Failed to load project

Sefya

I worked on a project for over 2 days, always saving normally. Today, when I tried to reopen the project to continue editing, the program gave me a message saying "failed to load project".

I have already cleared the cache and tried to recover the files through the temporary copies that are in C:\Users\simon\AppData\Local\Temp and none of the options worked.

I need to fix this error so as not to lose 2 days of work.

I updated the software to the latest version available for Windows and it was still not possible to load the project.

I could share the ".vpj" file if necessary for analysis, but compressing a folder with all the material may be impossible since the project contains many images pasted directly into the timeline as well as video clips that were cut during the editing of the project.

borate

Restart the PC. Clear temp files via this path... C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Temp thisssss

Have you checked C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\NCH Software\VideoPad\autosave.vpj ?

If the project was routinely saved AS, with a unique name or #, there should be many VPJ control files. Do a PC search and try the most recent. To access Save AS click the caret to the right of the SAVE button. If simply SAVE was used, then the original VPJ was overwritten each time.

The VPJ alone will be of little use. It contains instructions on where to find files and how they have been edited. It should be stored in a folder with the source files, which are also required. Often they are in a single folder. Please Zip the folder and any source files from other locations.

Use a free server, such as Google Drive or MS OneDrive, right-click the link and Share or Copy. Copy the result and paste it here or to me in a Private Message via the mail envelope in the top-right corner of this forum. When using Google Drive, click SHARE | SHARE and change "restricted" to "anyone with link can view.**

We'll take a look. Don't forget to change "restricted." What version of Videpad created the project?

Sefya

Clear temp files via this path... C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Temp

borate wrote:

Have you checked C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\NCH Software\VideoPad\autosave.vpj ?

Yes I did it and it's failed too.

borate wrote:

What version of Videpad created the project?

Created with version v17.18 and updated to v17.25 today to try to solve the problem.Files for analysis

borate

Files are missing, but doubt that this would overcome the "failed" error, which is also seen here. Please upload these files...

Click the image to enlarge

Please leave the package/s on the server, for possible further analysis. If there are new developments they will be reported here.

Sefya

New link with missing files

I hope that now it is all. These files are in the prior link:

Time Attack.mp4
OWL.mp4
CZINGER.mp4

borate

Your initial link is not available now - "too many attempts." You might try creating a new one, if possible.

All files are now available, using English Windows version 17.21, but it still fails to load. Loading files individually (not via the VPJ) succeeds.

You searched the PC for earlier VPJ files? The ones in your project appear to be corrupt.

Save Project File AS routinely, giving it a unique # or name, so as not to overwrite prior saves. Using Save Project Files (no AS) will overwrite. From the HOME tab, the AS choice is available by clicking the caret to the right of the Save Project button on the toolbar. That way you're protected, and shouldn't lose anything.

Will share the latest download with the company.

Sefya

borate wrote:

Seu link inicial não está disponível agora - "muitas tentativas". Você pode tentar criar um novo, se possível.

Todos os arquivos estão disponíveis agora, usando a versão 17.21 do Windows em inglês, mas ainda não carrega. O carregamento dos arquivos individualmente (não via VPJ) é bem-sucedido.

Você procurou arquivos VPJ anteriores no PC? Os do seu projeto parecem estar corrompidos.

Salve o arquivo de projeto como padrão (AS) rotineiramente, atribuindo a ele um número ou nome exclusivo para não sobrescrever salvamentos anteriores. Usar a opção "Salvar Arquivos de Projeto" (sem AS) sobrescreverá. Na aba INÍCIO, a opção AS está disponível clicando no cursor à direita do botão "Salvar Projeto" na barra de ferramentas. Dessa forma, você estará protegido e não deverá perder nada.

Compartilharei o último download com a empresa.

Yestarday I restarted all the project and did what you said. I saved the project 3 times.
The first one I did when I just uploaded all the files to the project, de second one after 1 hour and the last one when i finished, after almost 4 hours working and guess what?
ITS CORRUPTED AGAIN!!!!

Another 4 hours working and all the work is lost! I dunno what is causing this problem, whether it's the clippings of the videos themselves or what, but there's definitely something VERY wrong with your software.

borate

Loaded all the files, adding fades between each clip and a few effects. Saved, then reloaded. There was no problem.

