I'm new to lw and I was wondering what avi is. when i download a file it won't play

AVI stands for Audio Video Interleave. It is a special case of the RIFF (Resource Interchange File Format). AVI is defined by Microsoft. AVI is the most common format for audio/video data on the PC. AVI is an example of a de facto (by fact) standard. AVI is a Containor as it may contain any video/audio format within it. Some video downloading tips here Movie download issues (click on blue link).

You need updated codecs by the sounds of it. We recommend VLC player as it has in-built codecs CODECs list for Movies / Alternate players

ok let me try this again. I'm ansering the questions in order: 1. i have windows vista, 2. i don't know, 3. 4 gig, 4. 60 gig, 5, broadband, 6, sprint card, 7, parking lot, 8. lw 4.18.2 java 1.6.0.oem, 9. firefox or yahoo, 10. it worked, 11, i don't know, 12. new @ cumputers just trying to get it right, 13. no, 14. i don't know, 15. avast, 16. usa, 17. no. ok i'm trying to download an avi file and i keep getting a pop up saying i don't have the right codec. so which codec do i need?

I did suggest getting VLC player. But knowing 'which' codec for AVI is difficult to suggest since the file in question could be one of so many different video formats. This one looks reasonable: http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...Codec_Pack.htm or this one http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...Codec_Pack.htm