Frank,

Don't want to sound picky, but we need more information.

1 - We need a DxDiagnostics file.
In XP - Click 'Run' - type in the box - dxdiag and click OK.
Allow the dxdiag to gather information then click Save all information (see attached image)
Give the file a distinctive name and save to your destop or My Documents folder. Attach this file to your next post.

This is the file that Support requested also.

Hal OS - Win11 Pro, Alienware R13, CPU - Intel Core I7-12700KF 12 CPUs), 16g DDR5 4400 RAM, Video - Geeforce RTX 3080ti 12g, PD11 & PD365
My YouTube

frank, That is NOT a Dxdiag.txt file, you wasted tech support's time with that DOC file.

Big question, do you have the latest version of Apple Quicktime installed?

Quicktime is necessary for PowerDirector to run.

Post the requested Dxdiag.txt file and we can help you better. Carl312: Windows 10 64-bit 8 GB RAM,AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4 GHz,ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB,240GB SSD,two 1TB HDs.

You guys certainly reply quickly - thanks.

The file I attached included the DXDiag.txt file embedded in the Word document. I did send the raw .txt file to Support the first time, but they then wanted the Event log as well. The only events I could capture were on a screen shot so putting this and the DXDiag into the same attachment made sense - to me anyway.

When I get online at home I'll gladly post the raw DXDiag file and will check for QuickTime too.

Thanks,
Frank

OK...
So I have run QuickTime update, and have recently done NVIDIA drivers update. I've uninstalled the PowerDirector 9 that I had downloaded from the shop and have re-installed PD9 from the Backup DVD.

Still PD9 refuses to start. No error message. Just the rotating symbol on the splash screen, then it closes and that's it. Nothing.

Attached is DXDiag run after the failed startup of PD9.

I hope someone can make sense of it.

Thanks,
Frank

OK Frank,
Your Dxdiag.txt file is very telling, you do have Quicktime installed, but your video card is too old.

And your RAM is limited.

You have a NVIDIA GeForce 6200, that is not enough Video card for PowerDirector.

I know for a fact that PowerDirector will fail if the Video card is not up to the job. That is one thing I had to do to get PowerDirector 9 trial to run on one of my older computers. I upgraded the 7600 GS card to a 9800 GT, then PowerDirector 9 was OK.

Don't forget to install the latest Video Driver for whatever new Video Card you get.

Check the minimum requirement for video card, the earliest supported GPGPU graphics card
NVIDIA: GeForce 8500GT and above

http://www.cyberlink.com/products/powerdirector/requirements_en_US.html Carl312: Windows 10 64-bit 8 GB RAM,AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4 GHz,ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB,240GB SSD,two 1TB HDs.

Hi

Sorry for butting in but I am having the same problem. I have posted at the link below but still have not found the answer from various responses on the forum.

http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/16367.page

I have e-mailed tech support who have been no help and also supplied the dxdia file which they have looked at but made no comment as to my machine being underpowered. I am curious if you guys think it is due to the comments re. graphics card etc. in the previous posts. graphic card drivers and quicktime have all been updated.

Any help would be good.

thanks

rsm.

The PD9Ultra read me file contains some very useful information and is worth a read.
C:/Program Files/CyberLink/PowerDirector/Language/Enu/Readme.htm#Requirements
Thanks
Dafydd

Quote:
Sorry for butting in but I am having the same problem. ....I have e-mailed tech support who have been no help and also supplied the dxdia file which they have looked at but made no comment as to my machine being underpowered.

rsm.

Hi rsm,
You have my sympathy. It took me the best part of a month to realise how hopeless customer support was. Then I found the forum and got a rapid response.

I am still concerned/confused about the graphics card requirements. Carl312 pointed out Cyberlinks' graphics card page but the README file of minimum requirements flagged by SoftDeko does not mention graphics cards - at least I cannot find it.

Overall, it has been a very unsatisfactory experience so far. There's the cost of PD9 itself and now it looks like I will have to more than double my investment to upgrade the graphics card - and I'm not sure that is even possible. All the recommended cards seem to be PCI-Express, but my PC has only PCI and AGP (running current graphics card). So the solution seems to be that I need a new PC just to run one domestic package.

I really wish I had stuck with the PD5 Special Edition that came with the video camera - at least it worked. Maybe Adobe Premiere Elements would be less hardware-demanding?

Disappointed
Frank

Frank, you are amongst the thousands of people sucked in by camera makers pushing their new video shooting capabilities.

