I guess like millions of other PC users, I am going to have to upgrade my OS from Windows XP to Windows 7 soon.

I have been using Studio 10 Plus - version 10.8.0.4641 for several years. It does all I want and I still find it entirely satisfactory for my needs.

My concern is that after the upgrade, I will have to re-download all those software applications which I have added to my PC over the years – including Studio Plus. As I have a number of unfinished projects still awaiting completion, I want to know:

           a). Can I still download my version of Studio 10 Plus ( I have the Serial Number and Passport Number for this software) after the upgrade, and:

           b). Is the software compatible with, and will it work OK with Windows 7?

If the answer is No to either/both, can anyone suggest a course of action to overcome the looming problem?

All help/advice gratefully received.  Thank you.

timz99:

I guess like millions of other PC users, I am going to have to upgrade my OS from Windows XP to Windows 7 soon.

I have been using Studio 10 Plus - version 10.8.0.4641 for several years. It does all I want and I still find it entirely satisfactory for my needs.

My concern is that after the upgrade, I will have to re-download all those software applications which I have added to my PC over the years – including Studio Plus. As I have a number of unfinished projects still awaiting completion, I want to know:

           a). Can I still download my version of Studio 10 Plus ( I have the Serial Number and Passport Number for this software) after the upgrade, and:

           b). Is the software compatible with, and will it work OK with Windows 7?

If the answer is No to either/both, can anyone suggest a course of action to overcome the looming problem?

All help/advice gratefully received.  Thank you.

Welcome to the Forum

There's another involved Thread HERE that details the route to take for Installing S10 on W7. It would mean someone who's involved in that Thread searching for the relevant Posts & Linking to or Copying them in your Thread here. Rather than re-Posting.

You might like to look at that Thread. Starting from the last Post & working backwards will get you to the relevant Posts, quicker than starting from the first Post.

The above being said, I think Microsoft has recently extended the deadline for  Windows XP SP3 Updates Support  from April 2014 until 2015, due to the number of XP Users. But only for Critical Updates. Not Hotfixes. But those can be available if a an Extended Hotfix Update package is purchased from Microsoft.. That should give you plenty of time to finish your Projects with XP.. 

Do you have spare room on your hard drive to install Windows 7 so that you can dual boot your PC?

I have my PC with Windows 7 and Windows XP albeit I have all the discs but with care you could update to W7 and keep your XP installation intact. I know this does not help with the situation of XP not being updated in the near future but I intend to not connect my XP system to the Internet after Microsoft give up on it.

If colour is correct (and I don't doubt he is!)  with the news Microsoft are looking after XP until 2015 then it gives you time to finish those projects in time to sort the system out!

timz99:

...

           a). Can I still download my version of Studio 10 Plus ( I have the Serial Number and Passport Number for this software) after the upgrade, and:

          .....

IMHO the answer to this question is No.

Studio 10 = 2006 that's about 8 years ago.

Yorkie:

...the news Microsoft are looking after XP until 2015 ...

I might be wrong -- but I understood this as being largely a paid enterprise level accommodation -- that consumer level users are still mostly out in the cold after April ...

XP Microsoft Support will end on April 2014. Microsoft Security Essentials (Antivirus) until 2015. What this means that after April 2014 there will be no more Microsoft Updates for Windows XP (which are usually once every month). The support for antivirus will still be available for one more year.

Copy your pixie files from XP and save it in a USB Drive and just install it in your W7 OS and you should have less problems when installing Studio.

Thanks for the helpful advice.  Can you just confirm what the Pixie files are - and what they do?  What I have found in the 'Pinnacle' folder under 'Program Files' are three sub-folders: Hollywood Fx for Studio, Shared Files, and Studio 10. 

There's no Pixie folder in Hollywood FX.   There is one Pixie sub-folder in Shared Files containing four 'Register' sub folders, 24 .dll files, and a PixieTool file.  The Studio 10 folder has lots of folders - mainly the operational software, I imagine, and a Pixie_Backup folder.   So how much of this stuff do I, or should I, copy off to a USB stick, or one of my 4 external HDDs?

So how much of this stuff do I, or should I, copy off to a USB stick, or one of my 4 external HDDs?

This:

There is one Pixie sub-folder in Shared Files containing four 'Register' sub folders, 24 .dll files, and a PixieTool file.

Can you just confirm what the Pixie files are - and what they do?

The PixieTool.exe File is the First File Copied to Studio's Temporary Folder when Installing Studio, automatically Running, looking for an Existing S10 Installation (For Upgrades) & presenting the Registration Pop-Ups, etc. 

