Tricia, are you sure you have at least DirectX 8.0 or 8.1 installed? Sometimes that is necessary, well usually it is, in viewing a lot of windows multimedia. If you go to START>RUN and type DXDIAG at the bottom of the first screen it will let you know which version of Direct X You have and also if your comp has any other video errors. Probably want to update video drivers as well.
That's about all I know on the subject, but hope it helps some.
If you don't have the 8.0 or 9.0 version of Direct X you can find it at Microsofts website.