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Power director chrashes during production and/or dvd creation
cboersen1 [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: May 15, 2009 18:09 Messages: 8 Offline
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This is my very first project using Power Director but I have used others in the past.

I have the latest version of power director including the latest patch from the internet. I reinstalled in once with the same results.

My computer has prenty of computing power and hard drive space and I am running Vista.

I created a project using AVI video, JPG photos and WAV audio. I used a multitude of effects, transitions, and titles. Everything in production editing went great and the video previews fine.

I went to produce the video and no matter what files type I choose to produce it chrashes. Never in the same place - sometimes at 20% and sometimes at 80%. Sometimes it crashes just the program and sometimes the whole computer. DVD burning has the same issues.

Any suggestions? Is this common? What is going on?
Eric [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: May 12, 2009 20:57 Messages: 12 Offline
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Yes, I have the same issue and posted on this myself in post http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/0/6727/ENU.page#26943 Odds are you have the same problem. Software developers always write their programs assuming you have a computer less then two years old with several gigs of free space on your C drive. Naturally, most average people have computers at least three years old when a gig was still a lot of memory. All programs stick junk on your c drive, and if your like me, it is probably full just between virus updates and operating system updates. Every time you log online, files are loaded onto the c drive that are necessary for it to run. Check your C drive... if you have less then a gig free, that is probably your problem. Also, every template, menu, and add on you download, even if your program is set to another drive. installs itself on your c drive. Go to your cyberlink directory and move your downloaded files to another drive. That will free some space.

Typical alternate suggestions you will hear are all meant to clear out your c drive.

* Reinstall Cyberlink changing directory to free drive
* Run diskdefrag and scan disk
* Remove unnecessary programs
* Remove temp files
* It is time to buy new computer

Everyone I know has this problem with any new program they install. Unfortunately, developers who are using the newest computers never encounter this issue. It would take all off two lines of code to fix. Is reason Mac commercals are so popular. Most people are unaware of how critical c drive space is to computer stability.
-Eric
cboersen1 [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: May 15, 2009 18:09 Messages: 8 Offline
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Lack of space is not it. I have a 700gig drive and 500gig is free. Lots of space. The computer is only a few months old and is running Vista.

Something elese is up. Any ideas?
Eric [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: May 12, 2009 20:57 Messages: 12 Offline
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I've read other post in the forum of people having problems with AVI files. You might want to try to Produce the video before you try to burn it, or try to convert from AVI to another format. I had problem with trying to burn one video that was mixed with a large number of picture files. I found that it worked after I used Microsoft's Movie Maker to merge the picture files into a single video file. You might also want to check out your systems virtual memory. Video uses a ton of memory during the burning process. It sounds like your computer is much newer and more powerful than mine... I'm still using XP. There are a few forum post of users complaining of Vista problems. I am not sure if those have been resolved. Sorry couldnt be more help.
jisbister [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: Jul 20, 2006 00:14 Messages: 32 Offline
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I'm an old hand at PowerDirector, having used versions 4,5, and 6. Now I'm on a new HP computer (Vista), and I thought I should upgrade to the latest version (7). PowerDirector is crashin, whether trying to burn to disc or DVD folder. I've got over 500 GB of free HDD space, so this can't be my problem.

Error message: Power Director has stopped working. A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available." Reinstalling doesn't fix.

Thoughts?
cboersen1 [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: May 15, 2009 18:09 Messages: 8 Offline
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Exactly my problem as well. Thanks for at least letting me know I am not the only one having this problem. Hopefully someone has a fix.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at May 17. 2009 07:53

Dafydd B [Avatar]
Senior Contributor Joined: Aug 26, 2006 08:20 Messages: 11973 Offline
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Eric,
Please do not advise others to install PD to anything other than C drive.
Thanks
Dafydd
[Moderator]
Eric [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: May 12, 2009 20:57 Messages: 12 Offline
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If PowerDirector is only designed to be installed on a person's C drive, I would think that would be a rather serious problem with the software that would need to be rectified or at least posted in bold on the site under system requirements. Your the moderator, so I'll abide by your word. But, I guarantee you that many people are running computers with their C drives filled to max and are encountering errors as a result. Most people I know are still using computers bought three to five years ago with less than a twenty gigabyte harddrive. Just virus updates and system updates alone will cause their system to become unstable. Granted, Cyberlink does state system requirements, but lets face it. How many people who buy Cyberlink software really have a clue how much space is on their computer? Someone running such a system can still run the software, but they have to move files to clear their drive.
ynotfish
Senior Contributor Location: N.S.W. Australia Joined: May 08, 2009 02:06 Messages: 9977 Offline
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Eric -

What about this for an idea?

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/spring-hard-drive-guide,1604-2.html

Cheers -

Tony
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cboersen1 [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: May 15, 2009 18:09 Messages: 8 Offline
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I see we have had two senior members of the forum writing in this posting.

What do you guys have to say about projects crashing during production and/or DVD creation when "C" drive space is not an issue and while using Vista?
ynotfish
Senior Contributor Location: N.S.W. Australia Joined: May 08, 2009 02:06 Messages: 9977 Offline
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Hi Craig -

Obviously, from the mountain of posts on the subject, Vista and PD7 have compatibility issues. Personally, I've had no problems with that very combination on my laptop.

I'm not techie but I'm reasonably observant...

There's got to be a compelling reason that Vista is getting the flick from Microsoft's stables (WIN7 is in beta stage)... and there has to be an equally good reason why PD8 is in the testing stage too.

We could talk about it at length, but it's pretty clear that the people who built both Vista & PD7 have formed the view that they have to go!

