. I ran into the "A Fatal Error Has Occurred while Installing" the first time through. I searched here, did a full uninstall, and ran Setup.exe directly, changed the .ini file from 1 to 0, etc. The install completed, and I can successfully run VS11+.

I was playing around with some captured video files, etc. and was pleased with how the program was working. I closed VS11+ and was looking at some of my original .AVI files. These normally display perfectly well in Windows Media Player (I upgraded to Version 11 a day or two ago) prior to the VS11+ install. Now when I try, it says it "Encountered a Problem" and referred me to the following webpage:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/window ... d=80004005

Interestingly, I had downloaded and installed AVI2DVD several days ago, and found the exact same conflict with Windows Media Player. In fact, I was using Ver. 10 of WMP then, and upgraded to Ver. 11 to try and fix it. This didn't change the problem. I then uninstalled AVI2DVD, and WMP then worked fine, playing all my AVI files as usual.

These particular AVI files, I believe, use MJPEG? I'm at the edge of my limited video knowledge at this point. They were created in a Canon S1 or S3 IS digital camera. Other AVI's I have, including ones generated by VS11+, and those captured from my daughter's DV Camcorder work fine in WMP. It's just the ones from the Canon S1 and S3 IS that WMP can no longer play.

Also, I was hoping I could directly open these files in VS11+ to work with them, but this doesn't work. I have use ArcSoft Visual Impressions (which came with the Canon S1 IS) to read the files, and convert to another AVI flavor.

So:

1. How can I fix WMP's ability to play the Canon digital camera AVI's (S1 and S3 models), which it used to play fine. I would hate to have to uninstall and not use VS11+.

2. Is there any way I can get VS11+ to open and work with those same files directly?

I have uploaded a sample of this type of file (13 mb) to my website, if that will be of help to track down the problem. The link is as follows:

http://www.dlcphoto.com/Temp/MVI_0009.AVI

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Don Cohen
http://www.dlcphoto.com

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:12 am

I suspect that you may have messed up your MJPEG codec somewhere along the line with your various installs and uninstalls. Neither WMP (any version) nor Video Studio (any version) come with an MJPEG codec. But evidently the ArcSoft software which came with your Canon does.

So my first inclination would be to reinstall that software first in order to reinstall the codec. Then see if everything plays as it used to...

DLCPhoto · Post by **DLCPhoto** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:31 am

Thanks for the reply and suggestion, Ken.

There is some logic to what you say, although what doesn't seem to fit is that installing VS11+ definitely changed the behavior of WMP with respect to these Canon avi files. If it doesn't come with MJPEG codec, then how could it have corrupted this codec? The fact that the same problem appeared and disappeared with installation and uninstallation of AVI2DVD also seems to argue against this.

Finally, I just determined that if I open these same files with Quicktime, they play just fine - does this imply the codecs are therefore intact?

That said, I would be happy to try your suggestion, but my son (whose Canon S1 I borrowed to make the videos) has the installation CD, so I can't right now. I did an online update to a newer version, but this didn't correct the problem.

Assume for the moment that this doesn't fix the problem - what else would you suggest?

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:01 am

I was careful not to suggest directly that installation of VS11 was the cause of the problem. Since quite a few people have installed VS11, and probably more than a few probably also have a Canon still cameras using MJPEG (I do for instance) yet have not reported a similar problem, I suspect it may not be a VS problem.

That being said, I don't know what *is* causing it. As I say, WMP essentially relies on other installed codecs. Neither it nor VS come with an MJPEG codec.

When you say you did an online update, was that for a version of the camera which you know uses the MJPEG codec?

If you do a Google search for a freeware program called GSpot, that will give you information about the codecs on your computer, and tell you if it is broken.

Have you also tried a simple reinstall of WMP?

DLCPhoto · Post by **DLCPhoto** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:31 am

Ken Berry wrote:I was careful not to suggest directly that installation of VS11 was the cause of the problem. Since quite a few people have installed VS11, and probably more than a few probably also have a Canon still cameras using MJPEG (I do for instance) yet have not reported a similar problem, I suspect it may not be a VS problem.

Understood. Still, I'm reasonably confident that uninstalling VS11+ will "fix" the problem, just as uninstalling AVI2DVD did. But I hope it doesn't come to that.

When you say you did an online update, was that for a version of the camera which you know uses the MJPEG codec?

I ran the ArcSoft Visual Impressions software, which came with the original Canon S1 IS camera, and which I have used to work with the MJPEG AVI files this camera creates. I went to the Help...Update...menu option, and updated this application.

