Full function movie maker?How do I activate everything,and change file extensions with it.

I have a new PC with VLC Video Lan version 2.1.3 and windows movie maker,both preinstalled on windows8.1 and I'm trying to teach myself to use it.

So far I've been successful.But,some of the tools on movie maker aren't functional! This is not good. Fade in, Fade out, and speed adjustment, windows are out, and can't be used.

How do I get them activated?

There could be more functions I'm missing because my exploring progress is in limbo.

And, the VLC program is useless. It won't play any music or video's. It doesn't do anything!

I had a hard time making windows media player the default player when I started using my new pc to hear music the first day.

Imagine someone not knowing how to use a program that is unfunctional in the first place made the default media player,while they're learning how to use a newer operating system they never tried before?

I've tried updating it and there are no updates for it.What were they thinking when they installed in on someone's new computer at the factory?

And I might add help topics weren't available for movie maker and some still are not available.

I found zero help topics on buttons that are faded out,in the software's help area.