How do I download and install Flash Player? I’ve tried a few times, but it just keeps giving me an error.
A:
Thanks for writing, Norma!
Adobe Flash Player is used to add video and animation to Web pages and is used mostly for advertisements, games, and interactivity on websites. Anyone that uses the Web needs to have Adobe Flash Player installed on their computer to see content on websites correctly. This article will help you determine why you cannot get Adobe Flash Player installed on your computer.
Flash Player Version Installed
Before we get started, we need to determine what version of Flash Player you have already have installed on your computer, if any. To do this go to http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about. If you have successfully installed Flash Player, you will see the version.
If Flash Player is not successfully installed you will not see this image.
Uninstall Previous Versions
If you already have Adobe Flash on your computer, let’s uninstall it before we try a new installation. To uninstall Adobe Flash Player, download the Flash Player uninstaller from their website. Navigate to http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/141/tn_14157.html
Save the file to your Desktop. Close all applications that are open on your computer. Some application icons may be in your task bar (next to the clock) such as Yahoo Instant Messenger, etc. If you see these right-click and select Close or Exit.
Click on the uninstaller file on your desktop and go through the onscreen instructions to uninstall Adobe Flash Player.
Restart your computer by clicking the Start button, the arrow next to Shutdown then click Restart.
Navigate to About Adobe Flash Player and see if you see the image. If you still do, Adobe Flash Player was not uninstalled. Check again that all applications are closed and try the above steps again until you do not see the image.
Now, if you are using Internet Explorer as your browser, we need to verify the ActiveX settings and security. To do this:
Open Internet Explorer and click on Tools then Options. Select the Security tab then Trusted Sites zone. Click the Default Level button and slide the slider to Medium. Click Apply.
Select the Internet Zone and repeat the steps above. When you are finished click OK and close the window.
Install Adobe Flash Player
Now that we have all previous versions of Adobe Flash Player uninstalled let’s try to install it.
Navigate to http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/. Deselect the Free McAfee Security Scan Plus if you don’t want it. This is optional. Click on the Agree and Install Now button and go through the onscreen instructions.
If you are still having problems installing Adobe Flash Player:
If you use Internet Explorer make sure JavaScript is enabled. Open Internet Explorer and click Tools then Internet Options. Click the Security tab and select the Trusted sites zone. Click Custom Level and find Scripting in the list. Under Active Scripting, select Enable. Click OK. Click the Internet Zone and repeat the steps above.
If you use Internet Explorer, allow content if you get an ActiveX warning when installing Adobe Flash Player. You need to select Allow Blocked Content at the top of the screen.
In Internet Explorer, whenever you get an ActiveX warning, select Allow Blocked Content.
If you use Firefox, you may get a warning that Firefox prevented this site from asking you to install software on your computer. Click the Allow button.
Firefox then displays a pop-up asking you to restart Firefox. Select Restart Firefox.
If you use Internet Explorer you may see a warning:
Click on the yellow bar and follow the instructions to allow the installation.
If you use Firefox, you may get a warning such as Install add-ons only from authors whom you trust. Click the Install Now button. When it finishes you will need to restart Firefox.
~Rita Wood
