Trouble with Rendering - Reinstall Required?

WebSissy wrote on 4/8/2005, 7:23 AM
Helllllpppp!

I'm essentially a new Vegas user. I've just started using my copy of Vegas 4.0e (which I purchased and installed here a year and a half ago) and I'm having an immediate problem with rendering.

The first time I tested real media rendering with a fixed length (6 minute) AVI file to render it in the 28k rm format it produced a file that was 999k and took just a couple of minutes to do that. Maybe 5 minutes but no more than that. I wasn't totally pleased with the quality of that file. So, I changed the settings slightly and tried the run again. This time it took 30 minutes and produced a 3mb file! So, I tried the original way again and now it produces a 2mb file every time.

Obviously, I've managed to screw up the factory settings somehow but for the life of me, I can't figure out HOW! I've even tried reinstalling using the "repair" option and I still have the same problem. I'm now considering removing the app completely and starting from scratch. But in doing that, I got to wondering where in the devil the installation codes are and have been unable to FIND them. :-(

So, I have two questions:

1. Can someone please tell me how to reset the 28k RM settings to the factory defaults SHORT of removing and reinstalling the entire program suite?

2. Can someone please tell me where the hell they've hidden the serial numbers in version 4.0e so that I at least have a clue where to look for mine? I see that the about screen that comes up when I start the program contains a long code that begins with NZ. Is THAT the code I'm looking for to reinstall Vegas 4.0e?

Thanks!

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 4/8/2005, 7:35 AM
1) Quit Vegas, then hold down the Ctrl & Shift keys while starting it up again. This will reset everything back to the original defaults. Sadly, it will even reset those things you wanted to leave changed.

2) That is not quite your serial number. It won't work for reinstalling. If you purchased Vegas as a download then you were emailed the serial number at the time of purchase. Find that email! If you bought it as a boxed version then the serial number was on a post card or inside the cover of the "getting started" manual. Find that box!

SONY has now instituted a nifty function on this website called "My Account". If you haven't already set that up, please do so. If you've registered* your software then they can look up all your serial numbers and other info and display it to you for future reference. I highly recommend it.

* You
WebSissy wrote on 4/8/2005, 7:54 AM
Hello again... and thanks VERY much for the reply, Chienworks!

I'll try the reset. I've not played with the program much at all until now so losing any existing settings is really not a big deal to me. Thanks for the advice there.

Yes, I thought I remembered the serial numbers being in the manuals; but I travel for a living and have been in three different locations for as long as 6 months each since I bought this software. God KNOWS where I've put those manuals. The CDs were right where they should have been in my file in my office. But the manuals... All I can do is look!

What the heck ever happened to putting a label on the back of the CD box with the number printed on it. That's exactly why I have a special LOCKED file drawer just FOR master CDs! Now a file drawer won't DO. I'll need a darn bank vault. {shakes head}

Fortunately, I did register my products here as soon as I installed them. I found the registration numbers exactly as you suggested just minutes before your reply arrived and they are the same numbers that show up when I start 4.0e. But frankly, I was VERY disappointed and totally P.O.ed to realize these guys had sold me $1,200 worth of software and didn't offer even a single support call for free! Worse yet, I haven't even been able to find an interactive online chat support feature here. Even freaking AOL provides THAT, fer gosh sakes. So in total frustration, I bailed out of here and went back to my other video editing suite instead. At least THEY answer the phone when I have a problem and they don't charge me just for saying "Hello"!

Clever people these Sony folks... I can almost hear the conversation in the conference room now, "Let's just toss out ALL the rules and standards everyone ELSE uses and make up our own as we go along. We're a world leader. We can make our OWN rules!" Sounds just like George Bush junior, now doesn't it? No WONDER the rest of the world hates him so. Sigh...

Thanks again for the help, Chienworks. I really DO appreciate it.

Best Professional Regards,
WebSissy

BillyBoy wrote on 4/8/2005, 12:43 PM
Have you download the PDF format manual?

http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/download/step1.asp?CatID=12

If you haven't ready you need to both register and then ACTIVATE the software, yea, like with Windows XP.

AFAIK There is no interactive chat, shame there should be. I was thinking of adding one to my site, but lately how I get treated here forget it. This forum is very fast in responding to questions. But its getting more noisy.

Click on my name for a link to my site for some tutorials.