Windows Movie Maker: Create DVD With Scenes/Clips

[Tim M]

I've recently begun using Windows Movie Maker. My needs (videos of vacations and my daughter's wedding) and frequency of use are such that MM is more than sufficient for me and, so far, I'm quite happy with it. However, there's one thing I'd like to be abe to do that I hope someone can tell me (or confirm for me that it is not possible with Movie Maker).

I would like to have my DVDs created with a series of scene selections, perhaps based on the clips created when the video is captured. Right now, my completed DVDs have one icon on each of them that activates the whole video and I can't use my remote to click to different scenes. Like how one can do with movie DVDs you buy or rent from the video store.

Is the creeation of scene/clip icons on a completed DVD possible with Windows Movie Maker?

I'm using Windows Movie Maker version 5.1, SP 2 on a Dell Inspiron 1.7 Gig laptop with a 100 meg HD and a Gig of ram. I'm not certain if my PC specs were necessary, but I included them anyway. I'm feeding video from my JVC digital video camera via a fire fire using the setting "Digital Device Format". Once I've set up my storyboard and edited as I wish it, I click the "Save to DVD" link in the tool bar to start the process. I'm using Memorex DVD-R.

Thank you very much in advance for any advice or comments.

[thecoalman]

You need authoring software, try Ulead Movie Factory. If you continue to use Movie Maker to edit make sure you export the video as DV-AVI to import into Movie Factory or any other apllications.

[guns1inger]

Are you sure it's Windows Movie Maker ? I have never seen a version WMM that authors DVD.

[Tim M]

You need authoring software, try Ulead Movie Factory.

Thank you. I found the ULoad site and although I had hoped to be a cheap skate and not outlay aything, the $50 USD for the basic version (pro version is too much for my system) if relatively affordable, I think.

Are you sure it's Windows Movie Maker ?

Most definitely. It's version 5.1 and came with my Dell laptop as part of the XP Home O/S.

[thecoalman]

It's version 5.1 and came with my Dell laptop as part of the XP Home O/S.

Actually it's version 2, look below where it states version 5.1 . the 5.1 is in reference to windows .

As stated you cannot author a DVD with Movie Maker, I'm assuming your just transferring files to a DVD. out of curiosity what exactly is it your doing to get them to a DVD.

[Tim M]

It's version 5.1 and came with my Dell laptop as part of the XP Home O/S.

Actually it's version 2, look below where it states version 5.1 . the 5.1 is in reference to windows .

As stated you cannot author a DVD with Movie Maker, I'm assuming your just transferring files to a DVD. out of curiosity what exactly is it your doing to get them to a DVD.

On the version, good heavens, you're correct! Sorry about that. A major part of my job is managing/developing database apps for a living and I often despair at how dumb some of my users can be... ummm, I think I've just proven how easy it is to be "dumb"... How fortunate I am that none of my users frequent this forum (I hope...)!

As for getting what I've done to a DVD, I'll try and enclose a screen shot here (a little less than 200kb - sorry,I just used MS Paint). I've circled in red the command I use, it's on the left. It prompts you to plop a dvd into the drive, saves the movie and then burns it onto the DVD.

[Tim M]

Eww, that's rather scrunched up... However, if you use Netscrape (deliberate misspell) like I do, ou can right click and view the image. Probably can do the same in IE or other browsers.

[thecoalman]

Eww, that's rather scrunched up...

It's the "screw BJ_M and his giant images" forum hack so large images don't cuase you to have to scroll to the right, just click the image in any browser for the full size.

What format does it save the files to on the DVD? I'd try it myself but my DVD writer is out of commision at the moment.

[Tim M]

Eww, that's rather scrunched up...

What format does it save the files to on the DVD? I'd try it myself but my DVD writer is out of commision at the moment.

Now that I don't know. I'm sitting outside a library right now downloading ULead Movie Factory (My Dell wireless works everywhere I've travelled in North America EXCEPT at the university where I work - go figure) and the DVDs I made last night are at home (where I'm on dial up). I'll check when I return.

[Tim M]

Well, I've looked at the created DVDs (I was only doing some sample of a few minutes so that I could figure out how things would look) and there are a number of files.