I'm in over my head

[dawgfan56]

I need some very specific help. Hopefully in steps to achieve the end. Here is my laundry list of problems. I have searched the directions for limewire and read the forums. I must not know what I am reading, because I can't find answers.
1. I am using a Toshiba P25-S609, P4, 3.0 Gig, Win XP, This laptop is designed as an Entertainment Center. Lots of HD room.
2. Ursula recommended D/L a bunch of file converters from a link she has. I did that and can not access the converters.
3. I have a DSL connection, I configured limewire as recommended by LeeWare in his thread "maximing upload download success limewire." Why are my downloads going at a snails pace, 0-25 kbs?
4. What is the deal with .avi? how do I get my Media Player 9 to play this and other extensions it doesn't recognize?
5. Who are all the idiots out there who say a download is one thing, then when you play it, watch out! It is not what you expect.
6. I am interested in Pro, but I have to get this working first.
7. I did D/L some movies, such a Pirates of the Carribbean, but the quality is poor. The picture was very small and when I maximixed it, it became very poor and dark with color boxes on the right side. When you download movies, are they all small pictures like that, I mean 3x4 inches.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Dawgfan56