Video playing problem

[mithril]

I just recently got a new comp and installed xp on it. I transfered some videos over, and noticed a problem. They wont play correctly on new comp.... I get audio but just very very very dark video (can barely make it out at max brightness) so I tried some things, and notice my screen flickers whenever I check settings in the monitors video settings panel... also its not listed as a "plug and play monitor" but just as "default monitor". I cant seem to track down why this may be happening, anyone else ever experience this?