Can't delete Flash9.ocx

Report · Jul 25, 2006

While trying to solve some Flash/IE installation problems, I have discovered that I can't delete the following file:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\Macromed\Flash\Flash9.ocx
I've tried safe mode, "move on boot", BartPE, and nothing will get rid of this file. The read only attribute is set and cannot be changed....does anybody have any ideas as to what might be causing this?
Thanks,

Rob

Report · Nov 14, 2006

Some additional feedback:

For those running into problems on myspace.com (or other web sites), please upgrade and let me know if the problem persists. I need you to provide exact URLs for each tab you have opened when the problem occurs. (I realize its a pain to provide this information, but its the only way I can provide help.)

Also, if you're seeing a crash that occurs when leaving your browser open overnight, the problem could be poorly written Flash content. Again, I need exact URLs before I can assign an engineer to investigate. We need to see the problem ourselves to diagnose the source of the issue.

--- Paul

Report · Nov 15, 2006

After I installed the last version of FLASH, before 9.0.28, I left my browser open on myspace with 3 tabs open and without any activity on my part. It crashed by itself after 39 minutes, and the ads were not rotating. So I decided that need to set a control. I powered my machine off, then went back to myspace, and left 3 tabs open. After 15 hours again with out any browser activity just 3 tabs open, no crashes. So I started using the browser again, after about 20 minutes, it crashed. This happened a few more times, then it stopped.

After the crashes happened a few more times, I started getting an error messages from the myspace server that I had never seen before. Almost like they were screening the FLASH ads before being sent out. At the same time I started getting these new error messages, the crashes stopped totally. In the last week I have had no crashes.

So one key may be to power you system off after a crash. I believe this to be due a bit either in the sound card or video card that on a warm boot may not being reset.

Jim Winings
Principal
Six Sigma SPC

Report · Nov 16, 2006

Jim,

I did a bit of research and noticed that we recently fixed an issue that related to playing video on multiple tabs. The issue is fixed in the most recent version (9.0.28). This may be the source of your recent frustration and I'm hopeful that you'll be set.

Please give it a try and let me know if it solves the issue you're seeing.

--- Paul

Report · Nov 19, 2006

Hi, I've been reading about this stuff, read all comments and posts, but i still have a problem.

Just 10 minutes ago, i got the same error Flash9b.ocx.
I got the Error with Flash9.ocx too.

I downloaded the uninstaller and downloaded the installer, but i still get this error.

I was using Maxthon which is a browser based on IE, meaning it uses IE files.
I am using IE6, I have still yet to get the error in IE6, i'm still testing, but i've already gotten the error in Maxthon which is a tabbed browser.

I do have 9.0.28 version of flash, the website that keeps crashing on me is www.notebookreview.com.
In general I can browse anywhere from 5-30 minutes, then it will crash beacuse of Flash9b.ocx.
It usually crashes when i hit the BACK button, you know go to the last seen page.

In Maxthon once this error pops up it closes Maxthon and all of my tabs, but of course in IE if i have 8-10 browsers open then IE will only close that particular browser with the error.

I also have FireFox2 (stock), which i recently downloaded, and that has been working fine, if i do get more errors i will let you know.

PS: i just tried the above link, http://ndd3.football.sportsline.com/scoreboard/live/10/4/10
I tried to make my IE crash, but i seems i can browse around for now, but as i said earlier, i can browse on www.notebookreview.com for a limited amount of time, before it crashes, and it usually crashes when i hit back, or refresh.

Thanks,

MysticGolem

Report · Nov 19, 2006

I'm using the latest up to date version of XP and IE7.

I used the uninstall program several times. I then went through the registry and deleted every reference to Flash I could find. I scanned the hard drive for any sign of any reference to it. I shut down the computer and rebooted in safe mode. I then ran the uninstaller several times again while in safe mode, and also again looked for any references to Flash on the hard drive and in the registry while in safe mode. I shut down the computer again, rebooted, and searched yet again. No signs of any Flash reference anywhere. Okay, it's apparently completely gone as far as I can tell.

