Miss the Old Movie Maker? Get it Back on Windows 7

So those missing features aren't gone because it's in beta but it was on purpose and they aren't coming back in the final version?

A video editor without a timeline is just a clumsy slideshow maker. It's pretty much useless in it's current form. Live Photo Gallery and Live Mail where both improvements so why not Movie Maker too?

Sarah, are you reporting that those features will not make it back into the "final" release of Live Movie Maker?

Hey guys - I'm the Lead PM on the new Windows Live Movie Maker project.  The beta is definitely not feature-complete; having said that, we are taking the product in a slightly different direction so it's not going to have 100% the same features as the old Movie Maker.  Stay tuned - but please realize that we're aware that we have work to do before final.

Hopefully, and I say this with genuine hope, MS changes their ways soon and realises It's NOT about simplicity all the time, simplicity and intuition are not always linked.

List of things MS has to change:

• The drive towards simplicity for all things- my parents who can't use moviemaker switched to Mac and use imovie like it's an innate skill
• New releases more often. I know moving MM to WLEs will allow this but that doesn't mean it will be frequent enough- seriously who is going to choose this over ANY other video editting software out there today- I don't mean to offend anybody but I don't care if I do- this is the most disappointing software MS has released in the past 5 years.
• Same goes for Internet Explorer- I know IE8 is a big undertaking when it comes to changing trident for standards, I understand, and I like IE8, it's my default browser. But now that standards have been incorporated start adding features fast. I mean every 6 months I want a .5 release. That will gain marketshare, anything else is trying to empty a sinking ship with a spoon.

I love MS, they're by far my favourite company in the world, I would hope to work for them someday but STOP thinking you know better. Look at what people do TO your products, we aren't simplifying them, finally you updated Paint slightly, but look at Paint.net, Notepad++, Fences for the desktop- if your customers are doing these simple and useful additions WHY DON'T YOU?!

I know that's a rant but seriously guys your capacity to innovate in some areas and lack of it in others drives me crazy. The next version of Movie maker better get some serious ground caught up on what it's lost and what its competitors can do already. There's no excuse, unless you want to make EVERYTHING so simple a 4 and a half year old can do it.

Thank you for regarding our thoughts, I will patiently anticipate the results.

> New releases more often.
> I mean every 6 months I want a .5 release.

Constant desire for new software updates - it's not a good symptom (unless you are 15 year old kid or a linux zealot)

Used to be a linux zealot, roughly when I was 15, I am older and things have changed, I run pretty much exclusively Microsoft software mostly due to a shared image of how things should work. That said I do believe that in some (but not all) cases software should have a good turnover of releases, the Zune team have done very well with the Zune software roughly updating it every 6 months and clearly on the browser front a lot of people seem to agree that frequent updates are a nice thing to have.

Internet explorer is available exvclusively on Windows and as such should be a jewel in Microsoft's crown, whilst I enjoy using it the majority of students on my course all ask why a geek like me doesn't use Mozilla. Opinions are hard to change but the thing that brings about that change is surprisingly... change, or in some cases stagnation. If we see IE9 coming out when Win8 comes along we won't see a change in user opinion towards IE, and new and interesting developments in standards will be slow to be adopted- how does that benefit anybody? Sure developers like a set of standards that withstand time but that's not to say their current tricks won't work.

Look at the iLife product range from Apple, in a year they went from 08 to 09 release and brought with it small but significant improvements that would postpone many from upgrading to other packages- why can't a browser be the same?


I knwo that IE has huge amounts of market share, but the erosion taking place is pretty dramatic, public perception is not in IE's favour right now, and neither is it in the case of Live search, Live essentials etc and in some cases Microsoft as a whole. Seeing as browsers are such an important part of how we use computers today it seems foolish to not focus on constantly raising the bar, especially in the "fight" against Google and others.

Do you even have more video format support planned? Why not called it "Windows Media Maker" because besides WMA/WMV it doesn't allow exporting anything (except DV AVI). Do you care to plan to support (import AND export) AVI, MPEG1, MPEG2 and MPEG-4/H.264. Can you make it stable and use DirectShow for any format import support? What about basic trimming and smart encoding? If the needs of users aren't met by WMM, do you expect people to use multiple applications and juggle video files between them? With a broken half-baked feature-set, no one will user WLMM.

plz can somebody tell me how to download the old version? 
i really need it as soon as possible and i can't find it, can somebody send me a link or something?
thanks so much! 

