[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

[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]

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]

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

[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

[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

[Bob Moyer]

Thank you very much for the progress report on the update. I, for one, am anxiously awaiting its release. Not that I am having any problems – just looking forward to the new features. I would love to be a beta tester but in all honesty I am not all that proficient with PI3.
Bob

[Bob Moyer]

Beta or no beta, that was very intertaining. However, if I had done something like that production, my wife would probably have tried to get me committed or at least have my medications increased. Really enjoyed it.

Bob

[Bob Moyer]

Ah, yeah, that was supposed to be 1 gig of RAM. Anyway…I posted the initial problem on 1/22, but I had fretted over it for a couple of days prior to asking for help. Support recommended uninstall/reinstall/clean registry, well, I had planned on doing all of that over this coming weekend. Today, I launch Vegas and all is well. I can even access the the ‘preference’ menu. Thanks for all of your suggestions, I will keep them in mind if this ever happens again.

Also, I had done both a virus scan and spybot and adaware scans. The hard drive was not making any sounds at all, I purposely listened. The activity light flickered, but the hourglass (busy) cursor only showed up when I initially clicked on Vegas and then almost immediately reverted back into an arrow cursor. It would eventually launch but almost 2 minutes later and by that time I forgot I tried to launch it and was playing Hearts.

[Bob Moyer]

Allen,
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my problem. However, I recently defragged all of my drives (maybe that’s what happened?). By recently, I mean within the last 2 weeks or so.

I have also posted this problem on the Sony forum but alas, no help there yet.

So I guess no one’s has ever had this problem before. I logged a support request. But for whatever its’ worth, the program seems to function in that I can render (only tried MPEG2). It just suddenly takes up to 2 minutes to boot up to the splash screen. I have a 3.4 pentium/1 meg RAM and this problem is just recent. As I mentioned it is the same on both Versions 5c and 6d. When I go to the Options menu and select Preferences…everything stops responding and I have to kill it.

Thanks again for your time.
Bob