Not  immediately, each time I left the computer, so not sure how quick. Last night before bed I started it and I know it went for a few minutes for sure, I saw the progress on the task-bar. Can't say if it got past 0%, maybe so. The mp4 file it created is 0 KB, which I think is what happened the other times 0 KB.

 Last time it did this I closed all programs and let it be the only one open and it worked. So it doesn't happen every time. The computer I'm using only has 2 gigs of RAM and last night I had my email program open only.

Overheating possibly? What's your room temp?

 Room temp about 73. I can't imagine that it's overheating. This computer has never shut down because of any other programs doing processing. If it was overheating I would think that it would happen at other times too. I also have lots of space on my C drive and my data HD.

Maybe I need to reinstall Movie Studio, if no one else has any suggestions or memory of this happening with other users.

That's 23 degrees C, warm but not hot.

You say your pc hasn't shut down because of any other programmes processing. But does that include any other editing ones? Video processing is probably the most demanding task asked of your pc and will find weaknesses. How old is your pc/laptop and when did you last (if ever) open it to remove the accumulation of dust that builds up? The fact that it shuts down completely, and it isn't just a MSP13 crash suggests to me that it's a machine, not software, problem. Have you delved into Windows Event Viewer to see if it gives any hints?

I didn't realize that Video processing is probably the most demanding task asked of the PC, so you may be on to something. It's a fairly old PC maybe 7 years. Maybe I should check the dust and fans and the temp.

I just looked at Windows Event Viewer - man it's much more complex in Win 10. Not sure what to look for. Any suggestions? I know when it failed by the date and time of the mp4 file created.

I just looked at Windows Event Viewer - man it's much more complex in Win 10. Not sure what to look for. Any suggestions? I know when it failed by the date and time of the mp4 file created.

Try looking under Windows Logs/System. You may find something like this "The previous system shutdown at 3:27:51 PM on ‎5/‎12/‎2019 was unexpected". That followed an unexpected shutdown due to local power failure. You might find something prior to such a message indicating potential problems.

Also run a memory check. The slot contacts can pick up dirt over time even though they aren't touched. That happened to me years ago.

 Super advice from everyone. I'll monitor the temp with the Core Temp app. It seems to me that's likely it with the dust and such. I have compressed air so I'll give it a good cleanup. Its never been cleaned and I checked and see that I bought this computer 1/31/09, so more than 10 years. It's waay over due for cleaning.

This used to be my audio recording computer for my studio. It's now my internet computer for emails and browsing and lots misc stuff, so I guess the Movie Studio is the most intensive thing it's done in a while.

 I do use Movie Maker to create MP4 videos, but it's a really simple program compared to Movie Studio. It's never shutdown on me and I've used it a good bit. It takes less than 5 min to make an mp4, compared to about an hour for Movie Studio.

Last night I tried to create the mp4 movie again before bed, this time with no other programs on. It was up to 12% and I left it on for the night. Next morning it was shut down again and when I opened the folder it said 0% for the mp4 file, but very strangely the first mp4 from the night before showed to be 120 mg and not 0% like it was after rebooting yesterday. So I right clicked the 0% file and the properties said 136 mg. I hit refresh and it now shows the correct file size. So both shutdowns produced partially processed files.

I looked at the Event Viewer/windows logs/system and application and also Hardware events. Nothing is listed near the time of either shutdown, so it must have been a sudden thing, maybe the high CPU temp would do that.

Last month I exported 2 movies both about 1 gig. I had a shutdown, but then ran it with no other programs and it worked. So I'm right at the breaking point and I think with a cleanup and some temp monitoring I hope I can be back up and running. I'll check the RAM too - any good RAM apps you'd recommend?

  I'll check the RAM too - any good RAM apps you'd recommend?

No sense if you use that old PC.
Buy a new and better one with W10 and the newest upgrade of VMS Platinum and you will be able to enjoy the new and faster features of the Vegas Movie Studio program.