Unfortunately it will not make any difference which editor you use, editing video is one of the hardest things you can do on your computer. You might get away with very simple editing, like place clip on timeline, hit produce to Standard Definition mpeg2. Unfortunately as soon as you want to do any special effects, even fades etc your computer will most probably fail. My youtube channel====> http://www.youtube.com/user/relate2?feature=mhsn

Hi Dafydd

I read the requirements page and my pc meets all of the minimum requirements. Althought you may in the end say it is underpowered to carry out major editing and production, all I want is for the program to start so that I can see what I have purchased.

I do note that in my response to you in my own thread that unfortunately you are unable to shed any further light on why I cannot load PD9.

Tech support still have unanswered questions and they too appear to have given up.

It appears that PD9 is only for those that it actually works for and hence I have just lost money on a product that doesn't work.

Why post minimum requirements if the software doesn't run with them. It does seem from looking through the forum that this is a fairly common problem that doesn't appear to have an answer.

Unhappy

rsm

rsm your video card is not supported. Minimum GeForce is 8500GT yours is a 7300GT

http://www.cyberlink.com/products/powerdirector/requirements_en_US.html My youtube channel====> http://www.youtube.com/user/relate2?feature=mhsn

Thanks for your input, but I think what is upsetting people is that we have bought software on the assumption that it would work for us, but it doesn't - for whatever reason.

Here's the catch: with almost any other product, you can return the product and get your money back from the vendor. That never seems to apply with software and in the case of CyberLink, it would be very hard to achieve if their customer support never answers the questions put to them.

Has anyone had experience of getting a refund?

Thanks,
Frank

Hi Frank,

Here are some answers for you.

1. There is a trial version of PD9 and the onus on testing the product on your system is entirely up to you before purchase.
2. CyberLink offer a 30 day refund. If you're within the time frame - go ask for a refund.
3. I read loads of questions posted on the forum and can tell you that online support must have a heap of problems trying to decipher poorly presented questions which give very limited information. With end users who assume the reader can gather what they're on about from utter gibberish and we're all editors here. I'm often accused of being abrupt, it's not my intention. I stick to the facts, give all the details without the flowery drivel of others. I do this from wanting to be understood and having dealt with editors who speak English as a second language. Too often flowery conversational proliferation of chatter including what one had for dinner last week, just misses the points needed to make a reader attentive and understood.



Hope the information helps.

Thanks
Dafydd

My Geforce 8400 worked fine in PD with only 500 meg.... I only updated my video card so I could play a particular game. I still have two 8400 series cards that work fine.

Frank.... there are lots of PCI cards available out there. Not as many AGP any more. But finding a straight PCI card should be no problem. Tiger Direct and a lot of other places have them http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/guidedSearch.asp?CatId=28&sel=Detail;55_158_2872_2872 and at good prices.

And AGP http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/guidedSearch.asp?CatId=28&sel=Detail;55_158_2064_2064

From what I can remember from using PD5 way way back then... compared to what I can do now in PD9 is that really it isn't the same program.

The following is not addressed to anyone in particular, but is something I have wanted to say for years in here. I guess I am lucky as I have never had any real problems with any version of PD except Version 7. I am by no means a computer guru. I was using computers back in the 70's. (military) I have had to write my own programs before I could use them (unix) My first hard drive was 5 meg. (I was so excited over that) Remember tape drive? Had them... 10 inch floppies.

You guys give up too easily...... yes you may have to upgrade hardware.... no the software world is not fair. It may work flawlessly on one computer, and not at all on another. But anyone that thinks it's always the software's fault, needs to get around that way of thinking. I am not defending PD9 as it is the same with all software. Any forum search for any brand of software will show the same results. Some love it with no problems, some hate it with problems.

The bottom line is, how much effort you want to put into making the software work on your machine. I have built hundreds of computers by hand. (parts off the shelf) Even using the SAME hardware, (motherboard, cpu, power supply, hard drive, cd drives, memory) some will behave differently.

Just keep plugging along and hopefully all the PD gurus in here can figure out what it is that your particular computer needs to have done to get PD9 going. If Dafydd or Adrian , and others could actually have your computer plopped down on their desk I am sure they would see what was going on quickly. But since that is not an option, all we can do is ask you questions, even if you do not see any reason for some of them, and DO NOT get insulted when someone says your computer is a little below the power line. Just because you have a "new" latest and greatest computer does not mean a lot when it comes to software. There are just so many simple things that will make software stumble.

Do not give up.... but remember it is a combination of things, your computer, Your OS, your software (don't forget that installed software can conflict with each other too), and your frame of mind.

