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Adobe Flash player installer version 23.0 will not open

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I keep getting a window telling me to update my flash player as the old one is "vulnerable". I've downloaded the installer for the latest version from various locations but when I double click to open it nothing happens. I've since removed my out-dated version as I thought this might be the problem so now I have nothing. Help!

I keep getting a window telling me to update my flash player as the old one is "vulnerable". I've downloaded the installer for the latest version from various locations but when I double click to open it nothing happens. I've since removed my out-dated version as I thought this might be the problem so now I have nothing. Help!

Chosen solution

Also, for a couple more days, you can still use the distribution page with "full" installers:

https://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html

Unlike the small installer that needs to connect back to Adobe for more files, these are complete. If your firewall is blocking that connection back by the small installer, this one should resolve that issue.

Note: either the EXE or MSI file usually works, you don't need both.

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All Replies (13)

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If you check your download history (Ctrl+j) and in the box at the upper right enter msi to filter the list, does it still show your earlier MSI download? You can grab the URL from the short menu that appears when you right-click that item. Maybe it shows a pattern and we can guess the current one.

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Aha! So that link still works for me. The internal file date seems to be October 23rd, so it should be an update for you. Can you download and run it?

Not sure how long that licensing folder will stay up, but fingers crossed.

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I've installed it again but it's still the same outdated version File: NPSWF32_23_0_0_162.dll

Also as you can see from this screen shot of my "add ons" that the only option I have for flash player is "never activate".

Modified by cloggy_saint

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Bummer. Well, November is a good month for getting discounts on new computer equipment (if you follow "Black Friday" sales, pre-sales, after-sales, etc.).

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Whoops! I re-booted and flash has now been updated! Once again thank you very much for your help. No doubt I'll be back next time Adobe issue another update. Do you have any idea why I can't just install updates in the normal manner?

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cloggy_saint said

Do you have any idea why I can't just install updates in the normal manner?

I was concerned about malware because there is some malware which stops Windows from running EXE files (to prevent cleanup, I guess). But since you can run other EXE files (most applications use EXE files) that seems unlikely.

The only other thought would be location: there may be folders from which you can't run an EXE file depending on your security software. In a business environment, a user reported that the Windows TEMP folder was protected (it was a kind of black hole where any downloaded EXE was automatically removed). But on a home computer, that also doesn't seem very likely. ???

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cloggy_saint said

Whoops! I re-booted and flash has now been updated! Once again thank you very much for your help. No doubt I'll be back next time Adobe issue another update. Do you have any idea why I can't just install updates in the normal manner?

In my book   Adobe   and   'normal'   dont go together  ......

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I have, and had, the same problem trying to get it to run. I've disabled anti-virus, dropped firewall, tried old and new links. The only thing Adobe site does is run flash install help in a circle with back to the same download. If FF is going to dictate what can and can't run then perhaps FF should be fixed?

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Hi Outernaut, did you try either of these:

(1) Windows 10 Control Panel > Flash Player (32-bit) > Updates tab > Update Now button

(2) This link: http://download.macromedia.com/pub/flashplayer/latest/help/install_flash_player.exe

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jscher2000 said

Hi Outernaut, did you try either of these: .............

Yes. And they just go to the same things. The Macromedia one has the flash installer, but it too does nothing. But, I can install other kinds of programs.

When I click to install Flash, just where is it that it wants to install,m and could FF be blocking its install?

I guess if I really need to see a Flash video, I can always close FF and open Chrome which I rarely use for obvious security reasons.

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Outernaut said

The Macromedia one has the flash installer, but it too does nothing. But, I can install other kinds of programs.

I don't know why your system won't run that EXE.

Note: Sometimes the Windows installer gets backed up with deferred updates and stops working correctly. In that case, you need to shut down and restart Windows so everything it is saving for those two times can be completed.

When I click to install Flash, just where is it that it wants to install,m and could FF be blocking its install?

Firefox is not involved in running EXEs, that is handled by Windows.

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I discovered a URL to download the Flash 24 MSI installer:

https://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/licensing/win/install_flash_player_24_plugin.msi

However, it gave me the error in the attached screenshot, which is too abbreviated to interpret. It might be because it is a "licensing" path and Adobe now requires me to have something on the system to use this installer. If anyone else tries it, let us know your results.

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