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[Fx36 (win8)] [Fx35 (win7)] New Firefox preference for disabling Flash Protected Mode (was: Ask Users to try to troubleshoot protected mode?)

  • 14 Replies
  • Last reply by AliceWyman
  1. Andrew 1232 posts
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    Should we add to have users to troubleshoot the protected mode? forums.adobe.com/thread/1018071

    Should we add to have users to troubleshoot the protected mode? forums.adobe.com/thread/1018071
  2. AliceWyman 6154 posts
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    This has come up before. It used to be recommended in the Flash 11.3 doesn't load video in Firefox article but was removed by Matt G on June 13, 2012 in this revision change . Related discussion:

    From my post in another discussion:

    AliceWyman said (on on February 13, 2013)

    John99 said
    • do any of the installers now recommended mess with the protected mode setting ? (And is that still important for some Windows users ? )

    I've had protected mode disabled (ProtectedMode=0 line in the C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\ mms.cfg file) through many updates and it's never changed. I use the .exe plugin installer link on the Adobe Flash Player Distribution page to update Flash.

    I leave Flash protected mode disabled because of how badly the focus bug (bug 768802) affects SeaMonkey when you don't disable it (see this mozillaZine forum thread).
    <snip>
    John99 said

    • We contradict ourselves

    We suggest downgrading to Flash 10.3 as a workaround, when the latest Flash version is causing problems or if updating RealPlayer doesn't resolve Flash video display issues. An alternative to downgrading Flash on Windows Vista and above, which SUMO doesn't recommend (not sure why not ... too complicated?) is disabling protected mode. We refer users to this adobe forum post or to this section of MozillaZine's Flash article for that.

    This has come up before. It used to be recommended in the [[Flash 11.3 doesn't load video in Firefox]] article but was removed by Matt G on June 13, 2012 [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/flash-113-doesnt-load-video-firefox/compare?locale=en-US&to=25723&from=25715 in this revision change] . Related discussion: *[/forums/contributors/708430?page=2#post-47271] From my post in another discussion: *https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/forums/contributors/708978?#post-50771 ''AliceWyman said (on on February 13, 2013)'' <blockquote> ''John99 said '' <blockquote> *do any of the installers now recommended mess with the protected mode setting ? (And is that still important for some Windows users ? ) </blockquote> I've had protected mode disabled (ProtectedMode=0 line in the C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\ mms.cfg file) through many updates and it's never changed. I use the .exe plugin installer link on the [http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html Adobe Flash Player Distribution] page to update Flash. I leave Flash protected mode disabled because of how badly the focus bug ([https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=768802 bug 768802]) affects SeaMonkey when you don't disable it (see [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=2526893 this mozillaZine forum thread]). <br> <snip><br> ''John99 said'' <blockquote> *We contradict ourselves </blockquote> We suggest downgrading to Flash 10.3 as a workaround, when the latest Flash version is causing problems or if updating RealPlayer doesn't resolve Flash video display issues. An alternative to downgrading Flash on Windows Vista and above, which SUMO doesn't recommend (not sure why not ... too complicated?) is disabling protected mode. We refer users to [http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1018071 this adobe forum post] or to [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Flash#Flash_Protected_Mode_issues_on_Windows_Vista_and_above this section] of MozillaZine's Flash article for that. </blockquote>

    Modified by AliceWyman on

  3. AliceWyman 6154 posts
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    P.S. Here is what Matt G gave as the reason for no longer suggesting that users disable Flash protected mode:

    Matt_G said

    AliceWyman said
    I see you took out disabling protected mode in Flash 11.3 doesn't load video in Firefox so now that article and the new Adobe Flash plugin has crashed - Prevent it from happening again article both recommend downgrading to Flash 11.2.

    Hey Alice. Just catching up on some stuff here. In response to this question and the previous one, this issue got really out of control on Friday. We consulted with some other groups at Mozilla and it was decided that for Crashing issues specifically, the best course of action was to rollback. The flash not playing issue is still believed to be realplayer related. Since rolling back to an older version is now being offered as a last resort for the flash not playing issue, the disabling protected mode steps just seemed redundant. We were concerned the article would be too long and people wouldn't use it

    Can you give a reason why we should add disabling Flash protected mode for troubleshooting purposes, as an alternative to downgrading Flash?

