Vista - Freeze during Divx,Avi or MP4

I have tried running video formats in Media Center, Divx Player and VLC media center but they all seem to freeze sometimes minutes into the playback. I don't have any problems with DVD playback or recorded tv, but only compressed formats. I have tried updating Nvidia Drivers, Divx Player, and all other codecs but it still happens. It even happened before I had upgraded my video card so I know it has to be vista. When it does freeze, the computer has to be turned off via power button 4 second soft off. I can move the mouse, but the task manager will not sucessfully shut down any offending program. Please help, don't know what else to do.

If the video's have been downloaded it's possible they have been corrupted in some way.

Added to the complications you've also installed possibly too many codecs which is known to create situations where you get conflicts of codecs.

Try updating you Direct X, this file is not normally offered durning auto updates and has to be found and installed manually. The latest is from March 2009 and found on the Microsoft website