Version 1.5 - very disapointing

[Jon]

Have to say I am very disapointed by the new version. To date I have had NO disks that work yet. The program either crashes, or the if it does make it to the end , it either comes up with invalid track in my stand alone or just a blank screen.
I have tried loads of different ways and read the forum posts, but end result is the same, even on 2 other pc's.

A drawback of the older version is only 2 vts's , but at least it works great..

Is there no way to modify the old version slighty to add more vts's???

[2Tents]

Complete opposite for me. This version is ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE better than the last one. 10+ DVDRs all 100% no duds. Never had a crash. All my menus are great.

If it bombs its usually down to your sources. Roll back and see if the old version succeeds on the SAME sources. My guess is not as the underlying program is the same. Also if you spawn the detailed log file you'll probable see what the problems are.....

[Jon]

Well , I have used the sources on the old one and they work 100%.

I am trying to have 3 , using version 1.5 and after the latest update it crashes at the same place each time. Seems to be when the output _DVD.mpg file gets to 1 gig it nukes every single time.

I am trying to add 1 vcd of 371 meg , 1 vcd of 980 meg and 1 x svcd of 913 meg.

Seems to get thru the first source no probs and like I have said , it nukes itself on the 980 meg file when the output hits 1.0 gig.

And there is nothing in the log file, coz like I said the program nukes itself.

[yf2001usa]

The program worked fine for me to.. 8 x vcd 450 mb worked without a problem.. but if noticed you need enough free discspace to make it run you need about 2 times the inout disc space as free disc space.

Greatings,
Yf

[Jon]

I do have a spare 200 gig HD which has about 150 free at present, so the lack of free space is not a issue, and also this current crash is by mpgtx when like I said, the program is making it's _DVD.mpg file.

The source file is a 980 Vcd meg and I guess this is too big for a single file to be converted at present.

As soon as the file hits exactly 1.0 gig up pops mpgtx.exe crash box.

I have just tried using just 1 single file in this program and I get the same crash. So its surely got to be a bug with this part of the program.

Still, I am now going to try a build without this file to see if with the last update I can make a working disk..............

[Jon]

Seems I get this darn mpgtx.exe crash with other files too.

I wonder, is it possible for the Chrissy to put a link up for the last build of the older version please???

Thanks

[ChrissyBoy]

That file (mpgtx.exe) has not changed since the very first release from me.

[Jon]

Well, on my last go even with the crash in mpgtx I managed to get to the end where it somehow built the dvd disk this time.

Now I burnt it and I am back to where I was orginally with this program and that is it works ok in powerdvd etc, but on my stand alone one select the item from the menu and it just returns to the main menu.

All disks I made with the version 1 of this program worked prefect on this same stand alone player, and that is why I am disapointed with the new 1.5 version.

As it seems no one else is having the same probs, I am going to do a fresh WinXp OS install and see if that helps.

Maybe if the same occurs , you could put the last build of the older Version 1 in the registered users area so any of us with problems could go back to the old version for the time being.

Thank-you

[cplevel42]

What kind of stand alone do you have?

Most likely, the stand alone is being a bit picky with the files made from the new version of svcd2dvd. This does not mean that this new version of svcd2dvd is crap. It just means that your player is too picky.

Doing a reinstall of your OS is a good idea if you have the time. I reinstall mine every 6 months or less. Not a big deal for me because I have a fast way to do it and I regularily back up everything to DVD.

[Jon]

I have done a fresh install and that seems to have solved the mpgtx crashes.
But after creating a new Dvd build and burning it I get the "Invalid track error on my stand alone player" and Also if tried to play in PowerDvd I get unknown format if I try to play from the Dvd folder on the Hard disk.

As for the stand alone it is a Thomson model and I choose it just because it plays everything I have ever thrown at it.

Maybe someone can put together a short sample done with the 1.5 version so that I and others can be sure its not a stand alone problem. Although I am 99.9% sure my player is not that picky.

