VS8 is making me bald thanks to mcmpgdec.dll problem

[technudge]

I've been running VS8 since it showed up (and 7, and 6, and 5, etc., before that) and never had a problem before. Now, suddenly I can't get rid of one. I put this system (winXP SP2 all updates current, Pentium 640, 1.5GB, multiple HDs, KV8 Se Deluxe MB, nVida GeForce Fx5700 Ultra) on the shelf about a month ago while I built another system. Everything was working fine. I've rendered 100's of video clips with it.

Put it back in service last week. Rendered a video clip using the same parameters as the original file and things worked fine. Tried to render the same clip but with different video data and audio bit rates and, somewhere around 20% done, VS8 stops dead. Under details it shows mcmpgdec.dll as the problem point.

I've removed and re-installed VS8 several times (updated it with the last updates Ulead offers but that makes no difference except for the named file), deleted hidden files, cleaned the registry with System mechanic, scanned and defragged drives, crossed my fingers, and done everything short of chanting while waving a dead chicken over my head and hopping on one foot. It always ends the same.

Any clues? If I keep pulling my hair out I'll clog my keyboard for sure. (If I install the same package on the other system it works fine all the time!) It must be something I've done, but I have no idea where to begin beyond where I've ended. Thanks.

[Ron P.]

Hi technudge,

mcmpgdec.dll is one of Ulead's Proprietary drivers, and should be located in C:\Program Files>Common Files>Ulead Systems>MPEG folder.

What is VS8's error message relating to this driver? Does it say it is missing or corrupt, or one of Ulead's notorious " such and such has a problem"...?

First navigate to that folder, or just do a search on your computer for it, to see if it is there. If it is there, then it might be corrupt. Apparently VS thinks there's a problem with it.

Do you have VS8 on a CD? If so you might try to locate that file on the CD and copy it over to the above directory. You might have to extract or unpack the install file into a folder on your HDD to find it. This can be done using WinRar.

Just looking at the location of this demon .dll file, brings the question to mind, What other Ulead programs do you have installed? This may not be VS8, but another one that is actually causing the problem, such as a DVD authoring program. Ulead products will share resources, so maybe reinstalling VS8 just doesn't allow that DLL to be overrighten. Just another thought and possibilty..

Edit Just thought of a way to test the above...
Navigate to the DLL file (if it is there). Copy it to somewhere else where you can find it. Then, after copying, not before delete it. Then I know you don't want to hear this, but....do another clean reinstall to see if that might replace the DLL and fix it. After reinstalling go back to the MPEG folder to see if the DLL file has been replaced. If not you have the back up to copy back to where it's suppose to be.

Short of that you will probably have to contact Ulead...

[technudge]

Sorry to say (and you have no idea how sorry), been there, done that. In fact, I even pulled a copy of the file off of a system on which it was working and transplanted it. No deal. Off to Ulead. Thanks for the attempt. I appreciate it.