This might be a silly question, but hell if I know the answer. I've downloaded some video clips in .avi format. What player do I need to view these? My windows media player can't open it. What do I need? Thanks in advance.

you need codecs (http://www.webartz.com/fourcc/fcccodec.htm)

;)

Windows Media Player should work fine, with the proper codecs, as advised above, although I definitely do not like the newer version 7 that saves a database of all files you download, presumably through the player, and your playlist, to send back to MS the first time it finds an Internet connection.

Several other players are available, in freeware, shareware or commercial formats. Dave Central (http://www.davecentral.com/browse/84/?topic=35,84) has a pretty good list, and of course, Google (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=multimedia+viewer) always comes up with a good listing.

Codecs also available at DivX (http://www.divx.com/) but waatch out for the new version 5, it sounds a lot like spyware. I haven't checked it out yet, and can't confirm or deny it, but at least one of the free versions claims it's ad supported...which usually means beware...

Correction... It's been confirmed. I just took a look at the Tom Cat Spyware List (http://www.tom-cat.com/cgi-bin/spybase/spybase.cgi?view_records=1&name=^D|^D&re=1&sb=4&so=ascend&nh=24&mh=1), it seems this codec uses OfferCompanion, the same spyware program as Gator (http://www.tom-cat.com/cgi-bin/spybase/spybase.cgi?view_records=1&name=^G|^G&re=1&sb=4&so=ascend&nh=6&mh=1)

Windows Media Player 7 and 8 (http://www.tom-cat.com/cgi-bin/spybase/spybase.cgi?view_records=1&name=^W|^W&re=1&sb=4&so=ascend&nh=40&mh=1) are described on the same list.

AVOID DivX 5

Concerning divx 5.x, It is by far the best video codec yet!

As far as spyware is concerned it's the free PRO version that contains the spyware. Also they don't try to hide this fact. The regular consumer codec and the Purchased PRO version do not contain spyware. Follow this link if you're interested - http://www.divx.com/divx/index.php

For a serious media player use Rad Light.