Pixie Folder also records Studio Program Serial Number & Activation Keys for Free stuff & Purchased Premium Content.

Saving that Folder & Copying it into a New Studio Installation, replaces the new Pixie Folder. Then you have all of any Free & Previously Purchased Premium Content Activation Keys, without having to re-activate them. Putting it simply

How you Reinstall S10 Program  on W7, depends upon which Version you had to start with?

Thanks for that very helpful advice. This is the version of Studio 10 I am currently running:

Pinnacle Studio Plus vs. 10.8.0.4641 

The original Studio installation was from a DVD and is shown as version 10.6. I also had a 'Bonus' disc simply described as REV 2.

Fingers crossed I can carry on editing with it once the upgrade to Windows 7 is completed!

The S10.6 disc contains 2 versions of the program. Do not autoboot the install.

Open to view the disc content and there is the folder 'Studio Vista Installer'. In that folder is the Welcome.exe file you need to use to install. After installing update using the Studio 10.8 patch (Iassume you have it)

It might also be a wise move to copy your existing Pinnacle 'Contents' folder from the Public folders.

timz99:

Thanks for that very helpful advice. This is the version of Studio 10 I am currently running:

Pinnacle Studio Plus vs. 10.8.0.4641 

The original Studio installation was from a DVD and is shown as version 10.6. I also had a 'Bonus' disc simply described as REV 2.

Fingers crossed I can carry on editing with it once the upgrade to Windows 7 is completed!

The original Studio installation was from a DVD and is shown as version 10.6

I never had S10.6 Released Version. Only S10.6 Update .

IMO, you should have 2 S10.6 Installers on S10.6 Installation DVD. One for XP . The other for Vista (Same for W7).

Install the Vista Version & then Update again to S10.8.

Then Install  S10 Bonus Content DVD . (It has it's own Installer)

Anyone-else?

ADDED - David & I Posting @ same time. Simple minds think alike

Thanks, guys for all this help. I am now feeling more confident that I will be able to rescue the situation after the upgrade with all this advice.

I also have a 25-digit Serial number for my install, and also a Passport number - whatever that is!

timz99:

Thanks, guys for all this help. I am now feeling more confident that I will be able to rescue the situation after the upgrade with all this advice.

I also have a 25-digit Serial number for my install, and also a Passport number - whatever that is!

I also have a 25-digit Serial number for my install

Just enter it when you re-Install on W7. The same as you did with XP.

BTW - Your S10 Projects created in XP are Data Folders/Files. Not Program Files.. IMO, you need to Copy the Folder where you have your Projects in XP (Studio's XP Default Folder is; Pinnacle Studio / My Projects) & Paste it into the corresponding Folder in W7. You also need to Copy the Source Video Files used in those Projects (Studio's XP Default Folder is; My Videos) & Paste into the corresponding Folder in W7.

Probably easiest to Copy to DVD before you Install W7 & then Copy from DVD after W7's Installed..

BTW - S10 Projects can be fickle & there's no guarantee  they won't be corrupted & unable to be Opened on W7.

W7 comes in different Versions. The most common for Video Editors is; W7 Home Premium 64Bit.. 

Unlike XP, W7 doesn't have an e-Mail Program (Outlook Express) included. You'll need to Download & Install Microsoft W7 Free Live Essentials that includes  e-Mail & Internet Security Programs (Which is all you need. You don't need any other Programs eg; Norton, McAfee etc.).

W7 Live Essentials 

Microsoft Security Essentials.

" I am going to have to upgrade my OS from Windows XP to Windows 7 soon."

If you have a hard disc drive of 500 GB or higher, why don't you partition your hard drive so you can still have Windows XP and Windows 7 in your computer. I have it this way. Make sure you have the drivers available for your computer before attempting to do this (upgrade) and also backup all your files too. I would also suggest you to make a copy of your pixie file. That way you will have less trouble to install Studio 10 in Windows 7.

Here you can download full versions of Studio 10

http://www.pinnaclestudio.info/page26.html

Thanks again guys. All useful stuff. I have already created Video_TS files for some projects, and created MPEG-2 files of incomplete work which I can eventually load in to the timeline as 'rushes' and complete the work.

I was horrified to find there's no Outlook Express in W7. I've now learnt about the Windows Live e-mail programme. I just hope I can transfer everything across seamlessly from OE to the new programme without losing any data - contacts, plus all my INBOX, OUTBOX, DRAFTS,  and all the other folders. Surely Microsoft will have made provision for this??