PE 2020 does not show monitor for a long time rafter inserting a project asset to the timeline

[Reyer]

After inserting a project asset PE2020 does not show the monitor. This can take several minutes. I think it happened after the last update. I can still save the project but clicking the play button has no effect.
It's very frustrating.
The same happens when I click the render button. Rendering starts with a dialog like this:

The estimated remaining time shows a very strange number and after a long time the real time is displayed and then the rendering starts.

Any help to avoid this is very much appreciated.

I'm running PE om Windows 10

kind regards
Reyer

[John T Smith]

>think it happened after the last update

Update of what?

You need to provide details for anyone to help
Exact version of the Windows operating system
CPU brand and model and clock speed
Video adapter brand and model and driver version and amount of video ram
Number and size and type of hard drives
What kind of video are you editing?
-hint 4k video on an underpowered computer will not play well

[Reyer]

The update refers to a recent update of PE2020

Version of the Windows operating system:  Windows 10 Pro, version 20H2, build 19042.746

CPU brand and model and clock speed: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz  

Video adapter brand and model and driver version and amount of video ram: Nividia GeForce GT640, driver version 27.21.14.5671, Video RAM 10Gb

Number and size and type of hard drives: SSD drive 256Gb for OS, SDD drive 256Gb for PE2020 and traditional 4Tb drive for video files.

Kind of video: Mts and M2ts files.

With this system I had no problem till one month ago.

[Ann Bens]

Delete preview files and media cache and try again.

If that does not work reinstall Elements without the update.

[Reyer]

Deleting preview files and media cache had no effect.

Maybe this weekend I will reinstall Elements without the update.

[Ann Bens]

Your machine might be a little underpowered. Its 13 years old and running W10 latest version and probably highly compressed footage.

[Reyer]

13 years old? I bought this system (new) 7 years ago.
So far I had no problems with the performance.

I will try the reinstall and see what it does.,

[Ann Bens]

Sorry I meant 2013. Still its technology is obsolete.

Its like trying to compete in the Daytona with a Citroën 2CV.

[Reyer]

Hello Ann,

This is what I found.

Situation after reinstall without the PE2020 update.

• I added a new clip (mts file, duration 23 minutes) to the project assets and added it to the end of the existing timeline (duration about 1 hour). The existing clips had been rendered 100%.
• There is no orange line for the added clip, indicating the new clip has not been rendered yet.
• The monitor does not show anything for that clip
• The play button does not respond
• After several minutes the play button responds and the monitor shows the clip
• There is still no orange or green line showing the render status of the added clip
• Clicking the render button has no effect. The first clip in the timeline starts playing immediately.
• I saved the project and closed PE
• I started PE en opened the project again.
• The new clip still has no render status.
• I removed the clip, saved the project and closed PE.
• I started PE and opened the project again, and added the new clip to the timeline.
• The PC freezes ☹
• I started PE again and opened the project again, and added the new clip to the end of the timeline
• I clicked the render button and nothing happens. When clicking, the color of the button changes to dark grey and when releasing the mouse button the color is back to light grey. However no dialog appears showing the progress of the render process.
• Then after lets say 4 minutes the project starts playing at the start of the timeline. There is still no orange or green line for the new clip.

It is now clear that the problem is not caused by the PE2020 update.  However this problem is new to me. I didn’t have these issues till the end of last year and the performance was not so bad.

Could anyone advise me what to do?