DVD Workshop 2 closing randomly

[davesnapeuk]

I have been trying to create a menu page for a DVD.
I add the mpeg files created in MSP8 (although I can recreate the problem without any MPEGs having been selected and by going straight to the menu edit screen).
Import a new image for my background into the images list
Drag the image to my menu screen
Add a couple of items of text which will later be linked to mpegs
After an apparent number of random text creations/edits, the whole program closes down without warning. Sometimes it's after I've added text, clicked on it, changed the font size/face etc. Other crashes ocur when I have added a few items of text to the menu and then select one to edit.

The program closes without warning, occasionally it generates a windows exception fault, but 90% of the time it closes, corruting my saved project on the way.
When an exception fault occurs the eventvwr reports errors in things like textnode.dll, ntdll.dll, ole32.dll.

I am running Windows XP Professional, SP2 and all service packs, critical updates etc.

I have also noticed that when saving the project the proress bar pauses at 80% every time. One at least 2 occasions, whilst paused at 80% the program has closed down.

[DarrenD]

Funnily enough DVDWS crashed on me with no warning earlier, losing an hours work (there is no auto-save in DVDWS as there is in MSP, or is there?). There was a ~tempdvdws.dws (I think that was the name) in the same folder as my project. I loaded it in to DVDWS thinking it was an auto-save, but it was corrupted like yours.

I looked at task manager and noticed that the peak memory was very close to my max RAM+swap file. I assume Windows ran out of memory. Have a look at your swap file size. I have now made mine 2Gb over 2 drives.

When I save projects it always pauses at 80% so I guess it is just how DVDWS works out percentages of the save.

Anyway, have a look at the swap file. It might not be the solution but I happened on it by chance on my machine tonight.

[davesnapeuk]

I'll be slightly disappointed with Ulead programming if a program requires that much pagefile to manipulate a project with nothing except a 200k background image and a few bits of text.

I have 1GB RAM and pagefile set to a minimum of 1.5GB = 2.5GB available. When mine crashed I had 508MB available RAM and pagefile virtually untouched although I will keep an eye on this next time.

[DarrenD]

So it's not swap file then...sorry I can't be more help

[davesnapeuk]

I may be getting somewhere with this problem.

I've just managed to frig around with a new menu with 4 MPEGs in the project (1.1GB) for around 10 minutes without a crash.

The difference? I didn't insert a background image so worked on a clear black background.
Having checked the properties of the image file I was using it is a 1024 x 768 image - surely DW2 should be able to cope with an image that's not the same size as the project?

Has anyone else tried to use a non-PAL size of image in a PAL based project?

[DarrenD]

I remember on the Ulead website that they suggest images are 768x576 (even in NTSC-land). What happens if you resize your 1024x768 down to 768x576 in a photo editor (e.g. PhotoImpact) and use that?

[davesnapeuk]

I have resized the image and attempted to create a menu.
The application crashed after adding the 2nd piece of text on the menu screen and then clicking on the background.

I have also received a reply from Ulead tech support who suggested a reinstallation. I have performed this in line with their guidelines but all to no avail.

This time an error was logged in the application log.
Faulting application dvdws.exe, version 2.0.0.2, faulting module riched20.dll, version 5.30.23.1221, fault address 0x0002c8cb.

[skier-hughes]

I had terrible problems with WS2 crashing when I was doing a menu. I treied all sorts to fighure it out, including a re-install.
I then found that I had nero left on my system. I use it for burning data dvds, but have so much trouble with it crashing I use system restore before installing it, use it and system restore back again.
My Son had used my pc and I'd put nero on for him to use, and forgotten to take it off.
System restore back to pre nero, it worked perfectly again.

Now why it was nero, who knows, but have you perhaps recently installed something else which may be interfering with WS?

[Devil]

Yes, both Nero and Roxio do cause problems. Been there, done that. I would have neither on any of my computers.

[davesnapeuk]

Thanks for the pointers Graham. It's good to know that someone else has at least had similar problems!

I'll try the nero theory when I get home. Here's hoping!