could not find flash.ocx

Report · Jul 30, 2006

For the past few days, I've been getting an error "could not find the file 'flash.ocx.'" There is a button for OK and nothing else.

I recently upgraded to flash 9 so I could run a game, and have been receiving the error ever since.

I've tried uninstalling and restarting, then re-installing and restarting. I've looked at websites all over the internet hoping to find some sort of fix but couldn't find many other people having the same issue, and couldn't find an answer. I found a registry fix but running that did not work. I even tried installing flash 8, and it still was giving me the error. I found that the error was showing up every five minutes and only when the computer was idle, never when I was doing something. It also seemed to disable my screensaver, which I assume uses flash. My screensaver, apparently, is the program trying to access this and failing. Sure enough, going into my screensaver options and chosing to preview this particular screensaver showed me the error. I deleted and re-installed this screensaver (from an official website, it's the stargate atlantis official screensaver) and still am receiving the error.

Changing my default screensaver to a windows XP one works fine. Now that I've worked around it, it's not a big issue but I'd still like to know if anyone knows what could be wrong. Could there be something wrong with my version of flash, could it be corrupted somehow, or is it the actual screensaver? Could the screensaver be looking for something in an earlier flash version and not playing well with flash9? I just don't want this to become a problem in the future, and I hope it helps a few out who are having this issue as well.

Report · Jul 30, 2008

Hi svtdragon, I was having exactly the same problem. Testing the screen saver gave Can not find the Macromedia Flash. I copied the Flash9f.ocx, renamed it to Flash.ocx and my screensaver from Breitling workes again, but my desktop pic disappeared. Less problem though than the other. Now I will have to wait and see if I got rid of the very irritating Can not find ... Thanks for the solution. Bill Cody, 7/30/08

Report · Aug 05, 2008

svtdragon - You are a genius TY so very much!! My moms computer was doing the same thing and you helped me fix the problem!!

Report · Mar 19, 2009

I was getting the Can not find the Macromedia Flash (something like that) dialogue when my screensaver attempted to activate. Uninstalling/Re-installing the flash player per Adobe's instructions did not solve the problem, but svtdragon's work-around below (as well as similar posts) did. In my case, it was Flash10b.ocx (on Win XP SP2) that needed to be renamed. Thanks, svtdragon!

quote:

Originally posted by: svtdragon
I think I solved the problem.

I went to C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash and copied "Flash9.ocx" and then pasted it back in the same directory. This created "Copy of Flash9.ocx" which I then renamed to "Flash.ocx." (Thus I had "Flash.ocx" and "Flash9.ocx", both the same file with a different name in the same directory.) Everything in IE seems to be working normally now; I'm not sure yet about my screensaver, but time will tell.

Report · Sep 07, 2006

quote:

Originally posted by: Nikki Tatts

I believe I have figured out the solution. Go to this "Uninstaller Link"and click on "download the windows uninstaller."
Follow the prompts and completely uninstall the player and Active X. Once this is done go to download Flash Player 9 and it will install the complete version instead of the updates which have been problematic.

I did this and it still did not work for me.

I uninstalled the screensaver and downloaded a new one, works fine now!

Report · Nov 17, 2006

I had this same issue. Which I noticed when my screensaver tried to start.
It started after Microsoft did one of their usual upgrades (or downgrades in this case!).

I tried everything... and nearly gave up.
In the end, this worked.
1. uninstall the screensaver
2. uninstall flash (using the adobe uninstaller mentioned in one of the above posts)
3. reinstall the screensaver

Job done.

Report · Aug 09, 2006

Copy & Rename "flash9.ocx" to "flash.ocx"... Has anyone experienced the issue with Flash9 not recognizing IE when installing , but automatically registers Mozilla? Then when you browse for IE and slect the directory for plug-ins (which Macromedia asks for) it dislays the message plug-ins not found in the directory (although the folder is clearly there). Why is it that ver.7 works in Mozilla, but not IE and version 8 will not even attempt to install on IE?

Report · Oct 28, 2007

AWESOME!! works!!

quote:

Originally posted by: svtdragon
I think I solved the problem.

I went to C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash and copied "Flash9.ocx" and then pasted it back in the same directory. This created "Copy of Flash9.ocx" which I then renamed to "Flash.ocx." (Thus I had "Flash.ocx" and "Flash9.ocx", both the same file with a different name in the same directory.) Everything in IE seems to be working normally now; I'm not sure yet about my screensaver, but time will tell.

I had the same problem after Flash9 player upgrade. Was thinking its some virus..
but anyways, your solution worked for me.. I didn't have Flash9.ocx but had Flash9b.ocx and Flash9c.ocx, with the C version 0.01mb larger in size. I duplicated the C version and renamed it to Flash.ocx, and now the same screensaver works just fine!! :)

thanks.. you rock!

Report · Nov 17, 2006

Hhhmm.. well job "was done", but straight afterwards, MS updated AGAIN and created the same fault.
Typical MS.

Report · Jan 13, 2007

Had the same problem here - "Error - Can not find the Macromedia Flash". I was using LCARS System47 screensaver from mewho.com. It's an excellent and stable screensaver, and the best free one I've found with dual-monitor support. Adobe auto-updated Flash after I'd installed the screensaver, and that's when I started getting the error. So I thought maybe System47 was using Flash. I went back to mewho.com, got the latest install, installed over the existing, and my problem is solved. My kudos to Adobe and mewho.com for staying on top of things. (Adobe may not have replied to questions in this forum, but how could they know? It would be impossible for them to test every one of the possibly millions of real-world scenarios. But their products are always top-notch and well-supported.) Hope this helps.

Report · Jul 30, 2008

Hi svtdragon,
I started having the Can not find ... after visiting a TV broadcasting site, where I was prompted to upgrade my Flash. To fix it, I copied Flash9f.ocx, as you said, and renamed it Flash.ocx in the Flash directory. Voila, my Breitling screensaver works again and no more Can not find the Macromedia Flash signs. Good Indian medicine. Thanks. It has to be a Stetson!
Bill Cody, 7/30/08

Report · Aug 01, 2008

I have the same problem, butt the error message says can't find SWFLASH.OCX.....can i do the same thing? Copy and then change the Flash9f.ocx to swflash.ocx?

I have another problem, in the "Add and Remove Programs" list, the Adobe Flash Player 9 disapear, i just have Adobe Flash Player ActiveX. What can i do?

Report · Jan 29, 2009

Hey I just wanted to tell you how to fix your problem...Ok, first do this go to (local dick C.) then locate windows next locate file system 32 now if you done correctly you should be able to find macromedia it is a file which contains flash files once in this file check to see if you have this file Flash9.ocx if not you will have to download if you don't have it see if you have this file Flash.ocx.Now Flash.ocx is basically an old version of flash if you download Flash9.ocx you can simply replace it and rename it flash.ocx here I will make it simple for you...

To do this:
1. Browse to the C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash folder.
2. Locate the flash9.ocx file and right click it and select copy.
3. Right click in a blank spot of the same folder and select paste.
4. You will then find you have a file called Copy of Flash9.ocx in the folder.
5. Right click the new file and select rename and rename to flash.ocx

If you need a good place to find a download for Flash9.ocx use CNET.com simply put in the Flash9.ocx name and you should see a list you will have to download a what seems to be a registry fixer and that should fix your problem!!!!

Report · Mar 19, 2009

Your screensaver is calling flash in a way not compatible with the latest update. Go back to a screensaver shipped with windows. There is nothing wrong with Flash or your computer.