Why did the conversion crash? Run out of RAM?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cymbal Man Freq.
  • Start date Start date
C

Cymbal Man Freq.

I was converting a DVD to a Divx avi file using Total Video Control (trial
version) (I think that was the name of it); and it successfully converted a
nearly 8 minute file at 88.5 MB, but choked on the next file exactly 40 minutes
into the conversion process at 92.0 MB and corrupted the file. At the time of
corruption, my available RAM was down to the last 8 MB; is this a reason why
this type of program would crash? Should I reboot between each project
conversion? I was using a Dell 4300 1.6 Ghz P4 with 512 MB RAM with Win XP SP2
Home. Should I disconnect from the net and disable my Anti-virus and other
startup resource hog programs so the machine has more RAM to start with to get
through the conversion process?

I tried another program yesterday and it too crashed and corrupted the same file
from the DVD but I didn't check the RAM, it might have been because of my
screensaver that booted me out and made me relog in during the conversion
problem yesterday.
 
In some cases with some conversion software the screensaver kicking in
definitely causes problems.
The first thing I would try is just what you said. Disconnect from the
internet so you can shut down all non-essential programs and disable your
screensaver. Also defragmenting your harddrive may help as it will speed up
the process. This may or may not work but it will definitely make the job
faster if it does work.

I suspect though that the problem may be with the DVD not with system
resources. You could try downloading Nero 7 Demo and try Nero Recode to
convert the video to Nero Digital Video which can then be converted for use
in Movie Maker.
 
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