Dazzle DVD complete is gone! What now!

[allenz]

Well, Dazzle DVD complete was a great little program if I wanted to run a VHS into the computer, capture as MPEG-2, and right on to the DVD. Saving my VHS collection.

Sold to pinnacle! Ugh! First thing Pinnacle wants to do is dump Dazzle and have everyone upgrade to one of theirs! Ugh again. I personally wouldn't touch anything with a Pinnacle name on it.

So what else is similar to the Dazzle DVD complete that works good?

Suggestions please?
Thanks
allen

[gcutler]

I went to Dazzle website today because I realized that even though I upgraded to 2.5 DVD complete retail EN, I didn't have the upgrade file archived (in case I need to rebuild OS). It seems that Pinnacle has pretty much removed the patch SW or upgrade SW. I did find a copy of the upgrade 2.50 Retail upgrade SW on my hard drive so I can continue to use it.

I will stick with DVD Complete until It no longer will work with the OS and hardware I have.

Pinnacle can go s***w themselves...

[The village idiot]

Does this mean that since they no longer believe that they must support it, that we can pirate the software all over the web?

I bet not. Maybe somone that owns it should consult with their local District Attorney's office. As you can see, I'm not a fan of Razzle or Testicle Systems.

[lalkana]

The reason DVD Complete worked is that Dazzle did not create it, they only distributed it. The creator is DVDCRE8. I originally tried the program in a beta version from their website. Anyway, as Pinnacle has totally dropped the superior software in favor of their own Kindergarten stuff, DVDCRE8 may continue the program on it's own. Go to their website at dvdcre8.com to sign up for an email notification list regarding the future of the software. If past experience is any guide DVDCRE8 will continue to answer questions regarding the product they created. They helped me several times when I could not get a straight answer from Dazzle "Help".

[allenz]

Thank you everyone I also have some temporary good news. There is still a site for Dazzle at the parent company.

http://scmmicro.custhelp.com

I actually talked to a fellow on the telephone who was Dazzle and NOT Pinnacle. He got me the patch I needed.

My DVD Complete is now up and running with no problems


Thanks also or the Originator's web site.
Allen

[slanskye]

I went to the site, but cannot find a phone number to call - only msg that hours changed...can you provide the number? I went to the download link at the top - goes to Pinnacle, but when I tried to get the 2.5 DVD Complete download, nothing happens.

DVD Complete works great for my needs - I love it - but I never had time to dn 2.5 and would really like to now before it goes away. So I guess I have to try and call, but - what's the number!!

Thanks, ER Slansky

[allenz]

Dazzle's phone number is 203-315-4230

I din't get the phone number from their web site, I got it from Video guys .com believe it or not.

Allen

[cz9h3d]

I've got a boxed retail 2.0x version, and of course don't have the 2.5 upgrade file any longer. Just where does one get this??

The following seems to be the correct page....but the downloads don't work......I'd like to get an archive copy of my 2.5 upgrade also...

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/SupportFiles/Downloads/Driversanddownloadspages/updates_DVD...mplete_gut.htm

[allenz]

cz9h3d

Saty AWAY from Pinnacle's web site. They'll only try to sell you an upgrade to one of their software.

To get 2.5 of DVD complete read the post above!

Allen

[cz9h3d]

Are you telling me I need to call the customer service phone number you provided in order to get the URL of the site that will provide the 2.5 upgrade file for me to archive?

uh.....can't you just provide the url?

[allenz]

No, I'm saying to cal the number and they may send you a CD for free or give you an FTP address to download it. I cna't send it to you beause I'm getting the CD.
Allen

[Robert Simandl]

Yes, Pinnacle wants DVD Complete owners to "upgrade" to Pinnacle Expression for $29.99.

I find this annoying because ANYBODY (including people not upgrading from anything) can find it on Pricegrabber for $35.

But can someone tell me how DVD Complete and Pinnacle Expression compare to each other?

Thanks...

[slanskye]

Thanks Allenz for the number - I guess that's one way to cut down on calls - don't post the number on your support web site!