    P.S. Here is what Matt G gave as the reason for no longer suggesting that users disable Flash protected mode: *https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/forums/contributors/708430?page=3#post-47308 ''Matt_G said'' <blockquote> ''AliceWyman said'' <blockquote> I see you took out disabling protected mode in [[Flash 11.3 doesn't load video in Firefox]] so now that article and the new [[Flash 11.3 crashes]] article both recommend downgrading to Flash 11.2. </blockquote> Hey Alice. Just catching up on some stuff here. In response to this question and the previous one, this issue got really out of control on Friday. We consulted with some other groups at Mozilla and it was decided that for Crashing issues specifically, the best course of action was to rollback. The flash not playing issue is still believed to be realplayer related. '''Since rolling back to an older version is now being offered as a last resort for the flash not playing issue, the disabling protected mode steps just seemed redundant. We were concerned the article would be too long and people wouldn't use it ''' </blockquote> Can you give a reason why we should add disabling Flash protected mode for troubleshooting purposes, as an alternative to downgrading Flash?

    Modified by AliceWyman on

  4. AliceWyman 6154 posts
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    We need to reconsider this. Flash 10.3 is now EOL and will no longer be updated. Ref: http://blogs.adobe.com/flashplayer/2013/05/extended-support-release-updated-to-flash-player-11-7.html

    We need to reconsider this. Flash 10.3 is now EOL and will no longer be updated. Ref: http://blogs.adobe.com/flashplayer/2013/05/extended-support-release-updated-to-flash-player-11-7.html

    Modified by AliceWyman on

  5. AliceWyman 6154 posts
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    Disabling protected mode in the Flash mms.cfg file might be too complicated for many users but it may help others. I'm on the fence.

    This is one of the "Related Questions" links that this article includes in the sidebar:

    This is a long thread with many "me too" posts. Cor-el gave his usual answer for Flash issues: 

    You can check for problems with current Flash plugin versions and try these:

       disable a possible RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin extension for Firefox and update the RealPlayer if installed
   disable protected mode in the Flash plugin (Flash 11.3+ on Windows Vista and later)
   disable hardware acceleration in the Flash plugin 

       http://kb.mozillazine.org/Flash#Troubleshooting

    jscher2000 also gave this reply on page 3: 

    (1) If you use any recorders/downloaders that interact with Flash media, make sure they are as up-to-date as possible, or disable them temporarily.

    (2) Disable hardware graphics acceleration in Firefox and in Flash

    (A) In Firefox, un-check the box here and restart:

    orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Options > Advanced > General > "Use hardware acceleration when available"

    (B) In Flash, see this support article from Adobe: http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/video-playback-issues.html#main_Solve_video_playback_issues

    (3) Disable protected mode (Windows Vista/7/8)

    See this support article from Adobe under the heading "Last Resort": Adobe Forums: How do I troubleshoot Flash Player's protected mode for Firefox?

    ...and he added this in another reply, 

    To ease editing the the mms.cfg file, you can drag a copy (hold Ctrl while dragging) to your Documents folder where you have full read/write privileged. Then edit the file there. Then Ctrl+drag it back to the Flash folder. Hopefully that will work for you. (Full steps listed here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/que.../973998#answer-489685)

    Right now, the only place we mention disabling protected mode is in the "Recent Flash issues" canned response: Forum Response - Flash problems ...which says this:

    Other, more technical information about these issues can be found under these Links:

    http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1018071?tstart=0

    http://blogs.adobe.com/asset/2012/06/inside-flash-player-protected-mode-for-firefox.html

    What about if we add these links Disable protected mode (Windows Vista/7/8): See this support article from Adobe under the heading "Last Resort": Adobe Forums: How do I troubleshoot Flash Player's protected mode for Firefox? to this article under "Other solutions"?

    I already have a pending revision to add a new "Disable hardware acceleration in Flash" section and a new "Other solutions" section that just links to the Flash Plugin - Keep it up to date and troubleshoot problems article right now. A made a second revision to incorporate that, and I added a protected mode link for Vista and above.

