Why does playback on the timeline lag on my premiere elements 9 project?

Question

Whenever I playback my edit on the timeline, it starts off playing fine, but after a few seconds it starts to lag. I am using a macbook pro (2.4GHz intel core 2 duo processor, OS X V10.9.4), and was initially editing off a WD hard drive connected with a Firewire800 cable. I have shifted all my rushes and the premiere elements project file from the hard drive to my laptop, but that doesn't seem to work. Project settings and Clip settings seem to match, otherwise I wouldn't be able to open the project file anyway. I fiddled with some of the playback settings, but nothing seemed to work. I need to rush out a piece of work asap. Any ideas?

Answer 1

AT Romano,
Please see my actions taken regarding your questions below:
One of my questions was attempting to determine if the total duration of clips on the Timeline has any effect on this random playback issue.
Am I correct in assuming that you are saying that this Timeline playback lag can be seen even with only one 1 minute clip on the Timeline? If not,
how many clips needed on that Timeline when the Timeline content playback starts to lag?
The lag can also be seen with only one 1 minute clip on the timeline.
If you start a new project with a different video source or just some jpg photos do you run into this Timeline content playback lag after rendering of that
Timeline content?
NO, this lag does not occur with a new project with different video source.
Did you understand what I wrote early on about Premiere Elements 9.0/9.0.1 being a 32 bit application when run on 32 or 64 bit computer? Do you use the computer for programs other than Premiere Elements? I asked since you wrote
Upgraded the RAM. I'm now running on 2x 8GB of RAM.
A 32 bit system is typically characterized by maximum supported installed RAM = 4 GB and typically 3.2 to 3.0 or less of that being available. So, why the upgrade to 16 GB of installed RAM?
I guess I didn't quite understand the 32 bit system thing. But i kinda get the idea now. In any case, my computer seems to be running faster than usual even though it didn't solve the elements 9 lagging issue.
Just recap time....
1. Optimize the computer with free ccleaner for Mac run through
CCleaner - Download
Done.
2. Make sure that there are no pile ups of preview files, conformed audio, and conformed video files. At this time, how much
free hard drive space at the location where the Scratch Disks are directed?
Done. About 870GB of free HD space. This is an external hard drive.
3. Set Playback Quality to highest instead of automatic
Did this, but the lagging becomes worse. It freezes longer on certain frames.
4. Make sure video card/graphics card driver is up to date according to web site of manufacturer of the card
According to Manufacturer, graphic cards installed on MacBook Pros are already optimised by Apple during the installation.
5. If dual monitor system, disconnect one, use only one
I am monitoring only from my laptop screen. No external monitors.
6. Delete the Adobe Premiere Elements Prefs file...
Users/Libraries/Application Support/Adobe/Premiere Elements/9.0
I cannot seem to find this file.
7. Export the lagging Timeline content to an appropriate file saved to the computer hard drive. Then determine if the playback of the export
exhibits any lags.
After export, there are no lags.
8. Do you run into the problem with and without the antivirus disabled?
I have no antivirus installed. But i did try turning on and off the firewall. With the firewall on, the lag seemed to get worse.
9. For troubleshooting purposes only at this time, download and install the free 30 day tryout of Premiere Elements 12
from Adobe....If it works for you, then we can target version 9....If it does not work for you, then we can target your computer.
There is no Premiere elements 12 available for trial download. Only premiere elements 13. Have downloaded that and copied the project file into elements 13. The lag is still there, but not as bad. But, it is still there.
- Gold Pirate.