How do I get .avi and mp4 films to play on the totem video player?

I suggest you to install VLC from Ubuntu Software Center. Then open the films with it.

I suggest you too to install the ubuntu-restricted-extras:
1. Open a terminal by hitting CTRL + ALT + T
2. Insert and run this commands:
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

Hello,

Thank you very much for your answers. I have tried downloading VLC from the software centre but it just gets stuck. I open the software centre, type vlc in the search box in the top right and it starts searching. This goes on for more than 10 minutes until I close the software centre window and try again. It seems incapable of finding anything.

Also, I tried the Ctrl, Alt, T to bring up a window. That works, then I typed in 'sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras' and the next line asks for a '(sudo) password for jim'. My name is Jim and the computer seems to be called Jim so I guess it is asking for a password for itself. No idea what it is though. Tried 'root' but no luck.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as this is quite frustrating.

Thanks.

Jim Allen.

> To: <email address hidden>
> From: <email address hidden>
> Subject: Re: [Question #175842]: How do I get .avi and mp4 films to play on the totem video player?
> Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:06:02 +0000
>
> Your question #175842 on totem in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/totem/+question/175842
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Enrico "eNry" Carafa proposed the following answer:
> I suggest you to install VLC from Ubuntu Software Center. Then open the
> films with it.
>
> I suggest you too to install the ubuntu-restricted-extras:
> 1. Open a terminal by hitting CTRL + ALT + T
> 2. Insert and run this commands:
> sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/totem/+question/175842/+confirm?answer_id=0
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/totem/+question/175842
>
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.

also install gnome-mplayer

Can help

Maybe we should clear up some basic things. First, the window that you refer to as a window,using linux this window that you bring up by hitting ALT+Ctrl+T is called a " terminal " it is somewhat similar to the dos command prompt in Windows.
Next the password that is being ask for, is the same password that you created when you installed Linux and you use when you boot up. When entering the password in the terminal, it will be invisible as you type so don't get rattled when you don't see the type. Just type it in and hit enter and you will be fine