W Moviemaker crashes due to large file size

[Sridhar]

Hello

I have been using Windows Movie maker for more than three years without any
hassles on my computer running Windows XP

Recently I have encouintered a problem in capturing video from by DV camcorder
The programme crashes within few seconds of capture (in less than 30 seconds)

So I started trying various other video capture prorgammes like AVS
/Cyberlink Power DVD/ WinDV. Both Powever DVD & Win DV generates unusually
very large size file of about 225 mb per minute. In the past normally it take
15 minutes of capture to generate such a large size file of 225 mb size file.

AVS software similar to Windows Moviemaker, ends up with error message after
couple of seconds for the reason I am short of memory resoucres, prompting me
to shut down other programs. But Moviemaker just crashes without even any
error message.

So I tried upgrading my hardware by increasing the RAM capacity from 760 mb
to 1500 mb. Still there is no solution to this problem.

It appears to me, there is something wrong in video compression engine of
the computer on the operating system Windos XP rather than to a specific
video capture programme, be it Windows Moview maker / Power DVD / Win DV /AVS
or whatever it may be.

Only ultimate plan I have as a last resort is to try reinstalling Windows XP.
Before that, could anyone having a clue on what the problem might be give me
suggestions to trouble shoot this problem

Thanks in advance

regards
Sridhar

 

[PapaJohn]

Your new files sizes for DV (DV-AVI) files of 225 mb per minute are
appropriate when connecting and capturing DV by firewire... your smaller
ones before would have been more compressed, and not DV-AVI.

If you capture a clip with WinDV, does it play OK with Windows Media Player
before you import it into Movie Maker?

 

[Sridhar]

Yes when I capture with Win DV, it plays OK with windows media player.
I just learned from another source that AVI files appear better on TV than
on Computer while it is other way around for WMA type files that I am used to
in the past.

So in future I may try to use AVI format, however I may need to increas my
hardrive capacity due to larger files.

But I still need to find the reason why WMA file type capturing is not
working now that was there before.

Thank anyway for your response
regards
Sridhar

 

[PapaJohn]

When you connect by firewire from a DV camcorder, and opt for WMV... the
capture goes first to a temporary DV-AVI file, and then as time permits,
Movie Maker builds the wmv file fromt the temp DV-AVI file. You might be
needing more hard drive space for the temp file and some elbow room as it
builds the wmv.

External USB2 drives are modest in price and work well to capture to.

 

[Sridhar]

Your are correct on your point about temporary file.
But the reason for Movie maker crashing within one minute of capture remains
un explained. Because I still have more than 6 gb space left in my drive.

Thnaks any way for your suggestions on External USB2 drives