help with avi files

Hi all,
looking for some help with avi files. I can't get them to play!Windows media player has an error message that says " Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The Player might not support the file type or might not support the codec that was used to compress the file."
I am guessing that the problem is the codec part but how do I fix it so the files can be played?
Hoping someone can help, old dog

 

I like the K-lite Codec Pack. It has deciphered everything that I've thrown at it.

 

hi,

if you want to change then i use vlc (videolan client) in windows and linux, it comes with all the codecs pre-bundled

http://www.majorgeeks.com/VLC_media_player_d4674.html

very easy to use and free, plays everything i have

 

Thanks for the reply augiedoggie, hawklord.
augiedoggie, The Klite link, although it says all systems, when downloaded it sees my O S as older than W2000 and unsupported when in fact it is XP.
hawklord, The player installed all right and tells me the file is broken, so that might have been the problem from the get-go. I'll try fixing it with the player, or download it again. Thanks again. old dog