I then went and installed the 9.0.28 version of Flash. I went to the test site and it confirmed that I did indeed have version 9.0.28 installed. I once again shut down the computer and rebooted. I then went to Myspace and within seconds I got the message that said Internet Explorer had a problem with the add on, and was being shut down. I shut things down, disabled Flash under the Manage Add ons option in Internet Explorer, and went back to Myspace. I opened one of the same pages there that was running when problems have occurred in the past, and also about half a dozen others at the same time in addition. I left them open for a couple of days straight, refreshing them once in a while, and was running Internet Explorer in several other windows during that time as well. No problems at all occurred with Flash disabled. None. Ever. Every single time I've gone back to try enabling it, there's a crash in short order, even without all of the different Internet Explorer windows open. I disable the Flash and there's never anymore sign of any problems, ever.

I've had enough with trying to get it working, and am just going to leave it disabled from now on.

Report · Nov 26, 2006

quote:

Originally posted by: Larry929
I'm using the latest up to date version of XP and IE7.

I used the uninstall program several times. I then went through the registry and deleted every reference to Flash I could find. I scanned the hard drive for any sign of any reference to it. I shut down the computer and rebooted in safe mode. I then ran the uninstaller several times again while in safe mode, and also again looked for any references to Flash on the hard drive and in the registry while in safe mode. I shut down the computer again, rebooted, and searched yet again. No signs of any Flash reference anywhere. Okay, it's apparently completely gone as far as I can tell.

I then went and installed the 9.0.28 version of Flash. I went to the test site and it confirmed that I did indeed have version 9.0.28 installed. I once again shut down the computer and rebooted. I then went to Myspace and within seconds I got the message that said Internet Explorer had a problem with the add on, and was being shut down. I shut things down, disabled Flash under the Manage Add ons option in Internet Explorer, and went back to Myspace. I opened one of the same pages there that was running when problems have occurred in the past, and also about half a dozen others at the same time in addition. I left them open for a couple of days straight, refreshing them once in a while, and was running Internet Explorer in several other windows during that time as well. No problems at all occurred with Flash disabled. None. Ever. Every single time I've gone back to try enabling it, there's a crash in short order, even without all of the different Internet Explorer windows open. I disable the Flash and there's never anymore sign of any problems, ever.

I took the exact same steps as this poster. I still get the same crash at www.cbs.com/innertube/ and www.nbc.com when I let IE 6 or IE7 sit on them for more than a few hours.

EDIT: I should also point out that I tested this problem with Flash version 8 r22 & r24 and never saw the error even when the browser was left up for several days. Unfortunately, after the last update, these sites will not allow me to use v8.

EDIT#2: I reproduced this on my PC at work. This machine is completely different in regards to their hardware/software configuration. IE7 with innertube and nbc open simulaneously in diffrent tabs in one window. After about 3 hours, the same crash reported above.

Report · Dec 01, 2006

This is; pardon the language, Bullshit! I have tried every crappy little fix you people have come up with there at Adobe. NOTHING HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. If any other industry put a product out on the market that caused this many problems they would recall it and FIX IT! I know you wont let this stay in the postings because I am so critical of your baby but, this product SUCKS, plain and simple.
You have a product that obviously works for the Retail consumer, the Web site owners that use this to enhance their respective web sites or a version of it and we are not privy to the same kind of service. You have almost corned the market and I would hazard a guess to say that probably one-third or more of the web sites out there use an Adobe product of one kind or another.
It is my fervent hope that this stays on your Forum because I think that we have enough grievances for a Class Action Law Suit. A Suit designed to force Adobe to actually fix the problem or pull the product and make available a product; Free of Charge, that will fill the void left by this one, until such time as the problems are corrected and the product can be reintroduced, bug free.

Report · Dec 01, 2006

Here we go . .the 'american' solution of litigation. Something doesn't
work, so find someone to sue and make money out of a problem. Typical.

Just because a few people have problems with their computers installing
Flash (which is it not proven as yet is even Adobes problem, it could be an
issue with some other software or with users not following instructions or
almost anything).

