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Windows Movie Maker Query
Hi,
I am trying to help a computer-challenged friend use Windows Movie Maker for simple music-still photo videos. We’re doing this over the phone, staring at (more or less) the same screen.
My problem: In using WMM 2.0.3312.0, upon the command “Import Video” it only allows importing one previously stored .avi clip. If I try to import a second .avi, it removes the first from its “collection,” and substitutes the new one. It appears that I can import several still photos, e.g. .jpg without problem. Also, on the Windows task bar at the bottom of the screen there appears a notification “The trial period has…ended”.
I would like to know what to do, hence I need help.
I thought WMM was “free” with XP, but cannot find it. I only find to launch the above version, which is causing this problem. I would be happy to revert to the basic one, since I seldom use it, loving Vegas.
Many thanks in advance,
John -
7 Replies
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Never use WMM but thought I’d take a look at it when I read your question. It appears to be true that once you import a movie file, when you import another one the first one appears to disappear. HOWEVER if you look right above the ‘library’ there is a drop down list that when you hit the arrow it shows you all the files you have imported. So they are really there. Seems like a strange way to do it!
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Thanks, Terry,
It seems to work as you described. I agree it is a very strange way to work, but…. I’m not out of the woods yet. When I line up some clips on the timeline, and hit “play” anywhere along it, the vertical cursor on the timeline progresses, but the preview window is black, and no sound. Still, this business about “The trial period has ended” must have something to do with it.
John -
I don’t know what the trial period thing is about as WMM is an integral part of XP and I don’t think there are any upgrades to it you can buy. Sounds like the installation is corrupted. You do have XP SP2 right?
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PS my copy of WMM plays fine from the time line.
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It sure sounds like it’s probably corrupted, because it worked fine a few months ago, when I used it last, before my friend asked for directions. I’ll have to find my SP2 disk, (I know it’s somewhere….) and see if I can identify and re-install (only) the WMM in it. I don’t want to reinstall SP2 all over again.
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You can’t “download” windows movie maker, or even the updates. It gets updated through Microsoft Update or through service packs, but I’ve never been able to find a standalone updater or installer for it anywhere.
https://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/moviemaker2.mspx is the site for it.
WMM makes a decent little clip in a pinch, but there are other free editors that do a great job too, and are better than WMM. Try Avid-DV Free – https://www.avid.com/freedv/
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Mark,
Thank you for your suggestion to try the Avid free product. I did not respond to you to thank you, until I had a chance to download and try it (then see if I can train my friend to use it). Unfortunately, after downloading and installing it, it had some sort of bug in it and did not install properly ~ and did not work.
Nevertheless, I appreciate your interest and suggestion.
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