I downloaded Real Player http://www.real.com/realplayer.html?...ce_1_3_2_1_1_1 and made it my default media player and now all the videos in this thread open correctly - including Jazzcat's - in Real Player. I say if Windows is going to be difficult to heck with them!

Oh, and make sure to click on the FREE player. No need to pay for it unless you want the extras the paid version provides. They will try to get you to pay for it a couple times, so just make sure you read and continue to click on the FREE version.