Unable to install flash player 9

Report · Nov 26, 2006

I have been unable to install flash player 9. I followed all the directions in the web site and did everything that was suggested for problems. One of the things I was told to do was to uninstall previous versions. That was the worst suggestion! Now I can't go to any web page that has Flash content and see anything. I get the little square with the circle, triangle and box. When I try to install it says it is installing, but then you are supposed to get a picture and some text after installation is complete. However, I just get " and that is it. Adobe does not respond to any e-mail. Can someone please help me?

Doug

Report · Nov 26, 2006

Try reinstalling version 7 for now. You should be able to view some flash content at least.
Flash Player 7

Report · Nov 26, 2006

Thanks, but I tried installing version 7 as you said but it would not install. Once before I had found version 8 and it would not install either -- both for the same reason. When I would select the file from the archive it would begin installing and I would get a message box saying: INF install failure. Problem: Unknown

That has happened over and over. Any more suggestions?
thanks -- Doug

Report · Nov 29, 2006

I had the same problem and I'd tried everything. Then I noticed that C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data did not contain the Macromedia folder. My computer has multiple user folders, so I looked at another user folder, double clicked Application Data and noticed that THAT folder did contain the Macromedia folder. I simply copied that Macromedia folder and pasted it into the Application Data folder in C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator. Then I tried to download flashplayer again and it WORKS! I am no computerwhizz, but whatever I did, it got me to download flashplayer! It works perfectly now.....

Report · Nov 29, 2006

I followed your recipe, but it did not have the same affect on mine as it did on yours. I wish it had. I was very hopeful when I found the Macromedia folder under one user but not Administrator. I don't have mine set up for different users to login. I'm the only one. Anyway, I put that folder as you did, but it still won't install.

Thanks -- Doug

Report · Nov 29, 2006

> However, I just get "
> and that is it. Adobe does not respond to any e-mail.

Did you read the technote on just this issue at

http://www.adobe.com/go/4a8d52ae
--
Jeckyl

Report · Nov 29, 2006

Yes, I had seen the Tech notes and followed the instructions. The remedy was to remove a file/folder from the registry, but it did not exist in my registry. Once again, I was very hopeful when their notes described by exact problem, but their suggestions didn't work. Maybe someone else will have another idea. I would really like Adobe to reply.
I have no problem in Firefox reading the web pages with flash content. It is just that the IE part will not install. Firefox uses different files.

Thanks -- Doug

Report · Dec 12, 2006

Hello all,

I had the same problem everyone else here is having trying to install Flash Player. I was able to solve it by following the instructions at http://www.adobe.com/go/fb1634cb

This looks like a difficult process but turned out not to be as bad as I thought. My only error was assuming it didn't matter what folder I installed the files to, just as long as I knew where they were and could reference that folder in the CMD window; the instructions specify C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools folder, and I put it into C:\Documents and Settings\(my logon id) folder instead. This fixed MY browser, but not my wife's. Realizing the procedure had probably only run in my logon, I then moved the folder to HER C:\Documents and Settings\(her logon id) folder and ran the procedure from her desktop, and voila! - it fixed hers as well. While I haven't tried it since everything is working properly now, I'm guessing that by following the instructions EXACTLY, the browsers in both logons would have gotten fixed.

Best of luck - hope this helps.
Larry

Report · Nov 30, 2006

I can feel your frustration. Many times solutions helped other people except for me. Did you uninstall flashplayer before you copied the Macromedia folder into the Application Data folder of the Administrator folder? (a bit confusing, I know) I uninstalled the flashplayer, using the latest uninstaller, then rebooted my computer and finally came to that solution of copying and pasting the Macromedia folder.

Report · Nov 30, 2006

One of the things that I did when I began having problems installing version 9 was to follow Adobe's directions of uninstalling previous versions. That was the point where I began having problems. Not only could I not install version 9, but I lost all Flash recognition on web sites. I have follow suggestions of looking through the registry for certain entries that need to be deleted. I have tried to install versions 7 & 8, but ran into the error -- INF Install Failure Reason: Unknown. So, there's nothing left to uninstall and nothing will install. Big-time bummer!

Report · Dec 03, 2006

I was having the exact same problem as Doug (BigDog57). I tried everything listed here and on other sites to get Flash to install and nothing worked. Finally I got it to install by doing the following. I have 2 users under Windows XP for my wife and me. I had been trying everything using my id. Finally I unistalled Flash using the Adobe uninstall tool. Then I switched to my wife's id - leaving mine logged in too. I opened IE (IE 7) and went to the Adobe flash install page and was able to install it under her id with no problem. Then I switched back to my id, opened IE 7, and verified that flash was still not working for me. At that point I was able to go to the Adobe site and install it under my id with no problem.

Report · Dec 05, 2006

That was very creative! I don't quite know how to take what you did and try it on mine. I don't have any other users except me Owner the Administrator. I did not want to have to log in to Windows and enter passwords. I have a quadriplegic and use Dragon NaturallySpeaking to do everything on my computer. I never touch a keyboard, because I can't use it. Windows has to completely install and load NaturallySpeaking before I can use my computer. If I have other users, I would have to choose when Windows starts up and at that point NaturallySpeaking has not loaded yet. I am afraid of creating another user to try your solution for fear of not being able to delete it without leaving the login screen for me. I can't have a login screen for my system to work with my voice input program.
Any thoughts?

-- Doug

Report · Dec 05, 2006

I, too, have been unable to install flash player. This is so frustrating! I followed all the suggestions and spent too much time for nothing. Now I know why they make it so hard for us to contact them for tech support.

