Adobe Flash 10 Won't Open

J W Alexander · Post by **J W Alexander** » 12 Jun 2010 3:50 pm

Have recently downloaded the latest Flash Player 10---it's not opening nor is a desktop icon visible. In the Start>All Programs it doesn't show up BUT in the Add/Remove Programs section under Control Panel it does appear showing the latest version exists somewhere.

Any ideas what I'm doing wrong? I believe I've followed all recommendations and suggestions from Adobe about installation-----still no Flash Player.

Thanks all!!

J W

Storm Rosson · Post by **Storm Rosson** » 12 Jun 2010 7:19 pm

Have you gone to a web page that uses Flash to see if it is invoked when needed? Flash player acts in windows as on a browser and is launched as needed like a plug-in on a web browser ,it doesn't install either in the program menu nor an icon by default ,only way to see if it is working is to go to a page or open an app that requires it

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 12 Jun 2010 9:06 pm

J.W.
Did you download it directly from www.adobe.com? There is a different Flash Player for Internet Exploder and Mozilla/Safari/Chrome browsers. The browser needs to be restarted to upgrade Flash.

You can manually update Flash also. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash\. There is an ActiveX upgrade utility (MSIE) and a Mozilla (Firefox) updater in that directory. The respective file names are currently: FlashUtil10h_ActiveX.exe and FlashUtil10h_Plugin.exe. These are brand new file names as of the June 11, 2010 update, which is version 10.1.53.64. Right click on these files and Run them as an Administrator to update to the latest version of Flash.

This is a super critical update to Adobe Flash Player. Exploits are already in the wild for the previous versions. The new Flash Player will uninstall previous versions of series 10.

J W Alexander · Post by **J W Alexander** » 13 Jun 2010 1:09 am

Thanks Wiz and Storm---I was misunderstanding how Flash works!

I was attempting to download what I thought was a video demonstration that could be saved then opened and viewed over and over. Seems that's not the case.

Since there are exploits and other potential problems I'll uninstall the version I seem to have now.

You guys have been great as always----many thanks again!!

J W

Storm Rosson · Post by **Storm Rosson** » 13 Jun 2010 2:57 pm

Adobe flash player 10.1 is out now it offers hardware acceleration with certain graphics chips and has some fixes and stream enhancements.FWIW....Stormy

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 13 Jun 2010 7:56 pm

First the was The Flash, then Flash Gordon, then Macromedia Flash, now, Adobe Flash. Life is flashing by!

J W Alexander · Post by **J W Alexander** » 14 Jun 2010 1:34 am

Ya know Wiz I believe I had Macromedia's Flash and Adobe's FlashPlayer confused--could be where some of my problems started. Here's an update....

I did indeed download FlashPlayer directly from Adobe----as I said it seemed to install correctly and their verification page agreed.

Returning to the site that originally required it to view their demonstration/training video I would again get the error message "need FlashPlayer to view". Interestingly enough this same site has a download link for the same video in QuickTime but once downloaded and saved QuickTime doesn't recognize that file as something it can read. The appropriate logo and brand name for QuickTime is present on the supplied link.

Honestly this outfit is very small and quite under perpared to do any sort of web business. I've tried addressing a few concerns to them but simple requests for help often require several attempts before they follow though. Fortunately their products are one-of-a-kind so competition isn't an issue.

Thanks again all---I know a bit more now than I did previously!

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 14 Jun 2010 9:20 am

J W Alexander wrote:Ya know Wiz I believe I had Macromedia's Flash and Adobe's FlashPlayer confused--could be where some of my problems started.

You need to uninstall (via Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs) all old versions of both Macromedia and Adobe Flash. They are huge security risks if left in their default location (C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash\).

J W Alexander wrote:Here's an update....

I did indeed download Flash Player directly from Adobe----as I said it seemed to install correctly and their verification page agreed.

Returning to the site that originally required it to view their demonstration/training video I would again get the error message "need Flash Player to view".

J.W.;
After you uninstall old versions and install new versions of Flash you should reboot your PC. This flushes out any old versions in use and their associated Registry entries.

From this time onward, Adobe's Flash updates should uninstall the previous version (series 10 onward).

Another thing that can interfere with Flash is having the NoScript or Flash Block add-ons installed in Firefox, if that is your browser. If you are using Firefox and have one or both of these add-ons, be sure to allow scripting and Flash from the sites in question. This can be done via the NoScript icon in the Firefox Status Bar, or by right-clicking on a Play arrow over a Flash movie and choosing "Allow Flash from this site."

Interestingly enough this same site has a download link for the same video in QuickTime but once downloaded and saved QuickTime doesn't recognize that file as something it can read. The appropriate logo and brand name for QuickTime is present on the supplied link.

What browser brand and version are you using? What OS and service pack? Have you restarted the browser after updating Quicktime? All add-ons and plug-ins require a restarting of open browsers.

If you have been using Internet Explorer you should at least consider trying out Mozilla Firefox. It can import your Favorites and saved login cookies from IE and is more secure.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 14 Jun 2010 9:27 am

I believe when I downloaded mine, it automatically uninstalled the older versions. At least, it said it was doing it. I couldn't get it to install off of a Facebook page that offered it, I had to go to an official Adobe site.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 14 Jun 2010 9:32 am

Clyde Mattocks wrote:I believe when I downloaded mine, it automatically uninstalled the older versions. At least, it said it was doing it. I couldn't get it to install off of a Facebook page that offered it, I had to go to an official Adobe site.

Everybody! Always download Flash updates directly from Adobe.com! There are thousands of hostile websites that offer a fake Flash Player that is a Bot or rogue anti-virus download.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 14 Jun 2010 1:52 pm

Not to hog Wiz's realm here, but all you guys with problems with ADOBE, especially. Download and install Secunia. It's FREE. Run Secunia maybe once a week. It will pick up many and all problems, if they are there. It's a great program. They point you where to go to resolve the PROBLEM. Bingo. All set.
Secunia tells the truth, and does not lie.

Thanks Wiz - didn't mean to muster in here, but you sold me on Secunia, and so, I'm trying to convince others. Just don't shoot me in the head. My mom has to look on.