CS3 transcodes but truncates video, audio ok

Question

After reading other posts I'm about to give up on Encore.   I have one large 16g DV avi file.  Transcodes too quickly!  Why?  Because it stops doing the video after a few minutes.  The result is a small piece of video and full size audio, i.e. the video section is truncated (as shown in the timeline window.)
I have reimported, made a new timeline with a different name, etc
Are there some temp files I should delete?  Or cached stuff?
Any ideas?

Answer 1

The above suggestions are good and valid, especially if you allow En to do "auto" mode.  Originally I used most of the methods that have been suggested.   Some failed when I did both NTSC and PAL versions of the same content..  Some failed when I went from 1.5 to CS3.   Others carried the burden of hard disk space, confusion, or time impact.
   For example you can't make a template-like project that is able to switch from NTSC to PAL.  You can make two project-templates but when transferring from the NTSC project to the PAL project most of the NTSC work and debugging are lost -- you have to manually make screen images and reenter the data and debug from scratch -- it is easy to overlook an end action or mistype a chapter time.
   When you Save-As, all the huge files go to the new location which you may later replace or delete.   Template files on other programs I've used record the "style" or "template" or "design" or "structure."  Or they copy all but the assets. (And why does En make gigabyte sized "conformed" 32 bit audio files?)
   A well planned out partial project, i.e. up to the new stuff, is a good idea but isn't so good for creatively evolving or customizing the project.  En won't allow me to change the dafault "quick" play order of assets after they have been imported/timelined.  So I lose that part of the structure.
    Saved Menus in the Library don't save a custom button navigation or which kind of color activate-select to use, or which "end actions", etc.  A "true" template might save even the menu to menu navigation -- something I use a project-template to do.   As I said, I can't use my old 1.5 project-templates now in CS3 due to a bug.
    The joke is that I started with Nero's "free" DVD authoring which at the time gave me a lot of control and simplicity too.  I expected "professional" En would give me much more automation, control, flexibility, creativity -- like the ad says.
As a programmer I know how (relatively) easy it is to export and import.  If most items in En were exportable and importable (like chapter lists, end actions, override, etc etc, button nav, etc.) then I would have few complaints.
Then I could set my own encode bit rates,  place the assets in quick access order, have custom button navigation,  custom colors for activate-select, and do both NTSC and PAL.
Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions and points of view.   Until writing all this down I never knew what my various complaints were!  And I still don't know why En truncated my video without beeping or explaining!