Blank Drop Down Menus

[DJMaurice]

I have recently upgraded from EMC 8.05 to EMC 9. An unresolved problem is that the drop down menus for some applications -- MyDVD, MediaManager, Photosuite and VideoWave -- are blank (that is the "top line" menus are visible but below them are just blank boxes).

 

It's clear from a review of the discussion forums that other people have experienced this problem. The only advice offered is to update the video drivers and DirectX. However updating these hasn't solved other people's problems and neither did it fix mine.

 

Any ideas what to try next?

 

The absence of menus greatly limits the available functionality of these applications.

[DJMaurice]

What video card is in your computer?

 

I'm using a Radeon 8800 GTX card on a Dual Core Intel system with 2GB main memory and running Win XP SP2. I do not think that the system is likely to be underpowered for EMC 9. I have updated the card to the latest drivers, released just a couple of weeks ago, as well as installed the latest updates for DirectX 9. EMC9 is the only product for which I have experienced issues like this.

 

 

Have you tried a clean install? Also, do you have both version 8 and 9 on the same computer? Having both installed at the same time can cause problems.

Try the clean install procedure: http://kb.roxio.com/content/kb/Creator/000086CR and then just install EMC 9 (not 8).

Also, while removing things using the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility be sure to remove the entry labeled: “8.05.30”.

 

Yes I have completely removed EMC 8 using Roxio's (complicated) clean uninstall instructions, and then reinstalled EMC 9 (twice). Still no joy. I note that other people reporting this problem have alos found that doing a clean re-install doesn't seem to help. I'm especially puzzled that the blank menus only occurs on a few of the EMC 9 applications (listed in my original post) -- for the others the menus show as normal.

 

Probably won't matter but do you have WindowBlinds on your machine?I had it on mine and was getting the same thing happening.I uninstalled it and all dropdowns were normal.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm not using WindowBlinds.

[DJMaurice]

Did you check the screen DPI and font sizes? Some users have posted problems when those were changed.

 

Font sizes are set at normal.

 

I have now tracked down the issue to a program in my start-up menu -- it's a small utility called "Folder Cache" (enables quick access to previous folders via the standard Windos dialog box). While this application is running the EMC9 menus are blank -- when I exit Folder Cache EMC9 menus are fine -- I do not even have to exit EMC9, just closing Folder Cache is enough.

 

Problem solved.

[DJMaurice]

This is what I found when i googled for it. It looks to me like it's rather old (last version put out almost 4 years ago).

 

 

Yes, "Folder Cache" is a program from a company NeSoft -- see http://www.nesoft.org/foldercache.shtml.

 

It is a few years old but I have found it a worthwhile utility to address some of the limitations of the standard XP dialogue box when it comes to locating previously opened files and folders.

 

It owuld be interesting to figure out why it interfers with EMC9 menus and why only SOME of them.

[ggrussell]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm not using WindowBlinds.

Or any other 'skinning' or theme application? There are several on the market. Since EMC 9 uses its own skinning technology, these can interfere.

 

EMC 9 makes extensive use of DirectX much like modern games. That is why we suggest updated video drivers and DirectX. Both are very important when using DirectX applications. You didn't mention which OS? XP or Vista? Sure that card isn't an nVidia 8800GTX?

 

Also make sure you haven't adjusted the screen DPI and make sure the Fonts is set at 'normal'. I have mine set at 'large fonts' and have no trouble, but others have reported display issues with fonts set to something other than 'normal'.

[ggrussell]

What video card is in your computer?

[ggrussell]

Thanks for letting us know. Do you know what company that is from? Maybe Roxio can figure out why this is happen.

[Liqvid]

Have you tried a clean install? Also, do you have both version 8 and 9 on the same computer? Having both installed at the same time can cause problems.

Try the clean install procedure: http://kb.roxio.com/content/kb/Creator/000086CR and then just install EMC 9 (not 8).

Also, while removing things using the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility be sure to remove the entry labeled: “8.05.30”.

[tbrewst]

Probably won't matter but do you have WindowBlinds on your machine?I had it on mine and was getting the same thing happening.I uninstalled it and all dropdowns were normal.

[Larry]

Thanks for letting us know. Do you know what company that is from? Maybe Roxio can figure out why this is happen.

This is what I found when i googled for it. It looks to me like it's rather old (last version put out almost 4 years ago).

[DJMaurice]

Or any other 'skinning' or theme application? There are several on the market. Since EMC 9 uses its own skinning technology, these can interfere.

 

EMC 9 makes extensive use of DirectX much like modern games. That is why we suggest updated video drivers and DirectX. Both are very important when using DirectX applications. You didn't mention which OS? XP or Vista? Sure that card isn't an nVidia 8800GTX?

 

Also make sure you haven't adjusted the screen DPI and make sure the Fonts is set at 'normal'. I have mine set at 'large fonts' and have no trouble, but others have reported display issues with fonts set to something other than 'normal'.

 

I'm running XP Pro SP2, without any "skinning" apps.

 

Sorry I incorrectly described the video card I'm using. It's actually a RADEON X 800GT, which I have updated with the latest drivers and well as the latest updates to DirectX 9. It's powerful "gamer"-oriented card so should have more than enough grunt to run EMC9.

[jeanrosenfeld]

You can modify the registry to change what folders show in the places bar of XP Open/save dialog box. For example you can add Recent Documents folder (which would show shortcuts to your recently opened files and folders) or any other folder for that matter. You can have up to five items in the places bar.

 

See

 

http://www.puppypc.com/windows/rt/comdlg_p...ar.htm#dircodes

 

Office has its own method, see:

 

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;826214

[ggrussell]

Did you check the screen DPI and font sizes? Some users have posted problems when those were changed.