Why do I get a "Transcode Failed" message?

Question

Dear friends on the forum;
I have created a complex project in Encore with several levels.  It starts off with an opening menu whose choices are two video files and a link to a sub-menu.  This sub-menu then offers links to several sub-sub menus which, in turn, offer links to a number of video files each.  We are talking a total of 25 movies in all; some short (a minute and a half) some long (90minutes).   The Encore file is on my computer's hard drive and the relevant video files are on an external hard drive, accessed by USB cable.  I have created other DVDs in the past using this arrangement with no trouble.  Why am I having problems now?   Is it because of the complexity of this project?  The total size of these files is about 3 1/2 gb--not too big for the DVD.  I checked the project before clicking "Build" and no problems surfaced.    I am running a Hewlett-Packard HPE-470f computer with a 64-bit Windows 7 o/s.  I have an AMD processor with 3.2 ghz and 8gb of RAM.
Can anyone help me with this?  Many thanks!
Regards, Lewis

Answer 1

That gives me lots of grist for my mill, John.  Thanks!
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:09:15 -0700
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Why do I get a "Transcode Failed" message?
I skipped from CS3 (Pentium 4 CPU with 2Gig system ram and 2 hard drives... very slow, but it worked OK for AVI files and overnight Encore encoding) to a new computer for CS5 - read http://forums.adobe.com/thread/652694?tstart=0 
Since upgrading to CS5 from CS5 may mean a new computer, I can't really advise you on that
The Windows swap or paging file is where Windows puts things that it needs quick access to... sorta like you put your wallet in your pocket instead of in your dresser drawer, so you have it handy to pay at the grocery store
The idea is to "spread the load" so no one hard drive is working too hard and becomes bogged down
Video editing, like "high end" gaming, requires a LOT of computing power
My previous computer worked for CS3 and AVI... I had to build a new computer for CS5 and AVCHD files
You should (in my opinion) add a 2nd internal 7200rpm hard drive (never a "green" drive... too slow for video editing) and keep your boot drive for only Windows and software... this is the minimum (again, my opinion... but go read in the hardware sub-forum)
Read Harm on drive setup http://forums.adobe.com/thread/662972?tstart=0
- click the embedded picture in Harm's message to enlarge to reading size
- you need AT LEAST 2 drives for video editing, 3 is better
- some HD formats work better with (require) RAID
Read Hunt on Partitions http://forums.adobe.com/thread/650708?tstart=0
A link with many ideas about computer setup http://forums.adobe.com/thread/436215?tstart=0
And even more hardware discussion http://forums.adobe.com/community/premiere/hardware_forum
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