Help with Flash Player- Not Playing

Oh boy...is this is the only solution to fix this problem??? This is very complex and your "average" user is going to have an extemely hard time following these instructions. I am very frustrated and disappointed. I can't follow this whole business with "unlocking" the file, even after going to the technote (my current version is 9.0.47).

Everything worked fine until about 2 weeks ago...what gives?

JDB... your problems and solutions are different (and much more complex). Read this CAREFULLY.

Printable, lovingly formatted versions of these steps, valid as of 9/15/2007 are available. I recommend printing them and following along with the print version:
.doc: http://www.supportflash.com/bent/flash_player_ocx_troubleshooting.doc
.pdf: http://www.supportflash.com/bent/flash_player_ocx_troubleshooting.pdf

The issue is this: You have multiple accounts on your XP machine. One account plays Flash no problem, the other doesn't, although both are Administrator accounts. Or possibly you have only one account, and that account fails to play any Flash content. In any case if you have ANY odd trouble with the Flash Player ActiveX control for Windows as of September 2007, these should be your steps. And yes, you need to do both sets of steps, in order!

The cause: This is usually caused by either or BOTH of the following problems:

1. Leftover locked bits of an old Flash Player installation
2. Registry permission errors (aka 'ACL's)

OK so what do you do about this?

ONE: Identify possibly leftover Flash player bits
a. Open C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash folder.
b. Download the latest FP uninstaller from http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_14157.
c. Run the uninstaller. If you get a notice saying you need to reboot, then reboot.
d. Look at C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash folder.
e. Does any file ending in .ocx remain? (flash.ocx, flasha.ocs, flash9d.ocx etc...)
e1. If no, then you don't usually have any leftover locked bits.
You're done with this part of the problem, proceed to TWO.
e2. If yes, then that remaining .ocx file may be locked. Right click it
and select properties and look at the version tab.
What is the version number?
f. Is the version number Flash Player 9.0.16.0 or earlier?
f1. Use the uninstaller instructions from this technote:
http://www.adobe.com/go/4da116d3
-- section "Flash Player 9.0.16.0 and earlier"
-- DO NOT re-register the uninstaller. ONLY do this UninstFl.exe part.
Yes, you'll need to know how to use the command line to do this. If you're not
comfortable with that then take your machine to someone who is!
g. Is the version number Flash Player 9.0.28.0 or higher?
g1. Use the uninstaller instructions from this technote:
http://www.adobe.com/go/4da116d3
-- section "Flash Player 9 (9.0.28.0) and later"
-- DO NOT re-register the uninstaller. ONLY do this UninstFl.exe part.

In both the D and E sections above you'll need to use the specific name of the control that remains
in the C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash. So if you had a stuck flash9b.ocx[DJM1] in the folder
and version was 9.0.28.0, your uninstall command would look like this:
UninstFl.exe -u c:\windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\Flash9b.ocx

That said, if you have trouble running these commands it really is necessary to find someone who knows how
to use the command line, either a friend or a local professional. Or spend some time learning about the
command line yourself.

h. RERUN the uninstaller you downloaded earlier. This should get rid of the remaining (now unlocked) .ocx file and fix any registry keys associated with it.

ALL of section "ONE: Identify possibly leftover Flash player bits" is important. BUT this locked bit problem only happens on maybe one out of 50 machines. So most people with installation problems such as this are not going to have locked bits.

AND even after reinstalling you may still have continued problems with Flash Player not being recognized.

Then we have to move on to section two..


TWO: Registry Permission Problems
We have been working on Flash Player failures caused by Windows System Registry issues. We have not been able to determine what’s causing these permissions to change. But that change prevents the successful installation of Flash Player ActiveX control (used by IE Windows).

Registry permission problems can be resolved using a tool called SubInACL, built by Microsoft to correct system registry issues.

Symptoms: What to look for:
1. If you install Flash Player on IE and are unable to see Flash content on any webpage
2. After installation C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash will have flash 9c.ocx in it but it failed to register
3. It appears that Flash Player installed correctly, but unable to view Flash content
4. Flash Player works on other browsers, but NOT Internet Explorer
5. If you are missing groups in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT Advanced Permissions
6. If you have run registry cleaners in the past, this may have corrupted your system

Warning: The following solution involves the Windows System Registry. Editing or manipulating the registry incorrectly can result in serious system damage which may require re-installation of the operating system. If you are not comfortable editing the registry, then take your system to a professional. If you choose to proceed, then it is essential that you create a complete system backup and a Windows System Restore Point before proceeding. Adobe Systems cannot be held responsible for damage resulting from this information.

1. Select Start > Run
2. Type in “regedit”
3. Right click on HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
4. Select Permissions
5. Select Advanced

For Vista
Compare your permissions with the ones in this screenshot.
http://www.supportflash.com/vista_key.png

For Window XP Pro or other flavors of XP
Compare your permissions with the ones in this document “Troubleshooting system registry issues that prevent Flash Player installation” (scroll down to the bottom of page).
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=kb400116

Notice any major differences, missing groups, incorrect permissions?

How can you repair the System Registry, what's the fix
Download SubInACL from Microsoft to fix permission issues that prevent the Flash Player Installation.
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=fb1634cb

NOTE: The Microsoft version of the .cmd script run by SubInACL is not be run on any XP version other than Pro. HOWEVER, the Adobe .cmd script in the above technote is tested safe for ALL VERSIONS OF XP!!!

If you have a Windows System Registry permission issue that sounds like the one described above, SubINACL may be the solution. Please note that if you have this issue on multiple accounts on one machine you’ll need to fix each machine individually.