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?