I did notice on my lastest try this error:-


******** Creating DVD...

Creating VTS #1

Creating VTS #2

Creating VTS #3
32 [main] 532716b9-3e2f-48d8-9dbf-b7c8fb4dbc9a 1616 handle_exceptions: Exception: STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION

40669 [main] 532716b9-3e2f-48d8-9dbf-b7c8fb4dbc9a 1616 open_stackdumpfile: Dumping stack trace to 532716b9-3e2f-48d8-9dbf-b7c8fb4dbc9a.exe.stackdump


============ Complete ============


============ Duration: 00:31:50.6573904

and.........



Exception: STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION at eip=004057EE
eax=00000000 ebx=0A041378 ecx=00000000 edx=00000000 esi=0A041378 edi=00000000
ebp=0022F008 esp=0022EF20 program=C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Badgersoft\SVCD2DVD\1.5.1326.35434\532716b9-3e2f-48d8-9dbf-b7c8fb4dbc9a.exe
cs=001B ds=0023 es=0023 fs=0038 gs=0000 ss=0023
Stack trace:
Frame Function Args
0022F008 004057EE (00435C34, 0022F198, 00000000, 00000002)
0022F048 0040662C (00000000, 0022F198, 00000002, 610CB050)
0022F0B8 00407E87 (00413820, 0022F198, 00434370, 00000003)
0022F0F8 004082F6 (0022F198, 0A040AC0, 0A040AC0, 00410230)
0022FBA0 00409D88 (0000000F, 0A041090, 0A040328, 6107CDD0)
0022FF40 61007408 (610D1F58, FFFFFFFE, 000007DC, 610D1E7C)
0022FF90 610076ED (00000000, 00000000, 814D51B0, 00000005)
0022FFB0 0040E0D2 (00408580, 037F0009, 0022FFF0, 77E4F38C)
0022FFC0 0040103C (00000000, 00000000, 7FFDF000, 00000118)
0022FFF0 77E4F38C (00401000, 00000000, 78746341, 00000020)
End of stack trace

[ChrissyBoy]

I'm working on this error. but as a workaround use 120 frames in your encoding settings in dvd menumaker.

[RRxScorpion]

120 Frames did work fine but I have come across another issue. Please see my post in this thread. Thanks.

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=174524

[ChrissyBoy]

ok the stack dump/menu error has been fixed. Build 1.0.1332.35446 of DVD MenuMaker addresses this.

Thanks for your patience - especially Jon

A few points:

Whilst some people think there is a software house behind svcd2dvd/svcd2dvdmpg/dvd menumaker, there isn't its just me. One guy cutting code, fixing bugs, posting on forums and replying to emails. That along with my day job & family with wife & 2 kids......

Writing software which is bug free is the holy grail. It just doesn't happen. If you have an fixed target platform/environment then it is easier. I don't. Here is my target topography:

- any windows operating system post win 98 (98, 2000, nt, xp, all the sub versions & SP releases.....)
- any language (This has screwed me more than once)
- any screen resolution/dpi/font settings.

That's not too bad i here you say. Well what about the fact that people have any one of 1000's of standalone players each with there little quirks.

TV standards. PAL, NTSC

And last but not least, an infinite variation of source mpegs with varying degress of conforming to the MPEG standards.

Couple all this with a massive range of end user knowlege and you see my issue.

So the only way I can get to test my software in these various environments is to release at "beta" stage. I have prelimary testers but they can only account for about 10% of the combinations out there.

Jon: The last version, svcd2dvdmpg+, went thru many iterations before it could be considered stable. In fact i would say that the final release was the only release that was nearing 100%. v1.5 WILL go through the same iteration process.

So it will get there in the end - the day it is bug free is the day you no longer hear from me.......

[Jon]

I think it is in fact you Chris, who has all the patience. I am sure you will get there in the end and I thank you for all your effort.
I got my files burnt another way for now as I needed them to go with me on a trip for a few weeks. I wish you all the best and I shall look foward to having another bash at some time after I come back.
There are other ways of getting these files to disc like I have used earlier, but your program will in the end be the far easier way of doing this and I shall look forward to trying later versions.

Jon............

[Randalliser]

I second Jon's comments regarding the work that Chrissyboy puts into this.
Even with the occasional problems, I'm amazed with the time and efforts that Chris applies to the program.
One of the best investments I ever made.

Thanks again