my DVD 9 - my headache

[tightyfist]

Hi all, muchly frustrated user and ex-my DVD owner.

 

I started out several months ago with a simple request to translate a Microsoft Media project to a DVD that would play on a home DVD player. Soon it became apparent that I wouldn't get anywhere on the limited resources available on my work PC. I brought the project home to my notebook which had myDVD 5 preinstalled on it. I had never tried this software, but what the hey, something new. It soon turned out to be frustrating in the extreme. After I finally got the Windows file converted to an Mpeg that would show up on the DVD program, I couldn't get the project to burn. I had copied many discs using Sonic RecordNow so I was pretty sure the burner wasn't the problem. As the DVD software kept hanging, I figured an easy fix would be to upgrade. After finding the Roxio site and buying and downloading and installing the new myDVD 9 I once again tried the project. This time there were fewer stalls and I managed to succeed in the project, though there were some issues with the way the menu feature functioned on my friends DVD player compared to mine. I put this down to the maddening variety of disc and player formats and compatibilities and my lack of experience with the program. I next had a project at work that would be well served as a DVD movie to simplify presentations where the presenter did not have a notebook to drive the computer media presentation. Once again converted to Mpeg and then attempted to burn to a DVD using the new software. Big issues this time. Nothing seemed to work, specifically 'Burn to DVD' I could build a folder and preview, but try to burn and nothing but going through the motions. I tried no less that 7 different brands of DVD - R discs. When I finally gave up and tried burning the disk with RecordNow and the folder developed with myDVD. I ended up with video and no audio. ENOUGH ! I tried to find a fix at Roxio, but got tied up in registering as a 'customer'. Once registered, I find ASK ROXANNE is their best tool !?!?! (Unbeleivable, ask me a question that I want to answer) I went back and tried some other approaches, but admitted defeat and went back to Roxio help. Guess what - I couldn't sign in. Finally had to recover my password and tried to get to an e-mail representative, but got stuck on the sign in AGAIN ! Recovered my password AGAIN and finally got to the support page and asked ROXANNE, only to be told the page was unavailable. So, why not try and re-install the software. First go to Windows add/remove program, but no luck as the uninstall crashes when it can't find the certificate file. Fine, go to Roxio to re-install the program that I have already paid for, only to be told that it's been 3 months and I'm no longer permitted to download. So back to control panel and try the uninstall again, same story, crash.

Now I'm really getting pissed.... Can't make it work, can't get help, can't re-install and can't even uninstall the damned thing. OK cool down and leave it alone or risk smashing the LCD screen with my fist. I need a copy of a data disc so I go to use RecordNow only to find that it is now non-functional, probably because I tried to uninstall a sister product. Try to find a fix at Roxio (automatic forwarding link from Sonic.com) and find that RecordNow is a "legacy" program that no longer has support. Give me a bleeding break.

Long story short, I have managed to uninstall myDVD 9 and RecordNow (unfortunate) and I now have a pain in that every time I access any video file, Windows installer starts an installation of Sonic Cinemaster Decoder Pack and won't give up, despite my closing the program, cancelling the pop-ups and litterally shutting off the notebook. The install will attempt no less than 11 times in a row !! I find this totally unacceptable, poor software, poor support and a subtle change to some part of my file management system and the best help I have found is this forum (Which I personally find a testament to the corporate mentality - sell them the product and let them figure it out on their own). The forum doesn't even have a section on myDVD, falling back to EMC. Typically, you will see some response on a forum from the manufacturer to clarify an important issue or stop the virtual bleeding when someone opens a code wound, but not this one. I find a good portion of the postings are unsatisfied customers that have paid good money in good faith for a program that proclaims to be so wonderful and find out woefully late that it's a pig in a poke. Can anyone out there help me rid my Dell of the remnants of this horrid software so that I can purchase a recognized program which while maybe costing more has a support group that isn't afraid to respond to customers and has a product that does not frustrate and corrupt innocent computers.

Now I know that Microsoft Windows machines have lots of problems of their own, but I have been relatively blessed over the years with only occasional bugs and viruses, most issues involving upgrades and conflicts between similar programs. This notebook has been close to 4 years without a significant problem and I'm damned if I'll let it start to dive now !! I just want my machine back the way it was before Roxio mucked it up. As a last resort I'll do a system restore to before I installed the Roxio software and hope this works.

There .... I've had my rant and I feel so much better. I don't really feel ill will to the Roxio people, they're just out there grubbing for dollars like everyone else and screwing who they have to along the way. I don't hate anyone, though you wouldn't have known that a few nights ago when I was cursing the dogs that bore the programmers that built this program.

I simply would like to end this painful experience and move on with my life. Please help - or not.

Oh yeh, if any Roxio persons are scanning these things - YOU SUCK.

Cheers,

Tightyfist

[tightyfist]

Wingwiper et all,

 

Thank you for a sensible response. As for the rest, you are welcome to your opinion.

