Live Movie Maker Import Problem

Hey, I'm having a problem with Windows Live Movie Maker. Before, when I used Windows Vista, I would plug in my camcorder (firewire), the import video wizard would pop up, and then I would have an option to choose between AVI and WMV. This was really really good for me, because an hour of AVI takes up 13 gigabytes, whereas an hour of WMV takes up 1 gigabyte. However, this option is no longer there with Windows Live Movie Maker, or Windows 7 in general. It simply defaults to AVI and I then have to convert it later, thus doubling my time spend on the project. Does anyone have any idea how to re-enable WMV, or perhaps of another Windows program that would do the job? Basically, I want it to import the video directly to WMV, or any other format that doesn't take up 13 gigabytes per hour, without sacrificing quality. (WMV is great in that regard by the way. The quality is great) Any help would be most appreciated. Please, somebody help!

You can do a google search for Movie Maker 2.6, which is a MS product that has nothing to do with Windows Live. It works in Win 7.

You can also use the Movie Maker application that was in Vista. It works in Win 7.

Not sure if they work on Win 7 64 bit.

I have no idea if either one will solve your problem, but they are available and you might check them out.

I tried Movie Maker 2.6. The option to import from a camcorder was not available, it simply wasn't there. What is the vista movie maker application? And where do I get it?

The Vista Movie Maker app is the Movie Maker application that was included in Vista. In a genius move, MS decided to delete it from Win 7 and instead make Live Move Maker available as a download. I read that it was limited before I ever installed Win 7 and decided to avoid it.

I used Movie Maker in Vista. When I moved to Win 7, I extracted it from an image I had made of my Vista hard drive and copied it into my Programs directory.

I would guess you could fish it out of the Vista install disc somehow, but I haven't tried that.

Thanks ignatzatsonic. I might see if I can do a temporary install of my old copy of vista onto another computer, but if there is any other way to do it I would be very very happy. Anyone have any other ideas?

Sean:

I just searched through some old files and found a Word document containing instructions on how to use the Vista DVD to get at the Vista version of Movie Maker and put it into Win 7. This is verbatim as I found it on the web.

If it fails, your alternative is to rob it from a Vista installation. I would think a friend's PC would work, so maybe you wouldn't have to install it yourself. I think the app may only be in Vista Home Premium and above?

To repeat, I cannot say if the Vista product will solve your problem.

Also note: I have the Vista app running on Win 7 32 bit; I have no idea how well it would run on Win 7 64 bit.

Method 1, using the Vista install disc; I never used this method and can't vouch for it. It isn't particularly well-written either:

insert your dvd rom of vista installation.

go to (dvd rom letter)\sources\install.wim (open it as a compress file with the 7zip compressor).

-find program files (also for the x64 version NOT program files x86)

-open the folder, and find movie maker. extract the folder to your windows 7 program files folder (again in x86 and x64 in the program files folder NOT program files (x86) )

-for security and stability reasons put in compatibility mode run as administrator. (nothing weird but even on vista if you try to edit a very large file over 500 mbs more or less, it crash. its a fix on 7 so you dont need to right click the shortcut or the .exe file and choose run as administrator. again this happens both in vista and 7.)

Method 2, by going to another PC with Vista installed already:


Copy the Movie Maker folder from Vista (C:\Program Files\Movie Maker) to your Win 7 Program Files folder.

You then have to register some .dll files with a batch file. To make the batch file, copy the following lines of text into notepad or wordpad and save the file as batch.bat on your desktop.

Run the batch file from an elevated command prompt. It will re-register the specified .dll files.


regsvr32 /s qdv.dll
regsvr32 /s quartz.dll

regsvr32 /s wmvcore.dll
regsvr32 /s wmvadve.DLL

regsvr32 /s shimgvw.dll
regsvr32 /s msxml.dll
regsvr32 /s msxml2.dll
regsvr32 /s msxml3.dll

regsvr32 /s "%ProgramFiles%\Movie Maker\wmm2fxa.dll"
regsvr32 /s "%ProgramFiles%\Movie Maker\wmm2fxb.dll"
regsvr32 /s "%ProgramFiles%\Movie Maker\wmm2ae.dll"
regsvr32 /s "%ProgramFiles%\Movie Maker\wmm2filt.dll"
regsvr32 /s "%ProgramFiles%\Movie Maker\wmmfilt.dll"
regsvr32 /s "%ProgramFiles%\Movie Maker\wmm2ext.dll"
regsvr32 /s "%ProgramFiles%\Movie Maker\wmm2clip.dll"

THAT WORKED!!! THANK YOU IGNATZATSONIC!! I am now importing family videos in wmv format! I'll report back once I know that it worked for sure! I'm using the "copy from another vista installation" method, and it's beautiful!

Worked Perfectly. Problem Solved!