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Bbbent
Inspiring
April 7, 2006
Question

[ADOBE NOTE] Resolving most IE Windows Flash Player 8.0.24.0 install problems

  • April 7, 2006
  • 20 replies
  • 3472 views
We are aware that many folks are having trouble with installation of Flash Player 8.0.24.0 ActiveX control for Internet Explorer Windows.

We have actively been working on this issue and we believe we have some resolution.


Effected Users:
-- Folks who just plain cannot install Flash Player 8 ActiveX control on IE Windows
-- Folks who've previously tested the MSI installer and had the '1904 error'
-- Enterprise customers distributing the Flash Player MSI installer who have had failures.

I have two sets of possible solutions. Do the EASY step first. If the easy steps fail then do the HARDER version.

NOTE: Read ALL the listed technotes VERY CAREFULLY. It is important that you understand what you're doing, and will help prevent unnecessary questions.

NOTE 2: DO NOT use any installers you may have on your desktop. You absolutely must get the latest installer from macromedia.com. If you have any existing installers previously saved, delete them (this excludes Flash content authors. They have installers inside their /program files/flash folders that they should keep).


FP8 8.0.24.0 ActiveX control EASY VERSION
1. Read " How to uninstall the Macromedia Flash Player plug-in and ActiveX control" http://www.macromedia.com/go/tn_14157
2. Download the 'regular' uninstaller in that technote to your desktop (uninstall_flash_player.exe). Do NOT run it from the server. Save it to disk.
3. QUIT ALL RUNNING APPLICATIONS, INCLUDING ALL INTERNET EXPLORER WINDOWS AND AIM, Yahoo, MSN or other MESSENGERS.
4. Run the saved uninstaller (uninstall_flash_player.exe) from your desktop
5. REBOOT THE MACHINE.
6. Launch Internet Explorer.
7. Go to http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer and reinstall.

For most people this will resolve install failures with Flash Player 8.0.24.0. For anyone for whom this does NOT work do the next steps.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FP8 8.0.24.0 ActiveX control HARDER VERSION

Before doing these steps, open C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash. Notice that the folder contains TWO ocx's and a special administrator's uninstaller.
Flash.ocx (this is the locked version of FP7)
Flash8a.ocx (the locked 8.0.24.0 control)
UninstFl.exe (admin uninstaller)

1. Download the regular uninstaller. Find the admin uninstaller on your machine. Read technotes.
a. Regular uninstaller: http://www.macromedia.com/go/tn_14157 "uninstall_flash_player.exe". Copy the regular uninstaller to your desktop.
b. READ 'Installation issues with Flash Player 7.0.63.0 or 8.0.24.0 and later' ( http://www.macromedia.com/go/4da116d3
c. Read the Admin uninstaller technote: http://www.macromedia.com/go/4da116d3".
Locate and copy the Admin uninstaller from C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash to your desktop.
d. Make certain both uninstallers are on your desktop.

2. QUIT ALL RUNNING APPLICATIONS, INCLUDING ALL INTERNET EXPLORER WINDOWS AND AIM, Yahoo, MSN or other MESSENGERS.
3. Run the 'admin' uninstaller 'UninstFl.exe' with NO SWITCHES. Just double-click.

That removes the Flash8a.oxc, GetFlash.exe and GetFlash.exe.manifest, as it should.

4. REBOOT THE MACHINE.
6. Next run the -regular- standalone uninstaller ("uninstall_flash_player.exe")
7. DELETE the entire Flash folder in C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\
8. Launch Internet Explorer.
9. Go to http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer and reinstall.

NOTE FOR ENTERPRISE CUSTOMERS USING LICENSED FLASH PLAYER INSTALLERS
Enterprise Flash Player users and other end users who need to distribute Flash Player across their intranets use a freely licensed version of the Flash Player installer that is only available to customers who've signed the end user License agreement. If you are having install issues, obtain a fresh copy of the licensed MSI and redistribute. If you have further problems or issues unique to your installation contact support via http://www.macromedia.com/support/.

