Just recently (today) I have not been able to play any .avi files. I have tried to use WMP and realplayer. This is the error message that comes up with realplayer:

Error Signiture
AppName: realplay.exe AppVer: 6.0.12.1483 ModName: unknown
ModVer: 0.0.0.0 Offset: 00000000

Afterwards I usually get "Data Execution Prevention - Microsoft Windows" screen that pops up and closes my media player.

I did download and install a "borrowed" copy of VSO: ConvertXDvd, to see how well it would convert .avi to dvd files before actually purchasing.

I have done a virus scan (Symantec version) and came up with nothing on my hard drive and nothing on the ConvertXDvd file. Could it still possibly be a virus? Or something else?

My lovely VLC player will still play my .avi files, but I would still like to have WMP and Realplayer play these movies. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I should also add I did a little cleaning up on my hard drive and I am also hoping that I did not delete something essential. I'm not super computer savvy, obviously, but I do have a basic understanding

Codecs is what you need. (BTW what's wrong with VLC, you can change skins if you want to ... there's extra skins on their site.) CODECs list and alternate players for Movies. Get the divx pack or similar.

Thanks LOTR. I installed DivX player, as well as the codec, which will play my .avi files. With Realplayer and WMP it still encounters the same problem though. I have even uninstalled and reinstalled Realplayer with the same results.

My friend had even installed ffdshow, codec city, on my computer and I checked and made sure that .avi synth and divx codec's were enabled. I'm not understanding why else I would be getting the error messages and the players close.

(LOTR: Nothing wrong at all with VLC, I'm just an arrogant traditionalist and would like to have my WMP and Realplayer. And especially at this point I would just like to know what is going on with them and why they are not working. My biggest worry is a possible virus My mind will be at ease if I can get it to work again).

I appreciate your help so far. Any other suggestions?

Got it working! Thank you LOTR!! When I loaded up a movie on realplayer or on WMP i realized that the normal ffdshow would not show up on the in my task processes. So I decided to try and redownload ffdshow and Wa'lah! it worked! So thanks again LOTR, codec's it was!

*Since I am on a roll with getting correct answers, I think I will throw the dice down again and push my luck. I'm looking for a good .avi to dvd converter, one that is free, or if it is free-to-try it does not have the watermark on it. I have searched and there are so many of them. I would like to try Super DVD Creator. Does anyone know if the trial version leaves a watermark? I have dvdshrink which I plan to use after converting to get a better picture upon burning the DVD. Any ways, are there any other recommendations? Thanks again.

For avi to dvd conversion i use Nero Vision Express, have converted many limewire downloaded 700mb movie into a 4.4GB dvd, as far as i know nero has no watermark but the trial has usage restrictions like any trial or demo version software such as you can only convert so many mbs then it stops working and you must buy it. Vision express is the one i have had most success with. Good luck

Maybe you can use WinAVI.It do well work about avi to dvd,and can free try.