moving WMM project & files to another computer

[roleki]

Hello,
I created a music video on an XP computer that worked great. I moved the
project and all the related clip files to a VISTA computer so that I could
utilize some of the newer "effects" (WMM v.6). BUT, even though the project
seems to exhibit all the clips on the timeline just fine - it won't play or
"publish" because (I think) WMM thinks the original files are missing.
Initially, the timeline was blank - but I clicked on<browse for missing file>
which SEEMED to bring everthing back in, but it still doesn't play. Does
anyone know how to tell WMM where to "look for" files in the case of a
computer change. I know that invariably, with such a switch, the files are
obviously no longer in exactly the same spot as before - and the project
needs to be re-educated as to their location.

 

[John Inzer]

Hello,
I created a music video on an XP computer that worked great. I moved
the project and all the related clip files to a VISTA computer so
that I could utilize some of the newer "effects" (WMM v.6). BUT,
even though the project seems to exhibit all the clips on the
timeline just fine - it won't play or "publish" because (I think) WMM
thinks the original files are missing. Initially, the timeline was
blank - but I clicked on<browse for missing file> which SEEMED to
bring everthing back in, but it still doesn't play. Does anyone know
how to tell WMM where to "look for" files in the case of a computer
change. I know that invariably, with such a switch, the files are
obviously no longer in exactly the same spot as before - and the
project needs to be re-educated as to their location.

===============================
Just wondering...do you see any Red Xs?

To clarify...did you copy the .mswmm file
and 'all' the original source files into a folder
that you then moved to your Vista machine?

Are you certain that you actually copied the
source files into the folder and didn't just create
shortcuts? I mean can you open the folder on
your Vista machine and view the source files?

--

John Inzer
Digital Media MVP

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[roleki]

Hi John,
Thanks for the assistance! After moving everything from my XP computer to
my VISTA computer, I initially saw "red X's" when I first tried to open my
newly transferred project. I right clicked on each one and chose <browse for
missing file>. The "red X's" were successively replaced with the preview of
each clip. It now appears complete in the timeline - but it won't play (or
publish) ...
I did move the .mswmm file along with all the original video clips in one
folder - from my XP computer to my VISTA computer ( I can open the folder and
view all the original video clips). But the project still won't play. Do
you have any other ideas or suggestions I may try?
Thanks again,

 

[John Inzer]

Hi John,
Thanks for the assistance! After moving everything from my XP
computer to my VISTA computer, I initially saw "red X's" when I first
tried to open my newly transferred project. I right clicked on each
one and chose <browse for missing file>. The "red X's" were
successively replaced with the preview of each clip. It now appears
complete in the timeline - but it won't play (or publish) ...
I did move the .mswmm file along with all the original video clips in
one folder - from my XP computer to my VISTA computer ( I can open
the folder and view all the original video clips). But the project
still won't play. Do you have any other ideas or suggestions I may
try?
Thanks again,

=================================
Sounds like you did everything correctly.
Sorry...I don't have the answer...but I'm
wondering if the format of the source files
could be a problem:

File type compatibility with Movie Maker
http://tinyurl.com/v8tee

As an experiment could you import the
source files into a new project just to see
how they react.

--

John Inzer
Digital Media MVP

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[roleki]

Hi John,
Yeah, I thought I had done everything correctly - All the original video
clips are .avi format (so I don't think that is a problem)... I'm very
perplexed by this problem ... I guess I'll just start over and do the same
thing again on THIS computer... It's very frustrating - because, as I
mentioned ... the timeline plane SHOWS all the clips RIGHT there ... but it
just won't play or publish ... GRRRRRRR~~~~
Thank you so much for all the assistance!
Bob

 

[PapaJohn]

Vista out of the box supports fewer AVI compression types that an XP system
that's been used for a long time and has collected codecs. It could be codec
related.

Do the AVI files play in WMP on Vista... if so, what codecs are the
properties of the file showing as in the player?

