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Windows Movie Maker Suddenly Will Not Start

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ro2124 | 19:05 Sat 21st Nov 2015 | Technology
21 Answers
Well here we go again- thanks Microcrap,...looks like I will have to waste another part of my life trying to solve bloody problems with your crap programs.
Although Windows has improved over the years (if one remembers the nightmare days of Windows 98 etc) But even now there are problems which really should not happen after all these decades.
Been using Windows Movie Maker on Windows 8.1 for a while now without many probs, but suddenly it decides it doesn't want to start any more. Haven't made any changes or anything. it just does not want to start.
I have tried everything I have reinstalled twice, double checked everything, but no dice, it will not start!
Looked on the Microsoft website but of course as usual, lots of advice which for most people does not work, looking at the comments from Users.

Reached the end of the road, tried everything I don't have no more answers as to solve it, so perhaps someone else can give me some advice?
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Ok. If you have already updated your Graphics driver and you are sure they are the latest version, then try running a system verification check that will check for any system file inconsistencies and attempt to replace / repair any it finds. - Use the keyboard shortcut WINDOWS KEY+X (i.e. press both keys together) to open a Quick Links menu and select the...
15:53 Sun 22nd Nov 2015
I thought Microsoft had allowed good ol' movie maker to wither on the vine, to be replaced by Windows Live Movie Maker. As far as I can tell most of the Windows Live interactions happen online.
So are you using Windows Live Movie Maker - daft question next, are you actually online when using it? Sorry to be a bit basic but troubleshooting from afar can be difficult.
You could also try uninstalling then re-installing Windows Live mOvie Maker.
Oh for the days of old-style movie maker, very simple and you knew just when it would crash.
Question Author
@Mosaic
well guess its Live Movie Maker ...anyway downloaded it as part of Windows Essentials so must be latest version
Question Author
@Buenchico

thanks for the info, do in fact have another alternative prog...but actually the quality of movies edited on Movie Maker is pretty good....shame the bloody thing dont work proper.
uninstall it re-boot and then reinstall it...that fixes a helluva lot of problems
thats usually one of the quickest fixes around , quicker than faffing around for hours looking for a solution
Try uninstalling Windows Movie Maker, RESTARTING YOUR COMPUTER (THAT'S IMPORTANT!) and then reinstalling it. (The restart forces your PC to flush some old registry entries).

If that doesn't work, try again but (after restarting) run a registry clean-up with the free version of CCleaner:
https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download
^^^Crossed posts.

I'm pleased to see the all-important word 'reboot' mentioned there, Baz ;-)
Question Author
@bazwillrun
>uninstall it re-boot and then reinstall it...that fixes a helluva lot of problems

Ahh if only life was that easy :-) not with Microcrap unfortunately,...yeah of course, done all that and also uninstalled with Revo Uninstaller which in theory should flush unwanted registry bits etc but no dice. Irritating not knowing why it should cease to work in the first place, as nothing was touched but trying to be logical with Microcrap is like trying to solve the mystery of the Universe -which is probably easier :-)
I sympathise, but in a way sort of grateful that it’s not just me having problems. I’m on XP; WMM will start up, but crashes as soon as I try to add anything to the timeline, whether audio, video or pics. This started happening about a year ago. I’ve resorted to using Live on my notebook but it’s fiddly on such a small monitor, and I can’t upload directly because it refuses to accept the password for my Google account (or whatever account it is – long time since I tried) so I just save the file to native and transfer to PC for upload.
have you tried a restore point prior to it not working ?
Question Author
@bazwillrun

.Restore...
Yep tried that too, which may have solved it, but you know how it is with Microcrap the Restore Point you actually want is never there...so apart from whacking a red hot poker up Bill Gates ass in revenge for all the time wasted on Microcrap over the years, cant think of anything else to do! Bye Movie Maker it was nice while it lasted....
Try checking the Windows Event Logs for any recorded Movie Maker errors, which may give you some idea as to what the underlying problem may be.

In Windows 8.1, a quick method to access 'Event Viewer' is using the keyboard shortcut WINDOWS KEY+X (i.e. press both keys together) to open a Quick Links menu (a list of system tools) and clicking 'Event Viewer'.

Select 'Windows Logs'>'Application', wait a short while and a list of logged events will appear which you can browse / search through. (note, run Movie Maker first before checking the event logs).

You could also try updating your graphics driver to the latest version, just in case the current driver has become corrupt, as Movie Maker requires a Video card or video driver that supports Microsoft DirectX 9.0c (or later) and Pixel Shader 2.0 (or later).
Question Author
Well tried all the suggestions, so thanks for all the advice Guys, but nothing will make it work, its one of those Microcrap things, whatever you do and you can spend half your life on it, forget it wont work!
So thats it- Finito Movie Maker!
Guess only thing left to do is get the free upgrade to Win 10 which I had considered doing anyway, that may bring it back...but who knows with Micrcrap, you just never can tell what it will do and what nasty surprises lie in store.
Did you manage to find any entries in the Windows Application log for Movie Maker?

You can also perform a search of the Application log file by selecting the option 'Find' which is located on the Right-hand side of the Event viewer 'Action Window'. Enter the text to search for as MovieMaker.

If it finds any log entries there will be a corresponding 'Event ID' number shown in the log entry which you can then check for further detail by clicking 'Event Log Online Help'
Question Author
MMh now things are getting confusing. Christ this is driving me nuts!!!.

Now seems Its possibly a problem with graphics driver although I checked the driver before and it come up as driver is up to date. However I installed another video editor and guess what? It wont start and says you graphics driver is not supported - update driver.
But as the driver is apparently up to date this is very confusing indeed!!
May be worth checking the current installed version of DirectX which must be version 9.0c or later (which is usually version 11 for Windows 8).

Use the keyboard shortcut WINDOWS KEY+R combination (i.e. press both keys together) and type in the command DXDIAG.EXE and press enter. That will run the DirectX Diagnostic tool and display the current version near the bottom of the Diagnostic Window.
Question Author
@pinkyboyid

Tried that. Version is 11....this damn problem seems impossible to solve Ahhhrggg!!!!
Ok.

If you have already updated your Graphics driver and you are sure they are the latest version, then try running a system verification check that will check for any system file inconsistencies and attempt to replace / repair any it finds.

- Use the keyboard shortcut WINDOWS KEY+X (i.e. press both keys together) to open a Quick Links menu and select the option 'Command Prompt(Admin)'
- In the 'Command Prompt' window that opens up, type in and enter the command text: SFC /SCANNOW

That will most likely run for a while and eventually display an activity report of its findings. You may need to reboot.


If that does not work try creating another new additional user account with Admin privileges and logon with that new account to check if Movie Maker will run utilising the new user profile.
Question Author
@pinkyboyid

Well,you certainly seem to know your stuff :-)
Made notes of all your useful shortcuts/Info for future use.
Shall try that later.

In the meantime found another way of doing things with just as good results and also seems bit faster method than MovieMaker

I use avidemux for edit and if I need to reduce size further, use MediaCoder to re-code.
Good results not far off original.

So again thanks for all the useful advice (and all the others, thanks too)

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