3.02 Questions

[John Holste]

Bob,

1) What is the error message that pops up?

2) I am not sure how WinXP qualifies “running” a program but if pI302 has crashed every time you have attempted to run it maybe WinXP has not added it to the list of recent applications and you did say you ran “reset default settings” and it apparently ran and completed and is now in the list.

[Bob Moyer]

1)Sorry about not being specific about the error msg. But it was “PI encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.” And then gives me the option to “Send Error Report” to Microsoft. When I select “Don’t Send” it immediately closes PI 3.02.

2)PI 3.02 has only crashed when I tried to save to an .avi file type – not everytime. I even tried the ‘WMV’ format and it saved it just fine and I got another window pop up for more options. If I just exit after ‘playing’ with it, PI will behave correctly. However, it will NOT show up in the ‘recent programs’ section at all/ever! The option to “run with software rendering” shows up instead of the regular 3.02 program . I have openGL ability and it is recognized and will display correctly if I run the program by launching 3.02 from START/All Programs/etc. As you mentioned, I ran the “reset default settings” option and you are correct as it DID show up in the ‘recent’ section as did PI render, PI Batch, particle view. I realize that this is no big deal, I just thought you should know about it in case I am not the only person to experience this (evidently I am). I can still launch this but with a few more mouse clicks.

Bob

[John Holste]

Bob

1) Unfortunately that is a WinXP error message, not much help. Alan suggested, “You may want to install a tool like “codec sniper” — something that will list all of your codecs, tell you if they are “ok” or “broken”, and let you remove bad codecs.”

2) I use the classic start menu but there are options for how many programs to list in the recent programs list as well as a clear button in the start menu you use.

[Bob Moyer]

I took your advice and ‘code sniper’ reported the following codec(?) as broken. Do you have any ideas as to what might occurr if I delete it? Also, do you have any idea where to find this file that is not broken and how to install it? I am really lost here!

Class – DirectShow
Name – MPEG-2Sections and Tables
Filename – %systemroot%\system32\mpeg2data.ax
FourCC – (blank)
Version – (blank)
Status – broken

“2) I use the classic start menu but there are options for how many programs to list in the recent programs list as well as a clear button in the start menu you use.”

I use the start menu that came with XP (not the classic) and I have never had a program behave this way (meaning not showing up as recently run – let alone have it show up as ‘run with software rendering’.

I really appreciate your help on this.

Bob

[John Holste]

Bob,

I am not sure what will happen if you delete the “broken” codec but what we hope will happen is you pI will now be able to save avi’s.

With the start menu you will most likely have to “clear” the recently run programs list and then run pI and pI will show up in the list.

John

[Bob Moyer]

Some additional information if that may help…

Evidently, that file below is installed as part of Directx 9.0c.

Class – DirectShow
Name – MPEG-2Sections and Tables
Filename – %systemroot%\system32\mpeg2data.ax
FourCC – (blank)
Version – (blank)
Status – broken

The utility that you suggested (codec sniper) also cautions that deleting a broken codec may destablize your system (I can’t have that!) So, I downloaded a fresh version of Directx 9.0c and installed over the one that I had and the file is still reported as ‘broken’.

Alan had recommended checking a registry value to someone else on the forum on 10/12 but he was having .avi trouble with piRender. Just for peace of mind I tried those remedies also but with the same crash and error msg. Mine crashed in piRender also when trying to render to .avi with the same msg. In the Registry, (HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\wondertouch\pIllusionRender\Settings\AviCompressor) my value is already set to 0.

And lastly, even when I ‘cleared’ my start menu and launched PI 3.02, it still lists it as “run with software rendering”. No mention of the name PartleIllusion or anything – just as I typed above in the quotes.

Bob

[Alan Lorence]

I’m not clear if you’ve run pIRender alone, or if you’ve been launching it from pI. If you haven’t tried launching pIR alone, do that, select AVI output, but don’t press the ‘AVI Options’ button — just use whatever AVI setting it shows already.

If that works, then run pIR again, and this time press the AVI Options button.

Also, make sure you’re loading a “nice” project — use 640 x 480 as the stage size (because this is supported by most codecs). It doesn’t matter what emitters are in the project — in fact it doesn’t even need emitters, although without emitters it’s hard to see if you loaded the right project in pIR when it’s rendering.

Alan.

http://www.wondertouch.com

[Bob Moyer]

Alan,
I launch pIllusionRender (stand-alone program). Screen comes up with both project file box and output box empty. The current movie settings list ArcSoft Mpeg Writer. ALL other boxes and options are blank. Select render and I get “Error Opening Project File” If I navigate to a file to try (.ipf OR .ip3) ALL of the options become greyed out – even render. At this point, I can either close it (X in corner) or select AVI options which will crash it with “pIllusionRender has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.” – Send/Don’t Send. If I select the WMV Options, I get a list of Presets and Settings.

Hope this helps.

Bob

[Bob Moyer]

Additionally, I just checked the ‘system information/multimedia/video codecs’ and I do not have any codecs listed as “ArcSoft Mpeg Writer”. All of my codecs are from Microsoft/Intel/Radius/Beepa P/L (Fraps Video Decompressor)/CineForm/Asus.

Is this any help?

Bob

[Bob Moyer]

I am trying….Back to PI3.02, project size 640×480 created a particle on a path…could save it as .png series and/or .wmv file, select .avi and the previously mentioned crash occurrs.

Also, I resolved the broken codec issue and ‘codec sniper’ now reports all are ‘ok’.

piRender (stand alone) also still crashes when selecting .avi.

Any ideas?

Bob