"cannot read video" error w/wmv file

[milnor]

I just installed VideoStudio9 for the first time. I'm trying to convert a non-DRM'd WMV I got off the web into an mpeg1 or mpeg2, and eventually perhaps to a DVD. But VideoStudio for some reason cannot process the file, and I'm too much of a newbie to understand why.

Background:

* The file I'm trying to convert was downloaded using WM recorder, from applian.com, latest version (10.1). The content is a boring city council meeting, from

http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/poi/defau ... 88;385;994;

I've tried a couple of different ones from there, they all seem to do this.

* The downloaded files play fine in Windows Media Player 10. I was able to convert them using two shareware converters (Boilsoft ASF converter and blaze Media Pro) but I wanted to try something with some more capabilites so I bought a copy of VS9. I've installed the retail version (boxed product from CompUSA). Before posting this I also applied the 8/12/05 update pack and verified that the problem still exists.

* The system I am using is WinXP Pro, completely up to date with Windows Update, including Media Player 10 and SP2. It is an Athlon XP 2200+ with 1.5GB of RAM.

* I've tried both using the wizard and using the editor. Using the editor, I use the following steps:

1. Open VS9 Editor.
2. File... Insert media file to timeline.... Insert Video...
3. Select wmv file and allow VS9 to insert. At this point VS9 becomes sluggish, but eventually it adds it to the timeline and recognizes the file and its length.
[[Note -- right-clicking on the clip and selecting properties, I get that the file is:

Windows Media Video
236,056 KB
5717.384 Seconds
32 kbps
Windows Media Video 9, 24 Bits, 320x240, 29.970 Frames/sec
Windows Media Audio 9, 32000 Hz, 16 Bits, Stereo
1.33:1.00
Is Editable: Yes
Copyright 2005 by the City of Gaithersburg.

Windows Media Player says that it is 273Kbps, and
the video codec is Windows Media Audio 9 8 kbps, 8 kHz, mono (A/V) 2-pass CBR]]

5. After adding the clip, I select the Share tab, and click on Create Video File. I select NTSC MPEG 1 (or MPEG 2, it doesn't matter). It gets to the point that it is trying to render the output, and I get an error. The title of the dialog box is "Create Video File", and the content is "cannot read video". Numbers included are 18300:8000:184 and 0xc00d0bcf.

* Pretty much the same thing happens when I try to do this conversion with the Movie Wizard.

* Also note that if I use one of the mpegs I created by converting these wmvs with Blaze Media Pro, VS9 seems to handle it just fine; I'm able to select, say, "NTSC DVD" as the output file type and it works fine.

Does anyone have a clue what could be wrong here?

Thanks.