Photo Story 3 Error Message

[Guest]

I'm looking for help with an error message I am getting from Photo Story 3.

My pc runs Windows XP Pro, and is fully patched and updated. I have a 2.4
Ghz Intel processor, with 1 GB of RAM. The video board is NVIDIA 4600 TI,
with 128 MB of RAM. The sound card is Soundblaster Audigy Platinum.

I have been using Photo Story 3 for almost 2 years. Recently, when creating
a photo story, when I try to save the project (so I can work on it again, at
a later time), I have occasionally gotten a pop up window with a message like
this

"Photo Story has experienced an unexpected error, and has to shut down"

I am offered the option to send an error message to Microsoft. When I
acknowledge the pop up message, Photo Story 3 shuts down completely, erasing
all trace of my work. Additionally, when I have attempted to convert my
project into a video, I have gotten the same error message, and the same
results. At times, when saving a project, I have even seen the program
remove/erase the original project, deleting previously saved work.

In an effort to troubleshoot the problem, I have performed the following:

Downloaded and installed the latest copy of Photo Story 3 from Microsoft.
Updated my sound card drivers.
Increased the size of my virtual memory file to over 3 GB.
Run a complete virus scan, with no hits.
Run a scan disk, with no problems detected.
Run a disk defrag.

If anybody has any ideas or suggestions on how to address/resolve this
problem, I would be most happy to hear them.

Thanks,

Rick

 

[John Inzer]

I'm looking for help with an error message I am getting
from Photo Story 3.

My pc runs Windows XP Pro, and is fully patched and
updated. I have a 2.4 Ghz Intel processor, with 1 GB of
RAM. The video board is NVIDIA 4600 TI, with 128 MB of
RAM. The sound card is Soundblaster Audigy Platinum.

I have been using Photo Story 3 for almost 2 years.
Recently, when creating a photo story, when I try to save
the project (so I can work on it again, at a later time),
I have occasionally gotten a pop up window with a message
like this

"Photo Story has experienced an unexpected error, and has
to shut down"

I am offered the option to send an error message to
Microsoft. When I acknowledge the pop up message, Photo
Story 3 shuts down completely, erasing all trace of my
work. Additionally, when I have attempted to convert my
project into a video, I have gotten the same error
message, and the same results. At times, when saving a
project, I have even seen the program remove/erase the
original project, deleting previously saved work.

In an effort to troubleshoot the problem, I have
performed the following:

Downloaded and installed the latest copy of Photo Story 3
from Microsoft. Updated my sound card drivers.
Increased the size of my virtual memory file to over 3 GB.
Run a complete virus scan, with no hits.
Run a scan disk, with no problems detected.
Run a disk defrag.

If anybody has any ideas or suggestions on how to
address/resolve this problem, I would be most happy to
hear them.

Thanks,

Rick

===============================
Just a few ideas...

You mention running a Virus Scan but
do you also run programs like: AdAware,
Spybot, A-Squared, Windows Defender?

Does this occur with every project or
only extremely large projects? PS3
is limited to 300 images but if you create
a very complex project with lots of Motion
Effects and music files... the image limit
may be reduced.

If you are adding lots of sound files...try
creating the same project without them
and see if the issue still occurs.

Do you have lots of free space on your
hard drive? 50% or more?

If you reduce your Graphics Hardware Acceleration
as per the instructions in the following article and
realize an improvement, it's an indication that you
need to update your video driver:

(263391) How to Change the Graphics
Hardware Acceleration Setting in Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=263391

--

*Notice*
This is not tech support.
I am only a volunteer.....

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you.

Proceed at your own risk.

John Inzer
Picture It! MVP

Digital Image
Highlights and FAQs
http://tinyurl.com/aczzp

 

[Guest]

John,

I have run AdAware from time to time. I have not run it recently, but
intend to to so.

Recently, this error has been occuring with every project, even a test
project with only one slide, no text, no narration, no transitions, no
effects, and no music.

The problem was also happening with no sound files used.

I have about a 100 GB hard drive, with about 60 GB of free space.

I tried your suggestion, and lowered my graphics hardware acceleration
setting, to one notch above minimum. Following this, I was able to start a
new portion of the project I have been working on, and it saved normally.

I am not sure if the change to the graphics acceleration was the sole
problem, or if I have cumulatively made enough changes to male Photo Story 3
work. I will hold my breath and cross my fingers, and hope for the best.

All in all, here are the steps I took:

1. Virus scan
2. Scan disk
3. HDD defrag.
4. Downloaded latest copy of Photo Story 3.
5. Removed installed copy of Photo Story 3.
6. Increased the size of my virtual memory to 3072 MB, with a peak of 4096 MB.
7. Updated my sound card drivers.
8. Lowered my graphics hardware acceleration setting to one notch above
minimum.
9. Lowered the resolution on my video card from 1280 X 960 @ 32 bits (true
color) to 1024 X 768 @ 16 bits (high color).

I have not (yet) updated my video drivers. If the graphics hardware
acceleration setting change is what it takes to let me save the Photo Story
projects, then I will look into updating the video drivers.

Thank you for your help.

Rick

 

[John Inzer]

If reducing your Graphics Hardware
Acceleration improved the issue...I
would suggest that you search the
support website of your Video Adapter's
manufacturer for an updated video driver.

After installing the updated driver, it
would be best if you return the acceleration
to the original setting. You should find
instructions on installing the new driver at
the support site.

--

*Notice*
This is not tech support.
I am only a volunteer.....

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you.

Proceed at your own risk.

John Inzer
Picture It! MVP

Digital Image
Highlights and FAQs
http://tinyurl.com/aczzp