Powerdirector 9 Ultra 64 freezes when importing .m2ts HD files/runs sluggishly

Garytravlr

Newbie Joined: Jun 15, 2011 01:01 Messages: 21 Offline

Solved by

Jun 15, 2011 04:25

Hello,
I am new on this forum and a new owner of the Powerdirector 9 Ultra 64 program. I have had it now for 2 weeks and cannot get it to work properly.
When I try to import a HD video file of type .m2ts, the PD program freezes and I have to forcefully shut the program down. Sometimes a file actually imports. But if it does, it does not play back properly in the preview screen. The preview screen stays a green color and the video's sound stutters along, starting and stopping.

My PD 9 version is 9.0.0.2316
My computer is a brand new Dell Laptop Latitude Series E6420
Video Card NVidia 4200M with the latest drivers (I checked NVidia's website for this)
4GB RAM
Intel Chip Core i5-2520M CPU @ 2.50 GHz
Windows 7 64 bit operating system

Attached is the DXdiag.txt document named GarytravlrDxdiag.txt that (I believe) has both the 64 bit and 32 bit info.

Steps I do that create the problem:
1. In the main screen, in EDIT mode
2. Click the little yellow folder in the upper left hand corner and choose to IMPORT MEDIA FILES
3. Choose my video file of the .m2ts format (an AVCHD file from a HD Panasonic Camcorder model HDC-SD60)
4. The program then freezes. A pop up box appears with a blue line progress bar that says "Importing Media" and shows 100%, but it doesn't ever close. I then have to shut down the program from the Task Manager.
5. Or, sometimes a video file goes in, but the does not play properly in the video preview screen. No picture at all in the video preview screen (the screen stays green) and the sound stutters and hesitates as the video "plays"

I have re-installed the downloaded version 3 times. The Cyberlink Online Tech Support sent me the latest version of the downloaded program along with a large file called PD9ContentsPack, which I also installed.

Otherwise, the Cyberlink Support has been almost useless in there seems to be only 1 guy there who doesn't respond for days on end, and does not seem to really be addressing the issue at hand--I am not even sure if he is reading my support ticket as he suggests things completely irrelevant to the problem.

I looked at a similar problem on this board from a user at the beginning of this year. His problem was with .mts files and was resolved by an upgraded video card. I don't think that applies in my case though.

Any help and guidance would be appreciated. I am dead in the water now and have no confidence that the Online Cyberlink Support will ever actually help me.

Thanks and Sincerely
Gary

Filename	GarytravlrDxDiag.txt	Download
Description	DXdiag.txt file
Filesize	42 Kbytes
Downloaded:	1368 time(s)

ynotfish

Senior Contributor Location: N.S.W. Australia Joined: May 08, 2009 02:06 Messages: 9977 Online

Jun 15, 2011 04:57

Hi Gary -

I'm not sure why your DxDiag shows your display device as "Intel(R) HD Graphics Family". The NVIDIA NVS 4200M is listed under System Devices. That's probably just my lack of experience with reading laptop reports. Perhaps FredB or one of our other tech guys could explain.

Anyway - the latest driver for the NVS 4200M is here http://www.nvidia.com/object/notebook-win7-winvista-64bit-275.33-whql-driver.html (released 1.6.2011)

Here's your card up against some of the big guns http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=NVS+4200M

Still - that doesn't, in any way, explain why PD is giving up before it's even finished importing your .mts files.

Cheers for now - if anything else strikes me, I'll jump back in.

Tony
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floridagator

Newbie Location: Florida Joined: Nov 23, 2010 07:27 Messages: 26 Offline

Jun 15, 2011 06:05

There have been some problems with importing to other programs with this camera. Read this article.

http://www.extensoft.com/?post_id=156117&p=forum_post&forum_id=3 Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
AMD Phenom ll X4 Processor 3.2ghz (4 CPUs)
ATI Radeon HD5670 1gb
8.00 gb Memory

vn800rider

Senior Contributor Location: Darwen, UK Joined: May 15, 2008 04:32 Messages: 1949 Offline

Jun 15, 2011 06:19

Can't offer any help but this thread relates to the Optimus technology used by the Dell :

http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/17598.page#89472

Cheers
Adrian Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. (see below)
Confucius
AMD Phenom IIX6 1055T, win10, 5 internal drives, 7 usb drives, struggling power supply.

Garytravlr

Newbie Joined: Jun 15, 2011 01:01 Messages: 21 Offline

Jun 15, 2011 07:22

I appreciate the initial feedback from each of you above. Some comments:
Tony: It appears my video card is a POS compared to other top models. I re-checked my driver, too. According to the NVidia site diagnostic too (checks your PC to see if a driver update is needed), no driver update for mine is needed at this time.
Thanks for the information.

Floridagator: The link to the bulletin board re the problems with the files from my camcorder might be helpful. At the least, I can use the AVCHD mts/m2ts converter mentioned to make my files mpg4, which are easier to work with. However, my PD9 program freezes even when importing a mpg video file (converted to mpg by the Panasonic supplied edit software that came with the Camcorder. This software though does not work with Win 7 64 bit system though--which is why I got the PD9) It is worth trying this converter though and then seeing if the PD9 will work importing the converted file.
Thanks for the feedback.