If you do a Google search for a freeware program called GSpot, that will give you information about the codecs on your computer, and tell you if it is broken.

Pretty cool utility! I downloaded and ran it, dropped in one of the files in question, and it shows the Motion JPEG Codec being used, and properly installed. No other flags apparent with this file.

Have you also tried a simple reinstall of WMP?

That's what I had in mind a few days ago, when I upgraded WMP from the version 10 I had to the current version 11. Wouldn't this address this, or would you suggest something different? I guess I'd have to uninstall WMP and reinstall via Control Panel to try this?

I genuinely appreciate your efforts to help, and hope we can get to the bottom of this.

Somehow, the fact that Quicktime can play these files, while WMP can't, seems to hint toward the ultimate source of the problem, but I can't quite see how yet.

Best,

Don Cohen
http://www.dlcphoto.com

DLCPhoto · Post by **DLCPhoto** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:37 am

One other piece of information from GSpot: When I check All Codecs and Filters, the only relevant warning is as follows:

- - ** Problem ** ** Missing file: C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\ULEADS~1\MPEG\MPEGacm.acm
- - Type ACM
- - Function Decoder
DSH 4CC Base
REG Driver File C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\ULEADS~1\MPEG\MPEGacm.acm

I don't know if it is at all related to the current issue, and suspect it likely isn't, but threw it in for completeness.

Thanks again.

Don

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:39 am

While GSpot can tell you about an individual file, it can also tell you about the codecs on your computer generally. That is really what I meant to suggest. However, if QT can play the files, then that suggests that the codec is there and is OK...

RE reinstalling WMP, I would simply install it again over the existing installation. Or you could go to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs and see if it has a Repair function. It may very well do so. So you could use that too.

DLCPhoto · Post by **DLCPhoto** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:54 am

Thanks, Ken.

There was no Repair option, so I'm downloading the install file for WMP 11, and will over-install.

Further info from GSpot:

Going down to the bottom left, Proposed Codec Solutions and Tests, clicking on the GSpot/Vid column, # 1:

[DivX Demux]...Status: not rendered yet. Use [2] to render
[AVI Splitter ]...Status: not rendered yet. Use [2] to render

Then clicking on GSpot/Vid/#2, the second of 3 lines shows:

Failed to connect Output pin 0x042978c4 ("Src Media") on MVI_0009.AVI to input pin 0x0429396c ("Stream") on filter 0x020ae2f4 ("DivX Demux"). ConnectDirect() failed. Error: 0x80040207:[unknown]

The 4th line is Video Render OK. Use [3] to play.

Clicking #3 then plays the file in the small window above.

Does this error message mean anything in this context, or give us any clues?

I'll repost after I reinstall WMP 11.

Thanks.

Don

DLCPhoto · Post by **DLCPhoto** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:05 am

Re-install of WMP 11 did not help, unfortunately, although not unexpectedly.

Any other thoughts or suggestions? I don't have the time/energy tonight, but I'm almost willing to wager some $$ that uninstalling VS11+ will fix the WMP issue I report here. But as I said, I hope it doesn't come to that, as I hope I'll be able to use this (I have a number of VHS and 8mm tapes that I need to digitize, edit, and burn to DVD to help preserve family memories).

Thanks.

Don

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 7:19 am

Do you have DivX on your system? Again, it is not a codec which comes natively with anything, but has to be downloaded from the DivX.com site and installed.

And I can't for the life of me see what it would have to do with your problem anyway... It is another format (really like highly compressed mpeg-4) which, like MJPEG, uses .avi as its wrapper extension.

But unless you inadvertently (not easy) chose some command in VS which sought to convert your MJPEG to DivX and there is something wrong with the latter codec, you might have ended up with a corrupt file which WMP would not be able to play. But then again, nothing else would be able to play it either...!

I am stumped...

EDIT: On reading back through this thread, I have only just noticed your message about the missing mpegacm.acm codec. You must have inserted it while I was typing the immediately following msg.

That in fact is the mpeg 1 layer 2 audio codec and if that is what your Canon uses for the audio component of the MJPEG, it could be the reason why WMP does not work (though it still does not explain why QT will play the files properly, I assume with audio).

