Flash player on win8.1

[daveb26796041]

Hi all,    Could someone please provide an answer to my queries re flash player.  On my laptop under programs I had two entries of flash player, each had different numbers after their entry. Because my pc was sluggish I rang tech help and a tech guy took control and advised that flash player should be deleted because it is part of win 8.1 and I.E.11.and is therefore not needed. He then uninstalled just one of the entries (i'm pretty sure he was not aware of the other listing). This prompts the Q, do I still need to install the player critical updates windows update informs me of and secondly if the other listing is not required can I uninstall that,. for the record the listing is described as :- Adobe flash player 21NPAPI.   Incidentally flash player does work.

[daveb26796041]

Hi, Because I have not found an answer to my question I will ask the q in a different way.

O.S. WIN 8.1.  -   I.E. 11.0.9600.18538.  -  Flash player ver 24.0.0.186.

I am trying to ascertain whether I have two versions of flash installed on my pc. Adobes web site link tells me I have the above version but on my pc installed programs list  I am informed that  F.P.21NAPPI. ver 21.0.0.213 is installed. Could it be that I have  multiple programs and  the latter version is not req,d and can be uninstalled, your thoughts and expertise would be greatly appreciated in helping out this pc novice.

[divya010193 · Accepted solution]

HI,

Flash Player is a built-in component of IE on Windows 8.  We don't control the installation or distribution process. Flash player ver 24.0.0.186 is the latest version released.

The entry "F.P.21NAPPI. ver 21.0.0.213 is installed" which you are seeing is for browsers like Firefox. If you dont require to run flash player on firefox, you may uninstall it.

Thanks!

[daveb26796041]

divya_1993, many thanks for your  solution to my problem, I will uninstall it because I don't have firefox installed. However please permit me to ask one more question. My understanding is that windows update will automatically d/load and install  updates for flash player as and when they become available, so why does mcafee occasionally tell me a critical update is required and to click to install. Could it be that it is assuming that I am using firefox.

[_maria_]

why does mcafee occasionally tell me a critical update is required and to click to install. Could it be that it is assuming that I am using firefox.

That's quite possible, since the NPAPI plugin version installed was quite old.  If you uninstall Flash Player NPAPI plugin for Firefox (since you don't have it installed) I suspect McAfee will stop notifying you an update is available. Windows Updates will automatically download/install updates so long as it's configured that way, which I'm assuming is the case, based on your comment.

[daveb26796041]

Thanks m_vargas,  I have now uninstalled it and asked mcafee to run an update check and its not found any updates.