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I've been using a codec pack for years, after coming across a film on kazaa i couldnt initially play, back in 2001.I started using the nimo codec pack, which worked like a charm, however due to a realise being unstable and causing various problems (i cant remember the details as its been a while!) i switched to the K-lite codec pack. This codec pack has never, to this day, caused me any problems. Indeed its amoungst the first things i install when i do a clean install of windows and plays everything i through at it.

I use "Codec Pack All in One" which is great and have all the codecs ever needed even the new wave of .MKV High Defintion content. very recommanded.

I've also been using one of the various K-Lite packs for a couple of years with no issues whatsoever. I use the mega pack on my laptop which does encoding and use the lighter, codec-only version on my machine that's hooked up to my TV.

As always, you should check to see if any of these codecs are commercial and/or illegal.  K-lite has included copies of commercial MP3 codecs in the past, as well as copies of Real Alternative and Quicktime Alternative, which infringe on software patents and are being sought after by the manufacturers upon which they're based off of.  Also less known is the Indeo codec which is only available commercially by Ligos.  By recommending them here Paul, you're condoning illegal software use.  Would you also condone someone use a product activation crack for a Microsoft product?

"where's the "real" home page for this thing?"

According to many, it's www.free-codecs.com, which advises on how to rip DVD's and share media on P2P networks.

"I'd like something that basically makes H.264, DivX, and Xvid just work with both Windows Media Player and Media Center."

DivX and Xvid should, assuming that you're using a DirectShow codec, and they're in an AVI wrapper.  H.264 is another matter altogether.  DivX's "full"(ish) support of H.264 is relegated to the DivX player.  I've looked for a native H.264 DirectShow codec before, but I've come to the conclusion that one just doesn't exist.  It would seem that every H.264 variant (DivX, QuickTime) are only available with proprietary wrapper codec formats.  The only DirectShow codec for Quicktime is Quicktime Alternative which is a) illegal, and b) doesn't support H.264 properly.

Unfortunately you've come to the same result that I have - if you want to standardize on a video format, check for hardware compatibility before you buy.

A great coded "package" is the open source software FDDSHOW. It's a collection of DirectShow filters that work great and are much less intrusive than the usual codec packs.

As a reviewer says: "After our reviewers tried FFDSHOW they removed the DivX codecs from their PCs and never looked back. "

And it plays almost every format available and supports playback at Windows Media Player.

www.afterdawn.com/.../ffdshow.cfm