Good AVI to MPEG freeware converter?

Apparently Windows Movie Maker cant open an AVI file and I need to convert them once in awhile, to MPEG so I can upload or email a video to someone without it being 40 megs in AVI.

But so many of the ones I've found are absolute trash, and they want to screw up my browser with search menu trash. One just triggered my Avast! with a malware block. Jeez. One converted ok but with no audio. another said that I had to download some stupid DOS files separately, that it was a Win 7 front end for. PLEASE!

Does anyone know a good AVI to MPEG freeware converter that won't do all that, and actually works well?

Petey7 said:

Format Factory is what I have use. I've been using it for years with no problem, and it converts more than just video files. I think it does ask to install a toolbar, but all you have to do us uncheck the box for it during the install. Download it from the site linked below.

Format Factory Home Page - Free media file format converter

Thanks Pete! Tried it and it works.

Is there some way to set output resolution and all that? Don't see it.
But it worked fine, thanks!

Found it, thanks!

Hi there
Thanks as well -- since using smartphones I've needed to mess around with mp4 stuff too --works a treat.

Incidentally this also works on WINDOWS 8 if anybody is interested in trying the Windows 8 Consumer preview.

Cheers
jimbo