Im new to this so if you can please explain as simply as possible, thankyou. I usually play my downloads through real player, but this one program I try to play wont play. Real Player says that it does not have the content to play this download...content is: ICM.XVID.......If anyone has any idea what this means PLEASE HELP ME!!!! Thankyou kindly! Also if anyone can tell me how to play downloads through another source such as itunes or media player that would be greatly appreciated!!!

Id stick to window smedia player for videos. You will need to download the codecs. Im really not sure if Real will allow you to install them though. AVIs and other extensions wont work in either players without the proper codecs.

Thanks heaps...but what are codecs and how do I download them? Sorry but Im really new to computers!! Also how do I change the default player to Media Player as it automatically tries to play in real player??? I have xp if that helps! Thanks

VLC makes a good backup player as it has in-built codecs but doesn't play rp files. Have a look at the Sticky at the top of this section for a list of sources for codecs & other players.

__________________
Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert Einstein
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -- Albert Einstein
640 K [of computer memory] ought be enough for anybody. -- Bill Gates (1981)
The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources. -- Albert Einstein
When facts don't fit the theory, change the facts. -- Albert Einstein
Religion keeps the poor from murdering the rich. -- Napoleon Bonaparte
The important thing is not to stop questioning. -- Albert Einstein
I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. -- Albert Einstein
"A composer is a guy who goes around forcing his will on unsuspecting air molecules, often with the assistance of unsuspecting musicians." -- Frank Zappa
"Tobacco is my favorite vegetable." / "May your sh*t come to life and kiss you on the face." / "Scientology, how about that? You hold on to the tin cans and then this guy asks you a bunch of questions, and if you pay enough money you get to join the master race. How's that for a religion?" / "Communism doesn't work because people like to own stuff." / "There are three things that smell of fish. One of them is fish. The other two are growing on you!" / "Jazz is not dead, it just smells funny." / "The creation and destruction of harmonic and 'statistical' tensions is essential to the maintenance of compositional drama. Any composition (or improvisation) which remains consonant and 'regular' throughout is, for me, equivalent to watching a movie with only 'good guys' in it, or eating cottage cheese." / "Remember there's a big difference between kneeling down and bending over." / "The most important thing to do in your life, is to not interfere with somebody else's life." / "Rock journalism is people who can't write, interviewing people who can't talk, in order to provide articles for people who can't read." -- Frank Zappa
"The music business is a cruel and shallow trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." - Hunter S. Thompson
The shy can light the dull dark room with life when their eyes mirror their inner sunrise - LOTR

In your prefs. you should be able to set the default player to windows media player. Do you know how to do that? If not let me know. There's a link to the codecs on here but I dont know it off hand. read the sticky notes that LOTR suggested.

Hi thanks for everyones help...and sorry sphinx no I have no idea...had a little play around to try to find preferences but cant seem to find it...if you could help you will be my hero...thanks