I'm trying to create a photo slideshow with music in the background for my in-laws. When I go to burn the disc I get the "8004520C error while encoding movie" error window. I've gone to the the Support database and tried everything that's been recommended...and it hasn't worked. Now it looks like I need to Uninstall / Re-install MyDVD and all Sonic programs on my computer. When I look up how to do this the only instructions I see tell how to un-install MyDVD. Then it tells me to re-install but with no instructions. Forgive my lack of knowledge but can someone, PLEASE, help me with the instructions or get me pointed in the right direction?

That error is usually associated with graphics

Update your drivers from the nVidia or ATI website (or whoever your graphics card maker is)
Update DirtectX 9.0c to the latest from MS
Try changing (in tools, options) to software render

Let us know how that works - also what graphics card./chipset you are using

It appears that my graphic card was out of date and I've updated it but still get the error. My video card is an Intel product..."Express chipset." Now that I've updated my driver do I do the second and third thing you've listed? Thank you for helping me with this. My first project and having this issue is very frustrating!

By the way, how do you update the DirtectX9.0 that you suggest?

DirectX is here

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;displaylang=en

To change rendering, open Videowave and click on tools, options and move the dot from hardware to software

However, you may still have problems as you are using an onboard chipset and they just don't have the miscle for the job

Good word in this case "Miscle" - a miniature muscle. Not enough strength !

Hey I'm an engineer - not a typist

How do you get the muscle to do a project? As you can tell by now I'm not all that savy to this and appreciate all the help.

Desk top or laptop? With a desk top, you add a dedicated video card. With a laptop, that really can't be done in most cases.

What computer do you have? Make, model, CPU, etc. Use Belarc Advisor (free) to find out more about your computer.

Did you try the software rendering? What happened?

If it's a desktop, you need a mid range graphics card - if it's a laptop, you're stuck

I have a Dell desktop....Windows XP - Media Center Edition - Version 2002. Pentium 4 CPU 2.80 GHz. Does this answer all of things you asked about my system?

Someone asked what happened when I did the rendering or something like that. If I remember correctly (and correct me if I don't please) rendering is opening up thru "Tools" - "Options" - and then making sure "Software" is selected and not "Hardware." If this is correct Software has been selected all along.

I did go back and try to burn the DVD this pm since I couldn't remember if I changed / did anything this AM to my computer and I get a pop up box from McAfee that I didn't remember to tell you about. The McAfee warning box comes up stating, "McAfee has detected a potentially unauthorized registry change to your computer. System Guards: Internet Explorer Restrictions. Program VideoWave 9. Location: C:/Program Files / Roxio / VideoUl9 / Videowave9.exe." It asks me whether I want to allow this or not. I've always clicked no. Should I be allowing this change?

As always - thanks to everyone for the help.

McAfee is overly cautious - allow it (especially if it happens when you are installing any legit program)

All programs have to make a registry change or they won't work as you have discovered

However, you will probably need a better graphics system than you have. There's no need for a top end gaming one as any mid range one should do. nVidia or ATI with 256 MB will be ample

Thanks for the info. I just tried to burn again - allowing the change - and still got the error. So, do you think I'm down to the graphics card or before I put money into that do I need to Uninstall / Re-install the program like others have suggested?

Again, thank you for working with me on this.

You can try; all you lose if it works right is about 1/2 hour. My guess is that you need that video card.

The error you are getting is not typical of a bad or damaged install.

Do you think that if I put the project together and saved it before all the recommended things were done (updating drive, DirectX, rendering,...etc) that the error may be IN the project? Do you think I should toss that one out and start over....wouldn't be that hard to put back together?

How do you put your system specs in where they always show in the entries?

If you made the project in Video Wave, you can output it to a mpg2 file (icon looks like an oldtime film reel - it is above the top of the Video Wave preview screen). If it encodes, then the project is OK; if it isn't then there is an error in the project. Note the time it hangs. Look at what is going on at that time.

For signature, go to My Controls at the top of this page; on the left, you will see edit signature. Put in what you want. It will add to all old and new posts.

I struggled with this problem for 2 days. Followed advice from the Forum and updated drivers, but nothing worked. Since Roxio does not offer technical support, I finally called Dell. Within 5 minutes I was up and running. The solution for my Windows XP system was 1) go to "Display Properties" 2) Select "settings" tab 3) change "screen resolution" to 1024x768. BTW... this is listed in Roxio "minimum hardware requirements"

Like magic everything worked.

Hope this works for you.

Thanks everyone for all the help. I've finally been able to get the disc burned! I figure that I better relay on what solution ended up working so some newby like me might have an easier time. I did as recommended....saving as the MPEG2 file. I was still having some issues after that and that's when I decided to call DELL. We ended up figuring out that once you save the file as above open up the Roxio DVD burning part and transfer the whole file into the "Make a DVD" part. That's when I was able to burn the disc. I made the project with the "Create a slideshow" component and didn't even think about leaving that part of the program to burn the disc after saving the project to the computer. I hope I'm not confusing everyone. I'm sure there's some out there going "dahhhh" like I should have known that all along. I sincerely appreciate all the information and helpful hints.

Merry Christmas to all.......

Its too bad that we didn't know that you were using the Create Slideshow Wizard early on. That particular program has caused many a problem for users and I think all "gurus" recommend that you use the Videwave program from the suite instead of the wizard. In fact, avoid all wizards!
Still, the important hing is that you got it done!
Merry Christmas to you also