Problem with "unspecified Error" when burning a DVD

Question

I am having problems burning a DVD...after making and saving the file on Windows Live Movie maker, I try to burn the DVD and it takes forever to get to 83.0% and stops before burning.  At 99%, the burn stops and I get an unspecified error.  I'm not very technically oriented when trying to fix this error, please make it easy and very fast for me to fix!  Thanks

Answer 1

Hi Ronda P,

Welcome to Microsoft answers!

a)    Which edition of windows vista are you running on the computer?

b)    How exactly are you trying to burn the DVD? What file format are you using?

I would first suggest you to save the project on your computer and then try to burn to a DVD at a slower burning speed.

Choose a slower burning speed for your DVD burner by doing the following:

1.    Return to the Add pictures and video to the DVD page, and then click Options.

2.    In the DVD burner speed box, select Medium or Slow.

Change-Windows-DVD-Maker-DVD-Video-settings

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/Change-Windows-DVD-Maker-DVD-Video-settings

If the issue persists, download service pack 2 for windows vista on the computer

How to obtain the latest Windows Vista service pack

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935791

See the link below:

Error message when you try to publish a movie to a DVD by using Windows DVD Maker in Windows Vista: "Unspecified error"

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949281

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For more information, please check the links below:

Burn-a-DVD-Video-disc

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/Burn-a-DVD-Video-disc

Troubleshoot-problems-with-creating-a-DVD-Video-using-Windows-DVD-Maker

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Troubleshoot-problems-with-creating-a-DVD-Video-using-Windows-DVD-Maker

If you are using windows media player, see the link below:

Burn-a-CD-or-DVD-in-Windows-Media-Playerhttp://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Burn-a-CD-or-DVD-in-Windows-Media-Player

Thanks and Regards:

Ajay K

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

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Answer 2

My video is about 50 min with titles and transitions. Each clip is about 5 sec. Is there a simple way to split up the video? For some reason it won't allow me to combine clips, but I can split them.

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That is a complex project and may very well be the problem.

You can only combine clips that were split originally...(and...

they must be in the exact order as they were originally)

To create simpler scenes...I'm thinking the easiest route

would be to start over. Maybe making each section 10 minutes

or less. Then try to publish the smaller project/s to a folder on

your hard drive as a .wmv files.

The following articles were written for an earlier version of

Movie Maker but may offer some useful tips:

PapaJohn's Newsletter -

Dividing a Complex Project into Sub-Projects

http://www.windowsmoviemakers.net/PapaJohn/Dividing_Complex_Projects.aspx

PapaJohn's Newsletter #116 -

Subdividing an Overly Complex Project

http://www.windowsmoviemakers.net/PapaJohn/116/Subdividing_an_Overly_Complex_Project.aspx

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John Inzer - MS-MVP - Digital Media Experience - Notice_This is not tech support_I am a volunteer - Solutions that work for me may not work for you - ***Proceed at your own risk***

Answer 3

My video is about 50 min with titles and transitions. Each clip is about 5 sec. Is there a simple way to split up the video? For some reason it won't allow me to combine clips, but I can split them.

Answer 4

The solutions did not solve my problem. I am trying to burn a movie created by Windows Movie Maker in Vista (service pack 2 is installed). I go to publish it on DVD and it gets to about 30% and I get the error "cannot create DVD, unspecified error." I have tried DVD+R, +RW and -R, and CD+R and none work. I can burn other types of files on my DVD burner so I believe it is a problem with Movie Maker.

They won't publish to my computer, or a CD either. With those I get "Windows MM cannot publish the movie to the specified location. Verify the original source files used in your movie are still available, that the publishing location is still available, that ther is enough free disk sapce available and then try again." I have checked all those things and it still won't publish. Also, I removed all effects from my movie and still no results.

I refuse to remove all the transitions-- What is the point of having this program if you can't use transitions. Microsoft should fix the software so we can actually use it the way we're supposed to be able to.

So I have hours and hours of movies and they are stuck on my computer! What now? I have not found any other possible solutions.

=========================================

Just some thoughts.....

It's possible that your project is too large and complex. Creating

several smaller projects and publishing each one in the .wmv format

to a folder on your hard drive may be the solution. When completed...

the collection of .wmv files could be imported into DVD Maker and

each one will become a Scene (chapter) on your DVD...you can have

up to 18 Scenes.

It's also possible that you have compability issues with one or more

source files.

Many formats are reportedly compatible with

Movie Maker but the most reliable choices are:

Photos -  bmp

Video -  wmv or dv-avi

Music -  wma, wav, wmv

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John Inzer - MS-MVP - Digital Media Experience - Notice_This is not tech support_I am a volunteer - Solutions that work for me may not work for you - ***Proceed at your own risk***

Answer 5

The solutions did not solve my problem. I am trying to burn a movie created by Windows Movie Maker in Vista (service pack 2 is installed). I go to publish it on DVD and it gets to about 30% and I get the error "cannot create DVD, unspecified error." I have tried DVD+R, +RW and -R, and CD+R and none work. I can burn other types of files on my DVD burner so I believe it is a problem with Movie Maker.

They won't publish to my computer, or a CD either. With those I get "Windows MM cannot publish the movie to the specified location. Verify the original source files used in your movie are still available, that the publishing location is still available, that ther is enough free disk sapce available and then try again." I have checked all those things and it still won't publish. Also, I removed all effects from my movie and still no results.

I refuse to remove all the transitions-- What is the point of having this program if you can't use transitions. Microsoft should fix the software so we can actually use it the way we're supposed to be able to.

So I have hours and hours of movies and they are stuck on my computer! What now? I have not found any other possible solutions.