If you do NOT have a license to distribute Flash Player AND you are using the MSI version of the installer you are in violation of the Flash Player EULA! I realize that we did advise people to test with the MSI in past threads. This is no longer applicable. Please use the steps above with the regular live player installer. If you need to distribute the player on your intranet but do not yet have a license please apply for a license via http://www.macromedia.com/licensing/.

If these steps do NOT work for you then it is very important that you contact support and open an incident, using the form on http://www.macromedia.com/support/flashplayer/.

Bentley Wolfe
Senior Support Engineer, Flash/Flash Player
*Macromedia, now a division of Adobe Systems
    This topic has been closed for replies.

    20 replies

    M
    mrgbat63
    Participating Frequently
    July 7, 2006
    Thank you Bently for your updates but none of these work for me. I have no problem installing flash 8.0.24 I just cant cant get it to work for limited/restricted users. Before you give me a list of all the things to try just know I've been through all the forums, knowledge bases and google groups and have tried it all. I had one support case opened a month ago and never got a response, I just opened up another support case (8582926) but I am not looking for a response on that one either. So now what is left?
    B
    BbbentAuthor
    Inspiring
    July 10, 2006
    Something's not right somewhere. I checked case 8582926 and it's closed, but no autoreply was ever sent and no one worked the case. Wierd. I'm going to reopen it, but it would be helpful if you could provide the incident number for your -previous- case if you still have it.

    Bentley
    B
    BbbentAuthor
    Inspiring
    July 10, 2006
    OK here's what probably happened. When you submit the Flash Player email support form it comes in to Adobe. That system then sends you an autoreply containing an FAQ of troubleshooting steps and self-help info. At that point the case is in 'closed pending' status waiting for you to try the self-help info. If you then reply the case reopens.

    So it looks like for some reason you never go the autoreply. That usually means it was caught by spam filters or some other type of email blocker. The first paragraph of the email support form page discusses this:

    "PLEASE NOTE: Some customers have anti-spam software that employs "Auto-response" or "Challenge" methods to block unwanted e-mail. Our e-mail system does not work with these methods of blocking spam. We have received some customer feedback that our e-mail replies were caught in spam filters. If you do not receive a reply from Macromedia within 24 hours, please check your spam folders or contact your e-mail administrator on this issue."

    I believe the autoreply comes from support@macromedia.com, so make sure this address isn't being blocked! For this particular case I manually reopened it so someone will contact you.

    Bentley Wolfe
    Senior Support Engineer, Flash/Flash Player
    Adobe
    A
    Anonymous
    May 10, 2006
    I am very confused now, I just finished testing the Security Vulnerability that was released yesterday 5/9/06 ny Microsoft MS06-020. In March Adobe/Macromedia release a statement(Patch) saying anyone running version 8,0,22,0 and below were vulnerable and should install 8,0,24,0. Well I did that, and of course the naming convention changed and now we have a and b. But thats not my confusion. Yesterday bulletin says this patch is affect 6 and earlier version. Out of couriosity I build a PC and iinstall the MS06-020 patch, and get this there are some very crucial things that happen. The Flash.ocx v.6 has to be on the PC and registered in the registry. My confusion is why would this patch be released if it addresses version 6 and below and what happens is if you run it your player is upgraded to 6,0,84,0. Still a vulnerable version according to the March bulletin? Could someone please explain what is going on.
    O
    ocsscott
    Participant
    May 10, 2006
    how to I make the uninstall silent I run uninstall_flash_player.exe /s

    that removes the screens but still have a msgbox at the end that say uninstall sucessfull. with an OK button

    I am trying to add this to a package that must be totally silent and needs no interaction.
    M
    Mr_Wrong
    Participant
    April 29, 2006
    For the record, I was able to fix my problem with flash animations not showing when running in my limited account by doing the following:

