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Why so many notifications to upgrade THE SAME VERSION OF FLASH?

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
May 27, 2017
3 replies
9229 views

Like most folks, I get periodic notifications to update Adobe Flash Player. It's a waste of time, though, when I've already installed the version about which I'm being notified! Just since January, I've gotten multiple notifications to update v24.0.0.194, v25.0.0.127, v 25.0.0.148, and v25.0.0.171. Why can't Adobe put some intelligence into their update notification system, and have it check which version is already installed before notifying a user that there's "another" version that needs to be installed? I'd really like this question to be answered.

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer _maria_

Hiwh7789565

According to the screenshot, you have the following versions of Flash Player installed:

Flash Player ActiveX Control (for IE) version 22.0.0.192 - this is was released almost a year ago on June 6, 2016
Flash Player NPAPI (for Firefox) version 25.0.0.171 - this is the current version, for all browsers
Flash Player PPAPI (for Chromium-based browsers) version 24.0.0.221 - this was released February 14, 2017

The update notifications you're getting is going to be for Flash Player ActiveX Control and PPAPI, which are out-dated. If you do not use these, it's best to uninstall them so that you do not have versions with known security vulnerabilities installed on your system. To uninstall just the ActiveX Control and PPAPI plugin do the following:

Go to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Programs and Features
Look for Adobe Flash Player 22 ActiveX
- Select this item, right-click and click uninstall
- Alternatively, click the uninstall link at the top of the list of installed programs
Look for Adobe Flash Player 24 PPAPI
- Select this item, right-click and click uninstall
- Alternatively, click the uninstall link at the top of the list of installed programs
Flash Player ActiveX Control and PPAPI plugin are now removed from the system, leaving only Flash Player NPAPI plugin for Firefox

Note that Flash Player's normal release cycle is the second Tuesday of the month (Patch Tuesday), therefore, every month there is a new version. The best way to keep Flash Player up-to-date on a system is to opt-into background Updates. This is the 'Allow Adobe to install updates (recommended) option in the Flash Player Settings Manager (the window in the screenshot provided). When a system is opted into Background Updates, Flash Player checks for an update once per day, in the background. When an update is available it is installed, silently in the background, with no user interaction. Since a check is made once per day, systems opted into Background Updates are generally updated within 24 hours of a new version being available, assuming the system has an active internet connection. If more than one player type is installed on the system (e.g. ActiveX Control, NPAPI, and PPAPI), all player types are updated within 3 hours.

Systems opted into Notification Updates, which is what you have selected, checks for an update once every 7 days. If an update is encountered, a registry entry is created to announce the update the next the user logs in (either from a system reboot, or log off/on). Notification Updates only update one player type at a time. This being whichever player type checked for an update. So, it's very possible to have old versions of Flash Player on the system when opted into Notification Updates, especially if only one browser is used predominately over other browsers.

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Maria

wh7789565Author

Participating Frequently

Maria,

I guess I set the status of my issue to "correct" too quickly. Since I carried out your suggestions, I've received 5 separate notifications to upgrade to Flash version 26.0.0.131 after I upgraded. It's not right to keep getting notified when I've already updated my system. Do you have any other ideas?

Thanks.

WH7789565

_maria_

Community Manager

Hi,

Sorry for the late reply. Adobe's North American offices were closed last week.

Can you please post a new screenshot of the Flash Player Settings Manager > Updates tab?

Thank you.

--

Maria

wh7789565Author

Participating Frequently

Hi wh7789565

I'm sorry you're encountering these issues. I'm not sure why the ActiveX Control & PPAPI plugin are still showing up if they were uninstalled, unless there was an issue with the uninstallation process.

I'm going to recommend you perform a clean uninstall (using the standalone uninstaller), but before you do that, I'd like to get a few screenshots from you. Please do the following:

Go to Control Panel > Programs & Features
Look for Adobe Flash Player entries, if any
Make sure the Versions column is visible
Take a screenshot showing the Adobe Flash Player entries and version number
Launch Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash
Expand the columns to show the entire file names of all files listed
Take a screenshot of the contents of the C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash directory
Go to C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash directory
Repeat steps 6 & 7
Upload the FlashInstall log file(s) saved at C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash, and C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash if this is a 64-bit OS, to cloud.acrobat.com/send using the instructions at How to share a document
Post the link to the uploaded files and the requested screenshots in your reply

Additionally, whenever I get a duplicate reminder to update Adobe Flash, I'm ALWAYS taken to the page that updates Firefox's version; never to a page that would update IE's or Chrome's versions.

This is because of how the Notification Update mechanism works. Notification Updates will only update the Flash Player type (e.g. ActiveX, NPAPI, or PPAPI) that actually made the update check, it doesn't update all player types installed on the system. For Notification Updates, the update check is made when Flash is in use. If an update is encountered a registry entry is created, for the player type that made the update check, to launch the Notification Update window upon next login. Since you mainly use Firefox you're only using the NPAPI plugin and that's the one that is making the update check, therefore, the only one being updated. In contrast, Background Updates will update all player types installed on the system within 24 hours of a new version being released.

