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A
Anonymous
June 12, 2010
Answered

latest flash player installation fails in IE8/Win XP

  • June 12, 2010
  • 1 reply
  • 12072 views

I have been trying to install the latest version of the Flash Player on my XP system for two days. Here's my system info:

Win = 32-bit Windows XP Media Center Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 3

Browser = Internet Explorer Version 8.0.6001.18702

Flash Player - the one I was using (recent but not a beta) was uninstalled when I tried to install your latest version at your site in the usual way. After a couple of attempts to install, I downloaded and ran the player uninstaller according the instructions found on your site - Adobe® Flash® Player Installer/Uninstaller 10.1 r53 - just to make sure I was doing a clean install. I also downloaded the latest version and ran it manually.

All attempts to install have failed. I've seen two different installers, BTW, and they both reported failure but a reason and suggested your troubleshooting page.

I went to the troubleshooting page, where I tried everything, by the book.

Most recent attempts produced the following message when attempting to install from your site:

"The version of adobe flash player active x that you are trying to install is not the most current version. Please visit http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer to obtain the latest, most secure version."

I went to that page, again without success. There are no Flash active x components listed in my browser objects.

I was able to install the latest version of Shockwave player (I tried, just to see if that would fail, but that was successful.)

I should add that I do some web work using Flash 8, so that is also on my system, but I have never run into a problem installing a newer Flash Player until now. (And I have been using Flash since before Macromedia, when it was called FutureSplash.)

Obviously, HELP!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer psychrat

    Let me know if you think of anything else, but I'm now officially through playing with this absurd problem. I've run install and uninstall so many times now I can't even remember which I'm doing by the time XP finishes rebooting.

    I hope others who have had a problem with this player "upgrade" will benefit from some fix discussed here, but I haven't. Nothing has worked and I am finished.

    A bit of advice to Flash fans and everyone else: don't upgrade this essential tool unless you absolutely have to. I read about the upgrade on CNET and came in voluntarily to upgrade because I use Flash on my websites. Now I regret being dilligent. If I didn't have a second computer, I'd really be cut off from most of the most popular sites on the web.

    To Adobe I can only add: get your act together before you announce an upgrade. I fear the NASA syndrome is setting in (remember a while back when all the old guys at NASA retired and we started getting launch failures?)

    K.I.S.S. used to be the programmer's most valuable oath. I hope the kids at Adobe still know what that acronym stands for.


    This one nearly did me in. Countless uninstalls/installs, headstands, etc. later, I finally found a solution that worked for me:


    http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/494/cpsid_49419.html

    I hope this works for you, too!!

    A damaged Windows system registry or incorrect registry permissions settings may prevent you from installing Flash Player.

    Symptoms may include:

    • During installation, you see the error message "Failed to install. For Troubleshooting please see: http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_19166."
    • Your Flash Player installation finishes with no error, but you cannot view Flash content in Internet Explorer.
    • Some sites tell you that you do not have the correct version of Flash Player, even though you have installed the latest version.
    • Some sites tell you to reinstall Flash Player, but after you do so, you see the same message.

    Permissions can be tricky, but in most cases, you can install and use Adobe Flash Player if you are logged into a Windows Administrator account. If you don't know how to do this, check with your system administrator, or read your Windows documentation.

    System administrators

    If you are a system administrator, see Registry permissions required for Flash Player install or update (TechNote tn_19148).

    Solution

    Warning! By following the directions below, you will modify the Windows System Registry. A mistake could cause serious system damage, which may require you to reinstall your operating system.

    If you are not comfortable editing the registry, get help from your system administrator or another IT professional.

    If you choose to proceed, first back up your entire hard drive, and create a Windows System Restore Point.

    Adobe Systems cannot be held responsible for damage resulting from your following these instructions.

    1. Make sure you are logged into a Windows Administrator account. If you are not, you will not be able to use SubInACL.
    2. Download SubInACL from the Microsoft Download Center.
    3. Follow the installation instructions. Make sure you install SubInACL (subinacl.exe) to the directory C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools.
    4. Download the reset_fp10.zip file.
    5. Open the fp10.zip file and extract the reset_fp10.cmd file to the directory C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools\. Note that that both this file and SubInACL (subinacl.exe) must be in this directory.
    6. Double-click reset_fp10.cmd. A command window will open, and SubInACL will run.
    7. Do not use the machine while SubInACL is running.
    8. After SubInACL finishes, you will see a prompt "Press any key to continue".
    9. Install Flash Player from the Flash Player download page.
    10. To confirm that your installation succeeded, visit the About Flash Player page. At the top of the screen, you should see a message that reads "Adobe Flash Player Successfully Installed."

    1 reply

    A
    Anonymous
    June 12, 2010

    Hi, Do you have more than one Hard Drive on which the vs 8 is on?

    Now before the final release of 10.1 came out, anyone that had the prerelease (RC) versions had to Uninstall those with a Special Uninstaller. The regular Uninstaller would not work. That had to be done to Install the then "latest version" which was the 10.0.45.2. Now from what I have read, the regular Uninstaller is to be used to Uninstall the RC versions (RC6 and older)

    Based on that info and assuming you have followed the guide in the Uninstall, then I would download that Uninstaller to your Desktop. http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/141/tn_14157.html

    Then I would download the Flash Player Installer for Internet Explorer to your Desktop:

    http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/install_flash_player_ax.exe

    Once that is done, then Close all browsers, be sure to follow the instructions regarding apps using Flash that may be in the system tray and disable them, have the Security set to Medium for the Internet Zone per instructions, etc.

    Run the Uninstaller from your Desktop. When finished, Reboot. When fully Rebooted, Reboot again(to clear old files out)

    Follow that by running the Installer, when finished, Reboot Once.

    Test here: http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/

    Then test a few websites.

    Thanks,

    eidnolb

    A
    Anonymous
    June 13, 2010

    Thank you for your reply, but it didn't work. I followed all your steps but once again the installer failed. The message from the installer was "Installation encountered errors. The active x control for Flash Player could not be registered." Not sure if that message was there in previous attempts, probably was.

    I rebooted again per your instructions anyway after seeing this and tried http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/ when the machine was back up but I still got nothing there but the usual request to install the Flash component.

    As this is an XP machine I am comfortable with the registry and have no fear going in there to make manual fixes, so if you have any suggestions along those lines I'd appreciate it. Otherwise I'm stuck with a Flashless machine here.

    A
    Anonymous
    June 13, 2010

    Hi flatrich, from what you described, it appears something blocked the Install of the ActiveX. Did you run as Administrator? This is needed in order to have permissions to Install the ActiveX. Check your Security setting for the Internet Zone via Tools>Internet Options>Security Tab, it needs to be set at Medium. You can set it where you want it after the Install.

    Another factor is Anti-Virus programs with or without a Firewall. Many will block the ActiveX as well. Any applications that use Flash which appear in the System tray need to be disabled also. These do not "block" the ActiveX per se, but all old files may not be Uninstalled.

    Take a look at the Troubleshooting guide for some of this info and also the Uninstall guide.

    http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/191/tn_19166.html

    Let me know on the Anti-Virus program you use, since there may be a special component that needs Disabled.

    Thanks,

    eidnolb

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