title function causes crashs

[SusanAndrews]

In premiere elements 4 when I use the title functions it closes down the program. My computer is a Dell Vostro 410, Microsoft XP professional, service pack 3, 3.0 GB RAM. I've used Classroom in a book on how to make titles and it still shuts down the program. I wrote adobe and they suggested a number of things. I tried some suggestions, deleting temp internet files, defragment disc, uninstalling and reinstalling the program. I also called Dell and for $129.00 they say they can fix the problem, but I'm not sure he understood the problem. Didn't seem to know what the program was. I'm not good with fixing technical problems unless someone guides me everystep of the way. Can someone identify what the problem is and if it can be fixed? Thanks

[ATR]

Check out the following AdobeTech Note to see if there is anything in it that you did not include in your prior troubleshooting of the issue.
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/402/kb402531.html

Are you logged onto your computer using a User Account with Administrative Priviledges?

What exactly is already on the Timeline when you start creating a given Title? Are you working on the first title of the project?

What are you doing when the crash occurs...just hitting the T located at the bottom right of the Edit mode Monitor?

Are you in the process of creating a default still, rolling or crawling title, text animation?

Of that 3 GB RAM, how much is available? How much free hard drive space does your computer have? Is that a 32 or 64 bit operating system? Are all those computer drivers up to date?
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?docid=333807#1

Best, describe in your own words, a step by step (detailed) one of these title crashes episodes..start to finish? Any error messages associated with these crashes?

Do you have the same problems with your try to apply a transition and/or effect?

Can someone identify what the problem is
Probably (hopefully) yes, but with a lot of details to be supplied by you.

ATR

[SusanAndrews]

I am logged onto the computer using User Account with Administrative Priviledges.
Used space is 88.2 GB, Free Space is 209GB. I am using Windows XP, don't know if it is 32 or 64. The Vista disc is have is 32, but I am not using Vista.
I did not do the following because I don't feel confident doing some of the changes. I don't understand how to fix computer problems. I just do what I am told when a problem comes along.
I don't have a new version of Premier elements, I am waiting for 8 to come out.
Disconnect IEEE 1394 /devices
Troubleshoot third-party plug-ins
Run Premier in a new user account
Update video card driver- Computer purchased this year
Verify that othe device drivers are compatible with Windows.
Trouble shoot Quick Time
Check for codec problems
I don't know if all drivers are up to date- my computer is set to update automaticly
Set virtural memory paging to default size- what is the default size?
Reinstall your capture card software-- I don't know what this is.
Reformat the hard disk, and reinstall only Windows and Premeir Elements

I am working in the Sceneline and put in a black video, then go to Title> defalt still or rolling still. The last few times as soon as I point on Title I get booted out or my whole system freezes.
Strange, my computer is frozen and I can't access and of the titles across the top or close out, but I can play the video.
No error messages- just thrown out of program or freezes the whole computer.
Hope you can advise. Thanks
.

[ATR]

Susan Andrews

Before we continue with this troubleshooting, I have an important question to ask you.

What video card do you have? If you are not sure,
Control Panel
Display
Setting...and where it says "Display:" should have the name of the video card there.

Is it a NVIDIA and was it recently updated?

ATR

[SusanAndrews]

I have Plug & Play monitor at ATI Radeon HD2400

[ATR]

SusanAndrews

The reason that I asked about the video card is that there seems to be an epidemic of problems such as you described related to updates for NVIDIA cards. The video card that you say that you have has not yet been implicated in any of these problems. But, that is not to say that it is not.

Did Dell say that it would give you a guaranteed fix for $129, in other words, if they do not fix it, you do not pay?? If they were so certain that they could "fix" the problem, I could almost bet it was a driver problem that they knew about. You could always explore their site to check out for latest drivers that they have posted for your video card.

But, the new versions of Photoshop Elements 8 and Premiere Elements 8, were released yesterday. Since you are interested in that version anyway, why don't you download the free 30 day Premiere Elements 8 tryout from Adobe and see how this version responds in your specific computer environment. I think that could be a beneficial troubleshooting way to go as well as advance you to another version.

Downloading and installing Premiere Elements 8 does not mean that you have to uninstall your current version, just do not use the two at the same time. See how that goes. Then we can decide what next.

What do you think?

ATR
(downloading and installing Premiere Elements 8 from Adobe does not bind you into buying online...we can discuss that when the time comes)

[SusanAndrews]

I read on the adobe site about the virtual memory and that it should be initial amount 1.5 times the amount of ram and the maximium should be 3 times the amount- it gave and example of 1.5 x 2046 = 3072 and 3 x 2048 = 6144. My computer is set at the default of 2046 and 4092. I have 3 GB of ram. Do you think if I change these settings it will fix my problem. I have not had the time to download the new version. I would like to do this on my days off, but I am wondering if I meet the requirements with my computer.
I hate to be a pest, I just don't understand a lot of this and I don't know what some of these requirments mean.

[ATR]

SusanAndrews

Please do not hesitate to ask questions.

Please check out the following Microsoft link on Virtual Memory settings.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308417
Special attention to the note toward the end of "2".
There are also some Premiere Elements links that suggest the same formulas for setting your own virtual memory amounts.

What I have done is first try to work with the virtual memory managed by the operating system and set the virtual memory for "System Managed Size". Then I would see if I got better results if I managed the virtual memory with my own settings.

You are correct about the Microsoft formula of
Minimum, being 1.5 x installed RAM
but go back over your thinking on the Maximum value which should be:
Maximum, being 3 x the value of the Minimum

So, if you have 3 GB (or 3072 MB) RAM installed and using that Microsoft formula:
Minimum, would be 1.5 x 3072 MB which would = 4608 MB
Maximum, would be 3 x 4608 MB which would = 13824 MB.

So with regard to your present Minimum = 2046 and Maximum = 4092, you should try to set your Minimum at 4608 MB. As for the value for the Maximum, it should equal to or greater than the Minimum. I have found that the computer may not let you set for the theoretical Maximum, but a much lessor value. You could start with your Minimum and Maximum equal and advance the Maximum as allowed if necessary.

After experimenting with both ways, I decided to let my Windows XP SP3 manage the virtual memory.

Please let us know the outcome.

ATR