I bet the video editing companies are trying to monopolize the software and are making it hard for legit users to use a good program.  Both Apple and MS have pretended to give out a better product, but have actually sold us crap with their new upgrades.  They want to us to pay extra for quality film editing software so they are taking it away from us.  Bad move guys.

@mtorres:It's terrible and ruined now.
Do you see all the comments on-line, everywhere?
Whoever said no timeline now had their head up their *.
I'm still trying to get the old one back and will.
Damn that new one is *. It's awful!
 

@John Ellis:WELL said.
They won't listen to a word though.
IE is crap too though, constantly crashing or freezing compared to Mozilla that never does.
 

@zhuweis:Again.....WELL said.
Because they're DUMB.
That's WHY.

Thankfully, most of the world doesn't have their head up their kazoo like M. Torres at MS.
HERE, is how you get it back!!!
http://members.shaw.ca/wmm6/wmm6.html
AND
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15TMjpM8QCc
To BOOT!
'Fight Back' is damn right.
(STUPID IDIOTS)
STOP messing with things.
IF it's not broken-
DON'T fix it!!! 
Make it better (MORE effects and transitions!) or find another job, Dumb *!!
(Everyone else......You're Welcome!)

Hope someone can help, i'm using window 7 and have just Installed movie maker 2.6 for windows (7) I have then re imported the media from my sony camcorder into folders in my videos. These have been saved as Movie Clip (.MPG) Windows Media Player which play fine in their own windows, when I try to import to collections I have no vision or sound.I have look at the properties and the file size for each clip looks the correct size so the media is in but cannot read/see it?I have reinstalled the software several timesOn the same machine windows live movie maker does work but I need a better editing software I find movie maker live very restrictive.Other people can use 2.6 in windows 7 (Help!!!)Many thanks Damon

Sarah, Thank you so much for providing the link to download v2.6 of MovieMaker. This is a life saver for me! I'm a freelancer who is creating how-to cooking videos, and the new version of MovieMaker has so much stripped out that I cannot use it.  Maybe Microsoft will release a more full-featured version in 2011 and I can update to it.

@Damon: Apparently the old movie maker version does not support .mpg files, among others. How lame -_-

Thanks!

Hello, does anyone know how to get the Vista version? I've looked everywhere and I can't find it! I have 2.6 but it has less effects that I miss, like Spin 360.

@mtorres:  Bring back the timeline!!!

how do i download the old one?

how do i download the old one?

Really loved the old movie maker and very little trouble.  Can a person have both live and original MM on their computer?  Please improve Live MM quickly if not. DWJ

I had sleepless nights over the new version on my windows 7. Thank you for the above solution. I couldn't even cut and merge music files with the 2011 movie-maker.

Well I just downloaded and tried out the new Movie Maker and I am bitterly disappointed. I can't do most of the clever things with it that I had learnt to do with the old version. I have no control over overlap (which I used to create some brilliant multi-layered effects in the old version), can't edit clips separately, can't place all the material in a folder, can't find all the zooming options for pics. The list just goes on. I just don't get it. This is like a baby's toy instead of a decent editor. I sure hope I can get the old one back on my pc. Damn! Knew I should have ignored the new one.

Hate the Windows Live version of Movie Maker - it doesn't do what I want and it is not intuitive like the version I had on my Vista machine. Anyone know of a way to get the Vista version installed on a Windows 7 machine? For MS info - I do not want to publish my movies to the web, and I do not want to have software automatically create movies for me! Give us back the older version that was easy to use and more powerful than the new version!

hhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmm.........

I miss the old movie maker but I dont know where to download it can you help me?

Just downloaded the newe version and was, like all of you, very disappointed. No merging songs and video anymore, notimeline. So it's now quite useless.
Like this, dear friends of Microsoft, you can't win against apple. Now way.
really a pity!

I downloaded 2.6 and put it on my win7 machine. It does not work properly. freezes at 47% while trying to save as a dv-avi. Pleas just make a version of the old moviemaker for win 7 that actually is bug free

This new version of movie maker is rubbish!!
PLEASE bring back the old version of timeline.
Why change something that works??????

I wanted to Windows Live Movie Maker so badly, I actually got a newer used laptop with Vista because I knew it ran on Vista. Oops, not THAT Vista, I needed a higher service pack. So, I BOUGHT Windows 7 just for this program. I wanted to make even cooler videos.

