Problems galore with DVDMF

[007thanos007]

The Setup:

After taking the time to go through a bunch of Internet Recommendations on various DVD burning/authoring programs, I finally decided that I would give DVD Movie Factory 7 a try for my recently-acquired and built Windows 7 (64-bit) OS.

I had been a long-time user of TMPG in the past, but their prices were not only much more expensive than what Corel was offering, but they also 'broke up' their programs into separate sections: pay one (high) price just for a program that would render files into DVD-capable format, then another (high) price for another program that would create a menu, burn the files to DVD, etc.

I purchased the software online; my own connection to the 'Net is both high-speed and reliable, so I had no fear or reservation about getting a corrupted file from Corel (and no, I still don't think that File Corruption is an issue here...not yet).

I installed the program, and tried to run it.....and while I enjoy the increased level of functionality and ease-of-use compared to the TMPG suite, I have had nothing but problems.

1. I get a Program Shutdown without any warning whatsoever, with a Completion Level from 12% to 31%.
2. ANY attempt on my part to Create A Menu will result in a "there may not be enough Disc Space to continue" Error Message. By the way, I get this Message no matter how little or how much space the DVD has left.
3. If I leave the Menu alone and don't touch it at all, then I don't get the aforementioned Message, but I still get the Program Crash.
4. As a Troubleshooting step, I first un-installed and then re-installed the Program. No difference.
5. As a Troubleshooting step, I cycled through several types of Compatibility Mode, in addition to simply allowing Windows 7 to run without Compatibility Mode. No difference.
6. As a Troubleshooting step, I installed an old copy of Nero that I possessed, just to make sure that the Burning Function of my DVD was working. It was.
7. As a Troubleshooting step, I completely un-installed and re-installed the Program, then FIRST installed the Service Packs as advised by other Thread in this Forum before running the Program again (looking for help and advice on the 'Net is what brought me here to see you guys in the first place). No change in program behavior.
8. As a Troubleshooting step, I followed the advice of one of the Threads here, and completely disabled the Menu Fade-In/Menu Fade-Out option. No difference.

I am truly, truly, truly, at my wit's end, and am so mad at the Corel Corporation right now that I can't see straight.

SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums...

Oh boy you're having a boat-load of problems. I know you're probably not going to like my response, however it's the most obvious cause. DVDMF 7 is not Windows 7 compatible without Service Pack 2. I'm always a little leery about programs that take a patch so it will run on the next operating system out. So when you uninstall and reinstalled and tried running it without the SP2, it most likely will crash or have other issues such as buttons not being displayed.

Also it appears that you have tried out several programs before coming to DVDMF 7. It may be that one of those left some things behind that is causing a major conflict. Try cleaning up your system, getting rid of all those prior files. You'd be surprised if you looked in the system registry just how much is left behind. For example Corel installs a folder in the Common Files, that has several other folders and files. These are shared between various Corel and formerly Ulead programs. When you uninstall one version, these are left alone. Reinstalling may or may not over-write these files. I recall one problem with the MPEG files in this folder, and the solution was to manually delete that folder after uninstalling the program. Then when the program was reinstalled, it re-created those files.

When you're getting the crashes, is it occurring at about the same place each time? This could be due to a problem with the type of video file being used, or a transition/effect. What are the properties of the video file(s) you're using? Where did your video file(s) originate? Have you tried with other video files, and if so are you getting the same results?

Video files may play in various media players, however when it comes to editing them, small corruptions in the video files will surface, and become big problems. That's why when see that a crash is occurring at a specific time, we start looking at what's happening around that time, and also try another file to see if it will still cause the crash.

[Ken Berry]

One other thing noticed by some users who have an i7 processor is that they need to disable hyperthreading in the BIOS before using X3/MF7. Sounds strange, I know, but there you go. Why it should be so, I have no idea. I realise also that it is not really an acceptable thing to have to completely reboot if you want hyperthreading active again. But nevertheless you might want to try it to see if it helps.

Whether it is specific only to Corel, again I don't know. All I can say in Corel's defence -- and I don't work for them!! -- is that X3 came out before the i7 came on the scene and so, clearly wasn't written with the i7 in mind; and as Ron has already pointed out, MF 7 came out well before Win 7, let alone the i7...

[007thanos007]

Thank you both for your help and information; I will try out the various Troubleshooting Steps laid out by the both of you.

Yes......up to and including disabling HyperThreading, if I really must.

I will say in parting, though, that as I stated in my OP, I already did install both Service Packs (I was even careful enough to first install SP1 before SP2 just as they asked), and that I should have said in my OP that I tried to perform the tasks with both an .AVI and a Mpeg (NTSC) file that I still have on my hard drive back from when I created it with TMPG on my old Vista machine.


Well......here goes nothing!!


(EDIT/P.S. Just as another Troubleshooting step, at some point I will uninstall the Corel Version that I purchased over the 'net, and see what happens if I try to run the Trial Version that I just downloaded from their site. Although, in that case, I'm not yet sure whether or not it will allow me to install the Service Packs/Patches.)

[Ken Berry]

Although, in that case, I'm not yet sure whether or not it will allow me to install the Service Packs/Patches.

I'm afraid it won't...