    Disabling protected mode in the Flash mms.cfg file might be too complicated for many users but it may help others. I'm on the fence. This is one of the "Related Questions" links that this article includes in the sidebar: *Adobe flash plugin keeps crashing. Please help![/questions/968190] This is a long thread with many "me too" posts. Cor-el gave his usual answer for Flash issues: ----- You can check for problems with current Flash plugin versions and try these: disable a possible RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin extension for Firefox and update the RealPlayer if installed disable protected mode in the Flash plugin (Flash 11.3+ on Windows Vista and later) disable hardware acceleration in the Flash plugin http://kb.mozillazine.org/Flash#Troubleshooting ----- jscher2000 also gave this reply on [/questions/968190?page=3#answer-486523 page 3]: ----- (1) If you use any recorders/downloaders that interact with Flash media, make sure they are as up-to-date as possible, or disable them temporarily. (2) Disable hardware graphics acceleration in Firefox and in Flash (A) In Firefox, un-check the box here and restart: orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Options > Advanced > General > "Use hardware acceleration when available" (B) In Flash, see this support article from Adobe: http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/video-playback-issues.html#main_Solve_video_playback_issues (3) Disable protected mode (Windows Vista/7/8) See this support article from Adobe under the heading "Last Resort": [http://forums.adobe.com/message/4468493#TemporaryWorkaround Adobe Forums: How do I troubleshoot Flash Player's protected mode for Firefox?] ----- ...and he added this in another reply, ----- To ease editing the the mms.cfg file, you can drag a copy (hold Ctrl while dragging) to your Documents folder where you have full read/write privileged. Then edit the file there. Then Ctrl+drag it back to the Flash folder. Hopefully that will work for you. (Full steps listed here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/que.../973998#answer-489685) ----- Right now, the only place we mention disabling protected mode is in the "Recent Flash issues" canned response: [[Forum Response - Flash 11.3]] ...which says this: <blockquote>Other, more technical information about these issues can be found under these Links: <br><br> http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1018071?tstart=0 <br><br> http://blogs.adobe.com/asset/2012/06/inside-flash-player-protected-mode-for-firefox.html </blockquote> What about if we add <s>these links</s> <sub> Disable protected mode (Windows Vista/7/8): See this support article from Adobe under the heading "Last Resort": [http://forums.adobe.com/message/4468493#TemporaryWorkaround Adobe Forums: How do I troubleshoot Flash Player's protected mode for Firefox?]</sub> to this article under "Other solutions"? I already have a pending revision to add a new "Disable hardware acceleration in Flash" section and a new "Other solutions" section that just links to the [[Flash Plugin - Keep it up to date and troubleshoot problems]] article right now. A made a second revision to incorporate that, and I added a protected mode link for Vista and above.

    Modified by AliceWyman on

  6. John99 3665 posts
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    AliceWyman said

    Disabling protected mode in the Flash mms.cfg file might be too complicated for many users but it may help others. I'm on the fence.

    I am strongly in favour of having disabling protected mode mentioned in one of the kb articles that we may link to. This is especially so now that we may expect the user Carm to post recommending a software solution employing this in near enough every AAQ thread posted relating to Flash.

    I have amended the canned response but not self approved.

    ''AliceWyman [[#post-9030|said]]'' <blockquote> Disabling protected mode in the Flash mms.cfg file might be too complicated for many users but it may help others. I'm on the fence. </blockquote> I am strongly in favour of having disabling protected mode mentioned in one of the kb articles that we may link to. This is especially so now that we may expect the user Carm to post recommending a software solution employing this in near enough every AAQ thread posted relating to Flash. I have amended the canned response but not self approved.
  7. AliceWyman 6154 posts
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    I edited this article on Nov 12 {for win7, win8} (for Vista and above) and added a link to Adobe's instructions at http://forums.adobe.com/message/4468493#TemporaryWorkaround to disable protected mode. Michael Verdi approved it on Nov 15.

    I also made an edit to the Flash Plugin - Keep it up to date and troubleshoot problems article on Dec 24, 2013 to add a bullet point about disabling protected mode, under the "Playing Flash videos makes Firefox hang" section, and self-approved it last week. It also simply links to Adobe's page.

    I edited this article on Nov 12 {for win7, win8} (for Vista and above) and added a link to Adobe's instructions at [http://forums.adobe.com/message/4468493#TemporaryWorkaround] to disable protected mode. Michael Verdi approved it on Nov 15. I also made an edit to the [[Flash Plugin - Keep it up to date and troubleshoot problems]] article on Dec 24, 2013 to add a bullet point about disabling protected mode, under the "Playing Flash videos makes Firefox hang" section, and self-approved it last week. It also simply links to Adobe's page.
  8. John99 3665 posts
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    No article now recommends trying disabling protected mode.

    This step was removed because there was the option to downgrade, but that option no longer a recommendation because 10.3 is EoL.

    Flash 10.3 is EOL - removed solution recommending downgrading to 10.3

    Is this still a valid possible trouble shooting step that users should be aware of ?

