files missing when PE4 reopened

When I open an existing project my files are appropriately listed and working in the project list, but missing from the timeline and scene views. I just have black images in there place. What's up?
files missing when PE4 reopened
What are the files and where are they located?



If they are photos, have you optimized them to no larger than 1000x750 pixels, per the FAQs at the top of this forum?

http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.3bb8822c
files missing when PE4 reopened
The are AVI files in the ''my videos'' folder.

One other thing. The audio is there, just not the video.

I'm assuming My Videos is on your C drive.



Did these AVIs come from a miniDV camcorder, captured over FireWire, or from some other source?



If they came from some other source, what happens if you open on in Windows Media Player, then go to File/Properties? What video codec does it show?

ffdshow Video Decoder is the codec listed.

They came from a HD digital camcorder. they are 720p AVI files.

That codec is clearly what's at the root of your problem.



You don't say what kind of HD camcorder you have or if you captured via FireWire, but you're apparently not using Premiere Elements to capture and whatever your workflow is, it's not going to work well with Premiere Elements.



If you have a tape-based HDV camcorder, we can still make it work. But if that camcorder is actually recording in ffdshow, you're probably not going to be able to do it without finding some way to convert the files to a more traditional hi-def video file.

I am using a HD digital camcorder that captures AVI files on a SD card. I copy the files to the C drive and open in PE4. Is PE4 not compatible with FFDS encoding?

No. Sorry.



You can try importing that video into Windows MovieMaker and using MovieMaker to output a more standard DV-AVI, per the FAQs at the top of this forum.

http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.3bc247e2



Otherwise, you're pretty much limited to MovieMaker (if it works with that codec) or the editing software that came with the camera.