Need advice on what to use to convert mp4.

[82ndCowboy]

I've been reading through this forum for a couple of days now, but I'm still not sure what to do at this point.
I'm new to the video/computer world and just want to be able to upload my videos to face book and youtube without loosing all the quality of my new camera.

I bought a GoPro Hero camera. It records video in MP4 format. At 960p (1280 x 960), 25 PAL fps.
It takes awesome video on my motorcylce.
When I first tried to view the MP4 on my computer, (Athalon 1.33gz). Windows media player would not open the file.
So I downloaded and installed the K-lite codec pack. Windows Media Center would then open and run the file. But it was exteremely choppy and the audio was out of sync.
So I downloaded the VLC video player and tried that. It would not play the MP4 file smoothly either. But If I slowed down the video playback in VLC it would run smoothly, but at a slow speed.
So I ordered a new Athalon 2.2ghz processor and I'm currently waiting on it to arrive so I can install it.
In the meantiime...
I downloaded Pazera MP4 to AVI converter. Which works well, but has no help files or guides on how to use it.
When I use it no matter what codec settings I use, the finished AVI or MPG file is always pickalated and darker.
It runs fine both video and audio, but it is totally a lousy quality.
I have tried all the codec settings in Pazera as well as the resolution output. And I can not find what settings to use to have the finished file come out looking half way decent.
I don't expect it to have the same excellent quality as the original MP4. But I can't get it to come out without being all fuzzy and dark.
I got one of the conversions with Pazera to MPEG2 codec to look... not horrible when you view the video at 1/4 of it's viewing resoultion in VLC... But when I took that file and used Windows Movie Maker to edit it down in length and add a tittle and credits to it, the finished file was was so dark and blurry It was a total waste of time.

So If someone could recommend a better way to convert HD MP4 and keep some of the quality of the original video. I would be greatly appreciative.

[Eyedoctor2]

https://www.videohelp.com/tools/MP4Cam2AVI

[82ndCowboy]

https://www.videohelp.com/tools/MP4Cam2AVI

Thanks EyeDoctor2.
I downloaded and tried it. It is a whole lot faster than the Pazera.
It keeps the HD quality a lot.
My computer won't play the AVI file though. Now that is playing very choppy.
This would be awesome if it would compress the video as well as convert it.
I'll try it again after I get my new processor.

But I was really looking for something to compress the file size some, so it won't take 8 hours to upload to a websites when It's finished.

It is an excellent program though.
Thank you.