What are your PC's specs: CPU/GPU/RAM free space? Is there another machine available for testing?

Just a user like yourself here, but the issue is being investigated and updates will be reported.

Sefya

This is just a guess, but I imagine that the problem may be caused by the fact that I'm making multiple cuts of the same video. Each video file added has at least 4 or 5 cuts.

I'm also working with multiple tracks in this video, images and texts aggregated in several layers.

I'm attaching a print of what the preview looks like when I am working.

About my specs:

Windows 11 Pro - V. 10.0.26100
CPU: Intel i9 13900HX

Mem: 32GB
GPU: NVidia RTX - 4060M

Free space: C:/ 262 GB D:/ 90GB

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fWwpVn7eWJvy5yiHA

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczNUvO-ScmUkYlI0Sp5nMpvZUTxgyZ5nEixA_Cukkuf4GsG6i3pdCBeIrxKQuztWmcxEf4bCCGMmAkIV-hnWC5VV1T8Fx044XYfa1wgUFAO3kiA2G0EgPirOgXCYt3T8lsp7jPWzZebuN9HgB3gpXi5n=w1758-h945-s-no-gm?authuser=0

borate

Specs look fine.

There should be no issue in using the same clip with different trims.

One way to do that is to right-click a bin clip and COPY, then right-click in an open bin area and PASTE (Clip) as many time as needed. Each dupe will have an incremented # and reflect its trim, as made in the preview window with Set Start/Set End. The original clip is untouched. Perhaps that's your method.

Thinking of other approaches to this large-file project...

You might break it up into segments - perhaps ten minutes or so - export each and check to see that it works. Then assemble those segments for the final export.

When all files are loaded individually here it takes ages to cache them. Proxy Editing can make editing quicker and smoother. Files are reduced to low-res, edits made, then the original files are restored for the final export. This is common practice with large files and lengthy projects. While it takes a bit of time to set up, it can be well worth it.

Sefya

This is not even close to my biggest project. This is a video of about 5 minutes, I have edited videos of more than an hour with several tracks, effects, images and others and I had not experienced the current problem.

In the link below you can see an example of a project with more than 30 minutes of duration after export and with several GBs of videos and images added. The difference is that this video was created in an earlier version of the software.

On my channel you can see videos of more than 1 hour produced without problems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WjVdVm-prY&t=6s

borate

The reason for the load failure is still a mystery. There are three multi-stream clips in the list, but even when they were excised or reencoded the project still would not load.

As a test here, all mp4 files were reencoded to 480, then loaded into VP, along with the remaining A/V files. Images were overlaid. The project played smoothly and quickly, and could be reloaded via the VPJ. And when exported, using the proxies and not the original mp4s, the result wasn't hi-def, but passable.

Sefya

Do you believe that this files multi-stream could be the reason for this error ?

If it is the case, I can just export them individually in another format with single-layer and do some tests here.
I just dont want to work another 4 hours to lose it at the end

borate

This was tested, with those three files reencoded to mp4 here and substituted. Bin files loaded, but there was nothing on the timeline.

The multi-stream files were also removed from the project. Same result.

The VPJ appears to be corrupted.

Sefya

That the project is corrupted I know...
It was not the first time, even after to restart everything from scratch.

The thing is: what is causing it and how to fix?
To lose all the work every time is not 'fun'

borate

Lacking further info at this time, my suggestion would be to split the project into parts, as mentioned above, testing each for both restoration and export.

If all are okay, then assemble the parts for final export. Save AS each part with a unique name or #.

You might also test rebuilding with the proxies linked above, as time permits.

Godspeed2

I've been having the same issue as well. I've noticed it most with my larger projects, and if I've been editing them for extended periods of time.

I noticed the issue most when the videopad process exceeds 2000mb. If I save and restart, it typically opens, but if I continue, that's when it says failed to load project.

I have enough virtual ram allocated, but I think when the program exceeds a certain memory limit, something that is essential to the project opening must not get saved.

I've tried to look in event viewer, and the associated handles in the resource monitor, but it's hard to tell what could be the culprit.

Does anyone know *how* videopad saves and loads projects? I see things like syswow64, system32, registry, and a couple of temp files in the associated handles. Is there anything that could be the culprit? I'm attempting to restore some of the temp files that were deleted at the time it stopped loading, but I'm not sure how to narrow this down.

borate

Use the 64-bit release to minimize memory issues with large, complex projects.

