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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

    Show previous replies
    M
    myfriendscallmejake
    Participant
    April 22, 2006
    when i try to download the uninstaller (both types) i get :Error 403: the credintals you supplied were invlid...HOW DO I GET PAST THAT??
    H
    hayley3
    Participant
    April 22, 2006
    The thing that ticks me off the worst, is that they are still allowing people to download a file with a bug, without any mention of it on the web site.
    Also, I tried both Internet Explorer and a Mozilla browser and it doesn't work with either.
    N
    newflashuser06
    Participant
    April 12, 2006
    Hello, I am a new flash user, which i just mainly use for viewing videos and playing games on various sites. I am also experiencing Flash Player 8 issues. However, I have tried most of the solutions in this forum in order to fix Flash Player 8, but they have not worked. When I tried the command prompt for UninstFl.exe, my computer was telling me there was no such file in the system, but there really was. I looked inside the Flash folder, and it was in there. Also, when I double-clicked on it, it asked me if I wanted to uninstall for sure. I clicked yes, but nothing happened.
    Just recently, I tried to reinstall Flash Player 8(after using the HARDER version), and I received a message that included the words: "Error in module" In order to view a certain video, I need Flash Player 8. However, Flash Player 7 does seem to work for me, but it is not good enough.
    If there is someone who has any solution at all that I have not tried, I would greatly appreciate it.
    Thank you
    O
    Old_Propellerhead
    Participant
    April 12, 2006
    I have been having Flash8 (variuos versions) crash my IE 6 for a year now. The latest version has not solved any of my problems at all.
    The only version I can use even remotely is Version 7.
    The only comfort I take is hoping that Adobe's continuing promulgation of this Flash crippleware and YAHOO spyware will eventually send them bankrupt.

    Adobe's conduct in this matter has been the most disgraceful I have seen in 30 years of IT work.

    The first company that produces a flash player that actually works, is bug free, and not loaded with other useless software should make a fortune.
    N
    Novarat63
    Participant
    April 12, 2006
    I have been trying to fix my Flash player for a month now, I have been checking the forums for about 3 weeks I tryed the Keyreg fix to no avail I tryed the easy version of the Fix explained here, for some reason it worked. Thanks and for the people who are complaing and complaing. Its not easy to fix these problems and I'm sure ADOBE is working on it a hard as they can, be patient.
    D
    Doc_in_SC
    Participant
    April 12, 2006
    Oh, I am sure the folks at Adobe are furiously burning the midnight oil to fix this. Yeah right!!! And patience??? I'm sorry, but I have absolutely no patience for a company that sets it up so you get nagged to upgrade, and then when you do, the upgrade is so buggy that it won't install.

    Come on now... if someone offers me a clear beta version of something, then it is my choice if I use it. But to make a major release campaign with something as poorly tested as this obviously was, that is completely unacceptable.

    I don't mind Beta testing a product if I am asked, or offered some insentive, but to foist it on me without my knowledge, Boo Adobe... Boooo!!!!
    J
    jzt451
    Participant
    April 11, 2006
    I used this link & got the installer & it worked. http://www.macromedia.com/go/full_flashplayer_win_msi
    D
    Doc_in_SC
    Participant
    April 11, 2006
    Well, another great idea bites the dust. Flash worked fine, but I kept getting nagged "Update to V8...Update to V8" everytime a flash movie loaded. I kept trying the button but nothing happened. Nag... Nag... Nag... So I tried the tips here and all over their site and what do I have now, nothing, a broken link icon. I am so totally sick of buggy crap like this. I am ready to take the whole Macromedia Suite off my machine and use the CD's for coasters. Now I can't get any flash to work, and I can't seem to go back either. When I try to reload V7 it just crashs with the installer pulling 100% of my CPU.

    I am running windows xp x64 with an AMD 64. 2g of ram and a terabyte of drives. The older installer can't find the plugin directory, but it did when I loaded it the first time. I point the installer to C:\Programs (x86)\internet explorer\plugins and the installer just goes off into limbo and takes my CPU load with it. Any suggestions???? Flash is everywhere, I use it on the sites I create, and now I can't view it at all.