 

[PapaJohn]

WMP won't show the codecs the files were made with, but the codecs it's
using to play them.... which can be different ones than Movie Maker uses,
but it's a good clue.

 

[John Inzer]

Hi John,
Yeah, I thought I had done everything correctly - All the original
video clips are .avi format (so I don't think that is a problem)...
I'm very perplexed by this problem ... I guess I'll just start over
and do the same thing again on THIS computer... It's very frustrating
- because, as I mentioned ... the timeline plane SHOWS all the clips
RIGHT there ... but it just won't play or publish ... GRRRRRRR~~~~
Thank you so much for all the assistance!
Bob

====================================
Did you try importing the files into a new project?
What was the result?

There are many types of.avi files...if you continue
to have problems ....the following freebie may be
useful in identifying the necessary codec.

GSpot Download
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/GSpot.htm
(left click the text: 'Download GSpot')
(on the next screen.....
left click: 'Download [ GSpot 2.70a ]')


--

John Inzer
Digital Media MVP

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[roleki]

Hi PapaJohn & John,
The .avi files play just fine in WMP by themselves- the codecs are labeled
as: <DV Video Decoder>
I downloaded the GSpot Codec thing - but I don't quite know what I'm
supposed to do with it ...
Thanks,
Bob

 

[roleki]

--- and yes, I did just import the same .avi files into a new project and
they play just perfectly (I also "published" them out of WMM)... It's so
weird ... because, they're RIGHT there in the timeline frame ... and appear
just fine ... it just won't play ... I don't think it's a codec problem.
Thanks,
Bob

Hi John,
Yeah, I thought I had done everything correctly - All the original
video clips are .avi format (so I don't think that is a problem)...
I'm very perplexed by this problem ... I guess I'll just start over
and do the same thing again on THIS computer... It's very frustrating
- because, as I mentioned ... the timeline plane SHOWS all the clips
RIGHT there ... but it just won't play or publish ... GRRRRRRR~~~~
Thank you so much for all the assistance!
Bob

====================================
Did you try importing the files into a new project?
What was the result?

There are many types of.avi files...if you continue
to have problems ....the following freebie may be
useful in identifying the necessary codec.

GSpot Download
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/GSpot.htm
(left click the text: 'Download GSpot')
(on the next screen.....
left click: 'Download [ GSpot 2.70a ]')


--

John Inzer
Digital Media MVP

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[John Inzer]

--- and yes, I did just import the same .avi files into a new project
and they play just perfectly (I also "published" them out of WMM)...
It's so weird ... because, they're RIGHT there in the timeline frame
... and appear just fine ... it just won't play ... I don't think
it's a codec problem. Thanks,
Bob

==========================================
There you go...your previous project file
must be corrupted. Sounds like starting
over is the best bet.

--

John Inzer
Digital Media MVP

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[roleki]

Hi John,
Yes, I suppose I'll just start over (I was hoping I wouldn't have to because
it took me HOURS & HOURS getting the video of the vocal performances synced
appropriately with the audio track).
... thank you so much for all the advice and suggestions!
Bob

 

[John Inzer]

Hi John,
Yes, I suppose I'll just start over (I was hoping I wouldn't have to
because it took me HOURS & HOURS getting the video of the vocal
performances synced appropriately with the audio track).
... thank you so much for all the advice and suggestions!
Bob

=================================
You're welcome.

Hope you have better luck next time.

--

John Inzer
Digital Media MVP

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[PapaJohn]

If you have a corrupt project file, but it still opens in Movie Maker... you
can easily copy/paste all the clips from it to a new project file, to save
doing it all over.

Use standard copy/paste commands such as Control-A to select all the clips
on a track, Control-C to copy them to the computer's clipboard, and
Control-V to paste them into the new project file. A few passes back and
forth between the corrupt project and the new one will get everything moved
over.