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A
Anonymous
June 13, 2017
Answered

newest flash update won't complete install on Windows XP (or Vista)

  • June 13, 2017
  • 8 replies
  • 8346 views

I went to update my flash player to the newest 26 release from the most recent 25 release.  The whole, quick process goes on normally until 50% of the way through the install and says this in the box  Adobe Flash Player: Installation failed. Click Finish for further assistance.  Nothing I saw on the assistance pages applies to me.  Nothing about my computer has changed since the last update in May or any other time for that matter.  Everything is how it has always been. Any one know what to do? I use Firefox on Windows XP.

[moderator: for clarity, added 'Windows XP' to the title]

[moderator: added Vista to the title.  we've received reports of the same issue on Vista]

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer ridhij4208356012135538

    Hi,

    The ongoing issue with the online installer is fixed. You can go ahead and use the online installer for installing latest version of Flash Player on Windows XP/Vista platforms.

    Thanks!

    8 replies

    L
    ljmacri
    Participant
    June 15, 2017

    Hi dougt23333122:

    Thanks for posting about this issue.

    I can confirm that the online installer at https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ (flashplayer26ax_ca_install.exe) fails half way through the installation if I try to install the Adobe Flash v26.0.0.126 ActiveX add-on in IE9 on my 32-bit Vista SP2 machine.  Please note that my Vista SP2 OS has been SHA-256 compliant since early 2013 when KB2763674 was automatically installed by Windows Update during my January 2013 Patch Tuesday updates.

    I can also confirm that the offline installer (install_flash_player_ax.exe) I downloaded from the support article Installation Problems | Flash Player | Windows 7 and Earlier installed correctly, so kudos to rich1439561 for posting that workaround.  The HP Solution Center software for my HP all-in-one printer doesn't function correctly unless I have Flash installed in IE9 (I can't use my default Firefox ESR browser with this HP software) so being able to install Flash on my Vista SP2 computer is important to me.
    -------------

    32-bit Vista Home Premium SP2 * Firefox ESR v52.2.0 * IE9 * NS v22.9.4.8 * MB Premium v3.1.2

    HP Pavilion dv6835ca, Intel Core2Duo T5550 @ 1.83 GHz, 3 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS

    ridhij4208356012135538
    Adobe Employee
    ridhij4208356012135538Correct answer
    Adobe Employee
    June 20, 2017

    Hi,

    The ongoing issue with the online installer is fixed. You can go ahead and use the online installer for installing latest version of Flash Player on Windows XP/Vista platforms.

    Thanks!

    dinnied26435062
    dinnied26435062
    Participant
    November 17, 2017

    i am sorry to announce that mine is not yet fixed. I use Firefox, Avast antivirus and XP OS.The antivirus is prompting me to update the flash player, which when I check is version 15.0.0.223 and I do realize the latest is a 26.....I have tried the download but fails to run installation. I also tried suggestions from the forum but to no avail. What else can I do?

    A
    Anonymous
    June 14, 2017

    ok thank you, that seemed to work  that worked.  Now it did say on the download box the publisher could not be verified, is that ok?

    _maria_
    Community Manager
    _maria_Community Manager
    Community Manager
    June 14, 2017

    Thank you for the additional information.  The signature should not be returning 'Unverified Publisher' and we are looking into why it's returning 'Unverified Publisher' instead of 'Adobe Systems Incorporated'

    kevfrey
    kevfrey
    Participant
    June 14, 2017

    Perhaps the code signing certificate is using SHA-256 or some other level that Windows XP's cryptography does not support? 

    But, I wholehearted agree with both m_vargas, and jeromiec83223024 - Moving from XP is essential.

    Many AntiVirus vendors don't support XP anymore, so you are thus becoming even more vulnerable as time moves forward.

    If you can upgrade/replace, I think it is time to pull the trigger and get a new computer w/modern (i.e. supported) OS.

    A
    Anonymous
    June 14, 2017

    so the thing on that page you linked is Flash Player for Firefox - NPAPI fromfpdownload.macromedia ?  Now that doesn't have the option to get rid of the mcafee thing.  So I dont have to worry about that being installed with it do I, because I always uncheck that thing when updating.

