AVI won’t play with VLC Media Player

[Deisel Weisel]

I’m a newbie to all this, so bare with me. I’ve downloaded an ‘AVI’ video file and saved it to my desktop. When I go to open it, it asks which program I want to use, but I appeared not to have a compatible program. So I find this VideoHelp site, go to tools, download VLC Media Player, but still it won’t play.

I open VLC Media Player:

File > Open File > Browse > Locate File > Click OK ...but then nothing happens. What am I doing wrong?

[mats.hogberg]

Probably nothing. If Windows doesn't (try to) start Media Player, and VLC won't play it, I'm pretty sure you're not dealing with an AVI.

/Mats

[celtic_druid]

I find it odd that the avi extension isn't associated with something are you sure it isn't avi.something rather than .avi?

VLC can't play all avi's.

[mats.hogberg]

Could it be that you have the option "Hide extension of known file types" selected (it is, by default, in XP)?
Open any folder, select "Folder Options" under "Tools", then 2nd tab (Don't know what it says in your localization - "Show" or "Display" or something to that effect) then uncheck that option if it's checked.

/Mats

[TBoneit]

Sounds to me as if there is a possibility that it is a virus(Trojan) especially if it came off of a P2P network. I hope I'm wrong and you haven't already infected your computer with a virus or spyware. One thing to try is use g-spot on it and see what it shows. one other thing is it could be defective.

Good Luck