Can't open imovie file!

Oh please help! I am at my wits end. I created a 13 min short movie in Imovie 5.0.2, then copied it and made a shorter version of the film. But now whenever I try to open my original long version, it loads, pops open for a second then shuts down. I then get the 'imovie has unexpectedly shut down" message. I tried copying the long version and that too has the same result. I had saved the movie on an external La Cie drive and have 73 gb available. My computers hard drive does not have enough space on it.
Help please?
Also I (being far from a computer wiz) really would like to clean up my drives and make some more space. What is the best way to do that?
Thanks in advance,
O

Hi o
Two thoughts.
- You moved or captured Your movie to an ext. hard disk.
Then it has to be Mac Extended formatted - DOS and UNIX will not work
If You've saved Your material on such a disk You need Lennart Thelanders
know how to restore Your material - just moving it back to the internal drive
isn't enough.
If Your ext hard disk is Mac Extended formatted:
- delete iMovie pref file
- run repair permissions (Apple Disk Util tool)
- eventually. repair hard disk (Apple Disk Util tool) (You need to start from CD or ext hard disk)
- You should move documents and files (not movie projects) out to Your
external drive and make free space on Your internal drive.
At least: Movie project size + 20Gb
Yours Bengt W

Similar Messages

Can not open iMovie files

I have a strange problem. I just got a new Intel iMac. I moved all my files over tot he new system, no problem. On my old system, I kept some files out side of the users folder so my wife and I can both access them (iTunes, iDVD, iMove, etc)
I have been running like this years with out issue. But the new system seems to have problems with this arrangement. The problem is limited to iMovie, and limited to my wife account (not scoring any point here ).
I keep these “shared” project files in users folder, but outside of any home folder. So the folders look like this.
~\users\iMove
~\users\iDVD
~\users\iTunes
Also under users are our individual home folders
~\users\sunil
~users\tish
When my wife tries to open a iMove file she gets an error that the disk is full or she does not have permission to write to this folder. This only happens with iMovie files, the others open fine. From my login I can open iMovie files, as well as other files.
I have checked the permission on the users folder, the iMovie folder and she seems to have rights to read and write to them. Additionally we are both Admins on the system.
Here is what I have tried already (none resolved the issue)
• Repaired permissions on the volume
• Verified permission, she has read/write to the folder as well are the files she is trying to open, she is also an admin.
• Optimized the system (onyx)
• Reapplied permission, including subfolders.
• Moved files to another location.
• Moved files into her home folder
• Moved files into the shared folder.
My Config
Intel iMac 1.5GB
250GB HDD (125GB) free
OSX 10.4.7
iLife 06
Any ideas?

Sorry, I don't have any firm answers for this situation, but I can offer some guesses.
iMovie seems particularly sensitive to permission issues. Problems can occur when moving projects from startup disk to startup disk, as you've apparently done.
The issues are complicated by the fact that an iMovie 5/iMovie 6 project is a package, a special kind of file that behaves like a folder. The package contains other files and folders.
When you use the Get Info window to assign permissions to the package, the new permissions aren't necessarily applied to the contents of the package. Those items retain their old permission settings, which I suspect is what causes the problem for iMovie. (The Get Info window lets us apply new permissions to the CONTENTS of a folder, but that doesn't work on a package.)
To change permissions inside the package, try this:
• In the Finder, create a duplicate of the project. Work on the copy.
• Select the name of copy and remove the suffix ".iMovieProject" from the name. Tell the dialog window that opens to accept the change. The iMovie project icon will disappear, replaced by the normal Finder folder icon. The project will now behave like a folder.
• Select the folder and use the Get Info window to set permissions for the folder, then press the "Apply to enclosed items" button to apply those permissions to the items it contains.
• Re-select the name of the folder and add back the suffix ".iMovieProject". When you accept the change, the folder icon will change back into an iMovie project icon.
• Try opening the project in iMovie. With luck, everything will now work.
When using an external disk to store projects, another solution is to use the Get Info window (for the disk) to set the disk to ignore permissions.
Karl

Can't open iMovie file after transferring files to another Mac. folder lock

Using Migration assistant I transferred files from Mac to Mac, I can't open an iMovie file because it says, folder locked, permission incorrect, or disk full. I have plenty of memory, tried to change the permissions in the INFO window under file to read and write, thinking I did, and it still doesn't open.
It still says read only. I am a new user on this computer.
I used disk utility to correct permissions. Seems like there must be a simple answer, something I am missing. Help. Thanks, Marjorie

Oh, yes, I use iMovie 6, and Snow Leopard in new computer. I heard that Quicktime 7.6.6 is not compatible ?????

