error compiling movie. unable to create or open output file

[patroy33]

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium

Elements version: 13.1

hi recently i get an error every time i try to export a video to a quicktime hd 1080i format (or a customized version of this format). "error compiling movie. unable to create or open output file". This error comes up immediately as soon as i hit save. So far it will let me export to all the other formats i've tried. The format giving me errors now should work because up till now i've used it for all my exports.

[Bill Sprague · Accepted solution]

Do you have Quicktime installed on your computer?

[patroy33]

I'm an idiot. I do now, and it seems to work now. I had done a reinstall of windows and never thought about installing quicktime again. I'm still not sure why you have to have it for the export to work. all it says it that it is a format playable on quicktime, it doesn't say that it uses quicktime to create the file. anyway thanks a lot for your response.

[Bill Sprague]

Codecs require licensing.  Adobe and others commonly used Apple's codecs avoiding licensing fees.  Apple stopped "supporting" Quicktime for Windows a year or so ago.  Through version 14, Premiere Elements required a copy of Quicktime be installed.  Starting with Version 15, it is not required.  There are still some occasional reports where someone has an camera or purpose where it is still needed.

Thanks for marking my answer "correct".  I get points!

Bill