I hope there are solution for your problems, but in no way do you have any
case for litigation as the program does not cause harm, and as it is free
you cannot claim back what you paid for it.
--
Jeckyl

Report · Dec 06, 2006

quote:

Originally posted by: Newsgroup User
Here we go . .the 'american' solution of litigation. Something doesn't
work, so find someone to sue and make money out of a problem. Typical.

Just because a few people have problems with their computers installing
Flash (which is it not proven as yet is even Adobes problem, it could be an
issue with some other software or with users not following instructions or
almost anything).

I hope there are solution for your problems, but in no way do you have any
case for litigation as the program does not cause harm, and as it is free
you cannot claim back what you paid for it.
--
Jeckyl

Actually, while I disagree with a class action lawsuit, he DOES have reason to say the product causes harm. It crashes several different user interfaces to the web, and in doing so, causes the user stress and in some cases, panic. Whne someone is trying to write an email and the web interface with flash 9 crashes, there is no getting that back for instance.

For me, annoying. But there are a huge outcry of users that are upset. That doesn't mean we need to sue the internet, or the poeple who make it so we can interface at all with these sites. I think we need to be vigilant about making out concerns heard.

Not a lawyer, just a computer tech, I promise.

-Katte
UCS Utah
ucsutah.com

Report · Dec 09, 2006

Again i'm no expert i am a dsl technition so I do mess a lot with comps. I worked on this for about 3 days and 2 dys ago all is still working no crashes. I have no trouble with ie 7 so I found something about applets and microsoft and java together. so I installed java to 5.0 update 9 did a restart. Then I researched in the search box ininstalling flash player- read a technote on it -so I uninstalled all flash and active x. uninstall_flash_player.exe ( after that reinstalled flash nine and have no trouble since.

Report · Dec 16, 2006

Thank for your response, but Litigation has never been my intention, and I know you can't sue the internet but you can sue the maker a defective product even if it free. I just want the problem fixed. I do have a site that I go to to converse with friends, we use cams and voice to chat and after doing everything that Adobe has come up with to fix it I still have constant problems. The fix will work for a day or two but, then it is right back to the same old Flash-Crash and once it starts it is constant. I have gone through the system registry and deleted all instances of flash palyer and reloaded the new fix and still I get a message when I startup that there is a conflict with Abode 8 and I cannot find it anywhere. Unless it is coming from the source site I don't know where it has reloaded from.
As for the last reply(before yours), I am usually a polite consumer and take what I have too to be on the internet. But, I am not Litigation happy and it is not my answer to everything. Sometimes litigation is the only way to make people admit their mistakes and correct the problem that they so obviously created. When you rush a product onto the market to make some kind of obvious deadline or to just stay ahead of the competition you don't check it thoroughly enough. It is then they have some guy start a chat room to try to suggest repairs to the problem as long as they can to avoid the responsibility of actually fixing it. How many thousands more complaints will it take before they take responsibility? Even the department of transportation will eventually put up a stop light to fix an intersection after enough people have died there from motor vehicle accidents. If you are just on here to mock others problems then who truly has a problem, ask yourself, am I part of the solution or am I just here to distract from the real issue.

Report · Dec 16, 2006

> I just want the problem fixed.

Everyone who has problems wants them fixed .. if they didn't they wouldn't
be problems.

> after doing everything
> that Adobe has come up with to fix it I still have constant problems.

Then it is most likely some new problem that Adobe does yet have a solution
for (so perhaps that particular problem is unique to your PC, or at least
something that Adobe cannot reproduce. Perhaps it is a combination of
problems, and you need to apply more than one solution.

> The fix will work for a day or two but, then it is right back to the same
> old
> Flash-Crash

Soo .. the fix works, but it recurs. That implies even more strongly that
it is some problem with your PC. Ther emust be something happening to make
the probram crash again after working properly. Maybe some virus, some
update being applied, some web site with some malware/spyware. Programs
really don't just spontaneously break on their own.

> a conflict with Abode 8

WTF is Adboe 8 ??

> How many thousands more complaints will it take before they take
> responsibility?

