TechNote

Troubleshoot errors or freezes that occur when you burn DVDs (Adobe Premiere Pro 1.x)

What's covered

Beginning troubleshooting

Intermediate troubleshooting

Advanced troubleshooting

This document can help you resolve problems that occur when you export Adobe Premiere Pro projects to DVD. These problems can manifest themselves in many different ways, including (but not limited to) unrecognized DVD burners, errors, freezes, and Adobe Premiere Pro unexpectedly quitting.

To get the most from this document, perform the tasks in order. Keep track of the tasks you perform and the results of each, including errors or other problems. Adobe Technical Support can use this information to better assist you, should you need to call.

Note: To avoid wasting DVDs while you perform the tasks described in this document, perform a test pass before you export a project to DVD: Insert a DVD+/- RW disc, choose File > Export to DVD, choose DVD Burner, and then select Test and Record. When you click Test and Record, Adobe Premiere Pro performs a test pass before writing to disc. If the test is successful, Adobe Premiere Pro writes to the DVD. If the test fails, Adobe Premiere Pro returns a message with information about why the test failed.

Beginning troubleshooting

The tasks in this section can help you resolve the most common problems. Before performing any of these tasks, back up all personal files (for example, Adobe Premiere Pro files you created).

Always restart the computer after a problem occurs to refresh its memory. Continuing to work without restarting the computer may compound the problem.

1. Make sure that you use the correct DVD type.

DVD burners only support the disc formats for which they are designed. For more information about what disc formats your DVD burner supports, contact the manufacturer.

2. Erase the DVD before you export to DVD.

If you use a rewritable DVD-RW disc, make sure that you erase the disc before you export to DVD.

3. Make sure that the project size does not exceed disc capacity.

If the project is larger than the maximum capacity of the DVD, you won't be able to export it to DVD. If the project exceeds disc capacity, Adobe Premiere Pro displays the message "Insufficient disc space for recording" in the Export to DVD window and the Record button is unavailable.

4. Try a different brand of media.

Some DVD burners don't work well with certain brands of DVD media, and some brands of DVD burners don't work as well with Adobe Premiere Pro as they do with other applications. You can check the compatibility of different brands of DVDs and DVD burners on the DVD Help website at www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdmedia .

5. Make sure that you use transcoding presets in Adobe Premiere Pro.

The DVD specification doesn't allow bitrates over 9.8 mbps. Using a custom transcode setting can set a bitrate that is higher than 9.8 mbps and may cause an error.

To choose a transcoding preset:

1. Choose File > Export > Export to DVD.

2. In the Export to DVD window, choose Encoding.

3. Choose an appropriate preset from the Preset menu.

6. Render the project timeline before you export to DVD.

Prerendering the project timeline helps you to detect and eliminate problems with particular project media or effects. If an error or problem occurs when you render the timeline, troubleshoot the media or effect in the timeline.

7. Export the project as a Microsoft DV AVI file, and then import it into a new project.

Export the project timeline to the hard drive as a Microsoft DV AVI file, and then import the file into a new Adobe Premiere Pro project before exporting the project to DVD.

8. Delete the PrintToDVD.preferences file.

If the PrintToDVD.preferences file becomes damaged, it may contain invalid or corrupt information regarding the DVD burner and the MPEG2-DVD export settings. When you delete the PrintToDVD.preferences file, Adobe Premiere Pro creates a new preferences file.

To delete the PrintToDVD.preferences file:

1. Quit Adobe Premiere Pro.

2. Enable Windows to show hidden files or folders:

a. Open Windows Explorer.

b. Choose Tools > Folder Options.

c. Click the View Tab.

d. Under Advanced Settings, select Show Hidden Files and Folders.

e. Click Apply, and then click OK.

