Hi I'm new to video editing to be honest I don't have a clue, I have vegas 7.0e, when I click on file- import- media then I find video file ,and import it to vegas all I see is the name of the video and avi icon next to it when I click on start preview nothing happens I've had look a the manual but can't see what I'm doing wrong, this is the first time I've tried using the program, can plaese tell me how to starting from scratch

Click on "start preview"? Where is that?
There are SO many different things you might be doing here we really need to see a screenshot for a clue.

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Tim

Hi thanks for your this the screenshot I hope its not to big

see the icon (just above the AVi to the right) with the play button and arrow, press that when you then click on a fie a preview will appear or in preferences you can set it so that a double click on the Media opens it up in the trimmer for you.

Very useful posting that screenshot. You've no preview window open - no wonder you can't see anything.
(Alt+4 might bring it back)
Come to that, you've got hardly any windows visible, no tabs, no nothing! Just the timeline and the Project Media Window.
I suggest you start again and do a factory reset as recently detailed by Grazie (hold down Ctrl+Shift when opening Vegas) which will reset you to a default layout.
Alternatively go under the view menu and look at all the things you've not got checked - especially Video Preview.

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Tim

Hi Tim, I did all that you asked, the preview window was back but when I selected a video preview goes off the screen, here the screenshot with the preview window and a screenshot of what I have my view tab

This is what I have when I select a video when I high light the file and press start preview I can hear the sound but no picture as I say the preview window goes when I select a video

I now have the default setting back, here is the screenshot, but it still won't let me see a preview when I click on start preview I can here the sound but no picture,

1/- Can you play this video file outside of Vegas?

2/- What is it and where did you get this AVI file?

3/- Download G-Spot and analyse the file and post your results here.

4/- Have you got ANY video files of anything that works in Preview?

5/- Do you have a dual monitor setup? If so on which monitor are you viewing the Preview?

This doesn't appear as straightforward as you initially presented.

Interesting . .

Grazie

Have you yet tried to drag it onto the Timeline? What happens then?