Some great advice given so far.

Should you decide to keep this "older" computer and want to clean it out, best bet is to just disconnect everything, and take it outside for its "cleaning" (keeps significant others from getting upset and adding this now mess to your "honey-do" list!). Also, if you have say a leaf blower, it can be used in place of the compressed air, and costs less. You can google "Carey Holzman" on YouTube, and he has a video about this.

The other problem you may have is that the thermal paste/compound that is used between the HeatSink/Fan and the processor may be old and dried out, thus not providing the required thermal transfer of heat for removal. Again, YouTube would be your friend to find videos on how to remove, clean, and re-apply the compound. Common Tech YouTubers to possibly watch would be: Carey Holzman, Linus Tech Tips, Paul's Hardware, JayzTwoCents, Bitwit, and others.

You can also do a "quick clean" on your memory modules as well. Just make a quick diagram of which slots the memory dimm(s) are in, and remove each. If you used some Isopropyl Alcohol for the heatsink, you can do a quick wipe down of the dimm(s). After dried, find one of those old pencils that have the red rubber erasers, and gently, just "erase" across the contacts (or "gold fingers" as commonly referred to), on both sides. This will help to remove any type of "build-up", especially since you said the computer has never been cleaned.

Hope this helps!

CoreTemp is great, no doubt I have some overheating on heavy processing. I plan on doing the cleaning today and compare the differences with CoreTemp

 I cleaned the computer and what a huge difference it made. I just processed the problem video and no core went above 72 and one was only 67. Before cleaning. I was getting as high as 110 with all 4 cores in the red, this was at 3% of the movie processing, so I stopped it before getting any higher and shutting the computer down.

I took the advise of bringing the computer outside and glad I did. I found tons of very small bites of dry dog food that our small dog eats, put there by a mouse. They were in the bottom, really away from anything, since I stand my computer up vertically. Yet I wonder how much that even contributed to the temp. 

My CPU has a huge heat sink between it and the CPU fan. It was so caked with dust that I was afraid it bonded to it like a paste, but the compressed air very quickly got rid of all the dust on it and also on my rear fan. It took a few seconds to get rid of all that dust.

I'm going to do the same for my other 2 computers. I bet a lot of computer failures and burn outs can be caused by this excessive dust that took 10 years to accumulate. From now on I'll keep some compressed air handy and not let it build up. What a difference, we're talking about 40 degrees difference from 72 to over 110.

So thanks to everyone for educating me and giving excellent advise. I'm so relieved not to look into applying new thermal paste to my CPU - doesn't sound like fun.   

Great forum!!!

That's great news. Actually ten years is a good life for a pc. Presumably it doesn't get used much so no hardware has given problems.

To help any future posters with the same problem it's helpful to indicate a solution so with my Moderator's hat I've done that for you. Dr Zen's post seems to be the most helpful so I've used that. Hope that's okay.

I use this computer everyday for emails and browsing and sometimes for other more minor things, so I'd like ti to last as long as it can. As long as the motherboard doesn't go out, I can fix other hardware problems as I have in the past.

Yes Dr Zen's post is the most comprehensive and helpful, especially because of the CoreTemp app. That program was easy to install and use and understand. I very quickly could see I had an overheating problem. So thanks for marking that as the solution.

The dog food makes this a great story for your next dinner party 😂
I'm glad my crystal ball is working well, but I failed to see the mouses dinner.

 Ha ha Dr Zen, you're so right. This is pretty comical. I've had mice steal the dog food other times and stash it in other crazy places, but his one takes the cake.

 Thanks so much for the CoreTemp tip and also for advising me to only check desktop on the install. That little app sure made it clear what the problem was. Thanks so much.

@Gerry-Peters

Dog food - thought I had heard everything about what gets into a PC after 20+ years in IT - nearly fell off my chair, one question though - how did the mouse get inside the computer?

John EB