Fixing bugs in the Flash Player yet again

Last month Adobe released version 10 of their free Flash Player plugin for web browsers. If you've installed version 10, then you're done. You are not missing any patches and can stop reading now.

If you're not sure which version of Flash is installed, Adobe has a tester page. Windows users that have installed another browser, need to run this test in both Internet Explorer and the other web browser(s).

Anyone still running version 9 of the Flash Player needs to be running the latest edition, 9,0,151,0, which was released just a few days ago. It fixed a slew of bugs.

If you have an older edition of version 9, then you have a choice.

To install version 10 see my October 18th posting Seven steps to update the Adobe Flash Player on Windows. But, version 10 seems like a big change, and for defensive computing, it's often best to avoid the bleeding edge.

The problem with updating to version 9,0,151,0 is finding it. Adobe recommends using version 10 and that's the only available version at the Flash Player Download page. But, version 9,0,151,0 is available from Adobe at Flash Player 9 for Unsupported Operating Systems. There are links for Windows, Macs and Linux.

Although not always necessary, I suggest doing a full un-install of the Flash player before installing a new version. For more on this see How to uninstall the Adobe Flash Player plug-in and ActiveX control. For documentation on the fixes to the latest edition of version 9 see Flash Player update available to address security vulnerabilities.

See a summary of all my Defensive Computing postings.

[indebele]

Had massive problems after downloading Flash Player 10, could not view anything via Realplayer, and so was delighted and relieved to read your articles - did everything as said and made another attempt at re-loading FP 10, this still didn't work so I, repeated the uninstall etc., even re-booted in each case, so I downloaded as suggested version 9,0,151,0 - it worked!!! I was delighted and thought the problem was solved, but there are various sites ie Youtube that can't now be viewed unless FP10 is downloaded, so I am back - almost- where I started from ...... Amazon Germany appears to be having a similar problem, but have been told they are working on it. Any other ideas?????

[indebele]

After the above post went on to checkout CNET videos, they too now cannot be viewed without Flash Player 10, can find no way around this?!

[PaulaVB]

hi Michael, I have been using your timekeeper for a while now and I just LOVE it. But today all at once I cannot get it to work. I downloaded it again, and even tried it on an other computer. Could you help me please?
Thank you.
PaulaVB

[dbjohnson2]

Michael,
Where you been the past month?
Hope it has been something like a long vacation and not a problem of some sort.
Hope you will soon be back.
Doug

[nenslo]

Ah you've moved your blogging site, for those of you who follow Michael it's: http://blogs.computerworld.com/horowitz

[wa8whp]

Farm Town wanted the new flash player. I tried 11 time. I get to a place that says exit firefox and exit compuserve. I exit firefox but I do not have compuserve as far as I know. I downloaded to IE no problem but I prefer firefox which now has no flash player installed. Help!!!

[norcalwoman22]

Last night ran flashplayer uninstall via Foxfire which took hours. Shut down system afterward.
Today, still finding flashplayer evidence in several dll files. Attempting to remedy/uninstall them, am directed to install a plug-in, which I don't feel safe doing.
I'm chasing my tail. Please advise.

[dmc081]

what we need is a auto update unstead of checkin the adobes website every couple months