Encoding - BEGGING FOR HELP HERE!!!

[newbie]

In the past, I ripped DVDs and converted them to VCDs without problems whatsoever. Lately, everything I do with AVI/MPEG related will crash the system. First TMPGenc will give me "write/read error at address xxxx...". If I start it over again it will reboot the system by itself.

First I thought the RAM (1x256Mb stick) has gone bad. Replaced it with another one didn't help. Then I thought the VGA card, replaced it again didn't help. Then I thought the DVD drive has gone bad so I ripped DVDs from other PC and copied the ripped VOBs over for encoding. Still crashed the system and/or "write error at address xxxxx" crap from TMPGEnc. However, if I encode those files from another PC over the network then it's OK (painfully slow though).

I couldn't think of anything else could affect the encoding process. I'd tried different encoders all crashed, including VirtualDub. Crashed with all windows versions as well.

I'd updated with the latest drivers but no help. In short, this PC now is totally unusable for encoding. Could it be the CPU??? I'll be thrilled if anyone could help me out.

Spec
AMD 1800+
Samsung DVD drive
Sis 650 motherboard.

[penamty]

I had a similar problem a few moths ago, in my case I could not even play an audio file, let alone encode video in any aplication. The problem appeared without any aparent reason and was not related to any new software install, since I had not made any. It was all solved by reinstalling all my codecs, it seems that one of them got corrupted and was afecting all the multimedia applications.

[musher70]

Did u installl xp service pack 1?

Had a lot of video encoding/capturing issues when i did that.

Reformatted c:hard drive, now everything is a ok.

Just a thought, system restore didn't help either.

Uninstalling SP1 not reallly an option either, system went haywire.

Use partition magic around c drive,like 3 or so partittions,
keep c around 20 gigs, then reformat it,and all you have to do
is reinstall xp updates n programs, move u video files around to
other drives, sounds like fun dont it, takes a few hrs, but it might
be worth it....

[newbie]

Thanks for the tips. In that case, I'm still better off than you were. At least I can still play video files OK. It's only crashes when encoding.

Do you recall what CODECs you were re-installing? At the moment, I don't have many CODECs installed on my PC. Mainly:

- DIVX Pro 5
- VFAPI
- Huffyuv

If CODECs are the source of the problem then probably it's Huffyuv in my case since I only installed it lately for video capturing.

Wish it's not hardward related problems. I'll re-build the PC again without unnecessary CODECs if it changes anything.

[newbie]

musher70,
Yes, I tried all sort of combination I can think of. XP with and without SP1 but mades no difference. Win 2k with SP3, etc

Now I'm running out of options but AMD CPU.

[Wanker]

Not sure if this'll help, but I also run an AMD CPU and was getting the same error.

I was having the same problem a few weeks ago with TMPGEnc. Couldn't encode anything.

I just dumped TMPGEnc and all my codecs (like mentioned above) and re-installed them all and all seems OK so far.

[artships]

musher70,
Yes, I tried all sort of combination I can think of. XP with and without SP1 but mades no difference. Win 2k with SP3, etc

Now I'm running out of options but AMD CPU.

Always a good option! Just remember to install PowerDVD first and again last in order to make sure the latest codecs are install. TMPGEnc worked fine for me for months until I installed an ancient DVD authoring package, which replaced my PowerDVD XP codecs. I had to de- then re-install PowerDVD.

Try it. Let us know how it works.

[Gazorgan]

I had the same problem on a virgin machine (litterally 2 hours into the build). Thanks to Ghost backups, I was able to isolate the problem to what codecs got installed when.

I have found that the nimo codec pack can be very dangerous. If you install everyhting, you are hosed(read the warning, it tells you not to and doesn't do it by default). I have only installed the codecs I needed. The audio codecs out of Nimo, DivX 5.x and latest XviD. I installed Power VCR just for playing DVD's. I did not install any directshow filters. WMP 7.1 and WME seemed to break TMP/VDUB, particularly in audio area.

As a test with TMP, try encoding with no audio.

[tonyp12]

I had the same problem too.

Installing the latest BIOS and MB drivers did help for me.

[newbie]

Thanks all for your replies. I'd tried everything (except BIOS update) but no success.

I'd done many clean XP/Win2K installs over and over again but did not help. In my case, after the install of XP/Win2k without any CODECs it still crashes and/or reboot when DVD2AVIing and/or TMPGENCing (ripping and
playing are fine).

In my case, I don't think it's software related but CPU and/or BIOS thingy. BTW I'd also reset the BIOS back to the defaults too.

What I'd done recently was adding a analog capture card. Even before I installed the capture card drivers, the PC still crashes when encoding. This leaves me to believe that there would a power shortage. I'll take out the card see if it still crashes. If not then my power supply is not able to meet all power usage!

[newbie]

Once again, thanks guys!
Strange, really strange. In case those of you having the same probem as us (or with me). This is it ... the Divx C.O.D.E.C!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A clean install didn't work for me at all, even before I installed any CODECs. However, I'd followed tips from you guys and install PowerDVD first, then oldest CODEC to the newest CODEC (Divx 5.02). And it WORKS!

Well not exactly but at least I can DVD2AVI without crashes now. That's the first step. The second step will be TMPGENc of course. Fingers cross ... I'll keep you guys informed. Hope this will help other newbies...