Windows DVD Maker Aspect Ratio problems

Yes, I have to agree that, for now, the simplest solution is, as you suggest, to revert to the older release of WMM. And curiously, the problem is not even in WMM itself, but in WDM. The later WMM is actually better in some senses; it is just that WDM misinterprets the improved pixel aspect ratio information. I wasn't aware of the 2.6 version or it's video overlay capability. Sounds useful.

I live in hope that MS employees read these threads and sometimes spot that someone has supplied them the information which will allow them to fix a problem easily; and that this will prompt them to take some action.

I have to agree that, in this case, the time elapsed since there was any change in this area suggests that the chances of this bug being fixed are low.

The most recent "change" here is probably the inability of Windows 8 users to even install WDM. One can only speculate as to reasons for this: loss of the developers, a desire to stop undercutting software vendors selling DVD mastering tools (or an arrangement reached with some of them), loss of some required components from Windows 8 (there are several things missing from Windows 8 that used to be in Windows 7). It's not obvious to me what could make MS drop an obviously useful program like this and so encourage users over to Mac.

Windows 8 rather saddens me: it used to be that successive releases of Windows removed bad aspects of older releases and added many improved features "under the hood", in addition to obvious foreground changes; this version has slashed away major functionality that users have come to depend on, and added a confusing alternative GUI suited to phones and tablets which is of no obvious use on a desktop computer. The resultant loss of sales is well-documented on the web. Removing the start button (or rather replacing it with the desktop-toggling button), and indeed removing any obvious way to find programs on your machine, just seems madness. And worse still, I know that technically Windows 8 has several major improvements in key subsystems; but these remain unavailable to me because I can't tolerate the GUI. Life's too short to waste on such a bad GUI for doing any serious work.

MS have obviously stopped monitoring this thread so I think it might be worth starting a brand new one. Work-arounds really don't cut it when Win 7 was sold to me as this big multimedia platform and  it turns out to not even be able to burn DVDs correctly. I'm frankly astonished that MS have swept this under the carpet. Nothing like being ignored to make you feel like a valued customer

This thread has solved this problem for me. I am running fully updated Windows 7 Ultimate SP1, Windows Movie Maker (WMM) 2012 (Build 16.4.3528.0331) and Windows DVD Maker (WDM) 2012 (the latest: if someone can tell me how I obtain the full version info for DVD Maker I will include it here also). Sanity check to make sure you the reader are experiencing the same problem as me: I had created all videos I wanted to burn as WMVs through WMM and had set all widescreen settings correctly there. However, when I burnt those WMVs to DVD using WDM the resulting DVDs played the menu fine in widescreen and then after a frame or two of actual video play switched to squished 4:3 ratio (as already described by Rich_D). If this sounds like you, please read on!

I'd like to thank the following contributors specifically:

Rich_D for the detail in describing the symptoms. Your efforts allowed me to confirm that the problem you are describing is the same one I have experienced, and not one of the many other slightly different ones with older version of Windows, Movie Maker and DVD Maker that I have read through and stabbed at on the Web in the last few weeks. You provided me focus on "What the problem is".

kisbeSL for great detail in describing the symptoms and your trial and error attempts to identify solution options that just work. Your efforts have helped identify the problem area causing this headache for so many of us. You provided me the "How to fix the problem full stop".

PapaJohn... for identifying the root of the end problem on burnt DVDs. You provided me the "Why the problem is presenting itself".

Patrick McTiernan for hitting the nail on the head with the full diagnosis. Your efforts allowed me to follow up with a minimalist workaround that works for me without changing/downgrading/touching any versions of any Microsoft software. You provided me the "Where you can intercept and prevent this problem". As well as your tip to use gspot to view the sar, par and dar parameters for my WMV videos, I searched for one of the 3rd party editing tools you refer to for removing the par and dar values and eventually settled on WMV Aspect Ratio Changer by Komeil Bahmanpour which I found referenced on his blog. This does exactly what it says on the tin. For anyone who wants to try this solution, here's what I did:

1. Download and extract wmv-aspect-ratio-changer
2. Run WMVARChanger.exe
3. Load each WMV file you want to remove the par and dar values from. It will load up and display "Current Aspect Ratio" X and Y values
4. Click "Remove"

That's it! The change is immediately applied to the file and you can verify that par and dar values have been removed while sar remains intact by using gspot.

I then tried burning my now-altered WMVs using WDM and widescreen functions correctly on the final DVD at last.

I would agree with the general sentiment of dismay and shock over how long Microsoft has (and continues) to let this slide. Similar to many people, I wanted to stick with Microsoft software because of the menus and ease of use since I am a n00b at DVD making and just want something simple to use at home that doesn't feel too much like work. With this post I want to make sure I gave back to the community my experience in tying together all the other guys' information that I took from in the hope that it helps some other n00bs out there. I really hope that Microsoft picks up on this bug and implements the ultra-simple fix described above in WDM so that a 3rd party interim step is no longer needed.

Thank you all again for your efforts and for the time you took to share you knowledge. Thanks to you, I have only wasted 4 DVDs rather than dozens scratching my head over this. You may now live and die safe in the knowledge that your legacy lives on through me and my son's baby videos :p

.... and thank you Fergal for such a well written personal summary and positive post....