When I try and use Windows Media Player (on my new Windows 8 pc) to play .flv files I get told the extension is not recognised but the player might still be able to play it. It isn't able to play it.
Is this normal?
Why on earth doesn't Microsoft make this easy on Windows 8?

GOM Player, or Gretech Online Movie Player, is a completely free Windows media player alternative that comes with inbuilt support for the most popular video and audio formats.

Hi, you've probably found a solution by now, but, if anyone else is wondering about FLV and other file types, Try 'Media Player Classic Home Cinema', it has all codecs etc, or install CCCP, which is, Combined Community Codec Pack. I have installed and used both on W7 and W8, and both are safe and reliable. And VLC of course, mentioned already.

Flv Codec Plugin For Windows Media Player

My W8 WMPlayer, has never responded well, or fast. Same with watching online videos in IE10. W8 just does a terrible job of viewing all your media. Even to use the Preview pane, (Rich Preview Handler) in Explorer is a mission. Need to click so many tabs to find and use it. Why did they mess so much with the smooth seamless W7 media experience? OK, put some damn tiles in, and call it 8, but they have just messed up everything good about the W7 desktop experience. And THAT is why people hate it. Metro can be worked with, or worked around or whatever. But, they have Ruined what worked good in W7. And I just don't know how they can do that? Put the old engine back in Bill!!!