I'm running a clean install of XPHome, SP2. I haven't installed any
media players, audio or video, yet. The clean install included WMP 9,
but I haven't installed it yet. I assume if I do, it'll find the WMP
11 update online, and ask me if I want to install it. I'm pretty sure
I'll use WMP 11 for audio storage, ripping, and playback. My
understanding is that WMP 11 already has the audio codecs I need for
these purposes.

In order to watch DVDs, I know I need to install a DVD codec, but I'm
not sure which one is the best, or even how they interact if you have
more than one media player installed, and more than one DVD codec
installed.

I do have two other media players, that include DVD codecs, available
on disk to install: Sonic/Roxio Creator & MyDVD 7.0, and Cyberlink
Power DVD 8.0. I like the interface on both, and on WMP. I'd like to
install all three.

A few questions:
1) If I install both the Sonic and Cyberlink players, will they each
use their own codecs?
2) If I install all three players, including WMP 11, what DVD codec
would WMP 11 use?
3) Can I direct WMP 11 which codec to use? Can I direct ANY player to
use ANY DVD codec?
4) If I use WMP 11, is it best not to install one of the other full
version players, and just purchase a DVD codec, such as one of the
ones suggested on the WMP 11 site, here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/window ... DVDDecoder

I have also read the following, but I wanted to ask what's 'your'
opinion/experience.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/window ... codec.mspx

Thanks a lot.