3 replies to this topic

[HappyBob]

Creator 2009 WV was working OK this morning, no problems. I have had a minor annoyance with not being able to use disk data copy, but since I was not using that function I've ignored that problem for months.
Then this afternoon I started a new VW production, and as soon as I loaded a photo ( jpg that I've used before) I got an error message that "the current production is empty or contains invalid files". So I restarted VW (from applications) and get the same message regardless what file I load.  
So I decided to bite the bullet, and do a complete uninstall and a clean install. For the uninstall I followed Jim Hardin's KB000206CR precisely. When I tried to reinstall (from retail disk), the install hung untill I followed another KB that said uninstall microsoft net 3.5 SP1 and rename dsetup.dll. At this time I've restarted the system maybe 10 times. Finally the program loaded, I registered and downloaded and installed Creator 2009 SP4, again not skipping any of the restarts and making sure that my Norton 360 anti-virus is disabled.
Finally was able to get VW started again..... but got the dreaded empty or invalid file error message.

Nothing in my system has changed between this morning and this afternoon (didn't change any drivers, didn't change operating system, didn't add or remove any hardware) ... so what's going on?

System is Dell 8200 desktop with XP Pro SP3, 1.7 Mhz Pentium 4, 1 Gig Ram, video driver is Nvidia Geforce FX5200 with an 8/3/2004 driver, Direct X 9.0c.

Any suggestions?

[sknis]

HappyBob, on 15 February 2011 - 08:35 PM, said:

Creator 2009 WV was working OK this morning, no problems. I have had a minor annoyance with not being able to use disk data copy, but since I was not using that function I've ignored that problem for months.
Then this afternoon I started a new VW production, and as soon as I loaded a photo ( jpg that I've used before) I got an error message that "the current production is empty or contains invalid files". So I restarted VW (from applications) and get the same message regardless what file I load.  
So I decided to bite the bullet, and do a complete uninstall and a clean install. For the uninstall I followed Jim Hardin's KB000206CR precisely. When I tried to reinstall (from retail disk), the install hung untill I followed another KB that said uninstall microsoft net 3.5 SP1 and rename dsetup.dll. At this time I've restarted the system maybe 10 times. Finally the program loaded, I registered and downloaded and installed Creator 2009 SP4, again not skipping any of the restarts and making sure that my Norton 360 anti-virus is disabled.
Finally was able to get VW started again..... but got the dreaded empty or invalid file error message.

Nothing in my system has changed between this morning and this afternoon (didn't change any drivers, didn't change operating system, didn't add or remove any hardware) ... so what's going on?

System is Dell 8200 desktop with XP Pro SP3, 1.7 Mhz Pentium 4, 1 Gig Ram, video driver is Nvidia Geforce FX5200 with an 8/3/2004 driver, Direct X 9.0c.

Any suggestions?

Since you tried to fix it with the Roxio software, perhaps it is time to look elsewhere.

Re-install DirectX 9c; that solved a problem for one other person.  One other person fixed the issue with a video driver update (or reinstall).    Go here to update (link) and follow the instructions.  A driver from 2004 could very well be the problem especially if it has been corrupted.

Did you update IE to IE9 beta or RC?

Try making a copy of the file and make sure that the name is short.  It is possible that the name of the original file/folder/path got corrupted and now contains an invalid character.  Did you change the location of the file?

[HappyBob]

Hi, I've been at this now for 9 hours and tink that I've finally stumbled on the solution. I am not using IE9 or beta, and did update the video driver (thanks for the link), and reinstalled DirectX 9.0c, all to no avail -- no joy.

I followed the complete uninstall process religiously, but did add some to the process: after finding files/folders as described I did a search for any file\folder with Roxio or Sonic or Creator2009. I actually did find some so deleted them as well, emptied the recycle again and after I was sure there were no files left, then I went on to the registry edit. The other thing I did was delete Microsoft Net frame 3.5 SP1 and renamed dsetup.dll (in C:\windows\system32. I'm running Norton 360 v4, so disabled that via the several settings controls in the Norton software. Restarted and tried again -- no success... was I bummed!

By the way, it sems that it takes Creator 2009 almost 20 minutes to remove. It also takes about 36 minutes to install. Is this typical???

Where I finally succeeded was repeating all the above steps, but also uninstalling Norton 360 v4 COMPLETELY. Symantec has a removal tool that is downloadable, as the Control panel remove technique doesn't complete the job.
It seems from the Norton Community forum that the only way to completely stop Norton's activities is to completely uninstall. There is no complete "stop" available to the user.

After all this, installed Creator 2009 successfully!

All I can say is that the Creator software install apparently is very sensitive. And that would be OK, were it not for the NORTON software being insensitive to the needs of the user who, on occasion, need to turn all the Norton services off.

[sknis]

Yes, installation and un-installation do take a long time (thousands of registry entries).

Almost everyone I know who has Norton (especially 360) has issues with this and other software.  It is just so intrusive.  When I got this computer, the first thimg I got rid of was Norton trial.  I use a different anti-virus/firewall and I don't even know it is there (excepts when it updates).