I have cured the problem ... after about 30 hours of reading up and trying
various suggestions
Thanks to those that replied and helped me finally establish a solution
For the archives, and to help others here is an out line of what I found out.
A) This is a problem that has been recorded several times before ( see Dean
Rowe blog) some people have experienced crashing after 6 items are put on the
story board and some after the seventh but it is always the same fixed number
of items when the crash occurs
B) The problem seems to be that the update files Wmm2ae.dll through to
Wmm2res.dll are up loaded via Microsoft automatic update BUT the main
programe moviemk.exe is not ( has not been ) updated and is vers 2.0 instead
of ver 2.1
c) uploading xp sp2 or running Microsoft up dates DID NOT cure it
d) this is how I FOUNDthe problem
make a restore point
in c:\program Files\Movie maker, view , tiles
Check that Wmm2Ae.dll .... to Wmm2res.dll are there and have the version
number 2.1.40.26 ( as per Dean Rowe's blog)
CheckMovieMk.exe in explorer select properties and if the file is ver 2.0
then you have confirmed the problem it should be ver 2.1....
All of the following may not be necessary but here is how I rectified it
I AM NOT A COMPUTER BLOKE SO I AM ONLY TELLING YOU WHAT WORKED FOR ME!
open START UP - RUN
TYPE In C:\windows\system32\dllcache
ENTER ........ see Dean Rowe's blog if its not hthere and you need
ServicePackFiles\i386
Hold down control and select the following files
Moviemk.exe
wmm2ae.dll
wmm2eres.dll
Wmm2ext.dll
Wmm2flt.dll
Wmm2fxa.dll
Wmm2fxb.dll
Wmm2res2.dll
Wmm2res.dll .note I did not find ANY of these Wmm" files here so I just
selecteed Moviemk.exe on it's own.
EDIT, COPY
Go to c:\program Files| movie maker
( the missing Wmm2 Files were HERE - I ignored them for being away from
there proper place -naughty files)
EDIT , PASTE
in CONFIRM FILE REPLACE .... YES TO ALL
Restart Windows XP
I then did a run update from Control panel , automatic update and
It said I needed Service pack 3
I express installed this which took about 2hours !!!!
An Bobs your uncle Movie maker updated to version 2.1 and every thing is
running OK
To see what I did with go to YOU TUBE SPARKFISHES and it will be TESLA COIL
TUNING and TOP LOADS .......... its a shocking experience
Thanks to all those who have spent many hours putting articles and advice on
these matters
To MICROSOFT >>>>>>>>>>>>> MOVIE MAKER IS SOooooo FLAKEY Shame on you!