why does my PC freeze?

[debra]

I have my video connected to my pc via video xpress. Whenever I try to select VCR at an input my PC freezes.

I have tried powerproducer put the same thing happens. When the video isn't playing I get different colours on the preview screen then once it's playing the screen turns black and then freezes

[ROF]

sounds like a codec or driver issue to me.

[debra]

how do I find that out?

[ROF]

For drivers you could uninstall and then reinstall them. Codecs would be dependent upon the video. You would need to know which one you need and install it.

[debra]

you mean the codecs for the VCR? I think I'll reinstall videoxpress and see what happens

[Bjs]

If this device is usb2 , you need service pack 2 for xp installed .

1: Install service pack 2 , reboot .
2: Install motherboard's usb2 driver's , reboot .
3: Install software provided with unit , shutsown pc .

4: Check device current draw requirement's .

If draw current is 2 amp's , purchase a powered hub to interface between device and pc ... I use one made by belkin .
(a powered hub come's with a power adapter) ...

It will prevent "over current protection ... usb reset warning" ... if this happen's , you might as well buy a new motherboard because capture will be degraded because the usb chipset is nolonger at full fuctioning bandwidth

5:

Connect powered hub to power supply , the usb cable to pc .
Connect usb2 capture device to powered hub (do not use powered hub with any other device)

Use rca cable's from vcr to split video and audio .
Feed video to usb capture device .

You will need a conversion cable (rca to stereo headphone) , this will connect to linein on sound card .

The reason you dont pass audio to the capture device is because it degrade's the picture quality .

Make sure powered hub is powered on .

Startup pc , and wait for xp to confirm device's are installed .

6:

Go into sound setup , double click sound tray speaker icon in system tray , go to option's , properties ... recording , check linein .

Now go back and make sure linein is not set to mute ... and close window .

7:

You should be ready to go nutt's .

Final :

To get the full capture benefit's of the device , your current motherboard must have usb2 .

Forget adding usb2 pci card's , as the speed of capture is limited by the pci design specification's in speed thorough put ... though it would still work , just dont expect to capture high end dvd .

For high end dvd capture , your cpu should be rated above 2 gig , below this and you will need to aim at lower bitrate's ... memory can be 256mb's , but the more the better (this is not capture dependant) .

Memory realy count's when it come's to re-encoding and authoring of media .

[debra]

thanks I'll try and remember all that.

I'm only really needing to transfer the movie to my PC so I can make screencaps, do I need to do all the sound stuff?