Media Offline

[John Rofrano]

If you can only import the audio then it might be that a video codec is missing. Did you change anything or uninstall anything on your computer? I would use GSpot to find out what video codec the files use and then download and install that codec again (even if you think it’s already installed). This might clear things up.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Chelsea Volz]

Thank you SO much for responding!
I downloaded the GSpot application but everytime I try to run it, an error message appears that says “GSpot Codec Information Appliance ™ has stopped working.”
Might you have any idea why?

If it helps at all, the majority of the clips I’m using are .avi files, and the few that arn’t are .mp4, but it’s all the .mp4 files that are the only ones working.
Should I redownload the .avi codec?
And if so, how would I do that?

Again, thank you soo much for your help!
I actually think that you were the first and only person to help me with the first(and only) other issue I’ve ever posted on these forums! 🙂

[Joe Mantaratz]

Go back and open your project and look for all of your lost media from withing Vegas. If you were using and external drive this can happen and is not a big issue. It will say that it cannot find the file and will show you where the files would have resided. Just navigate to those files and select it. Do the same for all of them. Only if you moved or deleted the files will you not be able to recover them. As far as some of them working and not others can you please give some additional info?

[Chelsea Volz]

Thank you for responding Joe! I’ve already tried that. Numerous times. I’ve right clicked every single media clip then went to “select in project media list” and then “replace” then i went to where the file was and clicked it, but nothing happened. I even tried restarting the project numerous times, and searching for the files with Vegas’ automated option, but it only recovers the mv4 files.

And about some files working and other not working, I’m not really sure. It seems as if the mv4 files are able to be recovered by manually right clicking and replacing the clips, while the .avi files are not. And then, if I try to go back and manually import the individual clips, only the audio shows up on the timeline.
However, I did not move or rename any of the files. But it seems as if the letter of my external harddrive changed and I think that’s when the issue began. It used to be “Drive G” and then it was suddenly “Drive I”.

John – Can you explain how I’d reinstall the .avi codec, as I’m assuming thats the issue? It might not be though, thats just what I gathered from what you posted. 😀

[John Rofrano]

> Can you explain how I’d reinstall the .avi codec, as I’m assuming thats the issue? It might not be though, thats just what I gathered from what you posted

Hi Chelsea, (I remember helping you the last time) 😉

AVI is just a video container that can contain any one of many, many codecs. That’s why I said to use GSpot. The fact that GSpot cannot run at all on your computer is concerning and probably related to your Vegas problem as the first thing GSpot does it look for what codecs are installed. Where did the AVI files come from? Maybe we can figure out the codec from that?

What changed about your computer? Did you download anything and installed any software? Are you using any peer-to-peer sharing software like Limewire? These are very dangerous and should never be used. Is it possible that your computer got a virus or spyware/malware that has changed settings on your PC?

Something has changed to 1) make your external drive change letters, 2) make Vegas not recognize your AVI files 3) cause GSpot not to run. You need to figure out what this is and fix it and my guess is that it has nothing to do with Vegas.

Can you use System Restore to restore your PC back to a time when the videos worked?

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Joe Mantaratz]

John is right about what else it could be. I have had this happen before as I use multiple external drives on many systems. When you save a project in one system with and external that is recognized as D the next may call it E depending on how many drives your system has. Of course if this is not your case then indeed there is something really wrong here. Otherwise your drive letters should not change. Most assuredly do as John suggested and check to see if you have been infected.

Also are you able to play any of those files outside of Vegas using another player such as VLC? The only audio does suggest a codec missing.

[Chelsea Volz]

Thanks again Joe and John for responding. 🙂
About the letter drive changing… I think it had something to do with the fact that I unplugged my harddrive and used it in a different port for a day or two and then when I plugged it back in to the original port, it had changed letter drives. Could that be the issue?

Hi Chelsea, (I remember helping you the last time) 😉

Hi again. 🙂

AVI is just a video container that can contain any one of many, many codecs. That’s why I said to use GSpot. The fact that GSpot cannot run at all on your computer is concerning and probably related to your Vegas problem as the first thing GSpot does it look for what codecs are installed. Where did the AVI files come from? Maybe we can figure out the codec from that?

