FlasH Player "successfully" installed. Flash Player won't run. Version check states: Flash Player NOT installed!

After reading an internet article about Adobe Flash Player being dangerous to have installed on your computer because of it's many attack vulnerabilities, the article recommended immediate uninstallation. Like a unwitting fool, I trusted the article and I uninstalled Flash only to later discover that I couldn't run my favorite internet upload/download speed test program named speedtest.net.  I tried reinstalling Flash Player THREE different ways: 1) Direct from the Adobe Website. Installed "successfully", but wouldn't run. Version check states "not installed". SpeedTest wouldn't run. Uninstalled. Rebooted.. 2) Downloaded Flash Player from Adobe's Trouble shooting page. Exact same results as step 1. 3) Restarted computer in Safe Mode. Followed same steps as stated in step 2. Exact same results. I first tried calling Adobe directly only to find out that they don't offer telephone support for Flash Player. I personally think that was a VERY STUPID decision Adobe's part. Why offer a product if you won't support it??????????

CAN ANYONE HELP ME?????? PLEASE HELP A.S.A.P.

Thank you very much,

Richard Harold