I have downloaded an avi movie but quicktime & vlc can't open it. I am using osx. Do I need to open the file before I burn to dvd? Please help as I wanted to use the movie for my 9yr old sons birthday party 2morow!

If neither vlc or quicktime can play an avi then it sounds as though it could be corrupt. VLC will play almost all formats out there. I suppose you could try divx's player but if vlc can't play it ... I doubt it'll make any diff. You said you wanted to burn it to dvd. Does that mean you have Toast? Toast version 6? If so, add the movie to Toast & click onto the edit section to the right of the movie in Toast window. Now press play. If Toast can't play it, what error does it say. If Toast can't play it then you won't be able to burn it.

I have idvd which wont open an avi - only movie files. When I have tried to open the avi in vlc I get error message:no suitable decoder module for fourcc `undf'.
VLC probably does not support this sound or video format.

I'm not sure what formats iDVD can import but I think it's fairly limited. idvd was not designed as a multi purpose dvd burner for movies but as an accessory to iMovie I suppose. It has some great fx though. Why don't you try importing the movie into iMovie 1st & then to iDVD.

imovie says the file is corrupt! I'm now trying to download others but they all need more sources at the mo. Thanks for trying to help though-much appreciated.