There you go - recipe for an unhappy relationship - two things in differing states of dysfunctionality. Enough said.

Cheers -

Tony
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Eric [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: May 12, 2009 20:57 Messages: 12 Offline
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Thanks for the suggestion Tony. I know I need a larger C drive... but I am just trying to extend my current computer's use until Windows 7 release. I already have approximately a Terabyte of free space using external drives. Unfortunately, as I am in a wheelchair, dismantling the computer to install a new drive myself is out of the question, and it simply isn't worthwhile to pay to upgrade a drive in a computer older than three years. My computer processor and video card is more than powerful enough to run any software, but the C drive is a tiny 14 gigabytes which was huge back when I purchased it. Just the operating system and virus updates alone take up nearly 12 gigs of the drive. My situation is not unique however. I know lots of people with massive amounts of space on external drives, but who can't run any new software because their computer has a tiny C drive. They are constantly frustrated as many, like me, have already cleared off all extraneous programs, defraged their drives, and their computers still malfunction anytime their computer uses the C drive as a default to store items. I can afford an upgrade when Windows 7 comes out and I am sure Cyberlink will work spectacularly when I do so. Most people I know can not afford to upgrade, or simply won't understand why their programs malfunction when their C drive is full. Many people that are the customer base for programs like Cyberlink won't even know that lack of space on C drive can cause an issue... especially when they have a D drive with a terabyte of free space. My hope is that by highlighting that issue in such a forum, perhaps it might make its way to the development team, and future versions will take into account that software should not be developed solely to run on the C drive.
Robert Sterry [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: May 18, 2009 07:31 Messages: 2 Offline
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I'm having the same problem. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. And yes, I'm using Vista on a new computer with half a terrabyte of disk space and less than half full.

I actually did manage to burn one disk of a 14 minute mpg movie. But I wasted many disks before I got it to work. I could never get it to burn to a DVD folder. It said it did and went through all the right motions and messages but the folder remained blank. After many crashes and disk failures it finally did burn a DVD correctly.

I also received a copy of Power Director preinstalled on a HP computer with Vista.

I like what the program can do but it's just too flaky and unreliable to use. I'm thinking of just removing it. Not worth the time and trouble.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Robert

PS Just tried it again now. Consistently crashes the program when you click on the Create Disk tab.
Eric [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: May 12, 2009 20:57 Messages: 12 Offline
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By any chance, was your Virus scan software uploading updates when your burn halted? My computer is a dinosaur, but I know that if virus scan runs an update, Cyberlink is likely to come to a halt do to lack of memory. I usually lock-down my firewall before attempting to burn a disk. I also shut down any programs on my task bar that are not needed. I've noticed the shut down usually occurs for me during chapter generation. It also seems to have some issues with saved chapters. I have found that if I open a project and re-do my chapters, it is slightly less likely to halt, though I have no idea why this is the case. I also found that if I take my multiple images or multiple video files and produce them into a single file before burning, Cyberlink is slightly less likely to crash. Even so, at least for my computer, I assume that the program will crash two or three times during a burn before I get one disk, therefore I run it over-night when I don't need to use my computer. If you are attempting to run anything else while your burning a disk, you will probably have issues. You might also want to search the forum. I recall some post about changing Vista settings to make burning more stable... but as I have XP, I didn't pay much attention to the post.
cboersen1 [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: May 15, 2009 18:09 Messages: 8 Offline
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Tony (if your still watching),

I have a slightly older XP computer here. Until 8 comes out (which will hopefull work better with Vista) would I be better off moving to that XP computer?
ynotfish
Senior Contributor Location: N.S.W. Australia Joined: May 08, 2009 02:06 Messages: 9977 Offline
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Terrabytes, pterodactyls, dinosaurs and gaggles of geese... what a jumble.

Craig - I'd say anything's worth a shot. It does depend a bit on the specifications of your "older" XP machine. Older isn't necessarily worse, though it is in my case ( ).

Why not post the specs of your XP machine, and one of our more technically astute members will be able to advise you properly.

Eric - Jeez I hope Santa Claus comes to you soon so you can offload that old dinosaur and replace it with a fire breathing pterodactyl with a monster C drive. The you'll have gaggles of geese you won't know what to do with (and yes, James, I am perfectly aware that I just ended a sentence with a preposition).

Oh Adrian - another quote. Winston Churchill to his speech editor: "That is something up with which I will not put!"

Cheers -

Tony

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at May 18. 2009 19:28


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Robert Sterry [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: May 18, 2009 07:31 Messages: 2 Offline
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No. No antivirus loading updaters. I run my updates early in the morning.

I've played around many video editing programs over the past 10 years and sadly there's just some that don't make the grade. This looks like one of them.

Robert
Thomas [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: Jun 05, 2009 20:27 Messages: 2 Offline
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I am having the same problem. It used to work very well, however it has become most unstable and constantly crashes. I have a very new machine, with ample virtual memory, Ram, huge harddrive, and top of the line NVidia graphics card.

I'm running 32 bit Windows Vista and really like this program...if only it was reliable.

Here is the problem signature from Windows.

Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: PDR.exe
Application Version: 7.0.0.2519
Application Timestamp: 49744f53
Fault Module Name: PDAuthorGVD.dll
Fault Module Version: 7.3.700.2401
Fault Module Timestamp: 49336209
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 00018311
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: fd00
Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
Additional Information 3: fd00
Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160

Anyone have any ideas?
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13
Thomas [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: Jun 05, 2009 20:27 Messages: 2 Offline
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Does anyone think that it might be a codec interference problem? I haven't tried going through them to see if they are causing problems, but it might be a possibility. I'll post back after I have had time to test each of them. Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13
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