    [moderator: removed link]

    _maria_
    Community Manager
    _maria_Community Manager
    Community Manager
    June 14, 2017

    The offline installers do not contain any third-party offerings.

    R
    rich1439561
    Participant
    June 14, 2017

    I had the exact  same problem (install fail 50% through on Firefox+Windows XP) and solved it.

    Solution: You need to download the installer using a direct link found on the adobe troubleshooting page:

    Installation problems | Flash Player | Windows 7 and earlier

    There is a link at the bottom for Flash Player for "Firefox - NPAPI"

    This will give you a 20mb file called "install_flash_player.exe" which worked for me.

    Background: The Firefox plugincheck page said flash 25 was out of date and took me to an adobe download page which downloaded a small (1mb) downloader stub called "flashplayer26_d_install.exe". This is what ran and halfway through said installation failed.

    There was no "C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashInstall32.log" file yet; I assume because that part of the installer hadn't run. I checked "...\Local Settings\Temp\Adobe_ADMLogs\Adobe_ADM.log" which at the end says "ValidationFailure |  | 168 | Binary signature validation failed." That's when I decided to try the full installer file from the direct link above, which worked.

      A
      Anonymous
      June 13, 2017

      Ok thank you.  I just worry because adobe, firefox, and windows all put out updates today so I hope that doesn't mean there was a zero day attack or something.  Nothing nefarious could be stopping the install halfway through, could it?

      _maria_
      Community Manager
      _maria_Community Manager
      Community Manager
      June 13, 2017
      Nothing nefarious could be stopping the install halfway through, could it?

      The previously requested, but not provided, installation log files should provide information as to what caused the hang.

      Microsoft no longer supports Windows XP, and no longer provide updates, security or otherwise, to Windows XP, with the exception of a security update for the WannaCry ransomware virus from last month.

      It's unlikely a Firefox update would impact an unrelated software installation.

      A
      Anonymous
      June 13, 2017

      flashplayer26_ha_install(1).exe is the file name i guess, but if it will update on its own within 24 hours since I have that setting, I guess it should do it, right?

      _maria_
      Community Manager
      _maria_Community Manager
      Community Manager
      June 13, 2017

      Thank you.  I don't have access to an XP system today, but will have access tomorrow. I'll investigate further tomorrow.

      If you're opted into background updates your system should update within 24 hours, assuming it's connected to the internet for the duration.

      A
      Anonymous
      June 13, 2017

      Look, I am not at all a technical person.  So when you say installer file, I'm just gonna tell you I follow the links on Adobes security bulletins page to the relevant flash download center. I have no new anti virus software on here since the last flash update in may and all the other updates; in the past couple of years.  I have a free AVG program and that's been the case for the longest time.  As I said, nothing about my computer has changed, since the last update in May or all other past updates. 

      Now I do and have always had the update flash automatically option always set, so how long after the updates are posted on your security bulletins page to the time it updates automatically on its own?

      _maria_
      Community Manager
      _maria_Community Manager
      Community Manager
      June 13, 2017

      The name of the installer file is the name of the file you downloaded from adobe.com.  We have numerous installer files and having the name of the file you used would enable me to download the exact file and run it, to attempt to reproduce the behavhiour.

      The reason I asked about the anti-virus is that sometimes they interfere with software installations.  Knowing this is also helpful for troubleshooting.  Essentially the more detailed information you can provide, the better we can provide assistance, without making assumptions.

      If you are opted into background updates your system will be updated within 24 hours to the new version, assuming it has an active internet connection.

      _maria_
      Community Manager
      _maria_Community Manager
      Community Manager
      June 13, 2017

      Hi,

      What is the name of the installer file you are using?

      Are you using anti-virus software?  If so, which one, including version?


      I'll need to review the installation log files to troubleshoot the failure.  Please read through the FAQ Where do I find the Flash Player installation log on Windows? and provide the 3 files listed.  Upload the files to cloud.acrobat.com/send using the instructions at How to share a document​.  Post the link to the uploaded files in your reply.

      --

      Maria

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