I called and was able to get them to e-mail an FTP site. I would post the site but the e-mail says the username, password will be changed in 24 hours anyway. At first when I called, it was "sorry, you're out of luck - no more download sites available", but I specifically asked if I couldn't get to an FTP site because I really, really wanted 2.5 for some bug fixes and I really, really like the software, etc.

I don't know if he was suppose to send me the info or not, so I don't want to post his name and get him into trouble, but anyone looking to get v2.5 may want to try and call, and be real nice.

Robert - I can't compare DVD Complete to Pinnacle Expression since I've only used DVD Complete, but I am only making DVDs of home video (Sony Digital8 input) and it works for what I need it for. I did customize a menu/theme using their script language, and that's all I really use it for - but for $99, it works great for me.

[negon]

Is Pinnacle really THAT terrible? I just had a question last night about getting the MovieStar software for my Dazzle Digital Video Creator USB because I lost the CD and the link was in my email this morning. I was impressed.

[allenz]

Pinnacle may or may not be bad. I just said that every Pinnacle product I've ever had I've had problems. Either with the product, or tech support, or getting a refund after it was promised.

Personally I don't like that company. They're buying out everything trying to be the "big-guy" on the hill and I've seen that before where a company tried that and finally didn't make it.

So I just don't use Pinnacle products.

As for DVD Complete, I was able to download the 2.5 upgrade and they also sent me a free CD with the program. They're trying to take care of current customers before they close up the DVD Complete site and quit supporting it altogether, probably by the end of Septemeber. BUT.... the original creator of DV Complete who sold it to Dazzle is thinking of getting it back from Pinnacle, who is dumping it anyway, and futher upgrading and supporting the program.

Pinnacle justs wants everyone who has DVD Complete to pay $30 to upgrade to their own program that's supposed to be same or better than DVD Complete. I can't comment on the Pinnacle program because I won't buy or install it.

I remember in the early days with Pinnacle and their DV500+ card package and W98SE, their stock answer to every question or problem was IRQ error or problems. Nothing else, just it's my computer not their product! IRO problem, over and over again. Maybe so but after a while one begins to wonder if it isn't a "cop-out". They should have built the card better because in a lot of cases you can't specify an IRQ. Their answer, re-format, re-install the operating system and install the DV500+ card first! HA!

I finally told them what they can do with their IRQ problem and dumped the entire package on eBay to someone who was thrilled to get it for a good price. So one man's trash is another's treasure.

I don't like proprietary cards anyway because the extra IEEE1394 ports are useless and they told me I couldn't install a regular normal firewire card for my hard drives. HA! Don't need it.

I now got a ADS Pyro Platinum Firewire card and it works GREAT for everything and only $90. My system's fast enough for RAM rendering and I use Vegas 4 + DVD architect, a Sony VX2000, Canopus ADVC100 for analog. AND Dazzle's DVD Complete for quick easy stuff.

Allen

[lalkana]

I have used both products Pinnacle is offering as an "upgrade" and, while both have some okay features, neither is as feature-rich as DVD Complete and neither is still installed on my system. While it will not do much for us current users in terms of support or free upgrades, the software lives on. I got a return email from dvdcre8 letting me know that 321studios has purchased what was being sold as DVD Complete version 2.5 and is selling it as DVD X Maker. According to the Tech at dvdcre8, it is an identical product except that the graphics are different. There is no demo or trial download, but there are screen shots, and this is our product. Of course, 321studios will not be providing support to us former Dazzle folks, but they may answer some questions in hopes of selling us the next version or one of their other products. Frankly, I would rather pay $99 to repurchase this software than give Pinncle a dime -- but that's just me.

[Robert Simandl]

Well, I've now TRIED to download a trial version of Expression so I can decide if I like it before "upgrading" from DVD Complete.

Unfortunately, it's a single 454 mb download from a server in Germany that's hellishly slow. Download speed averaged about 25-50kB/second. By comparison, I download an average Linux distro ISO at 100-150kB/second.

