Why does doing video editing make other apps stop working?

[brassplyer]

I've found that after doing a lot of rendering using Virtualdub or Pinnacle Studio - it borks other apps. When I try to open Windows Media Player - I get the installation screen like it expects me to install WMP. Outlook Express looks like I've never set it up. Cakewalk Home Studio says there are no audio drivers installed, Soundforge goes back to the basic just installed view.

Upon reboot everything goes back to normal. Any idea why this happens?

Running XP Home SP2

[minidv2dvd]

after 10+ years of rendering video, that's a new one. i've never heard of that problem. i think we'll have to name it after you. it sure shouldn't ever happen and i don't have a clue as to why it would other than your windows install is due for a format/re-install for borked components.

[filmboss80]

Hasn't happened to me either, and I've been cutting video on PCs -- on pro workstations at the office as well as consumer-level setups for the kids at home -- since 1995.

By any chance, do you have a codec pack loaded on your system?

[jagabo]

Never seen anything like that.

[lowellriggsiam]

I have never seen this either. It's likely you have a duplicate file that has registered itself as the primary one. Try running the XP system file checker start->run->sfc /scannow it may fix your unusual problem.

[lordsmurf]

OS issue, I'd imagine. Codec packs is good first culprit.

[sanlyn]

Weird. Your PC and operating system weren't described, but it's still weird, regardless. I note that all Pinnacle products have severe memory leaks, slowing my PC to the point where I have to restart after I've worked with it a while. It also depends on how you're using VDub; some plugins monopolize memory to the point where everything slows to a crawl. But that doesn't explain how other apps resort to default settings. Do you shut down your video apps and wait a few secs before starting other apps ? (no one should try to multitask when processing video!) On many setups video work dominates memory to the point where other apps don't have "room" to load properly. I've seen that occur.

[jagabo]

no one should try to multitask when processing video!

Huh? I almost never NOT multitask while encoding. I often have two encodings going at the same time. There's almost always other stuff going on. File downloads, email, web browsing, image editing, etc.

Obviously, one has to have sufficient memory and a properly functioning system.