3. Delete the PrintToDVD.preferences file in Documents and Settings\[user name]\Application Data\Adobe\Premiere Pro\7.0.

4. Start Adobe Premiere Pro.

Intermediate troubleshooting

If the tasks in the previous section don't solve the problem, try the following intermediate troubleshooting tasks:

9. Disable startup items and services.

Antivirus software, firewall software, anticrash software or other applications and services that are typically loaded when Windows starts may interfere with the DVD burning process. You can temporarily disable nonessential startup items and services from loading by using the Windows System Configuration Utility.

To disable startup items and services:

1. Quit all applications.

2. Choose Start > Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.

3. Click the Startup tab, and select Disable All.

4. Select startup items that are essential for testing the problem (for example, any capture card related files or utilities such as the DigiCtrl service required by the Matrox RTX10 and RTX100 cards). If you are unsure if an item is essential, leave it selected.

5. Click the Services tab, select Hide All Microsoft Services, and then select Disable All.

6. Click OK, and then restart Windows.

7. Right-click to close or disable any items in the Notification Area (called the System Tray in earlier versions of Windows).

Then, try to re-create the problem:

-- If the problem no longer occurs, one of the startup items conflicts with Adobe Premiere Pro. Reenable startup items one at a time, testing each time until you determine which item conflicts with Adobe Premiere Pro. Contact that item's developer to see if an update is available.

-- If the problem recurs, startup items are not the cause of the problem and you can reenable them:

a. Choose Start > Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.

b. Click the General tab, and then select Normal Startup.

c. Click OK, and then restart Windows.

10. Disable the IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service.

If Adobe Premiere Pro returns an error that the DVD burner is in use by another application, disable the IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service.

Note:Disabling the IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service disables the ability of Windows XP to natively burn CD-R/RWs.

To disable the IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service:

1. Choose Start > Settings > Control Panel, and then double-click Administrative Tools.

2. Double-click Services.

3. Right-click IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service and choose Properties.

4. If the service status is Started, click the Stop button.

5. Choose Disabled from the Startup Type menu.

6. Click Apply, and then click OK.

Try to export an Adobe Premiere Pro project to DVD. If you're able to do so without error, you can reenable the IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service. To reenable the IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service, repeat steps 1-6, choosing Automatic from the Startup Type menu in step 5.

11. Switch the DVD drive controller to DMA Mode.

DMA (Direct Memory Access) and PIO (Program Input/Output) are used for data transfer. Drives that are set to use PIO instead of DMA require more CPU cycles and transfer data more slowly than drives using DMA. By selecting DMA for the DVD drive, you may increase the drive's performance and reduce the likelihood of errors.

To select DMA for the DVD drive:

Note: DMA must be enabled in the system BIOS before you can complete this procedure. See the computer or motherboard documentation for additional information.

1. Choose Start > Settings > Control Panel.

2. Double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Computer Management.

3. Expand System Tools, and then click Device Manager.

4. Expand IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers and double-click an IDE controller.

5. Click the Advanced Settings tab.

6. Choose DMA If Available from the Transfer Mode menu.

7. Repeat steps 5-6 for each IDE controller in the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers list.

12. Update the DVD burnerfirmware.

Contact the DVD burner manufacturer for the most recent firmware available for your burner.

13. Install the latest driver for the display card.

Contact the display card manufacturer to obtain the latest driver.

14. Disable additional DVD burners.

If multiple DVD burners are connected to the computer, they may cause errors in Adobe Premiere Pro. Disconnect any additional DVD burners before you build an Adobe Premiere Pro project to ensure that other burners don't interfere with the burner you use to build a project.

15. Quit other DVD applications.

If other applications that access the driver for the DVD burner are running at the same time as Adobe Premiere Pro, they may conflict with Adobe Premiere Pro and cause errors. Quit all other DVD applications and restart the computer before you export an Adobe Premiere Pro project to DVD.

16. Disable Windows AutoPlay.

The Windows AutoPlay feature may conflict with the DVD burning process and cause errors. For more information about disabling AutoPlay, see Windows Help.

17. Burn a DVD in another application.

If you are unable to burn a DVD in another application, the DVD burner or associated drivers may be causing the error. If you can burn a DVD in another application, continue with the troubleshooting tasks in this document.