And to make things worse, the download timed out and aborted in the middle both times.

Scr*w this, it's not worth the trouble!

[kavokketras]

Well, I tried calling the number posted in one of the messages above, but as another posted pointed out, their support options have changed. Basically, they give you a recorded message of that fact and then immediately disconnect you.

Does anyone have the DVD Complete 2.5 patch at all? I really do need this.

Of course on Dazzle's web site, downloading the 2.5 patch doesn't work. (I think someone else pointed out that it's the wrong patch.)

Here's what I get when I try to install the patch:

The upgrade patch cannot be installed by the Windows Installer service because the program to be upgraded may be missing, or the upgrade patch may update a different version of the program...

This is on Windows XP, and I can't implement the solution suggested for Windows 98, which is to download an updated Windows Installer.

When I run the Updateinfo.exe, it tells me for Current Version that

DVD Complete was not found!

I installed the retail version 2.02 as Administrator. Since I got the error, I tried uninstalling DVD Complete, nuking the directories in Program Files, as well as the registry entries. Then tried reinstalling as Administrator. That didn't work at all.

So is the patch on Dazzle's web site just the wrong version? If so, can someone post the correct update patch somewhere.

[rcb]

fwiw, here's some notes I made for myself just after upgrading DVD Complete last summer:
*************************
7/9/3

d/l & installed ver 2.5 upgrade - see file update_retail_ntsc_en.exe...

updateinfo.exe is a dazzle utility that tells you what cyrrent version you have and - if needed - what ver to /dl for updating to 2.5..

upgrade went ok, but subdirectories must be exactly where the installer expects to find them. Had to move several around in my different drives to get installation upgrade to finish.

upgraded ver seems to do ok, but not fully tested. It still will not allow incremental editing of a movie file, only beginning and end. Also will not handle a tv tuner card.
************************
Note the comment on subdirectory files. As I recall, the app has a "recipe" for subdirectory file placement (sorry, can't tell you what/where an initial installation selects) What I did was to copy those auxilary folders/files to each of my hard drives/partitions. That in turn let the updater utility do it's job.

[kavokketras]

d/l & installed ver 2.5 upgrade - see file update_retail_ntsc_en.exe...

I'm glad it worked for you. Hopefully it work for others. I, being the unfortunate one and ascribing to the unlucky laws, wasn't able to get that workaround to work.

Where did you get the update_retail_ntsc_en.exe from? On the Dazzle/Pinnacle web site, all they have available for download is update_se-bb_ntsc_en.exe. If that patch is for a completely different SKU, that would explain why I'm not able to apply it.

[rcb]

kavokketras -

All my update stuff was d/l'd from the old dazzle support website ( now history).... not Pinnacle's.

You might try an email to DVDCRE8's support (they were/are the producer of this app)... and make sure you tell them exactly what current ver you have. As my dim memory recalls, there were a number of versions floating around for different os's and regions which helped to complicate the upgrading thing.

Good luck.

[Supreme2k]

I had no problem downloading the 2.5 update from Pinnacle:

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/SupportFiles/Downloads/Driversanddownloadspages/updates_DVD...mplete_gut.htm

[kavokketras]

I had no problem downloading the 2.5 update from Pinnacle:

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/SupportFiles/Downloads/Driversanddownloadspages/updates_DVD...mplete_gut.htm

But where did you purchase your copy of DVD Complete? I was given to understand that the patch on Pinnacle's web site is for Best Buy and EU customers, and may not be the same as the Retail SKU that is purchased elsewhere.

In any event, I tried installing the PAL version but ran into the same error message.

[ubiquityman]

The current pinnacle patch doesn't install on my Retail Box version of DVD Complete.

[Robert Simandl]

The retail version and the direct-download version required different patches. Writing to DVDCre8 (and including info on your OS and how you purchased) is gonna be your best bet.

[ubiquityman]

I tried that last year (earlier this week), but I haven't got a reply back yet.
I'll have to try again next week.

I'm hoping some kind person out there has the proper patch.