Embedded Powerpoint videos not recording to external DVD recorder

[Ellen]

Unlike many others who have posted here, I have succeeded in getting
Powerpoint presentations (animations, transitions, etc.) to record flawlessly
onto DVD by using an S-video cable connected from my video card to an
external DVD recorder. However, I've run into a very perplexing problem that
I hope someone can coach me through...

The embedded videos play okay on the computer monitor, but do NOT play on
the TV monitor I'm using for the external DVD recorder -- nor do they record
onto DVD. This was not the case with my old computer from which I was able
to record entire Powerpoint presentations -- embedded videos and all -- using
the same external DVD recorder.

Dell and ATI have been no help. I just had Dell replace the video card on
my new computer, but that didn't solve the problem. Could it be that I
simply need to upgrade the video card? (The new computer has a Radeon X300
and the old computer has a NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440.) Or, do I just need to
adjust a setting or two? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[TAJ Simmons]

Ellen,

Have a search on the powerpoint faq pages

for example
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00467.htm
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00231.htm
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00476.htm

as some of the tips on those pages, may just make your video play on the
external s-video cable.

Are you using a desktop computer (and not a laptop)
Are you using windows xp ?
Also what version of powerpoint ?

Cheers
TAJ Simmons
microsoft powerpoint mvp

awesome - powerpoint backgrounds,
http://www.powerpointbackgrounds.com
free powerpoint templates, tutorials, hints and tips etc

 

[Ellen]

Thanks, TAJ. I'm using Powerpoint 2003 and Windows XP on a Dell Dimension
8400 desktop.

 

[Urgent]

Hi Ellen,

Could you please explain in great detail how you managed to burn your
Powerpoint presentation to a DVD. I have Powerpoint 2003 and a pentium 4
computer. I have created a photo album complete with music and special
effects for the grandparents, the do not have a computer.

Thanks,

Carrie

 

[Ellen]

An email from Microsoft asked me to rate your reponse as to whether or not it
was helpful. While I greatly appreciate your response, the links you provided
were not useful to me. After trying to resolve my issue all afternoon
yesterday, I've pretty much come to the conclusion that I need a new video
card, but I'm not certain of this. It makes sense, since the videos embedded
in my PowerPoint presentation played via the Svideo cable and DVD recorder on
my old computer, which has a NVIDIA GeForce 4 card. I tried putting that card
in my new Dell, but it didn't work. Also, ATI (the maker of the Radeon 300
card in my Dell) indicated that ONLY a Radeon 7500 or 8500 hundred would
support the multimedia work I'm trying to accomplish. Your thoughts?

 

[Ellen]

TAJ, I was wrong! I actually found something in the links that you provided
that worked this morning. I must have overlooked it yesterday. It was indeed
changing the hardware acceleration notch by notch until the embedded videos
played. It worked! Thanks so much.

 

[Ellen]

Urgent,
The "trick" is to buy a stand-alone DVD recorder and an S-video cable. This
assumes that your video card has a TV-out connection. Even then, I had to
figure out that I have to keep changing my computer's settings to send a
signal to that output everytime I reboot. Also, the S-video cable only
handles the video. So, for the accompanying audio, you'll need to run a
separate patch cord from the speaker out to the audio in of the DVD recorder.
It is, admittedly, not the best quality/resolution, but at least it can be
played on any TV with a DVD player. I hope this helps.

 

[TAJ Simmons]

Thanks for reporting back what worked for you (lowering the hardware
acceleration).

Cheers
TAJ