MF5 - Cannot create 'New Project'

bonsai · Post by **bonsai** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:33 am

Hello. I apologize in advance for the intrusion, but I am stumped. I have searched these forums for the last 4 hours for any indication of an answer to my problem to no avail. I have updated my profile with my system information and read all the 'read me first posts' as well as done several post searches. No joy, so here I am. I want to thank you in advance for any assistance you give.

I own DVD MovieFactory 5. When I downloaded it via DigitalRiver, it was (is) a Full/TBYB version and there is an associated license key (which I still have a record of) in order to unlock the product.

Some time back I installed DMF5 and was quite happy with it. I cut many DVDs and the wifely unit was pleased. Life was good. Time passed. Last night I fired up the launcher (DMFLauncher.exe), clicked on 'New Project', under 'Create A Video Disc' the radio button 'DVD' was chosen (as desired). I clicked the 'OK' button and then ... my HDD thrashes for 15 to 20 seconds and I'm taken back to the initial launcher screen.

No matter what I do, I cannot figure out how to get past this so I can create a new project. I have uninstalled and reinstalled several times, even doing a search on this forum and coming up with the recommended way of uninstalling, then removing folders and deleting registry entries, then rebooting and reinstalling. Still no good.

I should say at this point that I have had no other indication of problem with my computer. Everything else is fine. I said above that after hitting the 'OK' button my HDD thrashes for 15 seconds or so, but I want to make it clear that by using the word 'thrash' I did not mean to indicate that it seemed unusual, just that there was no positive result from the normal startup routine that any program goes through.

One thing that has stood out to me, though, in doing the re-installations is that I cannot figure out how to associate the license key with the product. Most software requires you to enter the license key as part of the installation, but I saw no such thing with this installation so I am wondering if it thinks I had a 30 day trial and now it's up. That'd be fine if I had a way to insert the key and keep on keeping on, but I am unable to find a way to do this.

I will add that if, from the launcher initial screen, I click Preferences > About Ulead MovieFactory, I see a screen that indicates the version (Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5.0.0189.0 TBYB), but there is no license key information listed on this page. Another indication, perhaps, that it is a license issue?

I'm actually fairly competent in most things re: computers, but this has me completely at a loss. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated and if I have missed some obvious post about this subject which will fix the problem, I apologise in advance.

Thanks.

asjr_4584 · Post by **asjr_4584** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:10 am

Hi, could you confirm if you purchased the license key to have a full access on TBYB? As far as I know, TBYB doesn¡¦t include license key upon downloading and you can use it for 30 days without putting the license key. The software will be disabled after 30 days of usage unless you have purchased a license key and applied to that software.

Velojet · Post by **Velojet** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:06 am

bonsai wrote:I will add that if, from the launcher initial screen, I click Preferences > About Ulead MovieFactory, I see a screen that indicates the version (Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5.0.0189.0 TBYB), but there is no license key information listed on this page. Another indication, perhaps, that it is a license issue?

Yes, that certainly does point to its being a licence issue. The 'TBYB' should not appear after the version number, and below it, there should appear your serial number - which I gather does not appear on your screen?

Yet it does seem that you purchased the full version if you obtained a licence key from DigitalRiver.

When you first installed it, did you enter the licence key? Can you say whether the launcher Preferences > About Ulead MovieFactory window then displayed the serial number?

Also, did you download and install the TBYB version before purchasing the full version? If so, did you keep the TBYB installation file and are now perhaps (in all innocence!) trying to reinstall from that rather than from the file/s downloaded after your purchase from DigitalRiver? (I'm just a little puzzled that you talk of that as the "Full/TBYB version" - it's either one or the other - it can't be both in the same package.)

bonsai · Post by **bonsai** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 1:30 pm

