Allok Soft - WMV Converter problem

[terrypin]

Anyone here use the snappily named program from Allok Soft called 'WMV to AVI MPG DVD WMV Converter' please? I tried upgrading my old version 1.2.2 to the latest at http://www.alloksoft.com/index.htm

But after installing it, the offer to start the program immediately produces this:
"Error: loader could initialize service!"

The only mention I can find is point 7 of the FAQ, which says:

7. When I open a WMV file, I got an error info "Fail in initializing the file", Why?
It is because of there is not CODEC for this video file in your system.


Obviously irrelevant in my case, as I cannot open the program at all. In fact, after closing that message (the only option) and searching for the program, I found it had not been installed. The only entries were the EULA and readme!

Allok Soft's reply to my email was
"You should use our software in administrator account."

Unhelpful to say the least, as I am already using Administrator privileges, and of course the old (registered) version is working OK.

Suggestions anyone please?

--
Terry, West Sussex, UK

[guns1inger]

Haven't used it, but experience (both personal and anecdotal from here and other sources) has shown that most of these so-called wonder converters are poorly written front ends to freely available libraries and programs like mencoder and ffmpeg. There are also some quite good free front ends to these same programs, such as SUPER and MediaBuilder that are capable of giving you similar or better results more reliably, and at not financial outlay to yourself until you are happy with them.

As you have paid for this software, I would be bombarding their support email address until they provide assistance. In the meantime, either live with the older version, or try one of the free alternatives. You may be surprised at the results.

[terrypin]

Thanks. I'll take a look at those alternatives in parallel with pursuing Allok.

--
Terry, West Sussex, UK