using vob files no longer works

[videovillageidiot]

a few months ago i had my machine cleared and the system was reloaded. i reinstalled my pe4 and thought all was well. stupid me.

the initial reason i bought pe 4 was to be able to use vob files which i had created from analog videotapes from my old camcorder. i had created dvd's from them using a dvd recorder and then brought the vob files into pe4 using get media. they ALWAYS worked. i just tried to use one of these files and i got an error. first it imports...then when i try to bring the file to the timeline a "where is" window pops up looking for the file...i select the vob file (again) and then i get the "generic failure" about "unsupported format or damaged file/one of the necessary components may not have been installed." WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?! i ASSURE you this NEVER happened before. i used these files ALL THE TIME before the system was reloaded. i have tried a number of vob files with the same bad result.

i am at a loss. any ideas? THANKS

[Chuck Engels]

Do you have any software on your computer that will open a VOB file?
You need to have a codec available for decoding that Premiere Elements can use.
Chances are you lost your codec for VOB decoding when you had things reloaded.

[videovillageidiot]

i'm pretty sure that when i first started using the machine after i bought it that pe4 was the first software i loaded and the vob files worked.

what kind of software would i need to have?

[Chuck Engels]

Something like Cyberlink PowerDVD, anything that will let you play a DVD or VOB file.
Can you view a VOB file on your computer now? If you double click on a VOB file what program opens the file?

[videovillageidiot]

when i first tried to open a vob file stored on the computer i was asked what program i wanted to use. i browsed to cyberlink powerdvd. the program opened but it ignored the vob file. i inserted the dvd with the vob files and that played in powerdvd.

when i look at all the files on the dvd in windows explorer i do see a thumbnail of the first frame for any of the vob files i click on.

i'm still stumped.

[Chuck Engels]

VOB files on my computer open with PowerDVD 7 Ultra.
The fact that you see a thumbnail is a good sign though.

[Chuck Engels]

I can also open the file with Media Player Classic. Installing that program might solve your problem.
It's free and is a great tool to have, plays just about anything;
http://mpc-hc.sourceforge.net/

[videovillageidiot]

my program is powerdvd dx 8.1

[Chuck Engels]

Download and install media player classic, it is a good program and should help.
It is a quick install, not a huge program and easy to use.

I think you have to get an upgrade for PowerDVD to play VOB files.
That's why mine has Ultra in the name I think.

[videovillageidiot]

oh!! oh!! i just got one of 'em to open in the windows media player that is already on my machine! but i still can't drag a vob to the timeline without a problem.

[Chuck Engels]

Not knowing what happened when they reloaded your computer it's hard to say what the problem might be. I still recommend downloading and installing Media Player Classic, it may put the proper codecs on your machine and fix your problem. It won't hurt anything to try that

[Ron]

There's always the K-Lite codec pack (BASIC) as well - http://www.free-codecs.com/K_lite_codec ... wnload.htm

[Bob]

You shouldn't need additional codecs to use vobs in PrE. Those are Mpeg-2 files and PreE 4 should have installed the Main Concept mpeg codec for its own use. It's a proprietary codec and needs to be activated. That should happen the first time you use an mpeg file. PrE 3 popped up a web page and you had to manually copy and enter the activation key. I don't know whether PrE 4 still did that or activated automatically. I skipped PrE 4 and went directly to PrE 7.

What happens if you copy the vob to your hard drive and rename it to .mpg?

The codec supplied with PrE is installed locally to PrE. Other applications don't have access to that codec and you would need a separate mpeg-2 codec for use with those if they didn't supply one .

[videovillageidiot]

ok, this is so weird...i imported a vob clip from my little wd drive, currently set as "K". everytime i tried to bring it to the timeline i got the error. at some point i moved the cursor across the thumbnail in the organizer and noticed that premiere thinks it's on the "J" drive!! No it isn't!!! then i tried to bring it to the timeline again and realized the "where is it" window also says where is "J/...". i delete the clip from the organizer and try again and the same thing happens.

i removed the wd drive and reconnected it and same thing. i have some of these files on both the wd drive and also another external drive. the file on the other drive works just fine!! but it's essentially the same file!!

then i opened the media panel and the clip is there and i can bring it to the timeline from there and - yes - it shows it being on the "K" drive - which is correct!!!

i don't want to have to go thru this for every clip on the wd drive!! it also seems to be happening with sound files and jpegs.

i don't know if this description makes sense - i'm so confused!!!! any ideas?

[Bobby]

You said you deleted the clip from the organizer, but did you also delete it from the project? Try deleting it in the project files list, and then using Get Media to get it into the project again.