Problems with real player

Hello. I am having some issues with real player and was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to fix it. First I'm running 8.1 prof on a sony viao lap top. The problem is that when I go to use real player, either by just pulling it up from the desktop or going to a website (like amazon) and clicking on an audio link and start real player form there. Real player then starts up and begins to connect (if it was brought from something like amazon..) and sometimes it even starts to play a the clip then it freezes (just real player) I can't close it or anything, I have to restart to actually close it. Any ideas on a solution? TIA!