Aviding system problems

[Awelch]

I have experienced lots of problems with moviemaker which I attribute to
memory management and/or programming errors. Some things that seem to help:
1. Frequently save the project.
2. Inspect the project for faults regularly as you work.
3. Avoid saving a movie file before the project is completed. If you
import a movie file for further work it'll be a nightmare of merged and
broken clips and sometimes have whole sections missing.
4. Whenever you insert new clips, play that whole section of movie to
check for errors. Clips may get truncated or duplicated in your film.
Some clips can also get corrupted causing movie maker to lock up.
5. Keeping your movie brief and minimizing transitions etc will likely
produce fewer problems.
6. A state of the art computer with no memory errors is essential and it
may help to keep your disc defragmented.
7. Movie Maker must be the only program running in your computer. No
internet connections and no anti-virus or firewalls.

 

[Wojo]

I have experienced lots of problems with moviemaker which I attribute to
memory management and/or programming errors. Some things that seem to
help:
1. Frequently save the project.
2. Inspect the project for faults regularly as you work.
3. Avoid saving a movie file before the project is completed. If you
import a movie file for further work it'll be a nightmare of merged and
broken clips and sometimes have whole sections missing.
4. Whenever you insert new clips, play that whole section of movie to
check for errors. Clips may get truncated or duplicated in your film.
Some clips can also get corrupted causing movie maker to lock up.

The above are true, some of them obvious, but true.

5. Keeping your movie brief and minimizing transitions etc will likely
produce fewer problems.

Yes but booooooringggg......
Instead create sections of your project and save those mini movies only
importing them all and putting them all together in the end.

6. A state of the art computer with no memory errors is essential and it
may help to keep your disc defragmented.

State of the Art is not all all necessary. The lower your system resources
the longer Movie Maker will take to create your movie and yes you will have
issues with complex projects but then you can do as stated after #6. But
your right about defragmenting your hard drive. That is important to do.

7. Movie Maker must be the only program running in your computer. No
internet connections and no anti-virus or firewalls.

I never ever ever shut down my internet connection, anti-virus, or
firewalls.
I do however make sure to disable any other background programs especially
my screensaver.
-Wojo