PC Locks Up When Converting Files

"ive been converting for yrs and had no issues until a few months back , everytime i try to convert files to burn to dvd my pc either locks or quits and shuts down , i did hear it was because ther pc may be dirty so ive recently cleaned it out free from any dust etc, but i still have this issue , also some of the dvds i manage to get done either short episode progs are now jumping , this never used to happen , i have 2 gig of memory and a dual core processor which should be ample to do this , can any one help me out please."

This can be tough. Typically, software does not cause this. I just fixed a computer that used to do the same thing. There's a chance that an upper, normally unused block of memory is bad. As soon as I swapped the memory out, I could do my video transfer and slideshow renders with no problems.

To check this, I would try a memory test. This you load on boot and run the advanced test, and just let it run.

If you do end up needed new memory, an easy way to check what to buy is using Crucial's Memory Scan.

Let me know what you find out!

Converting Personal DVDs

"I would like to upload a rare music video to a Classic Rock site of which I'm a member. I've already transferred the music clip from VHS tape to DVD. When I place the DVD into my computer and then Windows gives me a number of options I choose 'Open folder to view files using Windows Explorer'. The folders are 'Video_RM' and 'Video_ TS'. How do I get from this stage to actually uploading the clip in a format like MPG or Mpegg ? Without losing quality and avoiding pixelation."

Aimersoft to Rip, Super C to convert

There are many ways in which this can be done, but what you're looking for is a "DVD Ripper." The ones I can recommend you must pay for. The one we use most often at work is Aimersoft DVD Ripper. This lets you make AVIs or MPEGs out of the DVD, which can then be uploaded. Pretty simple, straightforward program. If you have editing software such as Sony Vegas, you can load the VOB files into your timeline and render out the video into a new format. We do this when we need to use previously created slideshows in new media projects and the original materials are nonexistent.

Digital Photo Frame Avi Movie Won't Play

"Tried WMV, AVI, Divx7 - nothing works.
I tested my SD avi file (700Mb) in shop with all DPF that said "plays avi movies", but none of them work.
Someone must know - what's the missing trick?"

As I've stated earlier in my blog, there is a program out there called Super C. Use this program to convert those AVI to Motion JPEG AVI! When you open the program, select "AVI" under "Select Output Container." Select "M-JPEG" under "Select The Output Video Codec." In the Video row, make sure "No Change" is selected wherever listed. Drag your original AVIs into the box at the bottom. Right click in the box, and select "Output File Saving Management" and select "Save Each Output File in its Respective Source File's Folder/Directory" (this makes it easier to find) and click "Save Changes". Then make sure the check boxes are checked next to each file, and click "Encode." Then you wait.

This should convert them into files playable on your Digital Picture Frame. I've had to do this plenty of times when trying to get slideshows to work on picture frames for clients.

Record Using a Microphone Without Speaker Output

"I have a Dell Vostro 200, running xp. I have my speakers and mic hooked up to the back, and i have an external recording device (Eventide DIR911t) attached to the front with a regular stereo wire. Is it possible to have all the Audio from the mic muted on my speakers but still output to the recording device.

Thanks"

I believe you can!

During my time doing cassette to CD transfers on multiple computers and with multiple sound cards, I've had to get a little creative. I think if you go to your Control Panel and simply click "Sounds and Audio Devices," then the "Advanced" button, then "Options," "Properties," under the Playback list you should see "Microphone" listed. Make sure that box is checked, then click "OK." Then, under "Microphone," click "Mute." This should mute the output of the microphone to the speakers but not inhibit using it to record.

To make sure you're using your Microphone to record, go to "Options," "Properties," and select "Recording," making sure the check box for "Microphone" is ticked, click OK, and then make sure the checkbox "Select" is ticked under "Microphone." This should ensure you're using that as your input device.

This should allow you to record and save that audio without feedback problems.

Hope this helps

Can't See MP3 Tags!

"Since a few days i cant see the tags of my mp3 songs anymore, i cant edit the tags of album, artist, genre etc.
(only, number, song and comments)

hope you can help me with this, because i can't find anything around on the internet.
i also did system recovery, but it didnt helped
thank you"

Hi! I may have a solution for you. I've had to do this with a couple of our Cassette to CD transfers. I use a program called MP3tag. It works very well and does batch tagging. It's also free. This will change your audio collection back to the way you want it in no time! I think the installer is in German (if I remember correctly, but luckily, the installation options are pretty standard.

If you need to be able to see them in Windows consistantly, try going to "Run" in the start menu and typing "regsvr32 shmedia.dll"

Sometimes, this fixes the properties listings.

Good luck!

Free .avi to .mpeg software without watermark?!

"Hi all, having a problem with converting an .avi file to a .mpeg (vcd) format.

Just wondering if any of you know of a good, free program that converts without plastering the conversion with an annoying watermark.

Even my Nero 7 Essentials is asking me to pay for an upgrade to perform this simple task.

Thanks

HF."

