Problem with Ulead DVD Movie Factory (won't start)

[Slinkie]

I've been all over Ulead's site and forum, and this forum, haven't seen a problem like this one. Also, please don't tell me to send mail to Ulead, done that, can't even access the support form they send you further to, it requires a login and the ones I set up on their site don't work. In the meantime, I'm posting here. Ok, now to the question:

After installing DVD Movie Factory successfully (seemingly), I try to start the Authoring part of it. It tells me that the Authoring components are not correctly installed and asks me to re-install them. I've done this, I've removed the program entirely, I've repaired the program, etc. Has anyone seen this and found a workaround?

This same thing occurred with the Trial version of the program.

Having an awfully hard time finding a program that will simply encode the files I give it. NeoDVD (which comes with my burner feels the compelling need to re-encode all my files at a higher bitrate), SpruceUp can't even be purchased so as soon as the trial runs out I'm hosed there, I can't download trial versions of DVDit, ReelDVD or MyDVD.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

-- Slinkie

[VB]

ur almost as lucky as me
the major problem of unlead is that it works wit ligos codecs, so dependin ur drivers or hardware it might not work or maybe fuckin the whole system like hapened to me when i tryed it ( my media player wasn't playin not even mpeg1 cause of the ligos he installed)
i sugest u go throught other programs, i really like roxio videopack, have lots of option, more complicated but u can work ur menus and chapters in many diferent ways

[Lamont Cranston]

When you uninstall DVDMF be sure a delete ulead32.ini. What operating system are you running?

[Slinkie]

So, I pretty much just gave up on Ulead. I can't get to their actual support site, they just give me the boilerplate response. I'll be bringing back Ulead DVD Movie Factory to the store today.

I did go purchase Dazzle DVD Complete though. It's twice as much, but at least it installs. I actually did have one little problem with it, though, as the serial number they sent it with seemed to be invalid. Dazzle has 24/7 free phone tech support in the first month of after purchase and I was actually able to talk to a human who gave me a new serial number over the phone that worked.

That kind of customer service right there is worth the extra loot.

I created a project, added video, etc., and I think the program is pretty darn cool so far.

I have yet to burn any actual DVDs with it yet though, as the source video I was using was slightly too large to burn on to the DVD (odd, I used the bitrate calculator on this site). But it seemed to do the authoring well.

The only oddity is it doesn't seem to recognize my writer yet (SONY 120), but that isn't a problem since I was going to use Nero to burn anyway.

(oh, my os is win98 for the gentleman who asked).

-- Slinkie