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garryw40009217
garryw40009217
Participating Frequently
January 10, 2024
Question

missing stage frame files

  • January 10, 2024
  • 1 reply
  • 986 views

I am using Premiere Elements version 13 on a WIN 10 PC. I started a large project several years ago but had to leave it for a while due to some health issues. However, during that hiatus I had to upgrade my PC from 8.1 to 10 and also (a while later) rebuild WIN 10. Probably 90% of my PE13 editing has been done on WIN 8.1 originally so it (hopefully) has survived a couple of re-installs. I've tried to ensure all data files have been backed up right from the start - using Windows native "file backup" and my own manual backup using an external H.D., however, PE13 seems to use a variety of data files and they do not appear to be all in common directories ("folders") and sub-directories so some may have eluded a critical backup. Recently I attempted to pick up where I left off with the big project and discovered that the program couldn't start because it couldn't find the (raw) *.mts files. So I did a manual search and found them in a very odd 6 levels down sub-directory (perhaps due to my using a program to eliminate duplicate picture and video files about a year ago that didn't run perfectly?) and copied them into a new directory where PE13 can access them now. BUT, now when I try to open an existing project PE13 asks for the "stage_frame.png" file - which I can not find anywhere on my PC or in the backups. This brings to mind a couple of questions: 1. does this mean all of the videos I have created are now useless? 2. Is there any way to recreate the missing files? 3. If I were to upgrade to a current version of PE is there any chance whatsoever I could "recreate" the videos into useable projects using the .prel files from PE13 (which are preserved on the PC)??  Any and all suggestions will be GREATLY appreciated. 

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1 reply

S
Steve Grisetti
Legend
January 10, 2024

I don't know what to tell you. If you reinstalled it after upgrading your operating system, I believe Premiere Elements should behave the same way in Windows 10 as it did on Windows 8. So I'm not sure I understand the question on recreating the missing files. Just uninstall and reinstall and it should work.

 

I wouldn't start moving program files and data files around. I'm not sure it will fix your problems.

 

As for upgrading to version 2024, don't expect to be able to open old files with version 2024. Premiere Elements has never really been backwards compatible, so you can't open version 13 files in version 2024. It's best to finish your work in the same version of the program you started it in. Otherwise you could run into weird behavior and possible project file corruption.

garryw40009217
garryw40009217Author
Participating Frequently
January 11, 2024

Thank you for your help with this problem, Steve.  At least I know now that upgrading to a newer version of PE won't gain anything. I'm not having a problem with running the PE 13 program itself - I have used it a few times on WIN 10 so it doesn't need to be re-installed as far as I can tell. The problem is I'm missing some data files that are required to open existing (completed) projects. The missing data files are "stage_frame.png" files which are unique to each project I assume.  I think I need the assistance of an actual programmer who has worked with PE 13 or other version of PE that is similar insofar as the required data files to open projects is concerned.  Do you (or anyone else reading this) know if there is any way to get Adobe tech people to look at my problem and offer solutions?

garryw40009217
garryw40009217Author
Participating Frequently
January 20, 2024

Good point, Bob.

 

Sadly, Garry, we may have reached the end of the road here. I'm not sure what else to recommend.

 

Though you can try chatting with Adobe Customer Care by using the chat window that pops up here: https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html?rghtup=autoOpen

 

No guarantees, but I don't know what else to do at this point.


Here's the latest development in my ongoing saga. I used the CHAT for customer support yesterday. It lasted over an hour and I was bumped up to "more senior tech support specialists" twice. In the end they told me they currently only support PE 2023 and 2024 - so there is nobody to give me any help with PE 13, HOWEVER, PE 2024 WILL work with the movies I created using PE 13!  Therefore if I were to buy the UPGRADE to 24 (now available with a 20% discount) their tech support wiill assist me in recovering my movies made with 13 - and I have it in writing. So I made the purchase late yesterday and did the download and installed the program. When I opened it, it looks very much like 13. But I'm not going to attempt to do anything with it until I have (almost) unlimited time at hand to get their support team to walk me through the steps needed to get the old movies working again using a pristine program to start with - which I intend to do on Monday. Got my fingers crossed! Thanks Steve and Bob for your advice. Maybe this problem can be a guide for someone else facing a potential disaster with old programs - providing it works for me. I will post an update in due course to let you know how it worked - or didn't work!

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