Dealing with PD8 crashes.

Andy - XL

Senior Member Joined: Jan 24, 2007 11:28 Messages: 162 Offline

Solved by

Jan 13, 2010 13:13

I owned 3 versions of PD now: 5.0, 6.5 and now 8.0
All of them have crashed during Editing on a regular basis. It is quite annoying but still doable. I simply learned to save my projects at a regular intervals. The most annoyance come from large projects as it takes quite some to re-open existing project and to wait until videos are downloaded into the library and timeline is updated. To avoid such hassle I began breaking up my large projects into smaller chapters. For example, right now I am working on a vacation video that is about 60mins long. It took forever to reopen the project after one of those crashes so I broke it up into 8 chapters. As I said, annoying but doable.

The question is WHY do you think the system crashes? Is this anything to do with CPU overload or insufficient memory or maybe even "undo" feature that clatters the memory by trying to store "HISTORY" of modifications? I never "UNDO" anything for the fear of the crashes, so is there a way to turn this feature off or limit the number of UNDO steps to reduce memory usage?
Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted... but to weigh and consider.

BarryTheCrab

Senior Contributor Location: USA Joined: Nov 06, 2008 22:18 Messages: 6240 Offline

Jan 13, 2010 13:54

I find version 8 to be very stable. What build are you using?
Video editing is a very intense user of computer resources.
Also, clicking too fast on the next edit, before your computer finishes the previous edit, can cause trouble.
Please tell us what your computer specs are, and what type of files are you using. HP Envy Phoenix/4thGen i7-4770(4@3.4GHz~turbo>3.9)
Nvidia GTX 960(4GB)/16GB DDR3/
Canon Vixia HV30/HF-M40/HF-M41/HF-G20/Olympus E-PL5.
Tape capture using 6 VCR, TBC-1000, Elite BVP4+, Sony D8 camcorder with TBC.
https://www.facebook.com/BarryAFTT

Cap'n Kevin

Senior Contributor Location: Chebeague Island, Maine Joined: Dec 26, 2008 20:22 Messages: 2011 Offline

Jan 13, 2010 14:37

Hi Andy,

You can reduce the number of UNDO levels here is where to find it. This may help with your crashing issues, but Barry is has asked you TWO very important questions, which are very important factors that determine how much PD8 crashes.

Computer Specifications and types of files you are using.

Good Luck!

Kevin


Filename	Undo Levels.JPG	Download
Description	Where to find the Undo Levels
Filesize	68 Kbytes
Downloaded:	135 time(s)

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Jan 13. 2010 14:37

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Andy - XL

Senior Member Joined: Jan 24, 2007 11:28 Messages: 162 Offline

Jan 13, 2010 15:06

Thank you folks. I did notice that when I wait before clicking while PD is doing some internal processes my crashes are somewhat reduced. however on a 8 min project to have on average 10 crashes appears a bit excess.

I work with *.m2t files

My system is
Base processor
Core 2 Quad Q6700 (K) 2.66 GHz

•1066 MHz front side bus
•Socket 775
Chipset
Intel G33 Express

Motherboard
•Manufacturer: Asus
•Motherboard Name: IPIBL-LB
•HP/Compaq motherboard name: Benicia-GL8E
Memory

Component
Attributes

Memory Installed
6 GB

Speed supported
PC2-6400 MB/sec

Type
240 pin, DDR2 SDRAM

Hard drive
•750 GB SATA 3G (3.0 Gb/sec)
•7200 rpm
Video Graphics
GeForce 9500 GS

•512 MB GDDR2 memory
•I/O Ports: HDMI, VGA, dual-link DVI

My OS is Windows Vista.

My video camera is Sony HDRXR500V that records in Full HD 1080i with aspect 16:9 in dolby 5.1ch.

Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted... but to weigh and consider.

Andy - XL

Senior Member Joined: Jan 24, 2007 11:28 Messages: 162 Offline

Jan 13, 2010 15:08

Barry, what "BUILD" do you mean? I purchased my PD8 (download version) just before Christmas.

p.s. Thanks for the tip on UNDO. I will try to reduce the number and see what happens. Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted... but to weigh and consider.

Cap'n Kevin

Senior Contributor Location: Chebeague Island, Maine Joined: Dec 26, 2008 20:22 Messages: 2011 Offline

Jan 13, 2010 15:13

Hi Andy,

The build can be found by going to the Directors Chair> HELP> ABOUT POWER DIRECTOR.

You should see Power Director 8.00.with some numbers like 2220.

Kevin

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Andy - XL

Senior Member Joined: Jan 24, 2007 11:28 Messages: 162 Offline

Jan 13, 2010 15:28

Kevin,

Cheers. Wow, this is cool. Does it mean that there are some "BUILDs" with bugs and some are bugs-free?

I will look it up tonight. Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted... but to weigh and consider.

Cap'n Kevin

Senior Contributor Location: Chebeague Island, Maine Joined: Dec 26, 2008 20:22 Messages: 2011 Offline

Jan 13, 2010 15:58

Andy,

I suppose my answer would be as follows regarding BUILDS.

Each successive build as far as I know, addresses issues (bugs in your words) that have been identified by users who use Power Director and communicate them through this forum. Then if the issues are repeatable, are addressed by Cyberlink who creates the new builds that address these problems. The factors involved in Trouble-Free editing are dynamic, and change as new hardware and software become available. It is impossible to test the Stability of Power Director on every possible Hardware configuration with an infinite number of various software combinations that may be resident on that computer. So to answer your question:

Does it mean that there are some "BUILDs" with bugs and some are bugs-free?

Probably not, as it is always in process of being improved.

This forum serves as a great tool to identify specific problems through the collaborative knowledge that it provides. So hopefully you will be adding to this knowledge.

Kevin

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Andy - XL

Senior Member Joined: Jan 24, 2007 11:28 Messages: 162 Offline

Jan 14, 2010 10:04

Barry, I showed you my system specs. Still curious what normally are the causes of PD crashes. If one does not know the cause - he will be looking for the right cure in the wrong place , hence never find it.

I was right about one of the suspected reasons of PD crashes. I reduced the number of restore steps in the preferences from default 50 to zero.
Voila! For the first time in my experience with PD I have finished a 30min project without a single crash. Bingo. I thought I found the cure until a crash happened on my next 10min project. It's been only one single crash at the end, so I shouldn't be complaining. I am happier now.

Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted... but to weigh and consider.