    This is a case where it may be handy to have a good advanced search for the forum, as it can filter for solved threads, I am not aware google can however a glance at some results from this search would suggest it may still be a suitable method to try

    No article now recommends trying disabling protected mode. This step was removed because there was the option to downgrade, but that option no longer a recommendation because 10.3 is EoL. * https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/adobe-flash-plugin-has-crashed/revision/45281 <blockquote> Flash 10.3 is EOL - removed solution recommending downgrading to 10.3 </blockquote> Is this still a valid possible trouble shooting step that users should be aware of ? This is a case where it may be handy to have a good advanced search for the forum, as it can filter for solved threads, I am not aware google can however a glance at some results from this search would suggest it may still be a suitable method to try *https://www.google.com/search?q=solved+%22protected+mode%22+site%3Asupport.mozilla.org&num=30&hl=en&biw=1084&bih=505&source=lnt&tbs=cdr%3A1%2Ccd_min%3A01%2F04%2F2014%2Ccd_max%3A&tbm=
  9. AliceWyman 6154 posts
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    John99 said

    No article now recommends trying disabling protected mode.

    ??? See my above December 30, 2013 comment, #post-9159

    I edited this article on Nov 12 {for win7, win8} (for Vista and above) and added a link to Adobe's instructions at http://forums.adobe.com/message/4468493#TemporaryWorkaround to disable protected mode. Michael Verdi approved it on Nov 15.

    I also made an edit to the Flash Plugin - Keep it up to date and troubleshoot problems article on Dec 24, 2013 to add a bullet point about disabling protected mode, under the "Playing Flash videos makes Firefox hang" section, and self-approved it last week. It also simply links to Adobe's page.
    ''John99 [[#post-9836|said]]'' <blockquote> No article now recommends trying disabling protected mode. </blockquote> ??? See my above December 30, 2013 comment, [[#post-9159]] <blockquote> I edited this article on Nov 12 {for win7, win8} (for Vista and above) and added a link to Adobe's instructions at [http://forums.adobe.com/message/4468493#TemporaryWorkaround] to disable protected mode. Michael Verdi approved it on Nov 15. <br><br> I also made an edit to the [[Flash Plugin - Keep it up to date and troubleshoot problems]] article on Dec 24, 2013 to add a bullet point about disabling protected mode, under the "Playing Flash videos makes Firefox hang" section, and self-approved it last week. It also simply links to Adobe's page. </blockquote>
  10. AliceWyman 6154 posts
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    Starting in Firefox 35, you can disable Flash Protected Mode by setting the dom.ipc.plugins.flash.disable-protected-mode preference to true in about:config and restarting the browser (bug 1108035). To re-enable Flash Protected Mode, reset the preference back to the default "false" value. At time of writing, however, this option does not work on Windows 8. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1112709 http://www.ghacks.net/2014/12/21/how-to-disable-flash-player-protecte...

    I just added the above to MozillaZine's Flash article section on disabling Protected Mode in Flash and thought it should be added to this article.

    Starting in Firefox 35, you can disable Flash Protected Mode by setting the '''dom.ipc.plugins.flash.disable-protected-mode''' preference to '''true''' in about:config and restarting the browser ([https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1108035 bug 1108035]). To re-enable Flash Protected Mode, reset the preference back to the default "false" value. At time of writing, however, this option does not work on Windows 8. [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1112709] [http://www.ghacks.net/2014/12/21/how-to-disable-flash-player-protected-mode-in-firefox/] I just added the above to [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Flash MozillaZine's Flash article] section on [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Flash#Disabling_Protected_Mode_in_Flash_11.3 disabling Protected Mode in Flash] and thought it should be added to this article.
  11. AliceWyman 6154 posts
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    P.S. The related Windows 8 bug (bug 1112709) is marked fixed in mozilla37 so, we can add the about:config steps for win7, fx35 and control for a future fx37 update for win8.

    P.S. The related Windows 8 bug ([https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1112709 bug 1112709]) is marked fixed in mozilla37 so, we can add the about:config steps for win7, fx35 and control for a future fx37 update for win8.
  12. ideato 567 posts
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    AliceWyman said

    so, we can add the about:config steps for win7, fx35 and control for a future fx37 update for win8.

    Done

    ''AliceWyman [[#post-10973|said]]'' <blockquote> so, we can add the about:config steps for win7, fx35 and control for a future fx37 update for win8. </blockquote> Done
  13. AliceWyman 6154 posts
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    AliceWyman said

    P.S. The related Windows 8 bug (bug 1112709) is marked fixed in mozilla37 so, we can add the about:config steps for win7, fx35 and control for a future fx37 update for win8.