Adrian: I am stuck with the Optimus technology. Can't disable it in the event that this is the problem. I might give Dell Support a call to see if they know anything about this type of issue.
Thanks again each of you for your thoughts.
Gary

vn800rider

Senior Contributor Location: Darwen, UK Joined: May 15, 2008 04:32 Messages: 1949 Offline

Jun 15, 2011 07:45

Some added info here :

http://3dvision-blog.com/nvidia-optimus-technology-and-3d-vision-dont-go-well-together/

and the NVIDIA Optimus forum is here :
http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showforum=211

Cheers
Adrian Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. (see below)
Confucius
AMD Phenom IIX6 1055T, win10, 5 internal drives, 7 usb drives, struggling power supply.

Garytravlr

Newbie Joined: Jun 15, 2011 01:01 Messages: 21 Offline

Jun 15, 2011 08:40

It works now!
Adrian: Your last link on the Optimus Technology provided the clue to the answer

.
I went into my NVidia Control Panel and set as default to use the NVidia Processor with the PD9. The Global Setting was for the choice to be made automatically, which doesn't work very well, as the info in the links you provided amply attested.

The videos import immediately now and play without stuttering. The final adjustment involved the color scheme. The videos played back in a darkish purple hue. So, adjusting the color settings brings the color to "normal". I can tell what normal is by looking at photos I took of the same events as the video.

Thanks again Adrian for posting this. And I appreciate the time and attention that you gave Tony and Floridagator.

Amazing, after two weeks of goofing around with that useless Cybertech online support, I got an answer here in 4 hours.
Cheers
Gary

Garytravlr

Newbie Joined: Jun 15, 2011 01:01 Messages: 21 Offline

Jun 15, 2011 08:58

Update comment: There does still seem to be a limitation though to my fixed PD9 situation. The import function works properly when I import 1 file at a time (it seems of any size, small or large). But when I try to import a folder, or even just several files, the program still locks up.

Oh well. Probably not that big of a deal. I can just import files one at a time, I guess. At least it works overall now.
Thanks again for the aid.

Garytravlr

Newbie Joined: Jun 15, 2011 01:01 Messages: 21 Offline

Jun 15, 2011 09:54

Now it is freezing again. I guess I spoke too soon. I tried importing my whole folder full of video files and it froze and had to be shut down. It now only randomly works. Sometimes I can import a few individual files ok, but then after a few imports, it freezes. File size does not matter.

I think the problem is definitely related to my video card. But, I have what may sound like a stupid question. But, is there something that might be "clogging" up the program? Does the PD program reach a certain point where there is too much data in it? My PD9 program is newly installed, for the 3rd time earlier today, so I can't see how it can be "storing" data in some hidden way except through Projects that I have saved. Which for now, is none.

Thanks again. I am about ready to give up and request a refund unless somebody has some ideas. Or I guess I can get a new video card.

Garytravlr

Newbie Joined: Jun 15, 2011 01:01 Messages: 21 Offline

Jun 15, 2011 11:34

Latest update: I called Dell Support. They had me go into the Bios of my laptop and disable the Optimus technology. This worked better than my doing it in the NVidia Control Panel as I mentioned doing earlier.

I don't want to declare victory yet, as I was proven false earlier when I thought the problem was resolved. But, for now, it does appear to be working correctly. I imported a number of files into my the PD, was able to do various cursory functions with them. I even imported multiple files at once.

Tomorrow, I'll try some real editing after I learn how to use this thing. If it works properly with no more freezing, I'll post an update to this thread hopefully confirming the problem is indeed solved.

FredB

Senior Contributor Joined: Sep 15, 2008 21:14 Messages: 1317 Offline

Jun 15, 2011 12:19

Garytravlr;

..is there something that might be "clogging" up the program? Does the PD program reach a certain point where there is too much data in it?

.
PD9 has never had an issue with "clogging up" for me...once I got the hardware platform right for running it, that is. Please go to Nvidia and make sure you are loading the newest drivers for your card (use the link Tony provided above). Install it on top of your existing drivers, as this will allow you to "rollback" if needed. NVIDIA has reported some issues with the 275.33 drivers, but they appear to be the most current for your GPU. Be aware that there is a note on the drivers that:
"Notebooks supporting Hybrid Power technology with Intel chipsets are not supported by this release."

My PD 9 version is 9.0.0.2316

Have you installed the newest build? This will help some of the issues you described above. Do this before considering the video card driver updates.
http://www.cyberlink.com/downloads/support/powerdirector/patches_en_US.html

Thanks for keeping this thread updated. It is great to hear from the actual USERS of a new technology. Optimus (like 64bit PD9) is new and has some "hiccups"...like I have to tell you!!

The idea of two video GPUs (to control heat and battery life) is certainly interesting, but it is clear that some "catch-up" has to occur for it to work in all cases. I would suggest that NVIDIA is the one who can solve this issue the quickest. THEY are the ones that control which applications use it, and when the card can be configured to kick in. Of course, there might be some way that PD9 has to "programmatically" notify the technology, but only they can say for sure so a ticket to them might be beneficial at some point.