Prior to starting a new project, go to OPTIONS | DISK tab and Clear Unused Cache Files.

Share a problematic project, so others can run it. The process is easy, quick and can be done privately. Just follow these steps...

Back up --- With your project on the timeline, click on MENU at the top-left. Click FILE|BACK UP PROJECT FILES TO FOLDER. Choose a folder and SELECT FOLDER.
Upload --- Use a free server - Google Drive, MS OneDrive, etc.* - to upload the saved, numbered FOLDER. No need to upload the individual VPJ or export file.
Get link --- Right-click the file and click SHARE. If using Google, right-click the file, click SHARE | SHARE. Change "restricted" to "anyone ... can view"
Share --- Click COPY LINK or OK | DONE. Paste that link here, or click the folder at the top-right of this forum to message it privately. It won't be shared.

* Before uploading, right-click the folder, click PROPERTIES. Look at the File Size to confirm that it's not too big for the free space on the server.

If using Google Drive, don't forget to change "restricted" to "anyone with link can view."

klayhamn

I have the exact same issue. this started a few months ago ---

Now any new project i save can no longer be opened. The project files (VPJ) themselves seem totally normal (when inspected in notepad)

I can load OLDER vpj files, i just can't save anymore new ones. This makes the software totally unusable. I just spent an entire WEEK working on a project and saved it like 5 times in 5 different separate files, all of which fail to load.

There is no problem editing the video itself or exporting to mp4, the ONLY problem is loading the VPJ

The cache was cleaned multiple times --- it did absolutely nothing.

One thing i notice is that the loading tries to load unrelated files from nearby subfolders (i know because it suddenly asks me to choose an audio channel for these unrelated clips) -- these OTHER clips were never in the project or in ANY project for that matter

The only suspicion i have is that it might be related to the fact it's referencing clips from the Downloads folder which has 74,727 files and 700+ GB. but that's a complete guess.

I expect this to be fixed or i request a refund for my license.

UPDATE: with GPT 5's help i was able to un-corrupt the VPJ file.

Here is a summary of the fixes it had to apply (not sure if all of them were necessary):

Great — here’s exactly what I changed:

Fixed a parse bug on the export settings line

Before: Type=2SubtitlesExport=1... (missing &)

After: Type=2&SubtitlesExport=1...
This alone can make VideoPad reject the file.

Corrected the clips count

Before: clips=88

After: clips=71
The header count has to match the actual number of h= clip/resource entries in the Clips section. A mismatch often triggers “Failed to load project.”

Removed broken effect chains

Before: effectchains=3

Three speedchangef=...&hclip=2148806/3127528/3183788 entries (these hclip ids don’t exist anywhere else in the file).

After: effectchains=0

Deleted the three orphaned effect-chain lines.

Dangling effect refs also cause load failures.

Still, if the software can't produce uncorrupted project files it's a BUG and needs to be fixed.

borate

To minimize an issue of file corruption, use Revo to uninstall. When it requests a scan of registry entries, delete them all. Then Install this release.

What VP version was used. For one-time licensed users upgrades are free for up to six months from purchase date. After that, VP will continue to fully function but a fee is required in order to register the newest. Retain your old install file and registration info. If there's an issue, you can always revert.

Let's have a look at a project that won't load. Follow these steps, one-by-one. Don't skip any. If using Google Drive for the upload remember to change "restricted" to "anyone with link can view."

The process is easy, quick and can be done privately. Just follow these steps...
Back up --- With your project on the timeline, click on MENU at the top-left. Click FILE|BACK UP PROJECT FILES TO FOLDER. Choose a folder and SELECT FOLDER.
Zip the folder --- It will be numbered. In Windows right-click on it and Send To > Compressed (zipped) folder.
Upload --- Use a free server - Google Drive, MS OneDrive, etc.* - to upload the zipped folder. When it completes...
Get link --- Right-click the file and click SHARE. If using Google, right-click the file, click SHARE | SHARE. Change "restricted" to "anyone ... can view"
Share --- Click COPY LINK or OK | DONE. Paste that link here, or click the folder at the top-right of this forum to message it privately. It won't be shared.

* Before uploading, right-click the folder, click PROPERTIES. Look at the File Size to confirm that it's not too big for the free space on the server.