PC dvd player software decoder ??

Bought a Panasonic dvd do it all drive with Nero software to replace my CD-ROM. Lo and behold Panasonic didn't include a decoder on the Nero disc so video dvd will not play... Nero wants 89 bucks for the upgrade - really criminal behaviour it seems.

It is a Gateway Pentium 4 PC but has no software or hardware decoders in it.

Are there any free or 10 dollar solutions that are safe and good?

Thanks

The Decoder, can be found at http://www.free-codecs.com/ which offers various codecs.