How do I view avi subtitles? And do I have a false codec?

I recently downloaded several new codecs and player such as VobSub, Divx, VLC, FFdshow and AC3filter. Now my windows media player and my veoh player won't play some avis and wmvs. I got Divx player to play them but I can't see encoded subtitiles so I got VLC player because someone told me it worked better. It, like Divx, will play the file but I can't see the subtitles. I had a free trial of Easy video splitter and it worked with that but it was only a 7 day free trial and when I went to order it the link was broken or they don't offer it anymore or something. Is there anything I can do setting wise besides "show default subtitles" that will allow me to see them? Could there be a false codec or a conflict preventing me from seeing them?