Can't open iMovie files after they are save to my external firewire HD

I am using a MacBook Pro for iMovie. Because I was running out of HD space, I started saving files onto my external Maxtor 250GB HD. The files are saving fine, but when I try to open the files through the external HD, nothing happens. Any suggestions?

Hi Pancho 1 - you should have no trouble working on
an imovie project that is stored on your external
drive. The problem could be a wrongly-formatted
drive. It should be Mac OS Extended, not formatted
for a PC. You can check this by Control-Clicking its
icon, and then clicking 'Get Info'.
The format can be changed in Disk Utility, but note
that you must firstly store important files
elsewhere, as re-formatting erases the disk.
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src=http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/101
179/105678/MyPawAvatar261.jpg alt=”” width=”30”
height=”30”>
Thanks!
Pancho

Can't open iMovie files off of external hard drive?

The hard drive is the My Passport for Mac. I've backed up my hard drive on it and that worked and I can open other types of files off of it? I moved the files to it in finder. The hard drive shows up in iMovie as a folder but it is empty. Does anyone know why they aren't working?

For a drive to work with iMovie, it must be formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). You can format using Disk Utility, but reformatting will erase anything that is currently on the drive.
The My Passport drives are slow and bus powered, if I recall correctly, so the performance will not be great either.
Also, you should move all your projects and events back where they wer, and then do the moves from within iMovie so you do not lose your work.

PC users can't open iMovie .m4v file

my son made a really cute movie in iMovie, and saved it as an iTunes file, which put it in the .m4v format. i emailed the .m4v file to all our family and friends ... and the PC users can't open the file. can i do something about this (ie. save it in a different format)? please explain it to me in real simple terms ... i am a Luddite. thanks!

can i do something about this (ie. save it in a different format)? please explain it to me in real simple terms ... i am a Luddite.
You could always point out that anyone whould really wants to watch it could download and install the free QT 7 Player in much the same way that many Mac users would have to download and install either a WMV Player or a WMV component for their QT Player.
You realize, of course, things will likely get worse once you start "customizing" your exports of each recipient? My Sister only wants WMV 9 ($50 for Microsoft "approved" bi-directional components), my brother-in-law "prefers" DivX 6 minimum ($20 for the components), my nieces are into YouTube (posted directly from iMovie '08 for the price of iLife '08) and want everything posted there, and my Aunt (whose computer is more than a decade old) only wants MPEG-1 (which I used to make with iVCD (don't remember what that used to cost or Ti Toast 9 at $80) and of course there is always Visual Hub (at just under $24) for all of the others who will settle for older AVI or WMV files. You can also try exporting some of the "less recent" or "older" codecs like MPEG-4/AAC, Sorenson Video, Sorenson 3 Video, H.263, Cinepak, etc. There are dozens of audio and video codecs that can be combined in in hundreds of combination and placed in various file containers but the problem is you will probably never find a single compression format that really satisfies everyone all of the time. So before anyone can "draw you a map," you will have to make a decision as to "down which road you wish to travel."

I have been backing up iMovie 08 files to my external drive, but for some reason I can't open these files in iMovie. I used drag and drop to copy them.

I have been backing up iMovie 08 files to my external drive, but for some reason I can't open these files in iMovie. I used drag and drop to copy them.

You really should be doing backups with an actual backup application, especially one that will work automatically, and, if your external HD is large enough, back up your entire system. These can automatically back up only what's changed since the previous backup, and some will keep "archive" copies of things you've changed or deleted, also.
Too many things can go wrong, such as your internal HD failing, and you'll have a major project to reinstall everything.
You already have Time Machine, built-in to OSX. You might want to review the Time Machine Tutorial, and perhaps browse Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions.
#27 in the second link mentions some alternatives, too.

HT3775 I just made a movie in iMovie and exported in MP4 format, now it won't open, error message says quicktime can't open the file ***? Anyone?

i just made a movie in iMovie and exported in MP4 format, now it won't open, error message says quicktime can't open the file ***? Anyone?

I have the same problem. I'm using Mavericks OS and latest iMovie. Both downloaded last week. I save the movie into File (as directed) and QuickTime
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I can't open iMovie!! Why?