    The Windows 8 bug 1112709 is now marked status-firefox36: affected → fixed in comment 13 posted today, so I updated the need changes entry to review for fx36.

    Update: bug 1112709 was reopened, then closed again. The new bug tracking the Windows 8 issue is bug 1121829:

    https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1121829#c2 

    Benjamin Smedberg [:bsmedberg] 2015-01-15 10:57:03 PST

    As a continuation of bug 1112709, this means the Flash protected-mode hook doesn't work yet  on Windows 8.1.

    Blocks: 1112709
tracking-firefox36: --- → +
status-firefox36: --- → affected
tracking-firefox37: --- → +
status-firefox37: --- → affected

    We have to keep an eye on this before showing the about:config steps for win8.

    ''AliceWyman [[#post-10973|said]]'' <blockquote> P.S. The related Windows 8 bug ([https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1112709 bug 1112709]) is marked fixed in mozilla37 so, we can add the about:config steps for win7, fx35 and control for a future fx37 update for win8. </blockquote> The Windows 8 [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1112709 bug 1112709] is now marked ''status-firefox36: affected → fixed'' in [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1112709#c13 comment 13] posted today, so I updated the need changes entry to review for fx36. '''Update:''' [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1112709 bug 1112709] was reopened, then closed again. The new bug tracking the Windows 8 issue is [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1121829 bug 1121829]: ----- https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1121829#c2 Benjamin Smedberg [:bsmedberg] 2015-01-15 10:57:03 PST As a continuation of bug 1112709, this means the Flash protected-mode hook doesn't work yet on Windows 8.1. Blocks: 1112709 tracking-firefox36: --- → + status-firefox36: --- → affected tracking-firefox37: --- → + status-firefox37: --- → affected ----- We have to keep an eye on this before showing the about:config steps for win8.

    Modified by AliceWyman on

  14. AliceWyman 6154 posts
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    P.S. This bug also needs watching: Bug 1119941 - Test: disable Flash protected mode

    It looks like there's a plan to turn off Flash Protected Mode in Firefox by default in future beta/aurora/nightly versions.

    Update: Bug 1119941 is now Resolved-Fixed (currently, in firefox38). Related bug to watch:

    • Bug 1120993 - Decision: whether to continue bug 1119941 (Flash protected-mode disablement) into release
    P.S. This bug also needs watching: [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1119941 Bug 1119941] - Test: disable Flash protected mode It looks like there's a plan to turn off Flash Protected Mode in Firefox by default in future beta/aurora/nightly versions. '''Update:''' [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1119941 Bug 1119941] is now Resolved-Fixed (currently, in firefox38). Related bug to watch: *[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1120993 Bug 1120993] - Decision: whether to continue bug 1119941 (Flash protected-mode disablement) into release

    Modified by AliceWyman on

  15. AliceWyman 6154 posts
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    AliceWyman said

    The new bug tracking the Windows 8 issue is bug 1121829 <snip> We have to keep an eye on this before showing the about:config steps for win8.

    This bug is now fixed in Firefox 36 so we can add the steps to disable Flash protected mode for win8:

    https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1121829#c20 

    Andrei Vaida, QA [:avaida] 2015-01-27 05:52:42 PST

    Verified fixed on Firefox 36.0b4 (build1: 20150126151838) and Aurora 37.0a2 (2015-01-26), using:
- Windows 8.1 32 bit,
- Windows 8.1 64 bit (Surface Pro 2), 
with Shockwave Flash 16.0 r0 (16.0.0.296).

    Status: RESOLVED → VERIFIED
status-firefox36: fixed → verified
status-firefox37: fixed → verified
    ''AliceWyman [[#post-11066|said]]'' <blockquote> The new bug tracking the Windows 8 issue is [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1121829 bug 1121829] <snip> We have to keep an eye on this before showing the about:config steps for win8. </blockquote> This bug is now fixed in Firefox 36 so we can add the steps to disable Flash protected mode for win8: ---- https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1121829#c20 Andrei Vaida, QA [:avaida] 2015-01-27 05:52:42 PST Verified fixed on Firefox 36.0b4 (build1: 20150126151838) and Aurora 37.0a2 (2015-01-26), using: - Windows 8.1 32 bit, - Windows 8.1 64 bit (Surface Pro 2), with Shockwave Flash 16.0 r0 (16.0.0.296). Status: RESOLVED → VERIFIED status-firefox36: fixed → verified status-firefox37: fixed → verified