Then, with my new OS installed, I rubbed my hands together, anticipating the download of a better Movie Maker with panning finally! I cannot even explain to you my disappointment when I ever opened it. I really assumed this program would help me take my videos to the next level, but it doesn't have any of the type effects I love like paint drip (it has about six), or the video effects, like smudge or spectrum. I hate that I can't set type on video clips! And I really, really hate that's there's no timeline. I liked overlapping my pictures a certain way, at a certain point, to get a seamless blend. Plus, it's HARDER to use. I think their reason for making it simpler is a load of bull. How is it easier? I have to hunt for EVERYTHING NOW. Before it was right there. And before, there was an option for timeline OR storyboard. WLMM is no better than any other slideshow program. What crap! I do not believe for one second that it was too difficult for most people to use, that that was their biggest complaint. Please. My four-year-old can drag and drop. So even the biggest dolt should've been able to figure it out.

Can't you just upgrade the regular movie maker, add pans and zooms, some new effects on title, type and video. That's what I seriously thought this would be.

I've been over-the-moon with this tip and link even though it's an old posting I went yesterday to download and install the old Windows Movie Maker 2.6 and stuffed it onto my new Windows 7 system. I couldn't believe it when it installed alongside the useless Windows Live MM.
Now I can once again import and edit movie files but more importantly save them whatever size I choose instead of having to use the new poorly limited system they put out as an excuse for a movie handling bit of kit with Windows 7.

In fact I have never like windows "live" anything. It's a control freak type of program and I prefer the older way of doing things my way not at Microsoft's bidding.

OK so WMM doesn't have many editing functions like sharpening a movie that is a bit blurred but it can make easy to email versions of things and that means we get away from the tyranny of 150 mb movies that only last 3 minutes.

So thank you to whoever it was pointed us to the old version that can run on 64 bit Windows. Well done Sarah Perez you're a genius and a generous one at that.
--
Jeremy (UK)

Yeah, this new version is pathetic.
Half the menu for * like facebook (GRRR!) and youtube and useless stuff.
It keeps signing me in to msn?! No no no.
No background colors for text... ETC.
This new version is "Movie editting for dummies".

Windows Live Movie Maker is absolutely awful compared to 2.6. I can't believe Microsoft is so studid as not to realise this, so I wonder what is going on. Some of the best and most obviously useful features are no longer avaiable and others take 10 times longer to use. It is a terrible, terrible programme.

I don't mind windows live movie maker, but why do I have to install their picture viewer too? Ugh

I have to agree with the things that have been posted here about Windows Live Movie Maker. This program limits creativity. To make matters worse, it will not allow me to open projects saved in older versions of Windows Movie Maker. Shame on Microsoft for continually taking giant steps BACKWARDS when giving us new "updated" software with which to work. Not only have they screwed up with this Microsoft product...They changed the newer of Office products so much veteran users have a learning curve (and slow down in productivity) in order to figure out where in the heck you placed everything in the stupid "ribbons."
Come on Microsoft... don't you talk to real people who use your products before you go ahead and put it out there and leave us little choice but to use it when we are pretty much "forced" to upgrade???? Yep, Apple is certainly looking more appealing.

I just now bothered to play with the new WMM on my Nice huge Gateway touch screen purchased just for editing video and other media formats fully expecting WMM to be like it was on my older HP Laptop designed for video editing and think it just stinks. It is a good thing that I have my older version along with several other editing programs I purchased to work video in. I will abandon WMM on the new computer until they bring back all the real editing features if at all. Why should things be dumbed down to the lowest common denominator? Make people think to learn and quit being "Big Brother" Micro Floppy.

how dumb do u hav to be not to figure how to work with a time line!? the old movie maker was too simple as it is. the new one is just garbage. stop trying to simplify things and make our lives harder.

Yes... Yes it works on window's 7 /// I so much missed the time line version 2.6 work...
PLEASE PUT THE TIME LINE BACK and EXTRA BELLS AND KAZOO's
thanks ...

Thank goodness for Version 2.6. I cannot comprehend the logic of removing the timeline from Windows Live Movie Maker. Without it is pretty much a guessing game. The outcome is poor quality movie making. Perhaps Microsoft should consider talking to their customers first before removing something so useful. A disgruntled New Zealander

Can't believe this 'updated' version does not have the timeline. A timeline is essential for video editing. I made all my travel video's with the old WMM, and what made these awesome was that i was able to sync photo's and video's to the beat of the music. The old WMM was basic enough but now i can't even do these simple things. Here i was expecting more editing options for higher quality video's, but im left bitterly diappointed!!