    And did I read it right that the one Macromedia guy monitoring this forum left on vacation??? Must be nice, I can't finish my work because I can't preview the flash in the pages.

    Again, what a crappy way to treat people. I don't ever recall anything nearly as stupid as this prior to Adobe. And their crap won't run on my x64 box either. Shame
    D
    Doc_in_SC
    Participant
    April 11, 2006
    Very interesting. After the uninstall, delete the flash directory then re-install, there is no C:\windows\system32\macromed\flash directory, just shockwave.
    N
    NickN4m3
    Participant
    April 9, 2006
    OH MY GOD! Another big silly bug with the "fixed" version
    I also got the situation with the updated version that even admin cannot get flash content working, as described above only blank areas with "about flash player 8" on right click, no red cross.

    I found the cause of the problem: The updated plugin was renamed from "flash8a.ocx" to "flash8b.ocx" but the key in [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{D27CDB6B-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000}\1.0\0\win32] still points to a "flash8a.ocx" which doesn't exist anymore after the removal procedure. After giving my admin user account full access to this key I could rename the entry and now flash works for admin and limited user.

    I really ask myself what the testers do all the day ...
    C
    chrisypea
    Participant
    April 9, 2006
    Yet another useless "fix". I have switched to firefox while I am waiting for a fix for ie.
    J
    joefabulous
    Participant
    April 9, 2006
    Tried everything on this forum, still doesn't work for me. I have raised a case as requested.
    I just get the broken image icon - even on the download page ;-(
    A
    Anonymous
    April 8, 2006
    The link to the admin uninstaller is www.macromedia.com/go/4da116d3. I don't see the file anywhere. Can someone please help?
    D
    dopemeister
    Participant
    April 9, 2006
    im trying to update my macromedia flash for a cetain game site that i am addicted to, and it wont let me install the 10.1 version. i already tried fixing my internet security options regarding the activeX enabled thing.. but it just shows an X like a picture has an error kind of X. hoping you guys could help..
    N
    Newsgroup_User
    Inspiring
    April 7, 2006
    Bentley Wolfe -ADOBE wrote:

    > We are aware that many folks are having trouble with installation of Flash

    FYI: There are two reasons why I asked everyone for whom this fails to
    open a support incident..

    1. That gives us tracking info, categorization and a better feel for
    how many real issues we have out there.

    2. I'll be out of the office vacationing from tonight until 4/19. So I
    won't be able to monitor this thread.

    Bentley Wolfe
    Senior Support Engineer, Flash/Flash Player
    *Macromedia, now a division of Adobe Systems

    N
    Newsgroup_User
    Inspiring
    April 7, 2006
    roger623 wrote:

    > Bentley,
    >
    > I appreciate your effort to resolve this issue. Unfortunately, your steps
    > didn't resolve my problem. I went completely through each step, but to no
    > avail. Where Flash should be playing, I get a white box. I can right-click on
    > it and get a link "About Macromedia Flash Player 8", which I can click on. It
    > seems, then, that Flash Player is loaded but not displaying properly.
    >
    > I did fill out the support form, but maybe someone here will have a suggestion.

    Good, thanks. This actually sounds like a different issue to me. If
    you can see the 'About Flash' box on right click then Flash Player 8 is
    installed and something else is going on. No guess what though.
    Support team will get back to you..


    > BTW, a couple of your links don't work because the right parentheses is
    > included in the hyperlink.

    Yet another reason I only use NNTP. Those web interfaces me me crazy.

    Bentley Wolfe
    Senior Support Engineer, Flash/Flash Player
    *Macromedia, now a division of Adobe Systems

    R
    roger623
    Participant
    April 7, 2006
    Bentley,

    I appreciate your effort to resolve this issue. Unfortunately, your steps didn't resolve my problem. I went completely through each step, but to no avail. Where Flash should be playing, I get a white box. I can right-click on it and get a link "About Macromedia Flash Player 8", which I can click on. It seems, then, that Flash Player is loaded but not displaying properly.

    I did fill out the support form, but maybe someone here will have a suggestion.

    BTW, a couple of your links don't work because the right parentheses is included in the hyperlink.

    Thanks,

    Roger Whitacre
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