Confused with how to encode/play the various files found on

[relic13]

Trying to create a VCD to play on standalone DVD player.
I have several avi files which are all web downloads. Some will not play in WinMedPlayer (error says decoder not found or did not work). I have successfully encoded and burned 1 short avi (one that worked in media player)and it played in the standalone DVD so I know it can be done (TMPGen-NTSC template-EZCD5). The other avi's yield "unsupported" or "wrong format" errors in TMPGen. Apparently all avi's are not the same?? How can you tell them apart and what is needed to work with the troublesome ones? If I can play them on the PC does that imply that I should be able to encode and burn? Also, if I rip my own movies direct from DVD will that solve the "unrecognized format" and "decoder not found" problems since the files will all be created the same way?
I really appreciate all the great help here but there is so much info it is quite easy to get confused!! Sorry for all the questions. I guess I'm just looking for a process to follow to get from A to B. Thanks !

[Vejita-sama]

Do you have the DivX codec installed? There are M$ AVIs and DivX AVIs. DivX is a MPEG4 compression (standard), you can d/load the codec at:

http://www.divx-digest.com/software/divxcodec.html

3.11 alpha is the still the newest one last time I checked, but there's a patch out there too. Most of the large AVIs you d/load from WinMX/Morpheus/et.al. will be DivX files.

[relic13]

Thanks, Vejita. One more question. I also see mpg files to download. Does this mean they are already encoded and can go directly to EZCD or Nero to be burned to a VCD?? How can I tell what type of mpg they are encoded as ?