Report · Dec 07, 2006

I have this problem too. FP works in Firefox but not in IE. I had IE8, uninstalled it and am now on IE6. Still it won't work.
The problem is not only in the websites but in MSN too. I can't see/use winks anymore because it keeps asking for a new flash version.

Why is there no answer from anyone of Adobe?

Report · Dec 07, 2006

> Why is there no answer from anyone of Adobe

Because this is not the place to get answers or support from Adobe. That is
not its purpose. It is a forum that they host so that customers can help
each other. If you want help from Adobe, I'm afraid you have to pay for it,
or search for information in their technotes.
--
Jeckyl

Report · Dec 07, 2006

We are not questioning why Adobe is not responding to this forum, rather the places on Adobe's web site to contact them. We know that this is a public forum that is not monitored by Adobe. However, whenever a company's web site has a place to contact them, they should show us the decency of responding.

Having said that.... My problem has been solved, but not by anything I did intentionally. I was installing some software to run a new piece of hardware I just got to organize CDs. While the software was installing I noticed it was installing Flash Player. It was not the latest version, but at least now I get some Flash. I am afraid to go to Adobe's web site to try to download version 9. At this point I am paranoid! As long as I have something, I am a happy camper.

Report · Dec 07, 2006

> We are not questioning why Adobe is not responding to this forum

A lot of people do, though, and seem to expect Adobe personell to monitor
their own forums and answer questions. Other companies DO work that way,
Adobe is one that doesn't (probably due to the large amount of traffic, and
because then they couldn't charge for support if it can be gotten for free
from here :))

> rather the
> places on Adobe's web site to contact them.

Adobe charges for support .. I don't think they will just give you answers
directly for free.

They do publish answers in technotes .. that's the place to get 'answers'
from Adobe if you don't want to pay (althought some techontes end up being
excuses for why things don't work as they should 😉 )
--
Jeckyl

Report · Dec 07, 2006

I couldn't agree with you more. Unfortunately, when it comes to a company the size of Adobe, these public forums are about all we have. Fortunately, though, there are a lot of very sharp people out there to give good advice to those of us fumbling around in the dark. :-(

Thanks for the input!

Report · Dec 09, 2006

Hey something that worked for me was i had to upgrade my java to 5.0 update 9 and restart. then i uninstalled all flash players. uninstall_flash_player.exe ( and reinstalled flash 9 with no troubles so far only 2 dys but its working good.

Report · Dec 13, 2006

So. Are you saying that Adobe CREATES THESE KINDS of PROBLEMS so it can support their BOTTOM LINE! Its beginning to make sense to me now. I have not been able to view several webpage contents due to the same " problem!!!

They (Adobe) do not provide ANY kind of feedback, or voice contact options on either their website or other places.

I think there IS a LESSON to be learned from these "Satisfied" companies that violate basic business principles for the love of 'money"!

Its disgusting!

Report · Dec 11, 2006

Hi all

I've been having the same problem, I tried to upgrade to the latest version of Flash Player and was using IE7. When the upgrade failed I tried uninstalling the old version first, after which I could not get Flash to re-install. After a lot of digging around however I've managed to find a fix. I removed the directory C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash and also ran the Flash un-installer (although I don't think this step was necessary). I think rebooted my machine and logged on to the Adobe Website, this time when I clicked on the install Flash player it all worked fine.

I'm hoping this solves the problem for everyone else as I know just how frustrating this problem is once Flash has been removed from the machine.

Thanks !

Dan

Report · Dec 11, 2006

Actually there are ton of threads on this. "By Design" Microsoft has removed
almost all of it's previous functionality in order to add the new tabbing
system. Flash players and many standard addins no longer work. Microsofts
answer for this is to disable and uninstall all addins and some how thing the
internet is going to remove all multimedia. The best aswer for you is to
uninstall ie7. You system will revert back to IE6 and things will all work
again. However, in many cases services installed with ie7 and not uninstalled
with the ie7 uninstaller will also cause problems. The only solution to this
is to re-install service pack2. Make sure any time you are prompted about
overwriting a file that is newer than the one in sp2 that you choose to
overwrite the new file. Things like network connections and other problems
will persist if you don't.

Report · Dec 11, 2006

> Actually there are ton of threads on this. "By Design" Microsoft has
> removed
> almost all of it's previous functionality in order to add the new tabbing
> system. Flash players and many standard addins no longer work.

That is absoute rubbish and not a word of truth in it

The add-ins all work as they did in IE6 .. and Flash palyer installa just
fine for the vast majority of people . as is always the case, some people
will have problems, but that is usually because their pc is already screwed
(adware, viruses, not correctly installing or unintalling software,
incompatible softawre and malware, installing cracked software etc etc)

Please .. get your facts straight before posting lies and scaremongering.
--
Jeckyl

Report · Dec 11, 2006

I finally got it working (with IE7).
Went to the map system32/macromedia/flash and there I saw a file named
FlashUtil9b which enabled me to update the flash player and it worked.
I did install the alternative version from http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Real_Alternative.htm b/c I don't want the complete player.

Report · Dec 11, 2006

I went to that directory and did not find that particular file, however, I found Flash9b.ocx and double clicked on it. After it ran its course, I went back to the directory and the file you mentioned was there. I double clicked on it and a few seconds later a box came up telling me the program installed correctly. So, I open the control panel and went to add or remove programs and sure enough, Adobe flash player 9 was listed.

I have gone through so many steps before this one, I don't know which one with the .ocx file there. Whatever it was, I know seem to have what we have all been looking for. I went to a web site that always tells me I need the newest version for me to see what I want. I went back there and I was able to view what I never have been able to do.

Thank you!

Doug