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A
Anonymous
January 11, 2013
Answered

Insufficient user permissions - Flash Player - Windows 7

  • January 11, 2013
  • 3 replies
  • 38740 views

Every time I try to download the newest version of Flash Player, I get an error message stating that I have insufficient user permissions.  I am using Windows 7, it's my home computer, I am the administrator (I know because I checked) and no one else uses my computer.  I've done everything I can (including creating a new Admin account - still didn't work).  Any guesses?  Anyone come across this? 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer jeromiec83223024

Hi MrX1980 - I appreciate all of your suggestions - I have now looked at each one and have gone through each step, one by one, and I STILL get the same message - that I don't have sufficient privileges to install Adobe Flash Player.  I am logged into the Administrator account for my computer but when I pull up the control panel, what I see is "User Accounts and Family Safety" and according to one of those tutorials that indicates I'm not logged into an Administrator account for the computer (even though it says I am... arrggghhhh!) I suspect there may be something amiss with my Admin account.  I don't want to wear out my welcome, but any idea where I should go next?


There are some suggestions to solving "insufficient privileges as Administrator" problems over on the Microsoft forums.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-security/insufficient-privileges-as-an-administratorand/139f3148-c123-42a2-a37e-36a52e836e6d

I'm liking this one, from Mark Parris:

Even though you are the Admin, - have you right clicked the file you wish to install and selected Run as Administrator and with your Anti-Virus turned off?

With UAC enabled - even though you are an Admin - you run in the user context.

One other thing to try is right click on the install file, select properties and see if there is an option to unblock file - this sometimes can happen when copying files around.

Regards, Mark Parris MVP-DS. Community Lead, Active Directory User Group http://adug.co.uk.

3 replies

L
lforbes
Participating Frequently
October 25, 2017

When you have Flash install errors 99% of the time they have to do with the FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe not being able to be replaced.

Some Flash installs set ONLY System permissions on C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed folders so Administrators have ZERO permissions to delete that file and that file HAS to be deleted to update Flash with the newer version.

So if you EVER have any errors with Adobe Flash installs navigate to C:\windows\SysWOW64\Macromed and take ownership of all files and folders and DELETE all the contents of the Flash folder and you won't have an issues installing.

    Z
    Zmonster8u
    Participant
    September 25, 2019
    Thank you thank you, taking ownership and deleting files worked.
    M
    Makoussai
    Participant
    January 19, 2014

    I am faced with the exact same problem, even worse, It appeared in two different computers in two different locations.  I tried all the solutions that were mentionned above without success. I am frustrated because I don't know why I have to waste so much time with this matter that should not be that complicated.  However, I feel I'm lucky as I am not one who needs that player in my everyday work.

    C_F_McBlob
    C_F_McBlob
    Inspiring
    January 20, 2014

    Makoussai wrote:

    I am faced with the exact same problem, even worse, It appeared in two different computers in two different locations.  I tried all the solutions that were mentionned above without success. I am frustrated because I don't know why I have to waste so much time with this matter that should not be that complicated.  However, I feel I'm lucky as I am not one who needs that player in my everyday work.

    The thing about this is:

    Permissions are NOT Flash Player... That's Windows.
    I don't know what it is about Win 7, but it's the ONLY place this seems to be happening, and it's recent, so I tend to think a Windows update did it.

    MrX1980
    MrX1980
    Legend
    January 11, 2013

    Hello, did you read/tried this ?

    How do I fix Windows permission problems with Flash Player?

    http://forums.adobe.com/thread/987370

    A
    Anonymous
    January 12, 2013

    Hi there - thanks for your quick response.  Yes, I tried absolutely everything in this tutorial (and thanks for the helpful video too) - I did it all just as suggested and when I tried to download Flash Player I AGAIN got this message: "The user does not have sufficient privileges to install Adobe Flash Player".  I'm at my wit's end.  I really need Flash Player to be operational on this computer.  Any more suggestions?  I appreciate your help.

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