I have been using the same settings from the Avid Timeline>Quicktime Reference Movie>Sorenson Squeeze>Sonic ReelDVD for about a year with little to no problems. For the past 2 days now I cannot burn to DVD at all. Watching the progress window, when ReelDVD gets to 'writing file: DiscImage.dvd' it sticks regularly at 10% for a minute or 2, then crashes with:

Runtime Error!

Program:C:Program Files\Sonic\ReelDVD\ReelDVD.exe

The application has requested the runtime to terminate it in an unusual way.....

It used to do this every once in a while- not often at all. It does this every time now.

Here are some things I have tried. All have failed-

Closing all applications, relaunching. Rebooting computer. Complete shutdown/power down and reboot/relaunch everything. Deleting and recreating all files- new QT reference movie, new Mpeg in Squeeze, new ReelDVD project. I have also tried files from other projects known to have worked in the past.

Any ideas?

Mikey

Have you tried re-installing ReelDVD?  Seems like a logical step.

A grande idea. I'm a freelancer here, so it's not my system. I will inquire if the house I.T. guy might be able to dig up the inatall disc(s) and do just that tomorrow when I'm off to another location. Thanks.

Mikey

 Update: I did an uninstall/reinstall with the original sonic disc, and I am still having the same problem.

Any other ideas?

Mikey

 Update on the update:

I tried Roxio support- turns out the software is too old (ReelDVD 3.1.1) and they no longer support it. Not my system here, so I'm stuck with it unless I can get them to spring for other DVD authoring software. Any suggestions?

Mikey

I was going to comment along those lines.  ReelDVD is getting a tad long in the tooth.  Truthfully, after trying all of the things you've tried, and if ReelDVD is still accepting your encoded files but giving you runtime errors, you're at the end of the road.  If it were my machine I might be re-installing the OS, but obviously you're not in a position to do that.  Could you take this back to the client and "suggest" that they upgrade their DVD authoring software?  Encore?  DVDit Pro HD?  DVD Lab Pro?

Aha- you beat me to it. I plan on grovelling for new software and was going to ask for recommendations, but I see you have included a few. Allow me to supply a bit more information and see if you think one is best for what they do here.

We never make DVDs with menus. They are all self-playing, one track discs. It is how they distribute copies of their cable tv programming. And no HD. Once in a while, I need to add repeat function, for meetings, booths, etc.....

Any of the ones you mention look good with that in mind?

and thanks.

Mikey

They all will do what you're asking.  I use DVDit Pro HD and pretty much only use it for SD disks - I haven't burned a Blu Ray yet.   But if now menus are needed, some on this forum might just suggest getting a DVD recorder and playing straight out of Avid.  It would definitely shorten your workflow.

They used to burn straight from the Avid to a DVD recorder. Problem was, they got a lot of complaints that the discs didn't play on players and computers through out the land; plus, they have one of those 5 copies at a time duplicating towers which was also rejecting the "masters". When I started burning via Avid>Squeeze>ReelDVD, all of those problems went away. And I was able to add chapters which was a bonus. And we still need the occasional repeater.....

So they all will do no menu, chaptered repeaters? I was just talking with Roxio, and the sales guy sounded unsure (and overworked)

I really like DVDit Pro HD, and it will definitely do no menus with chapters.  I have had no problems with it, and have yet to find a reasonably new player that won't accept my disks.  People are pretty partisan about what they like, though.

Good to know, thanks. I'm done here for the week. I'll hit them up perhaps after they are are all relaxed and hung over from the holiday.

Mikey

Final update- after about a day and a half of uninstalling and re-installing the ReelDVD program/updates in combination with checking and updating the firmware and driver for the DVD burner, and removing ancient and unecessary programs from the hard drive- some went back years- I guess that's what happens when a bunch of freelancers use the same system- it finally started to work. Somewhere in that ritual of change a magic combination changed the 1's and 0's to the correct alignment, and all seems to be well. At least for now. Huzzah!

second semi final update- okay so I lied. It worked for one brief test. Anything longer than a few minutes still crashes. New tactic- installing a new DVD burner later this week. Stay tuned...

 final final update (methinks)

it was the DVD burner. it has been replaced and i am now on my 4th successful burn in a row with no software changes.

mikey

Ah.  I had forgotten about that possibility, and it's even happened to me before.  My current workstation shipped with a defective drive and, ironically given the your current situation, ReelDVD gave me odd errors and wouldn't burn.  It had completely slipped my mind.  At least burners are cheap these days.