Video on a Zune? Help, Please?

[Angelshark]

Hello all.

After a brief skim through the forums I didn't see anything on this, though I admit I may have missed it. If I did please redirect me.

Basically, I purchased a Zune, and it says it can read MP4 files. I have a rather extensive AMV collection that I'd like to be able to watch on it, but oddly enough it seems very picky about what files will play and what won't. For example Emong's "Gothic Poetry" will play without hassle, (and I almost always download Local btw, because I'm tech-retarded) but trying to get any of Nostromo's vid's to play is like pulling teeth. The Zune icon appears next to the video name in the folder, but the video itself won't even appear in my library.

What am I doing wrong and how can I fix it?
Also, how can I get files that are .Avi, or of another file type, and make it compatible?

Layman's terms please (like I said, I'm kinda tech-retarded).
Thanks for your time, I appreciate the help!

[Willen]

You most likely have to convert the files to the proper resolution and/or bitrate and/or codec(s) and/or framerate.

For something simple, you can try SUPER http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html. It's got settings for Zune compatible video conversion to either MP4 or WMV formats.

[Angelshark]

Thanks! I'm downloading it now. Hopefully I can figure out how to convert it without killing my comp.

Wish me luck!

[Angelshark]

Just for the record, Willen's advice was quite sound. The program works perfectly. Took me a bit to find where the "manage output folders" was (yeah, I had to ask ) but it's in the menu practically dead center. Any more obvious and it would have smacked me upside the head.

Again, thanks for your help Willen!