When I'm converting videos at DVD Your Memories I use Super C (download at bottom) which will pretty much convert any one Audio Video media to any other. It's free, and does wonders!

Output Laptop to LCD Tv thru HDMI cable...video slowdown

"Hi,

I just bought a new laptop and it has an hdmi output on it. It is only an average laptop so the graphics card is pretty basic- i think its just the standard intel one.

When i connect my laptop to my 42" lcd screen and run it just off the TV, the video plays fine but about every 10 seconds or so it goes jumpy for a few seconds then back to normal.
however if i connect them and run both screens- the image on the tv is much smaller but plays fine. i'm thinking that when its outputting a larger image- that is causing the slowdown cause my graphics card can't handle it.

is there anyway to produce the 42" image without the slowdown?

thanks for the help

chris"

There is a chance that it is doing this because of piracy protection built into the software that configures the devices. We've had to deal with this a lot where I work when we make a slideshow for a professional presentation. When you have them both hooked up, do you have the screen settings set up in "Clone" mode? If not, try that. Most times, that takes care of the issue.

Also, try changing the resolution on your laptop to a lower resolution. I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but give it a shot. If you can, drop it down by one tick, then try the TV, turning it off then on each time.

(He wrote back to let me know this was the issue)

Someone Asked What Slide Scanner to Buy

They also stated that money really wasn't an object. First I recommended the Nikon Super Coolscan ED 5000 with the slide auto-feeder SF210. They're a little on the expensive side, but completely worth it. Many slide companies use this for Slide Scanning as well as to Scan Negatives.

It's best to use a scanner that is dedicated to slides and negatives. Most flatbeds these days come with adapters, but I do not recommend them. Typically flatbed scanners have focus problems and a lower scan resolution than the dedicated models. Also, there are some $100 dedicated scanners floating around. I've been severely disappointed with them, since they are not actually scanners, they are just taking a digital photo of the media with a back-light. Also, they are a pain to load, and take way to long to scan a few hundred, let alone a few thousand.

If you need a good scanner, but this is way above your budget, comment and let me know, and I'll see if I can point you in the right direction.

Quick Help on a Scanning Question

"Hi
Could some one give me some advice please.
I've had a Digital Camera for about a year now, a MINOLTA Z2 which I enjoy using but I do miss my AE1 SLR so I'm going to use both because drooling over a lovely DSLR is like drooling over a beautiful women I cannot afford either, so what I want to know is what would be the best quality, to have them develop and printed and scan them myself or have them put on CD I can either scan prints or neg's."

I would recommend purchasing a scanner that is only meant to scan negatives . Flatbeds tend to be a little less accurate with their focus, and the images don't come out nearly as well when you scan negatives with a flatbed. I'm assuming you have a flatbed as 1200 dpi is typically the upper range for consumer flatbeds. I happen to know that DVD Your Memories uses Nikon Coolscan ED 5000s when they scan negatives, as well as slides. If that's above your budget, there are less expensive alternatives with less customizable options. Either way, stay away from the Hammacher-Schlemmer unit, or any other $100 job out there. They are not quality and actually just take a hi-res picture of your slides/negatives.

Problems Storing Vidoes For Viewing on a MacBook Pro

I came across this question today:

"I bought a MacBook Pro a few days ago and am in the process of transferring photos and videos from my previous laptop (Dell Inspiron 1520) and I'm having such a hard time figuring out how to get my videos! These are videos that I took using my Sony Handycam and I don't want to edit them at all. I just want them stored on my computer to watch them and perhaps send them to other people. All the videos I've taken on my digital camera imported to iPhoto just fine, but no such luck with video taken on a camcorder. It starts to import them, then tells me they are not a supported format. If they have to go into iMovie instead of iPhoto that's fine, but can iMovie be used just for storing and viewing or only for creating movies? Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm very frustrated!"

Here's my advice for her:
Let me try to help.

While you view photos in iPhoto, they are actually stored on the hard drive. The same thing goes for videos- they will not actually be stored by iPhoto or iMovie. With this in mind, you'll want to save those movies somewhere easy to find. Some people just create a new folder on their desktop, others create a file in the Documents area of their hard drive. It's up to you where you'd like to save them.

As far as viewing them, iMovie can do this, but it is definitely more tailored towards editing. Most times you can just double click the mpg file itself, and have it open in QuickTime Player. If it doesn't work, chances are there is a compatibility issue- your Dell had the ability to decode the video, and your Mac does not.

There are several solutions to this problem:
If you purchase QuickTime Pro, it should play the files fine, using the MPEG-2 Playback Component.

Or, download a plug-in to make them play: Perian . -http://perian.org/#download

You could also pay a company to do a Video Transfer/Video Conversion -http://www.dvdyourmemories.com- to convert them over to DVD, which should play on any system, or to any other file format you need.

You should also be able to use iTunes -http://www.itunes.com- to organize your videos once you figure out if they're compatible with QuickTime.

Hope this helps!