Arguably the best way to get MPC-HC and the necessary codecs would be to install CCCP (Combined Community Codec Pack… which is actually a filter pack, but they couldn’t pass up that acronym), which will take care of both. VLC uses its own internalized codecs, so it is more standalone. Kodi (a very nice media center program, formerly called XBMC) also does a great job, though best used on a computer you use often for media (it has a whole graphical interface) (oh, and you don’t have to depend on installing extra codecs with this option, either). Between those (and really, you should try them all) you should NEVER have to open that horrid Windows Media Player ever again, nor should you.