program won't open

donald_cady wrote on 9/3/2009, 1:35 PM

HI,
I just installed my new Platinum pro pak. I unstalled and deleted the files for my movie studio 8. The movie studio and sound forge work fine. I registered the serial numbers. I can't get the DVD Architect to open so I can register that program. I double-clicked several times. Nothing. I installed-unistalled a few times. Still won't open. I rendered a movie clip and tried to send it to DVD Architech, hoping that would open, but it did not. What do I do now?

Comments

Steve Grisetti wrote on 9/3/2009, 5:30 PM

Have you tried browsing your C drive's Program Files and launching the program manually from there? It might just be a dead shortcut or program listing.

donald_cady wrote on 9/3/2009, 6:49 PM

I tried that but it didn't work either, thanks

wjsd wrote on 9/4/2009, 1:44 AM

How long did you wait for DVDA to open? On my fast system it takes a full 20 seconds to open the first time. If I close it and then open it again, it only takes 5 seconds. But that first time is a LONG time. On a slower computer it could take over a minute to open. Longer if you have any corrupt themes.

donald_cady wrote on 9/4/2009, 6:24 AM

Even when I waited, it still didn't open. What I ended up doing was uninstalling it, re-installing DVDA 4.5a, and then I downloaded the DVDA 4.5d update. Now it opens. I'm hoping this will keep.

Steve Grisetti wrote on 9/4/2009, 8:26 AM

Yes, updating your program is always a good idea.

donald_cady wrote on 9/4/2009, 2:27 PM

I spoke too soon. As I was trying to get the transitions and effects to show up when clicking on the effects icon on a film clip (Movie Studio 9), I tried uninstalling - reinstalling everything (Movie Studio, DVDA, & Sound Forge) and deleting the Sony folders in Program Files (I thought by getting rid of everything that reinstalling the current upgrade of Movie Studio 9 would only install the necessary components to run the three programs).

So, here is where I am: Movie Studio (Platinum 9) opens but there are no effects/transitions in the plug-in chain; DVDA will not open at all - it just hourglasses for a few seconds and that's it; and Sound Forge starts to open, but when the loading sentences at the bottom of the splash screen gets to VST plug-ins, it stops loading completely.

I know I screwed this up, so I'm not going to say, "Spend all this money on a program and it doesn't work blah...blah..blah.." I just wish I could get some help instead of being sent to links of articles that don't really help.

banquo wrote on 9/4/2009, 5:35 PM

Donald, many of us have run into this problem and have lost much time troubleshooting it. File permissions are likely preventing it from opening. You probably need to “Run as Administrator” DVD-A. See this thread:

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=640955&Replies=22

I’m seeing other recent threads here from people who’ve run into this wall, but no repliers have mentioned the permissions issue:

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=668572&Replies=13
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=666682&Replies=0

As I said when this stymied me six months ago, it’s poor programming on Sony’s part (no error message, just an hourglass), and it’s not mentioned in either the documentation or the Knowledgebase entry for “Program will not start.” It’s continuing to claim victims. Can someone please put it in a sticky?

donald_cady wrote on 9/4/2009, 9:50 PM

Thanks, but is it possible to explain the 'run as administrator' a little more? Does that mean I have to login as the adminstrator account to use the program? I created an account under my name. The Movie Studio Platinum 8 worked fine. I purged everything in order to install the upgrade of Platinuim 9 Pro Pak. I can't get my transitions and efects in the Movie Studio, Forge won't open and DVDA won't open. I created a new account (WIndowa XP Home) named administrator, but all my files are not there. Am I going to have to transport everything into my administrator account just to use Plantinim Vegas?

Or, are you saying install the programs in the administrator account, but when I login my other account named after me, the icons will still appear, then I right click and 'run as adminstrator' and everything will work?

banquo wrote on 9/4/2009, 11:01 PM

Unfortunately, I don’t recall the specific steps I took. Did you read the thread I referred you to? You might try what’s counseled here:

http://kb.iu.edu/data/augx.html

Being the actual administrator of your PC isn’t enough – I only have one account on my PC, and I’m the administrator, but I had to go through the additional steps. The instructions for Vista are slightly different and involve adjusting UAC – I can’t speak to that (though the above link does), nor to your problem with MS transitions & effects.

There are other workarounds that are even more convoluted, involving changing file permissions and registry settings. But right-clicking the .exe and "run as administrator" is the simplest solution. Perhaps others here can advise.

A pox on Sony for creating this hell.

donald_cady wrote on 9/5/2009, 12:56 PM

I can't believe evrything I've been through and tried and still no success. I guess I'm going to have to pay for support since no advice has solved my issue.

Right now I'm at this stage: Based on forum responses and knowledge base stuff, I uninstalled and deleted VMS Platinum 9, DVDA 4.5, and Forge from my user account and installed them on an admin account I created. First I installed my previous VMS Platinum 8, and then I installed the 9 over it. I have the plug-in chain now and DVDA finally opens, BUT DVDA thinks I'm on a 29 day trial, and the NEWBLUE FX logo appears on the transitions and effects. Even if this were fixed, I can't work in the admin account because I don't have access to all my files that are in my USER account.

When I switch to my user account, the program icons appear on the desk top, DVDA tries to open but I get a0x8004e00a, Startup Code 2 error. Forge starts to open but stops (or crashes?). VMS Platinum 9 - NO effects in the plug-in chain. I tried the right-click 'run as' and chose the admin account I created - it doesn't work.

I hope if I pay for the $29.00 phone call, that my issues will be fixed and I can use this great program. I can't dish out anymore money and not have things work. I'm sure as I've tried to follow all the suggestions, I've probably deleted things that maybe I shouldn't have or maybe were unnecessary, but someone has to be able to guide me through a way to get this program to work on my laptop.

banquo wrote on 9/5/2009, 11:06 PM

My sympathies. If I were you, I wouldn’t give Sony another $29 because their program won’t install despite following all their instructions. Even that might not solve the problem, leaving you where you were – except $29 poorer.

I’d cut my losses at this point and demand a full refund from Sony. You’re entitled to one. They’re causing the pain; they need to feel it back. Good luck.