18. Reinstall Adobe Premiere Pro.

DVD driver entries can be accidentally deleted or become misprioritized in the Windows registry, resulting in errors. Removing and reinstalling Adobe Premiere Pro can replace a deleted DVD driver entry or change the priority of a DVD driver entry in the Windows registry.

19. Refresh the DVD drivers list in the Windows registry.

Installation of other DVD- and CD-burning applications may alter the drivers list in the Windows registry. Refreshing this list may resolve problems accessing the DVD burner from Adobe Premiere Pro.

Disclaimer: The registry contains system-related information that is critical to your computer and applications. Before modifying the registry, be sure to make a backup copy of it. Adobe doesn't provide support for problems that arise from improperly modifying the registry. Adobe strongly recommends that you have experience editing system files before you modify the registry. For information on the Windows Registry Editor, see the documentation for Windows or contact Microsoft Technical Support.

To refresh the DVD drivers list in the Windows registry:

1. Remove Adobe Premiere Pro.

2. Choose Start > Run.

3. Enter regeditin the Run box.

4. Select the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} registry key.

5. Choose File > Export, enter a name and location for the backup registry key, and then click Save.

6. In the right panel of the Registry Editor, select the LowerFilters line, and press Delete.

7. Select the UpperFilters line, and press Delete.

8. Close the Registry Editor.

9. Restart Windows.

10. Reinstall Adobe Premiere Pro.

11. Restart Windows.

Note:If this solution doesn't resolve the problem, you can restore the DVD drivers list in the Windows registry by double-clicking the registry key you exported in step 5 and restarting Windows.

20. Build a DVD from a sample project on the Adobe Premiere Pro Sample Files disc.

1. Copy a Sample Project folder to your hard drive from the Adobe Premiere Pro Sample Files disc.

2. Open a sample project file and try to build a DVD.

If you're unable to build a DVD from a sample project, proceed to tasks 21 and 22.

Advanced troubleshooting

Certain file types or media may return errors in Adobe Premiere Pro. The following tasks will help you isolate possible conflicts associated with file types and media.

21. Troubleshoot file types used in the project.

1. Create a new project.

2. Import an AVI file, and then add the file to a new timeline.

3. Choose File > Export > Export to DVD.

4. Select the settings you want in the Export to DVD dialog box, and then click Record:

-- If the build fails, import the same AVI file to a sample project on the Adobe Premiere Pro Sample Files disc, and export the project to DVD. If this build fails, the problem may be with the AVI file. If you use a third-party capture card with a proprietary digital video codec, reexport the file as a standard Microsoft DV AVI.

-- If the build is successful, import additional file types to the new project from the original (problem) project, and then export to DVD with each new type. Import files from different locations on your computer until you can verify whether a certain file type or disk location causes the build to fail.

22. Troubleshoot clip media used in the project.

1. Open the project in Adobe Premiere Pro.

2. Create a backup of the project: Choose File > Save As and rename the project.

3. Delete approximately half of the clip media from the last half of the timeline.

4. Choose File > Export > Export to DVD, select the settings you want in the Export to DVD dialog box, and then click Record:

-- If the error recurs, repeat steps 3 and 4, deleting approximately half of the remaining clip media from the timeline until the error no longer occurs.

-- If the error no longer occurs, open the backup project, delete approximately one quarter of the clip media from the timeline, and repeat step 4. Continue to remove media until the you've identified the problem media.

5. Remove and replace the problem clip media in the original project.

6. Save the corrected version of the project and export it to DVD.

23. Export the project as MPEG2-DVD from Adobe Media Encoder.

Export the project as an MPEG2-DVD file and use an alternative DVD authoring application to create a DVD.

To create a DVD-compliant MPEG2 file from Adobe Premiere Pro:

1. Select the Timeline Window.

2. Choose File > Export > Adobe Media Encoder.

3. Choose MPEG2-DVD from the Format menu.

4. Choose an appropriate preset from the Preset menu.

5. Click OK, and enter a name and location for the file.

6. Click Save.