Windows Moviemaker 2.1 crashing on video file creation

[Carioca_FL]

(I did try the search, but didn't find topics related to my issue)

I am using Windows Moviemaker (WMM) 2.1.4026.0 (latest from XP SP2) to edit several small (20MBs or so) .avi files created with my Canon S1 IS digital cam. Unfortunately I don't know how it's encoded, the Canon manual doesn't specify it.

The end WMM project file is around 1MB (and this is another issue, probably for another thread), which takes a good 30mins to open, with the end movie having a run-time of about 13mins.
FWIW, I do have several pics (around 50) at the end, as a sort of slideshow, with an mp3 background. Also I use regular fade for all .avi transitions and random transitions for the pics -not sure if that's relevant.

Since WMM doesn't do DVD burning yet, I have to save it as an NTSC 2.1Mbps file, weighing around 150MBs. -which I then would burn using Nero, also doing my menus there -WMM doesn't do that either.

Problem is, as soon as I choose the save location, it crashes with the usual XP error reporting window -I have the logfile BTW, but it didn't reveal anything useful (to me), other than moviemk.exe causing the crash.

Is there anything I can do to fix this? I really like how simple the WMM interface is, and if Studio 8 allowed me to add mp3 soundtracks, I'd be using that instead -though it does crash a bit too...

System info is on profile, machine is scanned for virus/spyware. Thanks for reading all the way through.

[hech54]

I used to use Movie Maker quite often too but I upgraded to SP2 and it no longer worked. I downloaded the latest version...it doesn't work either.
If you are looking to create a slideshow with some video files....I suggest doing a search on Ebay for Ulead Movie Factory 2 (aka Ulead MF2 or just MF2 to those who use it). You can pick it up on Ebay for around $5. It's other features (besides the slideshow creator) are a bit outdated and slow but is is well worth the price.
You can create slideshows in VCD, SVCD and DVD format....add audio in MP3 or .wav format, preview the slideshow before you actually create it....nice stuff.....and it has very nice though basic menu creation built in. Plus it has an option to save the original photos to the disc as well....good for an extra measure of safe-keeping OR the recipients of the slideshow disc can print out their favorite pic(s) if they like. My family is overseas and LOVE the discs I send them.
Just a thought from someone who has been doing this for a while.
Good luck to ya'

[Carioca_FL]

Hmm, thanks for the suggestion, I am actually trying (though not really liking, seems a bit too "involved", though it's almost 2am here, so ) Ulead DVD Workshop.

I actually found Ulead Movie Factory 4 SE -is that the same?


//edit: BTW, I see you send your discs overseas. Mine are going to Brazil (PAL-M), but also sent here inside the US (NTSC). How easy is it to convert an existing project from one format to the other?
Will I have to start from scratch to change formats?

[hech54]

You can change from NTSC to PAL in the preferences section of the program. You can create your "project" without worrying about what the setting were prior to all that work of adding photos and stuff....but then change settings just prior to creating the disc....it doesn't care during the building process....just during the creation process.
Everything after MF2 that is called Movie Factory "should" have DVD Picture Show included in it....though I can't confirm since I've don't own them. One of the Ebay auctions has a link to the full specs of MF4 in .pdf format and it appears to have Picture Show as well.
The SE designation is the "Suite Edition" so it will most likely have the same stuff as my MF2 SE.
MF2 SE actually had SOME coller features(in the way of bugs in the program believe it or not) that people used to like. Long story short....Ulead made it more dificult to do things that you shouldn't be doing in later versions and via upgrades to MF2....I won't say any more...