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Hi All
Your brilliant fault finding skills are required again please. Ive tried searching through the forum but could find this problem. (forgive me if Ive missed it).

I am having problems creating video files.
I have previous created a number of project with no problems but now the project either locks up or it skips trough the rendering process when trying to create the Video File. I.e for a 10min clip it will jump from 1% to 35% then to 60% then 90% then either freezes for a few sec or if I'm lucky it will play the sound of the project with a few static scenes. If not I'll have to do Alt + ctr+ del and end VS10 session.
Not sure if this has anything to do with it but my problem started after I burnt a 50min DVD in 16:9 (but as the project didn't fill my widescreen TV properly) I've then tried to burn another project in 4:3. (I wouldn't have thought this had anything to do with it) .

Over the past few days Ive tried tried opening other projects and clicked on Create Video file but its still the same it just freezes. Is there anything like a simple refresh button, or clearing the cookies or unwanted files in VS10?

As said I've burnt several projects using the same equipment but I am coping from a: Sony mini/DV camera into Ulead VideoStudio 10.0.
I dont want to reinstall VS10 as Ive got about 2hrs worth of edited video complete with sound / image effects, chapters points you name it, just waiting to burn.

An example of one of my projects is:

PAL (25 fps)
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-PAL), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

I've always kept my projects on an external Hard drive (just in case I run out of working space).

I am in London, England.
The PC I am using is a: HP Pavilion Intel(R)
Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz, 1GB of RAM

MS Windows XP
Home Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 2

Can anyone help?
Douglas

And can we assume that your output properties match your project properties?

Updating to the latest MS DirectX seems to solve a host of problems. Worth a shot.

Can you also confirm that you capture from your Sony mini-DV camera in DV format via firewire, then do your edits, then (when you say you are creating your video file) are you converting the edited DV to DVD-compatible mpeg-2?

Apart from Black Lab's suggestion about DirectX, my only other thought might ruffle Black Lab's ruff a little, but my own experience with using an external hard drive was mixed, and I sometimes had write problems related to the cache on the external disk. This was when I was in fact using Firewire external disks. I can't say that I have any such problems with USB external disks -- and IIRC Black Lab uses them all the time successfully -- but it is something that might also be worth checking if the DirectX update doesn't correct things.

By the way, the current update is dated August 2008 and can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en
Note that it updates both DirectX 9.0c (XP) and 10 (Vista). The number of your DirectX installation will not change, but the patch gives extra functionality in a number of areas and corrects other faults in VS which appear linked to Windows updates.

Note that DirectX is not included in the usual pattern of Windows automatic updates. It has to be done every so often by the user manually. So unless you have recently done this, you are probably still using the original, non-updated version of DirectX which came with your computer.

I'll let it slide this time Ken.

[Woof!][Lick!]

The problem with external hard drives.

For quite some considerable time I had problems with external hard drives
- both USB and Firewire and at that time I advised against their use.
Other forum members stated they used the drives without problem.

I made extensive research on the internet to establish what the problem was that I had which others did not. Eventually I found the reason - it is a manufacturing issue affecting older computers.

When the USB specification was first brought out it was not made very clear to manufacturers what the exact specifications were - sort of lack of communication between hardware manufacturers of the computer industry.
Thus some motherboard manufacturers "got it right" whilst others did not.

The "Fix" for anyone who has an older computer motherboard and is having problems with external USB drives is to get a PCI - USB card.
You will then find that these problems will go away and you should be able to enjoy the massive external storage facilities now on offer.

More up to date computers will not have this problem.

I rest my case!

Thanks for your advice guys, but I'm afraid I am still in the same position.
Black Lab/ Ken
I've downloaded the latest MS DirectX but it didn't make any difference.

Ken
I have captured from a Sony mini-DV camera in DV format via firewire, then edited, then (after your recommendations a few months ago on another problem) I've been converting the edited DV to DVD-compatible mpeg-2.
As usual on other successful projects, I've broken down my 1:30hr project into 10 to 15 mins chunks, (or sections) and I'm trying to convert these to Video file before burning.

I click Share, then select > Create Video File, I've done this umpteen times now using the same external hard drive with no problems before.
But for some reason its now hanging or just skipping or racing through the rendering process. When I play back the video file most of the scenes are missing or it just doesn't play.

sjj1805
I see what you are saying but I've been using the same equipment for the past few months and everything was working fine until now.
PS: my PC is about 3 and a bit years old.

I've even taken the chance and removed and reinstalled VS10, I've also deleted some of my older completed project from my C: and external drives to free up some memory. I now have 33.5 GB on my PC with 235 GB on my external drive this should be ok shouldn't it?

Any other ideas guys?
Douglas

Ps. Now........ I just thought "what the heck" I'll try burning my project to disc as it is. But for the 3rd time after about 10 mins of creating chapters an menus, VS just keeps crashing out / shutdown on me. It has ocasionally done this before but not all the time like this.

I've had enough!
I'm going to bed!
It might behave in the morning.