Re vid - may I recommend folks try and set up what I find works real well. Forget the ''usual'' Win Media Player - go find ''Medai Player Classic'' - it looks all friendly like the good ol' faithful old Win Media Player, before the crazy ''skins'' came in. A Google search will find it for you.
Install that and then go look for IIRC ''Real Player Alternative'' - again a search shoulf track it down. I got it and cleared out the actual Real Player - and this one does not snoop. Seems then Media Player Classic can find what is needed to play about anything, including this Real Player. I double click an RM and up comes Media Player Classic.
It may necessary too, or useful.... to go find all the latest codecs, and also DivX 5 or whatever latest is - then you should be able to play about any vid out there.
Some folks also suggest a freebie ''VLC Media Player 0.7.2'' which I have tried but it does not seem to me all that special.