Skip to main content
C
ChummyKaye
Participating Frequently
July 4, 2008
Question

All Browsers Crashing due to Flash Player

  • July 4, 2008
  • 6 replies
  • 3087 views
Recent upgrade to the current Flash Player is wreaking absolute havoc to my web browsing time. Each time a page offers a Flash feature, whether it's IE7 or Firefox 3, my browser is crashing. I've tried uninstalling Flash using the Adobe uninstaller. It does not, on reboot, remove the flashutil9b.exe file. Nothing does. I've tried reinstalling Flash 9, installing Flash 8, nothing but nothing works. I've nothing else open when uninstalling -- no browser, no IM, nothing, and the result is always the same -- a stubborn flashutil9b.exe file that won't delete, that can't be changed as to its read only status, etc.

If I visit youtube, for example, the video begins then halts soon afterward, the browser crashing -- after blaming FlashPlayer. No matter what site I visit that uses Flash, save for my web portal, the browser crashes. Our church's web sermons also no longer function properly in my browser, as these are audio delivered via a Flash-based application.

Please help. I had absolutely no problems until just the past couple of days after updating Flash Player. Now I'm just wasting an inordinate amount of time trying to resolve a problem that is not mine, but rather is adobe's.

What gives with this previously otherwise fine little app?
    This topic has been closed for replies.

    6 replies

    A
    Anonymous
    July 8, 2008
    See this web page.
    http://www.bloghash.com/2007/02/cannot-delete-file-access-is-denied/

    It contains info about a utility that may help.
    If it doesn't work I wold actually contact Adobe support.
    C
    ChummyKayeAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    July 9, 2008

    Well, I tried the handy little utility and that did appear to delete the stubborn flashutil9b.exe. But Flash Player still is not running. I've checked and rechecked that I followed all instructions, uninstalled and reinstalled java RE, Shockwave, the latest Flash Player, returned to YouTube and, moments after starting a video, crash goes my browser, whether it's IE 7 or Firefox 3. I've run Registry Mechanic and it's scanned and repaired all errors it's found in my registry.

    Re: contacting Adobe Tech Support, it appears the only recourse for Flash Player is this forum, isn't it?

    A
    Anonymous
    July 9, 2008
    Actually, no. This is primarily a peer to peer forum.
    I would start here, it has a contact option:
    http://www.adobe.com/support/flashplayer/

    If you get anywhere, please update this post - Thanks.
    W
    will_k78
    New Participant
    July 8, 2008
    Oh I have already tried all of microsoft's suggestions @ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948481

    I even tried their worthless tech support... the just uninstalled and reinstalled audio drivers repeatedly. The problem still occurs.
    A
    Anonymous
    July 7, 2008
    Have you run a full virus scan to make sure you don't have any malware?
    http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner or similar.
    On my system (XP SP3) I have a file called NPSWF32_FlashUtil.exe
    which lives in the folder
    c:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash

    I just deleted it without any problem. Even with Flash installed
    and the browser open. (Then I restored it from the recycle bin)
    C
    ChummyKayeAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    July 8, 2008
    Hi, davexnet --

    Yes, I've done that, too, and the results confirm malware, virus, trojan, worm, etc. do not exist. NPSWF32_FlashUtil.exe was not resident in the folder on my PC, until I updated Flash Player. It does delete.

    What stubbornly refuses to allow deletion is a file named flashutil9b.exe as noted in my original post in this thread.

    Thank you for your help in brainstorming this one!
    A
    Anonymous
    July 7, 2008
    Try booting into Safemode and deleting
    the files in question.
    C
    ChummyKayeAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    July 7, 2008
    I've also done this (booting into Safe Mode and deleting the files via DOS) however the files still show as "Access Denied" and are not deleted.

    No matter what I've tried so far, Flash Player remains inoperative and the identified cause of my browser crashes.

    What I am also finding is that the glitch appears to be limited to YouTube videos, for example. Might sound minor, but we share family videos including that of my infant granddaughter. Prior to the recent update, Flash Player worked just fine. Now it's causing browser crashes.
    A
    Anonymous
    July 5, 2008
    I'm having this issue as well!!! I've HAD it with Flash Player... no matter what I do, just surfing the web, watching some stuff on CBS.com, etc. It happens out of nowhere and it really pisses me off... not to mention that the last time that it occurred... it froze my computer, and I had to MANUALLY shut it down...

    ANY help in getting this issue FIXED for good would be APPRECIATED.
    C
    ChummyKayeAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    July 4, 2008
    I've tried again and again to uninstall the flash player, shutting down everything that may be running, but STILL the reinstallation of flash player causes crashes.

    flashutil9b.exe NEVER is removed from the Flash subfolder as the uninstaller indicates it is to be removed after reboot.

    Working through DOS, after unlocking this file as per information found online, also does not allow its removal: "Access is Denied" is the result.

    How do I remedy this? I'd really like to be able to surf the web as I had before installing the latest update of Flash Player.

    Thank you for your help!
    C
    ChummyKayeAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    July 4, 2008
    An Upate: I've followed everything that adobe is suggesting, to no avail. I even tried the "download subinacl" and ran that to the letter but that also did not work.

    After all this time this problem has been reported by people all over the web, isn't there a solution that actually works?

    Where I see crashes are typically with videos through Google or YouTube and similar. It matters not if I'm in IE 7 or Firefox 3 or 2. I'm running Windows XP Professional SP3, with an Intel DuoCore processor on an Intel D975XBX2 motherboard, 2 GB RAM, all drivers up-to-date.

    Any help in resolving this nagging issue would be greatly appreciated.
    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices