With all the bitching and moaning going on about Vista and DRM, it’s nice to see that Lifehacker has some good news for us. The updated version of Windows Movie Maker has the ability to edit video files that Vista’s Media Center components record… you know, without DRM. True, you’re probably not going to get at CableCARD content — But this new functionality actually makes at least a portion of Vista less restrictive than XP. So strip out your commercials, put some pretty menus and transitions in, then burn DVDs ’til the cows (or Leopards) come home.
While I haven’t spent much time in Vista (yet… more on that later), the XP version of Movie Maker isn’t bad. Most folks don’t seem to know of it, but for the cost of zero dollars it does a nice job with basic video editing. YouTube and others have no problem with WMV — as you can see via my Movibeam overview and Ladies of eBay compilation.
It seems a little rude to dismiss legitimate issues with DRM eliminating our fair-use rights as “bitching and moaning.” After all, they affect you just as much as the rest of us.
I’m not dismissing legitimate issues with DRM, I’m pointing out a phenomenon. I fully agree that DRM is a real issue now and going forward that impacts our rights (and our checkbooks) as consumers. However, I do not support some of Defective by Design’s methods and I don’t believe they have justified some recent claims.
This is not true, unfortunately. The latest version of WMM (6.0) for Vista does not support .dvr-ms files (gives unspecified error), even though it claims to. Microsoft has not been forthcoming with a patch, and doesn’t seem to want to hear about the problem (no avenue for feedback without paying $$ for “support”).
WMM works fine for me on Vista Ultimate. I use it all the time to down convert (size) TV shows (OTA HDTV) for viewing on my Cingular 8125 (HTC Wizard).
I also use WMM to edit DVR-MS files I recorded with Vista’s Media Center.
I’m using Vista Ultimate and tried to edit my recorded dvr-ms tv shows with Movie Maker. When i’m importing the file the program shuts down and gives me this message “Windows Movie Maker has stop working. A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available.”
I tried totrace the problem to missing codecs and installed th elatest VistaCodecs_v434.exe but still get the same error. Help anyone?
Most people who have problems are using HP/Compaq computers. I have the same problem; with a weird way to make it work. HP told me to run a command prompt and start movie maker using “/safe mode” after typing .exe Then, turn off all the filters in Movie Maker. Viola, I can import and edit DVR-MS files. Note: a message will inevitably pop-up saying “run32.dll has stopped working”
HP/compaqs w/ vista also come pre-installed with Roxio software that lets you turn DVR-MS files into mpeg files. I think HP is trying to tell its users to pay for their partners software instead of getting it for free with Vista.
It looks like there may be a solution now. I installed this SoftPaq for my HP m7780n to update Intel Viiv software mpeg codecs and I no longer get the dreaded ‘unspecified error’ on an import of DVR-MS files. Go here.
Thank you so much for posting that URL! I have m7790y, and downloaded the Intel Viiv patch for that model, which you can find here.
Works like a charm!
Your right vista movie maker will edit dvr-ms tv shows but it will only save in the normal video file types not the original dvr-ms type, so its useful but not perfect for everyone
could anybody help me with finding a site where I can get free vids w/out paying so that I could include them in my wmm clips I make for youtube. Every site I go to I have to pay. I even tried to download vids through realplayer. But, wmm didn’t accept it. I’m going nuts. Help.