I've included bits from two different emails from element5 (DigitalRiver) below, x'ing out the parts that would make it reveal too much. Both make reference to "Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5 (Full/TBYB) - English" (bold is my emphasis) and there is a charge of USD 49.99, so I sure hope they sold me a full license. Did I enter the license key when I originally installed the software? I cannot say as we have a saying here in the South - "I've slept since then". I can say that I used the software for more than a month without problems. When I uninstalled and reinstalled, as I said, there was no option presented to enter a key. The launcher Preferences > About Ulead MovieFactory window does not display the serial number. I probably did download and install the TYBY version before buying the full version, but I honestly do not remember. In any case, it is fairly clear that they sold me a version with TBYB in the title. I have a copy of the full version that was sold to me in a file on my hard drive. I would not have saved the free download file. I can say that with a fair amount of certainty just because I know how I work, plus the emails seem to confirm the same.

So, in your opinion, am I just out of luck here? Do I have to pony up another 49.99 or maybe I can get some assistance out of Ulead/Corel? Any other thoughts?

Again, thanks in advance for your help. It is truly appreciated.

__________

From: Order Information - element 5 [mailto:notification-eng@element5.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 1:31 AM
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@yahoo.com
Subject: Credit Card Billing Reminder for "Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5 (Full/TBYB) - English"

Dear Mr. Xxxxxxxxxxx,

This e-mail is not a new bill; it is meant to help you to identify the charge that will appear on your credit card statement shortly.

On 07-NOV-2006 you purchased the following product from Ulead Systems, Inc. via element 5 and paid by credit card:
Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5 (Full/TBYB) - English

The order stored in our system under the order no. xxxxxxxx was paid with your MasterCard card. The total amount of the order is USD 49.99.

__________

-----Original Message-----
From: Order Information - element 5 [mailto:notification-eng@element5.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2006 12:58 AM
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@yahoo.com
Subject: Download link and license key for Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5 (Full/TBYB) - English (element 5 order no. xxxxxxxx)

****************************************************************************
element 5 Order number: xxxxxxxx
****************************************************************************
This e-mail was generated by a mail handling system. Please do not reply
to the address listed in the "From" field.
Please read the CUSTOMER SERVICE section for answers to your questions.
****************************************************************************

We recommend that you make a backup copy of this e-mail (e.g. print out a hard copy).

Dear Mr. Xxxxxxxxxx,

Thank you for placing an order with element 5.

****************************************************************************
Contents:

A. Brief information on product delivery
B. Details for product delivery for Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5
(Full/TBYB) - English
C. Technical Support
D. Customer service

__________

Velojet · Post by **Velojet** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:39 pm

Now this is certainly curious. My own purchase notification email is almost identical, except that it says "On 30-AUG-2006 you purchased the following product by Ulead Systems, Inc. from element 5 and paid by credit card: Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5 (Full/Download) - English" (my bolding). A follow-up download notification email says "Contents:
A. Brief information on product delivery
B. Details for product delivery for Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5
(Full/Download) - English" (my bolding)

Surely you don't have to pony up another $49.99 - certainly try Corel/Ulead support (though from my and others' experiences, you shouldn't expect too much or too soon). I hope some other member will come in here with greater help than I can offer.

bonsai · Post by **bonsai** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 1:44 am

Well, I still couldn't figure out the answer to my problem on my own so I broke down on August 25th and submitted an official support ticket. After trading emails with a support rep and then badgering him to follow through, I finally received an email with download links today ... one month after submitting my support request. I am at least temporarily optimistic that I may be about to resolve my issue, but I am appalled at how long it takes a paying customer to get an answer when something goes awry. I am appalled, but not surprised. It seems more companies are going to this model of 'support'.

I'll let you know in a few days how things are going.

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 6:09 am

It seems more companies are going to this model of 'support'.

Not all companies.
Make sure to download & install the patch updates to MF5, they are important to download & install.

bonsai · Post by **bonsai** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:24 pm

Thank you, I installed the patch update, too.

I've successfully burned a DVD. Other than the turnaround time and having to badger them (I followed up once a week), Corel did the right thing. One month beginning to end.

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:53 pm

That's good. Make sure to burn the software & the serial number to a CD for backup. The links they provide expire after a preset time.

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