I was experiencing issues with some websites' flash content; one site had no volume, others wouldn't load the videos at all, etc. Believing I had to uninstall and reinstall FP, I followed the steps on the following url:
http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-windows.html
The above url needs to have a huge warning right at the top, "NOT FOR WINDOWS 8/8.1"
After running the provided uninstall tool, and deleting the files specified, reinstalling FP proved impossible.
Trying to reinstall in IE10 inevitably redirects me to:
http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/flash-player-issues-windows-8.html
where I'm simultaneously told I don't need to install FP because it's embedded in IE in Windows 8, and that I'm not using IE in windows 8.
I've run through all the pre-packaged troubleshooting.
- In Tools>Manage Add-Ons, Shockwave Flash Object is present and "Enabled".
- I've verified that ActiveX Filtering is not checked.
- Windows will not allow me to update IE to get latest version, providing me with an error message that the update is already installed.
Other pages that were unhelpful due to not applying to my issue, or the provided tools don't work:
http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/installation-problems-flash-player-windows.html
http://www.adobe.com/support/flashplayer/downloads.html
I've also tried a couple of the full package downloads provided in other discussions in this forum. I get an installation error: "Your Microsoft Internet Explorer browser includes the latest version of the Adobe Flash Player built-in. Windows Update will inform you when new versions of teh Flash Player are available."
I see others have had similar issues in the past, and that Windows Update fixed the issue when a FP update became available. I don't want to wait for that to happen. There must be some way to actively install FP in Windows 8.1.
1 Correct answer
This was the final clue I needed to solve this problem that has been going on the weeks. The enable flash and active x filtering settings were not causing my problem, it was a something that went wrong during that last update.
The specific kb number will change over time. In my case it was kb3008925.
On the flash test page: http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/flash-player-issues-windows-8.html
The update for internet explorer flash player link near the bottom will give you the kb number when
...
8
Replies
I've tried all that. There's nothing in the test box, which indicates Flash Player is not installed. Also, Windows Update has no updates available; and yes, I clicked on "check for updates".
It's possible that my following the uninstall instructions, I've removed the guts of Flash Player, disabling it, but leaving a log or shell of some kind that tells Internet Explorer (and Windows Update) that FP is still installed and up to date.
I didn't JUST run the uninstaller and call it good; the instructions also told me to open folders and delete all contents:
- C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash
- C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash
- %appdata%\Adobe\Flash Player
- %appdata%\Macromedia\Flash Player
I was about to say yes, but I was wrong. I did delete everything out of that folder (wasn't easy; had to edit folder ownership and assign full control permissions to my user). Just now, though, I double-checked and found several files in that folder, all showing they were created 11/15/2014 at 11:42pm (must have installed when I tried one of my other fixes).
But the symptoms remain. I cannot use flash, and it's limiting what I can do on the net (as a stop-gap, I've downloaded chrome).
I did try the installer, but I get an error message that it's already installed:
I really screwed things up, eh?
AdChoices