If you disable the tech (as recommended by Dell), does the Nvidia card show in DXDIAG? and...does it actually get used?? I for one, am very interested in your outcome. Regardless, I hope that this helped PD9 work for you. Sounds like another case of the USERS having to troubleshoot the technology, but WHAT ELSE IS NEW!! Good Luck!

This message was edited 8 times. Last update was at Jun 15. 2011 13:17

Garytravlr

Newbie Joined: Jun 15, 2011 01:01 Messages: 21 Offline

Jun 15, 2011 22:03

Thanks for the comments FredB: I have already checked the NVidia site, and used their online PC scanner to check for driver updates. It says that no update is needed for my driver at this time. The driver I have is dated Feb 2011. A more current one is dated June. But, apparently it is not for my particularly version of the NVidia card because their scannner keeps returning a negative (no update available) finding.

I'll install the latest PD version later today. Strange though that I don't already have it. I got my current download version directly from the Cyberlink Tech Support. You would think that they'd give me the most up to date one.
Thanks again

FredB

Senior Contributor Joined: Sep 15, 2008 21:14 Messages: 1317 Offline

Jun 15, 2011 23:47

Garytravlr;
I don't doubt that you got those results on Nvidia site. As I mentioned, they are probably still trying to get a "grip" on the new Optima technology and it's interactions with programs. Be patient, I am sure they will get a driver specifically for your GPU in an upcoming release.

The version that Cyberlink sent you is the Main program. It should be two parts (Programs and content) if you are running ULTRA. There have been some patches released since the original, and they normally do it that way (send you the last working full release and anticipate you will apply the latest patch). Not a worry.

Garytravlr

Newbie Joined: Jun 15, 2011 01:01 Messages: 21 Offline

Jun 16, 2011 03:23

FredB: I see. I'll be updating my PD9 today with their latest release.
Question: When I received my original download links from the Cyberlink Tech Support, there were 2 files, the PD9 program and the ContentsPack. When I uninstalled and re-installed the PD9 yesterday, I only re-installed the PD9 program file. There was no "Uninstall" procedure for the Contents Pack (or is this uninstalled when one does the normal uninstall for PD9?). Anyhow, do you know if I should be re-installing the Contents Pack again?
(PS: I am actually hesitant to do anything, because the program actually seems to be working. I did have one freeze up earlier today though. Later I will try to do my first edits. Fingers crossed).

ynotfish

Senior Contributor Location: N.S.W. Australia Joined: May 08, 2009 02:06 Messages: 9977 Online

Jun 16, 2011 05:13

Hi Gary -

The uninstall procedure "takes out" what was installed in the Contents Pack... so if you want all the titles, menu templates, music etc, you need to install it again.

Yes - PD9 will run without it. I've not EVER heard that installing the Contents Pack has interfered with the smooth running of PD.

Cheers - Tony
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Garytravlr

Newbie Joined: Jun 15, 2011 01:01 Messages: 21 Offline

Jun 16, 2011 06:53

Ok. Thanks again Tony. I'll re-install the Contents Pack too.
Gary

Garytravlr

Newbie Joined: Jun 15, 2011 01:01 Messages: 21 Offline

Jun 17, 2011 11:14

Thanks yet again, Tony. I went ahead and re-installed the Contents Pack.
Gary
PS: Still haven't had a chance to put my PD through the paces fully yet since disabling the Optimus technology on my NVidia card. Hopefully will have some time to do some editing tomorrow. Will report then and hopefully be able to "close" this issue.

Garytravlr

Newbie Joined: Jun 15, 2011 01:01 Messages: 21 Offline

Jun 17, 2011 12:27

Hey Tony,
Perhaps I can ask you another question: Re the update, I am downloading the latest build update for build 2930. Should I be also doing the prior updates? Or will the latest one cover all the prior ones too?
Thanks again in advance!

Garytravlr

Newbie Joined: Jun 15, 2011 01:01 Messages: 21 Offline

Jun 19, 2011 01:27

Hello Again: Perhaps someone can help me with another question related to this problem. Tony above recommended I install the latest update for the PD9 version I am running. Would anyone know if I first need to run the prior updates before running the most current one? Or does the current update "cover" all the materials from the prior updates too?

Thanks!!!

PS: Update on status of my problem: I was able to do a full set of edits and enhancements yesterday to a test video. My PD9 seems to work fairly well now. It still hesitates at some points, but does not "hang" or need to be closed down.
The solution was the direction from the Dell technical support (maker of my Latitude laptop PC) to disable the Optimus technology for my NVidia card from the BIOs screen.

CubbyHouseFilms

Senior Contributor Location: Melbourne, Australia Joined: Jul 14, 2009 04:23 Messages: 2208 Offline

Jun 19, 2011 01:37

Hi

The updates/patches are cumulative. In other words you do not need to install all patches.

I have read on the forum that some members have experienced difficulty in installing this patch.

I believe the solution was to do an uninstall of PD9 before you install the patch.

Good luck

Happing editing

Best Regards

Neil
CubbyHouseFilms
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