Sudden unexpected change - cannot import .avi files

johnmillspa · Post by **johnmillspa** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:23 pm

I have been using VS 11-plus successfully for a couple of years on my Windows XP laptop. For some reason, it suddenly will not allow me to use the .avi files created by my camera (Canon Powershot) The message is "Unable to open video file [img_422.avi]". (Msg # 17101:7:1) I have already tried uninstalling and reinstalling VS and the problem remains.
I can still open and use .wmv, .mpg, and .mp4 files.

Is there an error log I can check or is there any other information I can provide so you can help me?

Thanks,

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:28 pm

How are you capturing these files?

When is the last time you successfully used an avi file?

What has changed on your computer since that time (program updates, including windows?)?

Have you tried a System Restore to a point when all was well?

johnmillspa · Post by **johnmillspa** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:38 pm

As I said before, these files are created by my camera. They are saved on the hard drive and I want to open them to use them but cannot.

Nothing obvious has happened with my laptop - no problems or system crashes, etc.

I first noticed this avi problem a few weeks ago.

No, I haven't tried a system restore - as this is the only issue I have with the computer. I am using Windows XP 2002, Service Pack 3 and accept Windows systems updates as they are made available. Is there no application log or other way to determine what might be causing this problem? Is there other information I can provide you?

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:01 pm

johnmillspa wrote:As I said before, these files are created by my camera. They are saved on the hard drive and I want to open them to use them but cannot.
How do you get them from the camera to the computer?

Nothing obvious has happened with my laptop - no problems or system crashes, etc.
Yes there has. You mention below about Windows updates. Other programs update themselves also.

I first noticed this avi problem a few weeks ago.

No, I haven't tried a system restore - as this is the only issue I have with the computer. I am using Windows XP 2002, Service Pack 3 and accept Windows systems updates as they are made available. Is there no application log or other way to determine what might be causing this problem? Is there other information I can provide you?

The Powershot is a still camera that also records video. IMHO a still camera should be used for stills, a video camera for video.

With that said, your camera records video in the MOV (H.264) format. Have you applied the Update Pack for v11? It addresses some MOV/H.264 issues.

johnmillspa · Post by **johnmillspa** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:12 pm

The Powershot records files in the .avi format - not .mov files and it takes fantastic videos. I have used VS successfully for a couple of years to make videos out the .avi files created on this camera.

I just applied the patch you mentioned - no effect. What next?

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:36 pm

What model # is your Powershot? The one I saw used the MOV format.

What next?

You still have not said how you are capturing the files.

johnmillspa · Post by **johnmillspa** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:44 pm

It is a Powershot S3 IS (Image Stabilizer) and it writes .avi files as I have told you. These files are transferred to my PC and then I try to "open" them in the Edit mode of VS 11+ - that's when I get the error message. I am not capturing them using capture.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:00 pm

Once again, how are they "transferred"? USB, Firewire, or maybe pixie dust and the wave of a magic wand?

Also, AVI is a container format. The actual format your cam uses is Motion JPEG (MJEPG). Do you have a disc that might have come with your camera that might have the MJEPG codec on it? You might have to reinstall it. Better yet, did your camera come with software for transferring the video to your computer. If so, use that then import the files into VS.

skier-hughes · Post by **skier-hughes** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:18 pm

As Jeff says avi is a container and can contain over 800 different file types, but also as he says, yours according to the manual records mjpeg.

If you used to be able to use these files and now can't then something must have changed on your pc to disassociate the mjpeg codec with VS.

You may have removed a programme, or installed one.

System resotre back to when it was last working might be your best bet, or as Jeff says, try re-installing your canon software.

johnmillspa · Post by **johnmillspa** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 5:15 pm

Thank you for your help Graham. To answer Jeff's (very sarcastic) question, they are transferred to the PC by USB doing a direct copy. Not sure how that would matter since I have done that all along and I never had any trouble "opening" them in VS before. I will try looking to see if something has happened on this PC to disassociate mjpeg files with VS. I will also reinstall the camera's software and then try using it to import the files to the PC (instead of direct copy using USB.)

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 5:31 pm

It was a sarcastic question because my 3 previous attempts to get the answer were ignored. It worked - I got the answer.

And I was not sure it would matter, either. But without having all the facts all I can do is guess.

johnmillspa · Post by **johnmillspa** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 5:35 pm

Is this a "help" board or a "chat room"? I never ignored anything you said - your arrogance is very unprofessional - you cannot expect all your customers to be as knowledgeable as you are in video - you should try harder to help them understand what you are asking. To berate customers in this way is truly amazing and makes me wonder how important customer satisfaction is to Corel!

mitchell65 · Post by **mitchell65** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 5:50 pm

I feel I must jump in here to try to smooth the waters. To start with all of the members on this Board and I mean all, are volunteers. Noboby works for Corel or is paid anything by them. It is very difficult to help with these types of problems without having every possible bit of information. Sometime we the askers of questions cannot understand the relevance of some information but our Admin and moderators do not waste their valuable time and would not ask for information unless they thought it might help them give an answer. We are all asked to fill in the system we have but I see apart from the OS there is nothing to say what
johnmillspa's system is like. It might be state of the art of perhaps even a little out of date. We just don't know.
Finally this Board has an almost unique reputation for its helpful and friendly assistance. IMHO

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 6:15 pm

"How are you capturing these files?"
"How do you get them from the camera to the computer?"
"You still have not said how you are capturing the files."

You didn't ignore anything I said? Maybe not, but you didn't answer them either. If you didn't understand what I meant why didn't you say so? I am not a mind reader.

I'm sorry if you didn't understand these basic questions. I don't know how to put it in more simple terms.

johnmillspa · Post by **johnmillspa** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 6:26 pm

Thanks for the information - I didn't know you are all volunteers. (I guess that does answer for me how seriously Corel takes customer satisfaction

. I thank you for your time and totally understand you are probably constantly barraged with half-baked questions from people who haven't told you all the facts and whose systems you have no clue about. I appreciate that you all are working under difficult circumstances and I still hope someone can help me figure this problem out. That said, comments like those made by Jeff are unproductive and do not contribute to a reputation for a "friendly and helpful" board. For my part, I apologize if I have said anything that contributes to an unproductive dialog. Jeff has said "he cannot read my mind" and I understand that - neither can I read his - so when he asks something like "... how are you capturing these files" I didn't know exactly what he meant - VS has a "capture" mode for input from cameras, etc. and I thought that's what he meant by capture.