    Running the uninstaller located here:
    http://www.macromedia.com/go/tn_14157

    Running the full installation program located here:
    http://www.macromedia.com/go/full_flashplayer_win_msi

    A
    anmjg2
    Participant
    May 2, 2006
    Webpages using flash would simply not work and I've been monitoring the forums for a month now. This page is listed on a different thread in the forums and it worked for me. I can now view flash files and it resolved my original issue of flash not working on restricted user accounts (following instructions on these forums led to flash not working at all). As I do not know much about the background behind this script, use at own risk. To see the original poster, go to the GETTING TO BE A REAL PROBLEM!!!! thread in the forums. Others in that forum also seemed to have luck.

    http://docxp.mvps.org/b1n/FlashRepair.exe
    P
    pureluck0481
    Participant
    April 29, 2006
    I followed the directions to the leter in an attempt to fix this Flash Player problem. However the admin uninstaller found in 'UninstFl.exe' did not uninstall anything that i could notice. All files originally in the flash file were still there after i ran the 'UninstFl.exe' program. I am still unable to download Flash Player or any of its components. When i go to the site to try to download it I cant even get the gold information bar in order to promt the download. I am at a complete loss, and have been working on a solution for over a week now with no progress.
    P
    pureluck0481
    Participant
    April 29, 2006
    I followed the directions to the leter in an attempt to fix this Flash Player problem. However the admin uninstaller found in 'UninstFl.exe' did not uninstall anything that i could notice. All files originally in the flash file were still there after i ran the 'UninstFl.exe' program. I am still unable to download Flash Player or any of its components. When i go to the site to try to download it I cant even get the gold information bar in order to promt the download. I am at a complete loss, and have been working on a solution for over a week now with no progress.
    D
    David_Strickler__Ph_D_
    Participant
    April 28, 2006
    After having spent over 14 precious hours of my SPARE TIME trying to figure out what should have been configured ahead of time, I DO NOT APPRECIATE companies spending my time. It is bad enough I have to give my time to MICROSOFT , as a second UNPAID JOB upkeeping and resolving issued with their software on my computer. There isn't a single thread with suggestions that have worked in regards to macromedia flashplayer. I should have left the old one in, NONE of the archives will even reinstall.

    I have an idea that I will be BILLING all SOFTWARE COMPANIES for time I have to spend from improper utilization of the BORG productivity rant that prdocues such problems, mailing them the MY BILL.

    Upset, yes, Must have something to do with that great cash flow sucking sound that Ross Perot once referenced.

    David Strickler, Ph.D.
    M
    myfriendscallmejake
    Participant
    April 25, 2006
    im sick of this stupid updaye. everything was fine until they updated it. WHY DID YOU UPDATE THE DAMN THING? now i can't do anything. the old version was perfectly fine!
    B
    Borgquite
    Participant
    April 25, 2006
    The new installer seems to fix the issues with Group Policy uninstallation and FlashPlayerTrust files being removed on our system. I'll be hopefully deploying the new version this evening.

    Thanks Bentley for all your help.
    Regards,
    Chris
    J
    joefabulous
    Participant
    April 24, 2006
    Well I've managed to fix the problem - unfortunately not very scientific and I'm not sure which activity actually solved the problem.
    Like many others on this forum I did everything as suggested with no luck. Deleted registry entries everywhere and re-installed with no joy, however I'm now a very happy bunny.

    Used all the uninstallers as described - then went in to the Registry and deleted EVERYTHING to do with Macromedia, Flash and Adobe (dangerous I know ).
    Uninstalled every media player.
    Uninstalled Acrobat.
    Re-installed Explorer
    Re-installed latest patch
    re-installed Microsfoft media player
    re-installed codecs.
    re-installed Flash Player.
    Opened up IE and got the warning about installing Active X controls, which I did.
    Thanks for your help Adobe - you can now close case 8534253
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