“Backup the clips, not just the project file!”
I’ve been screwing up.
I’ve taught basic workshops on Windows Movie Maker for years now, usually early in the semester. 
When they work on their assigned projects weeks later, too many students don’t correctly back up their unfinished video projects. They think the Project.MSWMM file is all they need, and don’t back up the video clips that go with that project. So, when they try to finish on another machine, either at home or on another PC in the labs, they see the big red X’s instead of their video clips. Result? FAIL. Must figure out how to make this clearer, but for now, find the steps after the jump.
- Before starting anything on your project, create a folder for all the video and the project.MSWMM file.
- Start Movie Maker and save the project in your new folder.
- When capturing video, save it into that same folder.
- If you’re adding still images, audio, or narration, make sure it’s saved into that folder.
- If you have to move your project to another computer, make sure everything in your project is in that folder.
- If it’s all in there, then copy that folder to your backup media—CD, USB/flash memory stick, external hard drive, whatever.
- To finish editing, copy that project folder to the new machine before you start. Please do not open the project from the CD or USB memory stick (although an external HD should work fine).
March 6, 2010 at 1:08 pmmarsha
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I did exactly what you outlined. But when I took my thumbdrive to my home computer I still saw X’s when I opened my project file. I had to “find” the video files and place them back properly in the timeline again. I would have thought that all the video would align just as I saved it. But alas…it did not. I need portability between my work PC and my home PC. The thumbdrive carries the info, but the saved project doesn’t “wake up” right in its new environment. Help! I can not figure out what I may have done wrong.