I tried the system restore idea, but unfortunately the application does not have any recorded points, for whatever reason. As I have cleaned regularly and periodically do get notice of virus or worm, I suppose that's the cause. I am always up for a challenge and will try the clean and sweep. At the very worst case scenario, I will have the local computer service company re-install a plain jane op system and go from there. I tried a product called 'Clean Sweep' years ago on an old PC and unfortunately corrupted the good while eliminating the bad, kind of left a bad taste in my mouth about monkeying with the guts of the system, but fortune favours the bold, so have at it I will and I'll take all the luck I can get. I'm surprised about your comment on Norton, I have used it sucessfully for many years after having nothing but problems with McAfee. Will try MS Defender, it SHOULD be compatible with XP.

Finally, I have found that the Cineplayer curse stems from an item that has been embedded in my Control Panel - named aptly enough 'Cineplayer'. I don't remember this as an option when I purchased the myDVD software, but then I did allow the 'typical install' instead of the 'custom', so I have myself to blame.

I wish the best to you and yours, and to those that took precious time from their important lives to even log a response, God bless you all.

 

An interesting experience, this forum, Cheers,

Tightyfist

[bimicher]

Hi all, muchly frustrated user and ex-my DVD owner.

 

I...

Cheers,

Tightyfist

 

Since you are using EMC 9, you could at least have posted your life story in the correct forum

 

BTW, I gave up reading after a couple lines and I think most readers feel the same way

[tightyfist]

Ah, a witty reply. As I have not purchased EMC 9, but simply my DVD version 9 and there is no reference to this product, even on a search, I jammed the request wherever the last search dropped me.

I suppose one must suffer idiots in this domain, I heartily apologize for consuming bandwidth. Obviously, the users of these products are no more helpful than the creators.

Season's greetings.

Cheers,

Tightyfist

[Wingwiper]

tightyfist

 

You posted a detailed complaint and you took me step by step thru your aggravated experience. You have a very legitimate complaint and I would love to see you get the help that you so duly deserve.

I read EVERY word and do NOT feel you wrote a LIFE STORY but rather a complaint in proper form and in proper detail. If people can take the time to throw an insult your way or even to declare you picked the wrong forum, I wonder why these same people can not take a second or two and offer some help.

That said

 

I would suggest you go to a prior RESTORE POINT.

 

Better Yet. I know what I am about to say might add another paragraph to your complaint, but I would suggest to back up all important data on your laptop and reformat and start over. After you reformat get all the UPDATES, drivers and firmware for all hardware prior to to re installing software. Once that is done, Install one software at a time, being sure NOT to install features you don't need or want and then get all updates and then reboot. Then go to next software and repeat the process.

After that is complete, be sure if it is NOT needed to be running in the background, don't let it run in the back ground. Be sure NOT to install DRAG to DISK by Roxio for this causes tremendous conflicts with other DVD software.

When you install the OEM Software, ONLY install what you have used and worked. I install Windows and then I go to the UNINSTALL of Control Panel and I uninstall all of the Games, the stupid stuff, the crap I will never use, the garbage that is 6 levels below an adequate operating software pkg and I set up Windows exactly the way I want. My next step is to install my Adware, Virus software etc. I do NOT use Norton's and have found that since I have dropped Norton's many Problems have gone with it. I use AVG and Windows Defender. Once these are installed and updated, I scan my system, defrag it and run ccleaner as well as Disk Cleaner. I now make sure all hardware is updated, all patches are in etc etc and then I begin to install my software, ONE at a time, Update it and then reboot.

 

What you will be doing is stripping your computer down from having uneeded software that may be causing Conflicts. If you have a DSL connection this would only take a few hours and give you one of two results.

 

1. a total waste of your time but a cleaned up laptop that after 4 years of use could have used some tweaking.

 

2. Possibly a partial waste of your time, but a laptop that runs faster, programs that seem to work better and a lot of dead and useless files gone.

 

Uniblue also has Registry Booster and I have used this for registry tweaking for well over a year now and it works well and solves many problems. it is a good utility for getting rid of Orphaned files, abandoned entries and unlinked files that may cause hang ups.

 

Good Luck and you did as any Unhappy customer should do, Post your complaint in detail and hope for some Help. good Luck

 

Happy New Year

[james_hardin]

Ah, a witty reply. As I have not purchased EMC 9, but simply my DVD version 9 and there is no reference to this product, even on a search, I jammed the request wherever the last search dropped me.

I suppose one must suffer idiots in this domain, I heartily apologize for consuming bandwidth. Obviously, the users of these products are no more helpful than the creators.

Season's greetings.

Cheers,

Tightyfist

Boring!!!

[Wingwiper]

Boring!!!

 

 

James

 

That reply says it all and why so many show a dissatisfaction towards Roxio/Sonic

 

It would have been better for you to have read his post and if you felt it was boring then, move on without posting anything.

 

It seems you have chosen to make a remark to impress others who also do NOT give a shi- and allow a person with a BAD experience add more to his list of why he will not buy Roxio or reccomend it.

 

ONE ATTABOY for you.