iDVD/iMovie Crashing Issues--G5, 10.3, or Just Me?

[Makosuke]

I'm finally starting to actually use my G5 for the sort of heavy lifting it was intended for, but now that I'm doing some real work with iMovie and iDVD I've realized I'm having some rather severe crashing issues.

iMovie seems to die without explanation while it's auto-opening the most recent project on startup about 50% of the time I launch it. The other half the time, it runs fine, and without issue.

iDVD also frequently (maybe 25% of the time) crashes on startup as well, and now I had it unexpectedly quit halfway through the actual burn of my first DVD test disc--expensive coaster (although the half a movie that's on there looks ok).

I'm wondering if other G5 DP owners have tried this with or without similar results, or if it might be a 10.3 issue (guessing not, since I didn't find any mention of that in a search here), or if it's something funky about my setup.

Other than those two applications, I am NOT having any stability problems--one kernel panic caused by an old Sony analog video/Firewire converter, but otherwise not a single crash in lots of heavy use, and other applications have been as stable as always, if not better.

For what it's worth, the G5 is wicked fast in iDVD when it's working.

Reluctant to try trial and error, since blank DVD-Rs aren't exactly cheap.

 

[macfalo]

Sma exact thing. G5DP problems with imovie and idvd. I´ve find out that when it finds a file it deosn´t like it unexpectedly quits, so when you open the project again as it loads the file it find the one he doesn´t like and quite. So if you can find the file in the project (the last one you imported before it started quiting) you take it out and the application oppens fine.
I have tried two different g5dp and have found similar problems on both. Don´t know what to do.
Had any body encouter this using other g5 ???

 

[Makosuke]

That's definitely one suggestion, and not something I'd tried, but my problems seem to have worked themselves out one way or another.

I restarted a couple times, ran the daily/weekly/monthly scripts, and a utility for deleting caches, and one of the above fixed the issue. I've heard about cache issues, so I'm going to guess it was that.

 

[macfalo]

Graet to ear it. hopefully my problems will get better with a litttle time and concern. I ´m not sure what you meen by running the daily, monthlys... The computer is woorking better everyday but I´m still a little worried.(do you still use the applicsations that were quittin?)
Sorrry to be so anoying. Can´t help you much with your web, but if you need animation or anything of that sor t(3d studio max, maya...) let me know, it could give it a great touch!

 

[macwill]

I have the same crash in my G5 when I codifiing a movie in iDVD.

I tried to do this process a lot of times, thinking that I do something wrong, using help for more information, etc... but the same problem exists.

I used Onyx app, that cleans user & system caches, erasing preferences and more automate scripts (like daily, monthly, etc...), but nothing at all. iDVD crashes when codifiing a movie.

I search this problem over internet and I sent a message to apple.com waiting and advice or a solution or an upgrade.

Now I cannot burn my home movie to DVD-R.

 

[aherz]

Same iDVD crashing issue

I have the same issues with iDVD crashing. And also with iMovie quitting upon startup -- although without doing anything that seems to be getting less frequent. But I have not been able to burn a DVD since I bought my Mac a month ago. It's an iMac 1.25ghz G4 with Panther. I'm not posting with any help or advice, just to add my 2 cents to the frustration. This is a brand new machine with no add'l SW and it doesn't work. I called Apple tech support but they can't help unless I'm in front of my Mac when I call, and that's almost impossible given their hours b/c I'm always at work when they're open and my Mac is at home.... this sucks.

 

[macwill]

MacFixit Solution

I've found this solution on www.macfixit.com.

"I have found that iDVD tends to lock up a G5 machine during encoding. When it doesn't crash it fails to encode or go extremely slow. I had this problem on all three models at Two different Apple Stores. The Apple representatives were dumbfounded as well. "

This problem only occurs if you are using an iDVD install from the iLife disk or another source. These releases do not seem to work with the Power Mac G5. Try deleting all traces of iDVD from your computer and re-installing the application from the media included with your G5. You should be able to encode properly.

I hope this solution brings the light over us...

 

[Mr. "D"]

I'm finally starting to actually use my G5 for the sort of heavy lifting it was intended for, but now that I'm doing some real work with iMovie and iDVD I've realized I'm having some rather severe crashing issues.

iMovie seems to die without explanation while it's auto-opening the most recent project on startup about 50% of the time I launch it. The other half the time, it runs fine, and without issue.

iDVD also frequently (maybe 25% of the time) crashes on startup as well, and now I had it unexpectedly quit halfway through the actual burn of my first DVD test disc--expensive coaster (although the half a movie that's on there looks ok).

I'm wondering if other G5 DP owners have tried this with or without similar results, or if it might be a 10.3 issue (guessing not, since I didn't find any mention of that in a search here), or if it's something funky about my setup.

Other than those two applications, I am NOT having any stability problems--one kernel panic caused by an old Sony analog video/Firewire converter, but otherwise not a single crash in lots of heavy use, and other applications have been as stable as always, if not better.

For what it's worth, the G5 is wicked fast in iDVD when it's working.

Reluctant to try trial and error, since blank DVD-Rs aren't exactly cheap.

I'm unable to burn with iDVD in 10.4.3 on a G4. 10.3.9 works fine??????

 

[Makosuke]

Umm... if you check the dates, my post was from 2003 using 10.3.0, and if memory serves (which it probably doesn't after that long), the only thing I did to fix it back then was to delete the prefs and cache file, which I think are stored here:

~/Library/Caches/com.apple.iDVD
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iDVD.plist

...and probably deteted the encoded assets from within iDVD.

That's worth a shot, but although I haven't tried under 10.4.3 yet, I had no issues under 10.4.2.

I assume you're running the most up-to-date version of iDVD, but you might try reinstalling it from the original discs and see if that helps.