Archos 704 Wifi - does not play AVI file until its full lentgh

I had the same issue.
The size of the AVI cannot exceed 1gb or the end of the movie will never play.

I had a movie that was 1,7gb. 2 hrs and 15 seconds.
The Archos recognized this as a 1.7gb file and 2:00:15 long.
As soon as the movie started, the time line bar at the bottom of the screen went from 2:00:15 to 1:10:25. Basically, it cut off the last 50 minutes of the movie.

I simply divide the movie into 1gb chunks.

I decrypt the DVD to the computer
Use Nero Recode to convert it to and MP4. Divide the movie into 1gb chunks and Maximize the Volume.
Use SUPER to convert it to an AVI / MPEG-4 / MP3.
Copy this to the Video folder of the Archos.

This is simply something that Archos does not want to admit is an issue. They want you to purchase the Cinema plugin.

I read somewhere about a file size limit - as opposed to a playing time limit, 1G? 2G? I forget. It's a filing system limitation, not unique to Archos. If that's it, you might try converting your AVI to something with a smaller file size, or split the AVI into 2 files (part 1 and part 2)