Thank you, thank you for sharing this link. Yea for 2.6! Yucky movie maker live!

I dont like the new widows live movie maker its missing alot of things that I really needed how so I get it back????!!!

Absolutely terrible. How am I supposed to edit without a timeline?

I know it's two years old but

"having said that, we are taking the product in a slightly different direction so it's not going to have 100% the same features as the old Movie Maker."

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? EVER? Who sat down at a meeting and said "Gee, Windows Movie Maker is a functional, useful program. I think we should "take it in a slightly different direction" and remove all of the useful features to make it a useless piece of crap"?

All I can say is God Bless you! :o)I've lost night of sleep and finally found you.

Can I download an older version of windows live movie maker even though I already have a different version? Or will it not let me? D:

will i get any viruses from this download?

I managed to get the old version downloaded but it doesn't seem to like my new hd video clips... the playback is choppy and the timeline is now next to useless as it jumps around all over the place! ARRRGHHHHH! Microsoft need to have a word with themselves and sort out a movie maker that will actually make movies.....

I've been a media player fan since i was a kid, but when the new one doesn't even show the video correctly, it makes it impossible to use. I'd rather not spend ages trying to find out why my screen is black when the old one was easier to use and works fine. Thanks for re-reasing the old one, I really didn't want to have to find something else to learn all over again. Ps, the timeline is really important when it comes to soundtracks and sound effects. Just saying.

I am not really keen on the new version i miss the old one where its easy and fun to control- if u agree with me please follow me on twitter- lucy_daniels or facebook- lucy daniels. thanks:')

Thanks for the information here,.. apparently I'm lucky enough to have the older version of WMM because I still have the timeline and other features. But I have a question that I hope someone here can answer?
I have written to MS support, but got no answer.
Is there any way that I can use the information (video, audio, music, credits/titles) clips that have been modified for one project,.. and transfer them to another 'new' project?? I tried to 'cut-and-paste' them into a 'collections' folder,... but whenever I 'cut' or 'copy' one of the modified video (or other) clips The PASTE function is disabled when I attempt to 'paste' it into a folder!! It just doesn't work at all! It just goes 'ghosted' in the function window.
Does anyone have an idea on what I can do? The reason I found this comments link is because I was thinking that maybe I could somehow open 2 project windows simultaneously, and try to work between the 2 time-lines? Is is possible to even open 2 WMM programs simultaneously on my computer desktop? I haven't figured out how? I'd greatly appreciate any help or suggestions? Thanks big in advance!
- Boyd
boydasmith@yahoo.com

Thank you SO much for this! Just like the new MSN is total crap, so is the new WMM. Love the old one, so glad I could get it back!

Thank you SO much! I bought a new computer recently and turned on what I thought was the usual Windows Movie Maker only to realise to my horror that it was completely useless. I use it quite often to cut music for my dance students and I couldn't believe I couldn't even do that with it!

Why would Microsoft make such a complete mess of such a good program?!

What caused MS to remove Timeline management from WMM?

Why drop function that is very much needed and it already existant?

Are we going to get it back in Win/8?

At the top of this BLOG a statement indicates one can get back old functions:

=================================

But for these more advanced users of Windows Movie Maker, there's now some good news: the 2.6 version of Windows Movie Maker is available for download now – and it even works on Windows 7 Beta! If you want to get this older version back, you can do so: just follow the link below:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=D6BA5972-328E-4DF7-8F9D-068FC0F80CFC&displaylang=en

=========================================

However when I tried to getn V 2.6 it told me that it is for VISTA. What is

that statement telling me?

Simplify? Are you just catering for seniors new to computing with no expectation they will ever get better? How insulting and narrow. If you must have a simple version for this portion demographic, make it a choice when the program starts. No timeline et al makes Movie Maker unusable - well done if this was your intention.

Thank you very much for the link for the movie maker,It was really amazing n pretty simple.I tried to get it installed to my Windows 7 even with these time consuming torrents.Nothing worked but yours.Thanks a lot.

STOP CHANGING YOUR CRAP!
Its like buying a new car and now the steering wheel is located in the back seat and the brake pedal in the glove compartment. WILL YOU IDIOTS AT MICROSOFT LEAVE THINGS WHERE THEY ARE. Old Office was just fine. Now it takes 5 mouse clicks for things that used to take one. The "Ribbon" SUCKS. MICROSOFT SUCKS.

Did someone forget about the option to capture video within the movie maker?

Thanks, you're a lifesaver!