can anyone enlighten me on how to playback a .mp4 video file, i currently have 3 video/media players installed on my p.c.

Creative MediaSource Player (Version 3.30.35),
Windows Media Player (Version 10),
RealPlayer (Version 10.5)

The RealPlayer plays the file but with sound only, no picture!, were as the other two players don't recognise the .mp4 file at all.

I've tried looking on t'internet for a solution but its all bloody double-dutch to me.

so any help would be appreciated, but pleeeeeease keep it simple because i'm a bit thick

I'm not sure why it wouldn't work with RealPlayer but you can try using Quick Time Player

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/player/

That plays the .mp4 files on my PC

VLC Player is very good, get it here http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

You may need to add a codec for the video, might as well download something like the k-lite codec pack
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Codec_Pack.htm

Then you will be able to play just about anything

Mr Plow, you are a legend VLC works a treat, and was easy to install, even for a thicko like me.

Thanks

Glad you like it
It is probably the best all round media player I've ever come across, plays just about anything and is really small in terms of memory or cpu usage.