The avi files came from using Handbrake and AnyDVD software and ripping the clips from DVDs. I just ripped them as avi files.
Is there another program, aside from GSpot that I can use?

What changed about your computer? Did you download anything and installed any software? Are you using any peer-to-peer sharing software like Limewire? These are very dangerous and should never be used. Is it possible that your computer got a virus or spyware/malware that has changed settings on your PC?

I dont think I have. But, I’m not sure. I download alot of things and then never use them. One of the most recent was a program called DAEMON Pro Tools, but I only tried using it once and it wouldn’t work so I have just left it alone. Also, I do have Windows Live One Care for viruses, and I scan my computer often so I don’t think I have any viruses. But, I’ll scan again just to be sure. And, I do have Limewire but I don’t use it anymore. I will uninstall it.

Something has changed to 1) make your external drive change letters, 2) make Vegas not recognize your AVI files 3) cause GSpot not to run. You need to figure out what this is and fix it and my guess is that it has nothing to do with Vegas.

Can you use System Restore to restore your PC back to a time when the videos worked?

I wouldn’t mind doing this, as long as it didn’t mess anything up permanently. What does it do, exactly?

[Joe Mantaratz]

It can change the drive letter for sure. As far as the rest is concerned it is hard to trouble shoot with out being there. The system restore is one that window allow you to go back to a point before changes were made. There are numerous restore points and they will not damage you computer. Think of it as the Undo function in your editor. Look it up on the internet and you’ll see the how to.

[Chelsea Volz]

Okay, I definitely don’t mind doing that, the only issue I see is because I am unsure when the issue occurred or exactly what caused it. How will I know when to.. per say, “stop” the undo?
I don’t want to go back too far, I don’t think, but it’s difficult because I’m not sure how far back to go.

Also, before this error occurred where ALL of my .avi clips were unrecognizable, it was only happening to a select few .avi clips(clips that I downloaded from torrents – some of them, anyway) but the ripped clips were still able to work correctly. So, I do believe that it could just be a codec issue and maybe that would solve those things that were happening before, and more importantly, this huge issue now.
Is there another program that can be used just as GSpot is or should I just google and see if there is a way I could get it to work?

[John Rofrano]

> I download alot of things and then never use them.

This is a recipe for disaster and you are seeing the effects of it right now. You will never have a stable environment to work with if you keep changing it like that.

> One of the most recent was a program called DAEMON Pro Tools, but I only tried using it once and it wouldn’t work so I have just left it alone.

This is what changed your drive letter! DAEMON Pro Tools is software that creates virtual drives. It took the drive letter that you were using for your hard drive for itself. That explains it.

> And, I do have Limewire but I don’t use it anymore. I will uninstall it.

I have a good friend who doesn’t listen to me and used Limewire just this week to download an MP3 file. When he clicked on the file it said it needed Songza to open and prompted him to install it. It then hijacked his browser, installed a keylogger that phoned home (luckily he was smart enough to denied it getting past his firewall) and his computer is a mess now. He can’t search & his system restore is gone. It really did a number on him. All from a seemingly inocent MP3 file. Limewire is an accident waiting to happen. Get rid of it.

> The avi files came from using Handbrake and AnyDVD software and ripping the clips from DVDs. I just ripped them as avi files.

As I said, AVI is just a container. It’s like a paper bag to put groceries in. We need to know what groceries you put in the bag. Since you created the AVI in handbrake you should be able to select a codec to use. What did you select? In the future, try using a codec that edits well in Vegas (Huffyuv, Lararith, DV, MJPEG, etc.)

> Is there another program, aside from GSpot that I can use?

there is but I don’t know the name off-hand. I’ve just always used GSpot. You can google for one but be careful what you download. Some are viral.

Personally, I think it’s time format your PC and start over. Who knows what you have downloaded to mess things up. You should seriously consider finding the restore DVD that came with your computer. Take inventory of all the applications that you really use (find their install disc and license codes, etc.) and restore your PC to it’s original state and re-install only the programs you really need. Then stop downloading things.

It’s impossible for us (and you) to know what caused this because of the many downloads (DAEMON Pro Tools being the latest thing that messed you up). I wish I had a better reply. System Restore might help if you only could remember when it started going wrong then pick an earlier date.

If you just want to find the codec you need, then try and figure out what codec you used with Handbrake.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com