Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Upgrading to Windows 10 - Is there an update to Movie Maker?

The short answer is "no". Movie Maker was provided as part of Windows Essentials 2012. As you might have guessed from the version number (2012), there have been no updates to the program in a few years. And, unfortunately there are no announced plans by Microsoft to change this for Windows 10. If you want the Windows Essentials version of Movie Maker, you will continue using Movie Maker 2012. The good news is it still works the same as before and seems unaffected by the upgrade to Windows 10.

For those of you that are still enjoying the classic version of Windows Movie Maker 6.0, be aware that Microsoft will rebuild your C:\Program Files\ folder. The contents will be backed up in C:\Windows.old\Program Files\ but that means that Windows Movie Maker 6.0 will seem to disappear. One fix for this is to just reinstall WMM 6.0. This might be the best approach since it will ensure that everything gets added to the registry correctly. This would also require you to reinstall any custom transitions, effects and titles you may have installed, including ShaderTFX. Alternatively, you may just want to copy the Movie Maker folder from C:\Windows.old\Program Files\Movie Maker into C:\Program Files\Movie Maker.

35 comments:

  1. As there was no way to thank you for WMM 6.0 on the original page, I'd like to thank you on this related post! I've just installed it on my W7 machine and a new W8 (both 64-bit), scoring loads of points with my partner who missed it enormously. That just leaves the mystery of why MS don't make it available as it's way superior to WLMM or any other free video editor that I've tried!

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  2. Thank you sir, you are a gentleman and a scholar. Both for the info and, providing the links.

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  3. Hey Blaine, I've been using your addons for ages so thanks for that. I'm on Windows 10 now and was wondering how I can get .mts files (sony format) working on Movie Maker 6? Really appreciate your help.

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    1. To avoid headaches, I'd convert MTS to WMV before editing. If you get the right codec pack, that can also work, but be sure to test that thoroughly before using it on an important project.

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    2. To avoid headaches, I'd convert MTS to WMV before editing. If you get the right codec pack, that can also work, but be sure to test that thoroughly before using it on an important project.

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  4. Oh hi,

    Re Windows 10. I am running 10 Pro N. two of the dlls won't register and while the program installs - it will not run!

    I left a help message on the forums at windows moviemakers.net:

    http://www.windowsmoviemakers.net/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=264731

    but you likely haven't seen it yet. One user suggested Ilook for help on Face Book - but I won't be going there. You the man to talk to.

    Any help or advie appreciated. I can run wmm 6.0 on a windows 7 virtual machine on my Windows 10 install - but that's not really the same thing. We need the bare metal to utilise all computing resources, eh?
    Any help or advice about these reluctant dlls would be appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Hugh
    Hugh

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    1. The N edition of Windows is missing some standard media components. I'd start by loading the Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 N and see if that helps.

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    2. Thanks Blaine,
      Installation of the Media Feature Pack for etc. did the trick.
      Much obliged. I'll put a note on the forum as well - it may well serve as a solution for some other demented soul.

      Hugh

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  5. Having issues with MM6.0 on a Windows 7 laptop. I know you said to post on the moviemaker forums about stuff like that, but the forums are not working for me. Everything redirects to the site homepage.

    Anything I try to save with a title or credit effect in it throws up the 'specific location' error. I was using the standard title/credit effects.

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    1. When did it work last and can you think of anything that changed? Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling yet?

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    2. The original download was done the night of 11/23, so it didn't work right off the bat. No matter what I did, it wouldn't work. I just un/re-installed it and, after some project tinkering, got it to save. Combination of a weird install and user error throwing up the original problem?

      I transferred the credits text to title slides and ran a blank credits slide the length of the audio instead of the several different ones I originally had.

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  6. It appears that when windows performs an update, the fil "disappears." I thought that it would happen only once it has "deleted" it twice now. Any way to prevent that from happening repeatedly?

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    1. I've done updates and not had it disappear. Did you pin the shortcut?

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  7. Thanks. I pinned it and it seems to have stayed.

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  8. I tried installing Movie Maker 6.0, as I have Windows 10 and I previously had it when I had Windows 7, but after initializing, the installation just closes without doing anything. I'd like to know what to do from here.

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    1. It should then be installed. Check C:\Program Files\Movie Maker\

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  9. Hey.
    Thanks alot for this great contribution.

    Can you please tell us how to clone ourselves in windows movie maker 6?
    Rehan split only splits and fades videos but sadly doesn't close.

    Please help us!

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    1. You need a registered copy of Rehan's ShaderTFX, or you need to be in the trial period. Otherwise the split transitions will appear just as a fade transition. So contact Rehan about registering.

      Alternatively, you might want to look into HitFilm 4 Express.