How many complaints have they had .. do you know?
--
Jeckyl

Report · Feb 05, 2007

quote:

Originally posted by: Jeckyl Newsgroup User
Here we go . .the 'american' solution of litigation. Something doesn't
work, so find someone to sue and make money out of a problem. Typical.

The only typical thing I see here is the arrogance of an anonymous poster. Since no status information appears with your name, is it safe to assume you're not posting with a regular user account? An administrative account, perhaps?

quote:

Just because a few people have problems with their computers installing
Flash (which is it not proven as yet is even Adobes problem, it could be an
issue with some other software or with users not following instructions or
almost anything).

It seem to be more than just a few people - more like an Internetwide epidemic. Googling "flash9.ocx error" yields 9170 hits. And while this may not be a problem specific to an Adobe release, you'd think that errors reportedly caused by "flash_.ocx" would be of some interest to the purveyor of the associated software.

quote:

I hope there are solution for your problems, but in no way do you have any
case for litigation as the program does not cause harm, and as it is free
you cannot claim back what you paid for it.

I admire your ability to make such a measured judgment, but how do you presume to know whether or not it causes harm? If customers stop coming to an online store because the site makes their browsers crash, might that be considered harm? If a financial trader loses a million dollar transaction because some flash applet has a memory leak, might that be considered harm? Does loss of customer confidence and good will cause harm to Adobe? Think about it.

I don't know if there is enough information to point the finger of blame at any one party. From the symptoms described in the problem reports it could be anything from hardware drivers, system calls, application bugs or input data errors [though the last is a fault with the interface]. It doesn't really matter to me. The point is, no solution seems to be forthcoming. Nobody has taken ownership of the problem or commited to fixing it.

Instead, we've gotten a recruitment campaign for product beta-testers. There's nothing wrong with beta-testing. Many companies employ it as a means of quality control. It usually takes place before the product is released, however. Suggesting workarounds that involve repeated uninstalls, reinstalls, registery hacks and the like [ does the fix include holding up one leg and hopping around in a circle?] is not the answer. If things get too complicated, the cure becomes worse than the disease. Give us an executable file that overwrites the existing version and prevents the error from occurring. That's what I would call a solution.

I've lived with this problem for over a year now. I eagerly await the arrival of a tested and proven-to-be-safe Adobe flash player. In the meantime, the only viable choice I have is to completely disable Crashomedia and let online merchants know why I can no longer patronize their businesses.

Report · Nov 20, 2006

Could you give me instructions on how to disable Flash in the Manage Addon for IE6, thanks!

Thanks,

MysticGolem

Report · Nov 21, 2006

Hey Paul,

FP v9r28 doesn't install right for me. It gives me the new file, but still runs the old one. Why doesn't it update the registry like v7r63 did?

Report · Nov 22, 2006

hey Mystic

...go to "tools" in ie6 then "manage Add-ons"...then highligh "shockwave flash object" an at the bottom make sure that green cirlce's in the "disable"....an press "ok"...then u should be like peas an carrots again...

...this forum is gettin ridiculous...where the hell is the magic fix...ive been waitin over 10 years now...why would i purchase or download anythin with the name "adobe" attached to it?...if they cant fix this...how can they fix anything else??

Report · Nov 22, 2006

Wind -

The new release should update the registry like 7r63 did. Try this (assuming you're using Windows and IE6 or IE7):

- IMPORTANT: Close all browsers and IM clients first

0) open DOS command window
1) cd \windows\systems32\macromed\flash
2) flashutil9b.exe -uninstallUnlock
3) flashutil9b.exe -uninstallSafeVersions

*** If you see a dialog for step 2 or 3, select "Don't Install" and try the step again. You probably had a typo.
*** If you see an error "flashutil9b is not recognized ...", skip to Step 6 and let me know what happens.

4) del flash9b.ocx
5) del flashutil9b.exe

*** If you see an "Access is Denied" error, it means Flash is in use and you must close all apps besides the DOS command window

6) install the new version from here:
http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash

*** you can de-select the toolbar install

7) test the install here:
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?event=view&id=KC.tn_15507&extid=tn_15507

You should be set.