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Maria

Maria,

I think this link will have all the screen shots / information you asked me for. Honestly, I'm starting to think this is too much work for what I'm getting out of the process. I should just bite my tongue when this happens and enjoy all the attention Adope is paying to me. (ha ha).

https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/046a3622-4c01-4ef1-be71-66b763f30f85

_maria_

Community Manager

Hi wh7789565

It seems your original post was commandeered by someone posting the same thing to 2 different topics, and being assisted in 2 different locations, which leads to confusion and disparate comments on 2 different discussion topics.

Do you use multiple browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Firefox/Safari, Opera? If so, each one of these uses different plugin types, IE uses ActiveX Control, Firefox and Safari use NPAPI plugin, and Opera (Chromium-based browser) uses the PPAPI plugin. None of these are interchangeable, and only one type updates at a time. We've considered creating one universal installer for all browser types, but it would result in a very large file and most users would abandon the installation.

Please provide the following:

Operating system, including version
A screenshot (see How do I attach a screenshot?) of the Flash Player type(s) installed:
- Windows: Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Flash Player > Updates tab
- Mac: System Preferences > Flash Player > Updates tab

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Maria

wh7789565Author

Participating Frequently

Hi, Maria -

I use Win 7 Professional, 64-bit, service pack 1. I use Firefox exclusively. Firefox is up-to-date (version 53.0.3 32-bit).

Here's the Flash Player screen print you asked for:

I just don't understand why the update notification process can't look at my system and see what version of Flash Player my system currently has BEFORE it wastes my time telling me that a "new" version exists, forcing me to the Adobe Flash player website to check versions before I download.

WH7789565.

_maria_

Correct answer

Community Manager

Hiwh7789565

According to the screenshot, you have the following versions of Flash Player installed:

Flash Player ActiveX Control (for IE) version 22.0.0.192 - this is was released almost a year ago on June 6, 2016
Flash Player NPAPI (for Firefox) version 25.0.0.171 - this is the current version, for all browsers
Flash Player PPAPI (for Chromium-based browsers) version 24.0.0.221 - this was released February 14, 2017

The update notifications you're getting is going to be for Flash Player ActiveX Control and PPAPI, which are out-dated. If you do not use these, it's best to uninstall them so that you do not have versions with known security vulnerabilities installed on your system. To uninstall just the ActiveX Control and PPAPI plugin do the following:

Go to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Programs and Features
Look for Adobe Flash Player 22 ActiveX
- Select this item, right-click and click uninstall
- Alternatively, click the uninstall link at the top of the list of installed programs
Look for Adobe Flash Player 24 PPAPI
- Select this item, right-click and click uninstall
- Alternatively, click the uninstall link at the top of the list of installed programs
Flash Player ActiveX Control and PPAPI plugin are now removed from the system, leaving only Flash Player NPAPI plugin for Firefox

Note that Flash Player's normal release cycle is the second Tuesday of the month (Patch Tuesday), therefore, every month there is a new version. The best way to keep Flash Player up-to-date on a system is to opt-into background Updates. This is the 'Allow Adobe to install updates (recommended) option in the Flash Player Settings Manager (the window in the screenshot provided). When a system is opted into Background Updates, Flash Player checks for an update once per day, in the background. When an update is available it is installed, silently in the background, with no user interaction. Since a check is made once per day, systems opted into Background Updates are generally updated within 24 hours of a new version being available, assuming the system has an active internet connection. If more than one player type is installed on the system (e.g. ActiveX Control, NPAPI, and PPAPI), all player types are updated within 3 hours.

Systems opted into Notification Updates, which is what you have selected, checks for an update once every 7 days. If an update is encountered, a registry entry is created to announce the update the next the user logs in (either from a system reboot, or log off/on). Notification Updates only update one player type at a time. This being whichever player type checked for an update. So, it's very possible to have old versions of Flash Player on the system when opted into Notification Updates, especially if only one browser is used predominately over other browsers.

--

Maria

Ric633

New Participant

I hope someone from Adobe reads this because the Adobe website is so confusing that I cannot find where I can post a direct question to them!

I have Flash 25.0.0.171 installed on my Windows PC and use the Firefox browser. Until a few days ago I had no trouble viewing Flash videos, however it seems Firefox has blocked version 25.0.0.171 and wants users to use version 25.0.0.148.

The Adobe Security Bulletin also advises that version 25.0.0.148 should be downloaded from the Flashplayer Download Center, however, when I click on the link version 25.0.0.171 comes up!

I have uninstalled Flash 25.0.0.171 but it makes no difference as version 25.0.0.171 comes up when I go to Flashplayer Download Center.

Where is the link that will take me to the download for version 25.0.0.148?

J

jeffunderpressure

New Participant

Hi Ric633, did you get any follow-up? I have a related but narrower quetsion. Today I downloaded, from Adobe, Flash Player 25 NPAPI, 25.0.0.171. My system (AVG PC TuneUp) kept suggesting that I needed to update to 25.0.0.127 and also linked me to an MS warning: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4014329/ms17-nnn-security-update-for-adobe-flash-player-march-14-2017. Does anybody here or at Adobe know whether 25.0.0.171 has addressed the vulnerability that MS mentioned in March 2017?