HELP NEEDED!!! Windows DVD Maker -- Video's will not work/burn, at all.

Question

I've registered just for this problem as I've tried just about everything imaginable.
What's happening is that when trying to make a DVD from a video file (photo slideshow plus music works fine) that Windows DVD Maker will get to around 74% encoding and then just stop and give me the error message (at this point the progress meter skips to 99%):
"Cannot create the DVD
An error occured when burning the DVD"
I've tried this using an avi file, (I know it works as I have used DVDFLick and its works great,, the menus are no where near as nice as windows dvd maker), and the sample video file included windows (I beleive its a wmv file).
I have looked at the event viewer, heres my error (which seems pretty common doing a google search):
Log Name: Application
Source: Dvd Maker
Date: 21/03/2010 11:48:45 AM
Event ID: 1001
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: **************
Description:
The Dvd Maker engine returned an error code (-2147220992) when burning the disc.
Event Xml:
1001
2
0
0x80000000000000
23431
Application
-2147220992
AND THE OTHER ERROR LOG:
Log Name: Application
Source: Dvd Maker
Date: 21/03/2010 11:48:45 AM
Event ID: 1002
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: *********
Description:
Dvd Maker returned an error code (0x80040200) when burning the disc.
Event Xml:
1002
2
0
0x80000000000000
23432
Application
0x80040200
OK so here's what i tried:
1. Small video files, the sample one in the public folder, other 700mb avi files.
2. Unchecked all the codecs in the options menu, then checked one at a time, then checked both, *one is AC3Filter, the other is Avi Decompressor from memery, located in the system32 folder, so not sure why it registered there if it's a windows included codec???).
3. http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/mpeg-2-encoder-is-missing/page/2
Have followed this guys instructions on re-registering the required dll files (which I have checked and they are there in the System32 folder). Though when doing this using the "Run" in the start menu for the command "regsvr32 msmpeg2adec.dll" I get the error:
"The module "msmpeg2adec.dll" was loaded but the call to DllRegisterServer failed with error code 0x80070005."
Then I use the command prompt (opening as "Run as Administrator", even though I am an administrator user????) run all the same things, and everything succeeds fine, no errors (but like I said, if don't run as admin, get the same DllRegistryServer error, even though I am an administrator)
Restart the comp. and what do ya know, still doesn't work, same problem, same error.
3. Pictures and music, which burn fine and work fine on a dvd player.
4. Have checked the temporary file where the encoded files are dumped. ie:
C:\Users\******\AppData\Local\Temp\AuthorScript*****.tmp
Have opened the video file in WMC (Media Centre), works fine, no audio but that's still seperated at this point, so no worries there). I noticed though that the AC3 file or audio is at 0kb, and the second it is created when DVD maker is doing it's thing, I get an error, hmm not sure what's goin on there???
5. Have used Vista Media Center Decoder utility. Results were:
Video: Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder
Audio: Microsoft DTV-DVD Audio Decoder
There are no other options (haven't needed to install other codec, don't use Nero either).
I have Windows 7 Pro (64bit), so I have all the necessary codecs built in. (As mentioned, I do have Ac3filter, but that's disable/unchecked in DVD maker, maybe that's the problem???). I would rather not download and install additional codecs.
Oh and it gets to 74% encoding then skips to 99% and the error pops up. From experience making a "picture and music" DVD, 74% is about when it starts burning, or when it merges the video and audio to make the vob file/s. It actually skips quickly to 80% and starts burning (slideshow DVD).
Computer is custom built, it not a HP or anything like that, so I don't have those .ax file extensions in system32 (for those who have seen an answer here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/itprovistaapps/thread/5cb0a40d-223c-4aed-87c4-3c63f400ee81)
So any idea's/suggestions? I know this will help a lot of people as it seems a common problem. I'm pretty tech savvy, so will try to follow any suggestions carefully.
Ohh and finally, for all those who reply thank you, thank you, thank you, even it if doesn't work, any suggestions are appreciated. And for reading my post, thank you, I realise it's a mighty long post. I hope my linking to multiple sites is okay.

Answer 1

I am attempting to burn a DVD from a Divx avi file with an mp3 audio track. I tried twice burning a DVD using Windows DVD Maker and had same result both times. Great picture, correct aspect etc but no audio. I played the DVD on a DVD player and on my laptop
- same result. I should add that I used the preview facility on the software and there was audio. But when I burned the DVD - no audio. 
I searched through a few forums, including this one, and tried the recommended procedure of going via Windows Movie Maker. I opened the avi in Movie Maker and chose the DVD option, a message appeared saying that the video would open in Windows DVD Maker which
it did. I clicked on burn and yes, I got picture plus sound. However now the picture was stretched and distorted along the top half of the screen with a green band filling the lower half. I tried once more being careful not to make any silly errors and same
thing.
Divx avi with an mp3 audio track is a very commonly used format so it is surprising that Microsoft haven't configured the software to accommodate this and a number of other common formats such Xvid avi, mp4, m4v etc. with mp3 audio OR ac2 audio.
Surmising that Windows DVD Maker would at least be able to deal with a Windows movie file (a wmv file) I converted the avi to a wmv using AVS Video Converter (a piece of software which I use regularly). NB When converting it's wise to use advance menu to change
frame size to 'original' in order to preserve quality and aspect ratio. There are many other video converters on the market but AVS is a good one.
My supposition was correct DVD Maker produced a perfect DVD from the wmv file. It's unfortunate that Microsoft haven't found a solution to this problem because otherwise DVD Maker does a fine job. 
CONCLUSION
Convert your file to an hmv file and then use DVD Maker