Total video converter is a great program also. Google it and try to find a free version of it. If none of these things work for you, PM me and I'll try to dig out my copy of Total Video Converter and email it to you.
if VLC works then use it. I use VLC on all my PCs. If I knew before that it woked on MACs I'd have been using it there too. Without a doubt the best media player out there. It plays, seemingly, everything. And it's free!