At least I am glad I do not have to write my own code like 35 years ago. That's one mans opinion, you mileage may vary.
__________________________________________
Windows 8 Pro 64 bit

CyberLink PowerDirector 10 Tutorials
PDtoots PowerDirector Tutorials

**NOTICE**
When you are asked to provide a DXDIAG you go the following link and do part "B". Your posted specs are NOT what we are looking for as they tell us nothing. The specs on the box of your computer mean nothing. The DXDIAG shows us how your computer is configured as it runs.

DXDIAG Link

Well said, Bubba! Have a great day.

Regards,
-Phil

Hi Dafydd,
Thanks for the information about the 30 day refund. Now I'm a week over that time because it took me so long to realise you guys on the Forum were the ones to help me.

I must admit I didn't realise there was a trial version of PD9. Buying the full version was perhaps a kneejerk reaction on my part based on satisfactory experience with the PD5 Special Edition plus a glowing review of PD9 in PCPro magazine.

Looks like it is a case of mea culpa.

But... here's a thought.
Given that nobody is short of disk space to distribute or use software nowadays, and the fact that software can identify all the hardware components inside a PC, why doesn't a demanding package like PD9 actually check the hardware available during installation? That way nobody would end up with an unhelpful stalled splash screen but would instead have an error message detailing the problem and indicating the solution?

So the bottom line is I'm prepared to take the rap for not reseaching enough before buying, but CyberLink really should do some work to design their system a little better. If PD9 has very specific hardware requirements, then use the power of software to check and see if the hardware is up to the job.

Enough - thanks for your help - I appreciate it.
Frank

Hi Bubba,
It's good to hear that there might be some graphics cards out there that could help me - so thank you!

You make a good point about not giving up too soon when trying to get a new package working. This is my mentality too (along with actually repairing domestic appliances rather than trashing them, kids cannot do that now). However, surely software today is a commodity that should follow the expectations of most other purchases and just work, first time, without the need for assistance from tech support?

Oh, and I do remember punching cards at college and the one-week turnround to find you had an error on card #1. What fun!

Thanks,
Frank

Thanks Frank...

We actually do know how you feel, we wish we had better input Cyberlink too. But those that get in here and rant and rave about cant download, wont open, ect ect are preaching to the choir. Sad as it is, we have absolutely no influence on Cyberlink in here.

If it wasn't for the collective use of intelligent long time users in here helping people like you and me from their own aggravation and experiences we would not be able to get much done on our own. I normally have no problems because i am not trying to do anything in HD. I am happy with 4:3 at 720p. The only time I do the HD stuff is to try to replicate a problem someone else is having. Sometimes I get the same error, sometimes it works like it is supposed to do. I have been using PD since version 5. For me its still far better than what I used to use. Even between the version updates that cause problems. I always find the version that my machine likes best and use that one. I was very happy with PD6. PD8 was another one my then new machine liked. We won't talk about PD7 in my house

I am in the middle of one of my annual projects. A graduation video for the local High School. A 2 hour 10 minute slide show video this year (this year it will be dual layer DVD's due the the length because of more Seniors this year) with around 800 pictures this year. Only a couple of 30 second videos, with about 850 transitions and probably almost 900 titles. All animated (moving) with whatever music the kids are listening to right now. I make 250 copies to hand out and it gets shown to about 1,800 people on a 20 square foot screen with awesome sound system. (at no cost to the school, students, or parents) I only do it for one reason. The standing ovation they give me after the show ends is worth it all. Plus it really is a great show. Takes me two months to make it.

I get all of my DVD's off ebay. Only way I can afford so many. I go through at least 100 a month on a slow month. __________________________________________
Windows 8 Pro 64 bit

CyberLink PowerDirector 10 Tutorials
PDtoots PowerDirector Tutorials

**NOTICE**
When you are asked to provide a DXDIAG you go the following link and do part "B". Your posted specs are NOT what we are looking for as they tell us nothing. The specs on the box of your computer mean nothing. The DXDIAG shows us how your computer is configured as it runs.

DXDIAG Link

Hi Robert2 S

I note what you say but I thought that the cards listed were for use with Nvidas CUDA. Tech support in initial replies have not said anything about my graphics card being underpowered. When I purchased the software my pc including the graphics card meets the minimum requirements to run the software on the box.

At present I would just like it to open to even see what it is like.

Strange why Pinnacle studio 15 will run quite happily and PD9 won't even open.

thanks

rsm