My problem here is that I simply don't know which program installs the mpeg layer 2 codec. I did not think it was Video Studio, but could be wrong as it is a standard audio codec for DVDs (even if not actually part of the NTSC DVD standard...). And it would certainly imply that it was supposed to be part of the VS package if it is supposed to be in a VS folder. Certainly I have that file in my own C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ulead Systems\MPEG folder -- though it would not appear to have been installed by VS 11 as it is dated April 2006. Mind you, I have VS8, 9 and 10+ also installed on the same computer!

Look in that particular folder to see if you can find it. If not, then for some reason it did not install with the rest of VS11 trial version and a reinstall of VS11 might rectify that.

You might also want to consider sending me an email (see button below) with an email for yourself and I could send you my version of that file -- it is small, only 68 KB) to see if that makes any difference...

DLCPhoto · Post by **DLCPhoto** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 11:50 am

Thanks again, Ken.

I should have mentioned that I do have DivX on my system, and in fact through the course of this trouble-shooting, updated those files as well. I sometimes encode my DVD's to play them on my Palm TX, and have used DVD Decrypter and AutoGK, which have also installed some codecs on my system.

Regarding MPEGacm.acm: oddly enough, when I actually look in the folder referenced by GSpot, I do in fact find the file MPEGacm.acm. It is 60.8 kb, with a file date of April 17, 2006.

Perhaps this is a corrupt file? I'll go ahead and email you to try out your copy (I'll rename the current one so I can restore it if need be).

I've been trouble-shooting computer problems for many years, and even though I'm a 'newbie' with reference to video formats and programs, I'm still willing to lay down some $$ that VS11+ is somehow responsible for the current problem, although like you, I am mystified as to exactly how!

Will keep you posted.

Don

DLCPhoto · Post by **DLCPhoto** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 12:05 pm

Just sent the email.

I did use VS to convert one of the MJPG avi's to avi with DivX format. I use that for files I want to watch, at reduces resolution and file size, on my Palm TX. Oddly enough, though, the file that VS produced this way are perfectly watchable with WMP. And yes, Quicktime does play audio and video correctly on the MJPEG avi's in question.

Don

(BTW, video on the Palm TX is fantastic! Landscape viewing, 320x480 pixel resolution, 3.7" screen. Highly recommended and very unrecognized.)

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 1:55 pm

I think the file your looking at may not appear to be linked correctly so other programs outside of Ulead cannot use the codec to encode AC3 sound files. I think what you are seeing is normal. That file may only be accessible to the ulead application for encodeing AC3 audio.

I ususally don't use the WMP but recently have been creating HD-WMV files so WMP is a good choice for playing them back. On my system I had to go into the advanced options for the media player and tell it not to drop frames, also make other configuration changes.

WMP grabs the latest codec's registered to the system to playback files. You can change this through utility programs on the MS website. Also in the multi-media configuratiion device page that lists all these codecs.

This is the worst thing to deal with in a windows system. The programs codec's being registered with the system, shared among all the programs to use. It's 90% of computer crashes & problems when working with video/audio applications, not easy to fix or repair. It's also the reason why one states:
"I don't understand this, it worked last week and now it's not working".

DLCPhoto · Post by **DLCPhoto** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 7:31 pm

Some follow-up:

1. The file (MPEGacm.acm) that Ken sent me made no difference. No big surprise there, but worth a try.

2. I did some more focused googling, and found a number of others with the same precise problem, with the same file type (Motion Jpeg avi's). One occurred with a Samsung graphics program of some sort. The only fix there was uninstalling this app.

3. I agree with Ken and etech6355 that something is not 'registering' properly. I searched through the Windows Registry for entries related to MPEGacm.acm but couldn't find anything obviously wrong. One entry read:

C?\Program Files\Common Files\Ulead Systems\MPEG\MPEGACM.acm

where the ? instead of the : seemed out of place. But I found numerous nearby entries, for normally functioning programs, with similar syntax, so I don't think this is an error.

So I'm not sure where I go from here. I can open these files with Quicktime, although the main program I use to organize my images and video-files, is ThumbsPlus (http://www.cerious.com), and it's internal viewer for these AVI's gets effected by this same glitch, and isn't working either. I try to keep things simple for my wife and others in the family who view these files with ThumbsPlus, and I'd really like to restore the normal functionality there. I've tried numerous settings within ThumbsPlus to get it to use a different method if displaying, but haven't gotten anywhere yet.

Any other ideas or suggestions greatly appreciated.

DLCPhoto · Post by **DLCPhoto** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 10:58 pm

Also, is there any way of getting any "official" response from Ulead? This does seem to be a problem that the program is creating, so it seems the resolution should really come from them, rather than from Microsoft.