Windows Live Movie Maker Error: 0x87160139

Movie Maker error: 0x87160138 :        (June 15, 2016 )

I encountered the same problem- I'm assembling, via Movie Maker a very large slide show of family photos.

Before you scramble to upload the most current version of MM- and that's probably a great idea for later- check to see if your file is too large. I suspected that because I'm a "redundant saver". Why? Well, over the years having lost critical files for one reason or another, now whenever I'm undertaking a big digital project I'll save it periodically and in different drives. I'll get back to that later as it will probably be more logical to you later.

When I got that error message, I had added to roughly 300 still photos to another 300-400. Yet, previous to the error message, I had successfully saved my progress multiple times, and did so in two ways:  (1) File / Save project as / [give that file a name...I use a progressive system- a different "file name" each time I save it. This file shows  a MP4 extension, but placing the cursor over it shows "Movie Maker Project". In other words, this is your 'work product'; that is, your work-in-progress, but is not the final product. As a side note, when I save a file sequentially I always make the file name somewhat different. That way I don't overwrite any, and I can re-construct at various points if I later encounter a problem. (e.g.- 20160611a , 20160611b  , etc. )

Enter error: 0x87160138. By the way, why can't programmers just give ordinary grinders like me a clue, like: file exceeds maximum size ( ? ).

The second (2) way to save is: File / Save Movie / Recommended for this project (it will assume the name you gave it as in the first save) but this is indeed a MP4..saved files should show a different icon than saving using the first (1) method. This second way of saving saves your slide show as such. This will be the 'finished product'. A key reason I prefer MM is that you can assign each photo varying times. Simple photos may be best when shown for just two seconds, but photos of a group of people may need ten or more seconds of screen-time.

Anyway, when you save it the second way- to my knowledge- that's it. You can't edit it. So that's why using both methods for saving is important.

To determine if my suspicion of the file being to large was correct, after maybe ten such error messages- no matter what I did to avoid it, I saved it the first (1) way- which always works for me. That was the work-in-progress. Then, I removed maybe 300 photos and saved it- again by the first (1) method. Doing that meant I could return to either file and continue working on it / either.

Then, I used the second (2) saving method (remember, this is the smaller file) and PRESTO, it saved perfectly. I got no "error message". Now I have two MP4 (finished products). Ideally, I would much prefer having just one, but having two looks like I figured a way around error: 0x87160138 .

I hope this helps. Good luck!

R.S.

Hi,

Glad to know that your issue is fixed.

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