After Effects Won't Render Using H.264

OK, I am trying to use H.264 codec but I keep getting an error and I can't figure out why. I select (Composition > Add to Render Que), then I select "Output Module > Custom and select "Lossless" and select H.264 and then get the message below:
"After Effects: For reliable output with H.264 compression, please choose it directly from the Output Module Format menu instead of via QuickTime. (44 :: 81)"
So I then did as it said and selected the drop down arrow beside Output Module and then selected "Custom" and then selected H.264. and then I get the same message:
"After Effects: For reliable output with H.264 compression, please choose it directly from the Output Module Format menu instead of via QuickTime. (44 :: 81)"
An idea what's going on? Why does it give me this message when I am doing it the way it is telling me? How can I render using H.264?
Thanks

Are you using the trial version of After Effects?
from "Supported output formats":
"The free trial version of Adobe After Effects software does not include some features that depend upon software licensed from parties other than Adobe. For example, mocha for After Effects, some effect plug-ins, and some codecs for encoding MPEG formats are available only with the full version of Adobe After Effects software."
H.264 is an MPEG format (MPEG-4, part 10).

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I've scoured the internet for details but there's surprisingly little help when it comes to After Effects and performance.
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Martin, I don't know if there's anything Todd or I can say to change your opinions. We try to represent how After Effects works, and why the After Effects team chose to make it work that way, in a way that all users can understand so you can get back to creative work as fast as possible.
What tends to rub us the wrong way are your assertions and accusations about that. For example:
If you guys spent less time listening to the voices you want to hear, and more time on the 'yes some time difficult to hear' but nether the less valid concerns of experienced users, you would have addressed this fundermental flaw years ago.
We gave constructive feedback whilst part of that program and none of it was ever addressed. There seemed to be a weird attitude to any criticism which didn't fit the given narrative.
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This is what I have:
Intel 2nd Gen i7 3820 @ 3.6Ghz
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http://blogs.adobe.com/toddkopriva/2010/10/please-try-recommended-memory-settings-for-afte r-effects-cs5-and-give-feedback.html
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I turn off my firewall. "blockage in the communication between After Effects and the Adobe QT32 Server." http://blogs.adobe.com/aftereffects/2011/02/troubleshooting-quicktime-errors-with-after-ef fects.html
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Hey Dan,
Really nice post in regards to info provided initially. It's rare to see that these days.
The weird thing in your screen shots that I see, is that in your Output Module Settings, the audio bit-depth settings seem to be grayed out for some reason. Are you using some sort of audio hardware that is customized, or perhaps some compressed audio in your project? Here's what I mean:
Thoughts? Aside from that, your project does sound as if it is pretty intensive, so I'm sure the problem could be occuring elsewhere...

After Effects Won't Render Using H.264

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