Linux is very different to windows. Certain plugins/add-ons have to be
added - for video it is gstreamer and codecsw32.

Have a good read through the documentation on ubuntu.com. Then come back
with questions if it doesn't work.

Sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras , if I remember right.
This may or may not be illegal in your country.

Check out the Ubuntu forums. Very helpful. Use the search feature because
the sheer volume of posts can make it hard to find the info you need. Here
is the link to enable multimedia programs. It includes codecs and
programs.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=413624

JUST INSTALL AUTOMATIX AND WILL "FLY"

www.getautomatix.com/.../index.php

do not load up Automatix!!! It is a 3rd party software and when you upgrade
to a new version of Ubie. It can hosed your install. All the restricted codecs
for gusty can be found in synaptic. Read this link

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats

I'm using Automatix since its first release and never had problems with
version update, any way is allways better to use synaptic for any kind
of installation.

NOT synaptic - if you want to keep redundant files to the minimum! From
what i've read and experimented with - use 1] aptitude {as it remembers
all files (including dependencies) installed and thus will remove all
leaving a clean system}, 2]apt-get {use clean and autoclean to remove
redundant files} and Synaptic last {nice graphical interface but does
not remove dependencies}.

I've been fished in by the fancy gui but kind
of like aptitude in a retro way - now I have a decent reason to use it.

As for Automatix, I've used this and got rid with a clean install -
something about it I don't like (but can't put my finger on it). Just
because it makes your life easy doesn't mean it's the best or cleanest
solution.

Apt-get clean and apt-get autoclean clear the cache not installed
redundant files. With debian there is a utility called dselect but it is
still not as good as aptitude. Thing is while aptitude is a text
interface it does provide more info and remove redundant files which the
others don't do. I just use aptitude in the command line e.g. sudo
aptitude install 'program'. I think the reason more people don't use it
is that they have used debian and so stick with apt-get.

I look up apps in Add/Remove or synaptic but always install with
aptitude and i've noticed the difference. In the ubuntu documentation
somewhere there is a doc called Apt-get v Aptitude which you may enjoy
reading.

i forgot to say i already did what the forums said. it keeps
saying the stuff's already updated and installed with latest versions,
but i can only play mpegs, not avi or wmv. i installed automatix and
got mplayer and still won't play.