Can't run FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe by Task Scheduler

Hi,

There is no need to create your own task to launch the Service, as Flash Player creates the Task as part of the Background Update feature.

There are two components to the Background Update feature:  A Service named 'Adobe Flash Player Update Service' and the Scheduled Task named 'Adobe Flash Player Updater'. Does your system have both of these?  If your system is missing this Task it can explain why the Background Update is not running.

The Scheduled Task runs at a predetermined time to check to see if it's time for the Service to check if an update is available.  If so, the Service wakes up and checks the Adobe server if an update is available.  If an update is available, it downloads and installs.  If an update is not available, it goes back to sleep.  It also creates a registry entry (HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Macromedia\FlashPlayerSAU - LastUpdateCheck) to keep track of these checks.   The registry entry is reset when an update is available and installed.  The Service is also set to 'Manual'.  This is not something to be concerned with.  Unlike many other products out there, Flash Player Background Update is not constantly running.  It only runs when it needs to.

I'm assuming the 'Update Flash' task in your screenshot is the one you created, right?

Please do the following:

1. Delete the Task you have manually created.
2. Download the latest uninstaller posted at Uninstall Flash Player for Windows
   1. Extract the contents and use the EXE installer in the /21.0.0.213 directory.  Don't use the MSI installer, or any of the installers in the 21.0.0.213_debug directory.
3. Download the previous Flash Player version, 21.0.0.213 from the Archived Adobe Flash Player versions​ page
4. Run the Uninstaller downloaded in step 2
5. Reboot your system
6. Run the installer and select the 'Allow Adobe to install updates' option
7. Enable Background Updates verbose logging:
   1. Go to C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash and add the following to the mms.cfg file: SilentAutoUpdateVerboseLogging=1
8. Open the Services and Task Scheduler windows.
9. In Task Scheduler, locate the Task  'Adobe Flash Player Updater'. What does it have for 'Triggers'? It should have something like:
   
10. In Services, locate 'Adobe Flash Player Update Service'  It should be set to Manual
11. Wait for the task to run based on the set trigger.
    1. For example, in the step 9 screenshot the Task will run at 4:55 pm and launch the Service to check for an update.
12. Since you installed the previous version in step 6, when the Service runs, it'll find an update and install it.

Please post back with your results.

--

Maria

I thought it set itself up automatically.

Why dont you simply re-install fash and get a valid xml file.?

Best Regards