I can't open iMovie because I get this message:
iMovie requires a graphic card that is compatible with
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and then one day this happen. What's going on?
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Update Tiger to 10.4.11 and try trashing the preference files :
*Quit iMovie.*
Locate a file named com.apple.iMovie.plist and get rid of it. iMovie will create a new one the next time it runs. _Empty the trash and run a permissions repair from the Disk Utility folder._
The files are located here:
Users/YourName**/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iMovie.plist
Sue

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I've created an imovie file that I put into idvd. Right now I can't open imovie or idvd. I can't even back up these files on a dvd.
When I try to open imovie, I get:
Projet couldn't be opened because disk is full, folder is locked or the folder permission are incorrect. If project is on CD-ROM, net server, or locked disk, copy to hard drive before opening.
If project is on hard drive, then the disk may be completely full or you may have to modify that folder. Correct problem and try again.
My work is saved on an external hard drive (le cie). I can't open the files on it. I get the same message. There is plenty of space on this external hard drive left.
What can I do? I can't even back up my work on a dvd. How do I fix this problem. Please help.
Thank you.

My guess is that you didn't "format" the new external drive before you moved your iMovie Projects onto it.
Most drives come pre-formatted for Windows OS's and you failed to format it to work with your Mac.
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I can not open iMovie 4.0. I closed it and minutes later I attempted to reopen it. The icon blinked but did not open. System Profile indicates iMovie was last modified on 10/15/04 and operational.

Sue's idea will probably work. If it doesn't, look in the Finder Trash. If it contains a file named "MacOS" iMovie 4 may be damaged. It had a bug that sometimes would toss part of iMovie itself in the Trash -- a part called MacOS. (Don't worry, it's not the Mac OS.)
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Karl

Can't open iMovies

new system, no problem. On my old system, I kept some files out side of the users folder so my wife and I can both access them (iTunes, iDVD, iMove, etc)
I have been running like this years with out issue. But the new system seems to have problems with this arrangement. The problem is limited to iMovie, and limited to my wife account (not scoring any point here ).
I keep these “shared” project files in users folder, but outside of any home folder. So the folders look like this.
~\users\iMove
~\users\iDVD
~\users\iTunes
Also under users are our individual home folders
~\users\sunil
~users\tish
When my wife tries to open a iMove file she gets an error that the disk is full or she does not have permission to write to this folder. This only happens with iMovie files, the others open fine. From my login I can open iMovie files, as well as other files.
I have checked the permission on the users folder, the iMovie folder and she seems to have rights to read and write to them. Additionally we are both Admins on the system.
Here is what I have tried already (none resolved the issue)
• Repaired permissions on the volume
• Verified permission, she has read/write to the folder as well are the files she is trying to open, she is also an admin.
• Optimized the system (onyx)
• Reapplied permission, including subfolders.
• Moved files to another location.
• Moved files into her home folder
• Moved files into the shared folder.
My Config
Intel iMac 2.0, 1.5GB ram
250GB HDD (125GB) free
OSX 10.4.7
iLife 06
Any ideas?
Intel iMac Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Sorry I missed an item on my cut/paste here is the correct question.
I have a strange problem. I just got a new Intel iMac. I moved all my files over tot he new system, no problem. On my old system, I kept some files out side of the users folder so my wife and I can both access them (iTunes, iDVD, iMove, etc)
I have been running like this years with out issue. But the new system seems to have problems with this arrangement. The problem is limited to iMovie, and limited to my wife account (not scoring any point here ).
I keep these “shared” project files in users folder, but outside of any home folder. So the folders look like this.
~\users\iMove
~\users\iDVD
~\users\iTunes
Also under users are our individual home folders
~\users\sunil
~users\tish
When my wife tries to open a iMove file she gets an error that the disk is full or she does not have permission to write to this folder. This only happens with iMovie files, the others open fine. From my login I can open iMovie files, as well as other files.
I have checked the permission on the users folder, the iMovie folder and she seems to have rights to read and write to them. Additionally we are both Admins on the system.
Here is what I have tried already (none resolved the issue)
• Repaired permissions on the volume
• Verified permission, she has read/write to the folder as well are the files she is trying to open, she is also an admin.
• Optimized the system (onyx)
• Reapplied permission, including subfolders.
• Moved files to another location.
• Moved files into her home folder
• Moved files into the shared folder.
My Config
Intel iMac 1.5GB
250GB HDD (125GB) free
OSX 10.4.7
iLife 06
Any ideas?

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Can't open imovie file!

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