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    2. Thank you Blaine.
      Btw I may ask since you look like a pro in video editing, which is the best and cheapest video editor out there for windows?

      I mean I looked to use movie maker 6 because its free, its kind of ironic to pay for rehan's 15dollars registration when maybe I can invest in 20 more bucks for a pro app?

      Anyway your views would be appreciated. Thanks for quick answers

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    3. Cheapest would be free. Some open source options are Blender and OpenShot. Then there are free versions of bigger packages. I've already mentioned HitFilm 4 Express, but also take a look at DaVinci Resolve Lite.

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    4. Hey, thanks a lot for your post.
      I've been using HitFilm Express 4 since a couple of days because of your recommendation and it's really great.

      However I started to see SOME limits such as not supporting Arabic Text and not allowing importing 3d models if you're using the free version.
      Otherwise it's super fantastic.

      So again, since you're pro, is there are apps similar to HitFilm 4 or better which are free? I looked at DaVinci reviews and it seemed the same as HitFilm so ;/

      Also, since you're pro lol do you think investing in something like powerdirector ultimate would be a final step for a individual video editor?

      Sorry for long post but thank you.

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    5. I'm hardly a "pro" in video editing, but thanks for the compliment. With any free option there are going to be limitations, but I think the free versions of DaVinci Resolve Lite and HitFilm Express do offer a lot. Yes, they will try to upsell you to the add-on packages. I think it's an individual choice on what works the best for you.

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  10. MAN!
    HitFilmExpress 4 is like the best thing!
    Movie maker is nothing compared to this free app!

    Thanks alot!

    One question why isn't this app like the most popular free video editing software out there?
    I searched hard but never found this.

    Thanks again

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  11. I am trying to find a way to make looping video with sound. Not a gif. I keep seeing people say we can do that with windows movie maker. Does anyone know of an easy way to do this? A plug in or simple instructions? I do a lot of promoting and it would really come in handy in a variety of different ways and uses. Thanks in advance :)

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    1. Looping is a feature of your media player, not the video. In Windows Media Player, for example, you can toggle the looping playback with Ctrl+T.

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  12. Hi Blaine,
    I just got a Windows 10 computer and was unhappy that it did not have Windows Movie Maker, as I have used it for years, making musical slideshows for friends' special occasions. I searched and searched for Windows Movie Maker. I asked for help at the Windows Movie Maker Forum.
    Then I remembered how you have helped me in the past at the Forum.
    I found your website and was absolutely thrilled to read your instructions on how to obtain Windows Movie Maker for my Windows 10 computer.
    I followed your instructions and am delighted that I can now use Windows Movie Maker on my Windows 10 computer! I even posted your instructions at the Forum!
    I thank you so very much for helping me and all the others who missed Windows Movie Maker!
    Sandy

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  13. Hello Blaine,

    sorry to bother you with the below here on your blog.

    I tried to register at the Windows Movie Makers forum over at www.windowsmoviemakers.net. I can see my user name registered as a user but I seem to have never received the e-mail with the initial login password. As a result, I can't log in. When I ask for a new registration it says that a user with the username already exists. When I ask for a new password, I get a message that the forum can't send me a mail.

    I'm a bit lost. Again sorry to bother you with this here but I see you are quiet active on the forum.

    Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

    Kind regards,

    Tomo

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    1. Sorry, I'm not the owner of that site and I haven't even posted there for years. I'm not sure what to suggest.

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    2. OK. No worries. Thanks for your time.

      Kr,

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  14. Hi Blaine, I'm rather perplexed as to why the HD profiles for Windows Movie Maker 6.0 do not have 30 frames per second as an option? Especially considering most other default save options in 6.0 include 30 frames per second. I noticed there's at least one post on the windowsmoviemakers.net forums about this, but the forum appears to have gone done.

    Thank you for your site, even if you're no longer active. Most resources for the old version of WMM seem to be dropping like flies.

    Regards,

    -tim

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    1. If you have the link to the post saved, you can go to Wayback machine on archive.org and you should be able to see a saved copy. That's what I've been doing for older links now that the site seems to have been shutdown by Rob.

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  15. Thanks for making this available. I got it installed but found it cannot support the latest codecs for mp4. Is there a way to remedy this? I am using OBS screen recorder, so perhaps i could choose a format that would be accepted in WMM v6? what would you recommend in terms of best picture that WWM would accept? Thanks.

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    1. Movie Maker 2012 should handle H.264 directly. So if you can, convert to H.264 in an MP4 container. Barring that, it can also handle .wmv files

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  16. Hi...

    I noticed that Windows 11 does not support WMM 6.0. Is there a fix to this yet? Thanks much.

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