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firefox won't play flash player even though latest version is installed

davidgoodlad
davidgoodlad
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I can't play videos (eg on BBC website) - I keep being prompted to install Flash. I have uninstalled and then reinstalled Flash several times but to no avail. The "always activate" is selected in the addons page. Also the old version of shockwave is still showing on the listing and I can't delete it.

I can't play videos (eg on BBC website) - I keep being prompted to install Flash. I have uninstalled and then reinstalled Flash several times but to no avail. The "always activate" is selected in the addons page. Also the old version of shockwave is still showing on the listing and I can't delete it.

Chosen solution

Finally solved the problem by searching for NPSWF32DLL and deleteing it!

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (6)

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
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Looks like you have 2 Flash DLL files for Firefox. Shockwave Flash 9.0 r45 Shockwave Flash 16.0 r0

My advice is to uninstall Flash and install again.

First, grab the Adobe uninstaller from here: http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-windows.html

Then download the latest Flash Plugin version from here: Select Plugin-based browsers https://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html Seeing that you are using WinXP you might want to consider using the Extended Support Release - Flash Player 13.0.0.269 - instead of Flash 16.0.0.305 which has many features for Vista and later versions of Windows than WinXP can use. Works better for me, and gets far fewer updates.

Run the Flash uninstaller program, then reboot your PC. Then install the Plugin version of Flash. So you'll have a clean installation of Flash for Firefox.

davidgoodlad
davidgoodlad Question owner
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I've tried all the above several times and Firefox will still not recognise Flash 16.0.0.305 even though it it showing as "always activate" in the addons list. Also I can't get rid of Flash 9.0.45.0 from the addons list no matter how many time I run the uninstaller. I guess I'll just have to revert back to IE, Chrome or Opera all of which perform correctly even though I much prefer Firefox.

John99
John99
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When you run the uninstaller

  • Does that remove FlashPlayer successfully form Windows, so that it is no longer shown in the Control Panel.
  • Does it also remove it successfully from IE, so that IE can no longer play Flash Player content.
davidgoodlad
davidgoodlad Question owner
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Hi Yes, the uninstaller removes the latest FlashPlayer from the list in "Add or Remove Programs" and also from the "addons" list in Firefox .It is also succesfully removed from IE. The old Flash 9.0 remains in the "addons" even though it doesn't show in the control panel list at all. I've now installed Flash 16 Activex to enable IE to work properly. But, no matter what I do, I can't get firefox to recognise Flash and it always shows the message "You need to install Flash Player to play this content" even when it is installed.

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
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Go into the Firefox program files folder and look for a plugins folder. If you find a folder by that name, open it and see if there is a NPSWF32.DLL file in there. If so, delete that file and delete the corresponding flashplayer.xpt file from that folder. Actually, you can delete that folder altogether - Firefox hasn't had that folder for a number of years now, but will use whatever files might be in there from years ago.

davidgoodlad
davidgoodlad Question owner
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Chosen Solution

Finally solved the problem by searching for NPSWF32DLL and deleteing it!