--- Paul

Report · Nov 22, 2006

That didn't work. It still said 9,0,16,0
As expected, I could rename Flash9b.ocx to Flash9.ocx, and get it to show 9,0,28,0. However, my registry still says:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Macromedia\FlashPlayer CurrentVersion 9,0,16,0

I have had to update the registry manually for every FP update after version 8, and I'm kinda getting tired of it. Also, I'm never sure I'm changing everything that needs to be changed.

Report · Nov 24, 2006

I get the same problem with the browser crashing repeatedly. I get it on Youtube, and I got it on IBM.com/us
I am running XP service pack 2, IE6

This really isn't fun.

Report · Dec 16, 2006

Paul - I haven't been on in a while, but I'm still not having much luck with this. I tried installing 9.0.28.0 and was (supposidly) successful. I saw the flashplayer installed successful message and movie. I tried your link and it showed the correct version. But my browser (IE6) does not seem to recognize. I had no other brower windows open. can you help? thanks

Report · Dec 01, 2006

Raydog,

I'll investigate the issue you reported this morning.

Others - For myspace.com crashes, the only way I can help is if you provide information on your config (OS version, browser version, Flash Player version) and the exact URL where the crash occurred. A screen print is also very helpful.

--- Paul

Report · Dec 04, 2006

...still waitin for a friggin fix....

idiots...

Report · Dec 04, 2006

Well, I have been quiet on this one for a while, due to work and life and all. But heres whats happening now. I have been following the updates religiosly, and as it goes along, it seems to make things progressively worse. You can now add youtube.com to the list of sites that regularly crashes, where it didn't before.

Like I said, I work in the computer field and see this stuff quite a bit. Even from clean installs of windows. I will be happy upload my pesonal dump files as well as my system log, for all the good that will do you, since the dump files say nothing, and you have to be logged into my machine to see the instances in the system log. As for customer machines, totally different matter. I refuse to provide customer information without their prior knowledge. Its bad enough trying to explain spyware/malware and the like to them.

Now, What I am wondering, is if this may not possibly be driver interference issues, since it seems some computers are more prone to it than others. Originally I thought it may have been a video card issue. Most of the machines I see with it are updated and have nicer setups than what we have traditionally seen.

And the older ones don't seem to get afflicted with this.

I am patient, I know a fix takes time. Hell, I have worked with Asus and nVidia enough to know that the new stuff takes time to get the bugs worked out..... LOL! Not to mention the Microsoft issues that required 2 MAJOR patches before it was essentially hole-less.

I am still using IE6 and advising my customers to do the same until IE7 becomes a forced download.

My flashplayer crashes 2-4 times a day. Its annoying, as I have to remember what the hell I was doing when it crashed since it usually crashes when I am AFK.

I will start taking screenshots. I will ask my customers to allow me to do same since it doesn't give anything about them away.

-Katte

Report · Dec 06, 2006

Adobe puts explicit NTFS-rights (deny write attributes) for the builtin SID´s "Everyone" and "Anonymous Logon" on the flash9b.ocx file. When you delete this permissions from the file (File/Properties/Security Tab) you can remove the flash9b.ocx-file.

Report · Dec 11, 2006

Hi,

Yes - you can capture a stack trace. You will only be able to generate the log if a crash occurs. A hang will not result in a log file. Here are some instructions:

1) open notepad (or another text file editor)

2) create a text file with one line:
CrashLogEnable=1

3) save the file as:
c:\windows\system32\macromed\flash\mms.cfg
(it must be called mms.cfg as mms.cfg.txt will not work)

4) generate a crash in the browser and record all URLs open at the time (windows or tabs)

5) Open up a command line prompt. (From the Start Menu choose Run… then type cmd in the dialog.

6) Type cd "Local Settings\Temp" at the command line prompt. Make sure that you enclose the Local Settings in quotation marks.

7) Type dir *.mdmp at the command line prompt. These are the log files that are to be sent to adobe. (It might be easier to copy these files to your desktop using Windows Explorer.)

8) Create a new mail message and attach these files. I can give you instructions on sending them to me for analysis by the engineering team.

--- Paul