computer suddenly stopped playing AVI

[bellablue]

Hi, new to the forum - excited it exists, because Ive had my camera for over 1 year and still cant figure it out. I took some videos (AVI) and transferred them to my computer (XP)- they played fine. Then got a new laptop (with Vista). I copied all the videos onto a DVD disc and transferred files to my new computer. Now they wont play - no error message, just show black screen. What happened?
Since then any new videos Ive recorded play fine on my laptop - UNTIL the day I installed NERO to my computer and again, any videos I downloaded since the NERO day, will not play.... Also, Ive tried using conversion software to burn all my AVI files to a DVD in MPG format, and it refuses to convert the files that wont play anymore.
What is happening? I dont want to lose the files as they are of my newborn!

[Jon]

My nasty, suspicious mind first suspect's Vista's "Digital Rights Management"; it saw the files were coming from a DVD and assumed you were pirating it. And it doesn't like the codec Nero uses to handle your AVI files.

[bellablue]

Thanks JOn, so how do I try to fix this? I have since uninstalled Nero - but still same issue. How do I deal with the codec?

[Jon]

Since I avoid Vista like the plague, I can't say for sure, but does it have a "Rollback" or "Repair" capability stashed away somewhere?

[kasper27f]

divix has the codex to play avi

[Collin85]

Since I avoid Vista like the plague

Me too. I'm still a happy camper on XP.

[new_user]

OP? Wondering this problem is resolved.

If not, try VLC Player. It should have no trouble playing them.
For playing them on DVD player on TV, use Media coder (freeware).

I don't use vista, hates it when I tried it with a new laptop that it came with. Wipe it and xppro all the way for me. It flies now.

Let us know if you got it sorted.

Regards.
Vic