FAT32 handles files up to 4GB, so it's not a FAT32 problem.

However, AVI type 1 files are limited to just a hair under 2GB. Unfortunately some capture programs will continue writing video data to the file anyway even after this limit is reached. This usually produces a corrupt file that can't be opened by a lot of software.

A simple fix is to capture your video in shorter pieces. How short? Hard to say. I would guess that 1.98GB isn't the full video. It probably reached that point and then stopped capturing even though the capture process seemed to still be happening. Try capturing just 1 minute of something and see how big the file is. Divide that into 2GB and you can find out how many minutes you can capture in one piece. Actually, capture just a little less to be safe.

Check your capture software to see if it has an option for making "AVI type 2 compliant" files. This will avoid the 2GB limitation.

Some programs such as VirtualDub may be able to read your file and resave it, chopping off the last little bit so that it can be AVI type 1 compliant and therefore allow Vegas to open it. At least that way you'd only have to recapture your video after that point instead of recapturing the entire thing.

Hi Everyone,
Hope this info helps
The large file in question is .mpg, captured as composite video, "highest quality" MPEG-2, 720x480 rez.
A 60-second capture is 39.0 MB, the large file is 1.98 GB-math is not my strong suit.
I can capture MPEG-1,2, & 4 only in composite mode.
File System = NTFS
For this project I'll catpure in smaller pieces, but it's still helpful to know what the limitations are.
Also, I'm not sure if the capture stopped or is complete at 1.98. I may have lost a few seconds at the end, but can't tell.

Have you tried with the latest version of VMS, using the trial version and see if that crashes?

Hi Eugenia,

I'm current, using VMS Platinum 9.0a. I don't want to muck about in the registry in order to re-run the trial version which has expired.

1.98GB would be just about 52 minutes, give or take a little. How are you capturing, through what device?

MPEG isn't a great format for further editing. Also the MPEG quality setting you use for capturing will have just about zero impact on rendering speed. Can you capture an AVI file instead?

I record a weekly TV show at my local cable access TV station on my computer. Because the computer runs Vista the software does not run perfectly ... and I need to start recording manually one hour ahead of the start time of my one hour show.

I record in mpg1 .. SVCD quality .. the file is *over* 2 gig and I have no problem loading the file into VMS Platium 8 each week for editing.

I'm converting vhs tapes exclusively-a vhs recorder connected to an external usb device, DVDXpressdx2. For composite video it has only MPEG-1,2, or 4 capabilities - no avi or anything else. If there's a better way to convert vhs, please share your thoughts.

My system:XP Pro SP2, DuoCore 8400 3.0 cpu, 3 Gig RAM, NVidia GeForce 8800 GT Video, Creative X-Fi Sound Card

Brighterside, one hour????? Is that a general indication of how flawed Vista is? I have the timer on my computer set to start 3 minutes before my daily TV show and end 3 minutes after, but that's not because of any issues with the computer. It's because the TV station doesn't follow their own schedule very closely and the broadcast times can vary a couple minutes either way.

What in the world is causing a problem bad enough that you have to start an entire hour in advance?

There are a vast array of ways to capture VHS, almost all of them better than using an external USB device. Lots of the old Digital-8 camcorders had a 'pass-through' mode that would convert incoming analog video into DV and allow you to capture it through firewire on the fly. These can often be had on ebay for $50 or so. Some current DV camcorders offer the same option.

There are a whole host of dedicated analog -> DV converters, cards, and external firewire boxes. These all convert to DV .avi files which are far superior to MPEG for editing, quality, and usability. Canopus is the most often recommended vendor here in these forums. Some of the cards start well under $100.

I haven't looked at the specs on your video card, but it's quite possible that it has an analog video input. You might be able to use Vegas' own VidCap program to capture AVI directly through that card, or use any of the free available capture programs to do so. The software that came with the card is probably limited to MPEG, but other programs aren't.

About the only reason to use something like the DVDXpressdx2 is if you're going to burn the file directly to DVD with no editing, menues, etc. and want to do so with the absolute minimum time and effort possible.

My video card has 2-Dual-Link DVI & 1-HDTV outputs, no inputs.
However, the Canopus cards are very tempting, will get one & let you all know how it works out..

Thanks very much for all your help!

Why do I need to start one hour in advance? Because the software was written for XP .. and they have YET to make it fully functional for Vista. I can program a start time, yes .. but it does no good .. because whenever the program starts (from scratch, or goes into RECORD mode) it gives me an error box THAT MUST BE CLEARED MANUALLY before any recording can start. The show I want to record is the show that I am physically at the stations directing. I start the recording at home, then leave for the station.

I have upgraded it a couple of times ..with very little change .. the last time it would not even run .. I had to return to the previous version of the software.

I'm using this on a laptop ... with a Hauppauge USB TV tuner.

*Whew* A few thoughts come to mind:

If you can tell me what the title bar text is in the error box and what the buttons say i could probably write a quick little program that would clear it for you at whatever time you select.

Have you tried using Vegas' own VidCap program to capture from the Hauppauge tuner? I know it's a long shot, but if it works i have a very nifty little record timer program i wrote that operates VidCap and lets you select multiple events.

And (i almost chuckle at this one ...) couldn't you get a much better recording directly at the station than you could through a USB device at home?