how to upgrade from VideoStudio X3 to X4?

[ajfudge]

Hi. I'm a newbie here.
I know this question may seem so silly.
I was in the middle of installing VideoStudio X4, but then I noticed that it's not going to replace VideoStudio X3 that was currently installed on my system. My initial thought regarding X4 not replacing X3 is I will have two copies of VideoStudio both the X3 and X4. So I canceled the installation process because that would eat my disk space, and I don't want to mess up with my X3 (and its registy) yet before I clarify some things. I also thought that by installing X4 and replacing the X3 files, X4 will take over what X3 has left off with.

So now I'm a little confused and I decided to ask someone about this so I can weigh my options before I decide if I really really want to upgrade so badly.

So my questions are:
1) Do I have to uninstall VideoStudio X3 first, before I install X4?
2) If I uninstall VideoStudio X3, will it mean wiping out the files that I included in the library?
3) I will be using the trial version of X4 first, so I can decide if I want to upgrade. Assuming that I didn't want the upgrade and I decide to switch back to X3, will that mean re-installing X3 and re-setting my preferences? Also, will it function well? Because I'm under the impression that X3 and X4 uses the same registry keys, dll files, etc.

I cannot find answers on the Corel site.
So I hope someone would give me an insight.
Thank you.

[BrianCee]

I would first comment that there is no way that I would un-install a working programme (X3) to install a trial version - I would wait until I had tested the trial completely before and IF I removed the previous version - and if you are worried about the amount of disc space being used by installing VideoStudio X4 you are very soon going to run into problems editing videos - even a relatively short video will eat up more of your disc space than the VS programme does.

Installing X4 does not automatically un-install previous versions - a very good thing to my mind - if you really want to remove X3 then you must do it yourself manually.

BEFORE you uninstall X3 use the Save/Export library function to save your libraries to a safe place so that you can import them to X4 or back into X3

If you do not like X4 (and why would you not like it - it is X3 with enhancements) - then you will have to uninstall X4 and re-install X3 - reload your libraries - but there are some settings you will have to put in again manually.

I really would urge you though NOT to unistall X3 at all - just trial X4 and if you like it buy the upgrade and install that and have both X3 and X4 both working on your computer - many of us have 4 or 5 previous versions on our computers - all working well.

[ajfudge]

all right. thank you sir for a good advise. I'm going to do exactly what you instructed.
I really don't have big a worry about rendering and saving a project (along with the library) because I use a different disk with sufficient space. It's just the C drive that I'm going to re-partition and all.

So here's what I'm gonna do now:
1. take care of my library.
2) install VideoStudio X4
3) leave X3 alone.

I guess I just needed someone's affirmation me on this. So thank you sir. You've been helpful.


By the way, is there anything else I should do?
I'd be organizing and cleaning and exporting my library so I'd wait for a response if I'm forgetting anything.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Just to add to Brian’s reply.

When working with X4 you save a project as a VSP, just the same as working with any Video Studio version. This project will not open in X3

You can however save the project to be compatible with X3.
From the “Save As” window select the Save as Type to be X3.
I usually indicate this by adding X3 to the projects file name.

This feature is useful if your trial period is running out and you wish to complete the project using X3.

[ajfudge]

Hi trevor.
Thanks for that tip.
I'll keep that in mind.