IE doesn't recognize my Adobe Flash

[cyberdiva]

Because I'm trying out a piece of software that only works with IE, I've been trying to play a flash video in IE 9. However, IE claimed that I needed to upgrade my version of Adobe Flash. I did so, upgrading to version 11.1.102.55. I then tried again to play the video, and again IE claimed I needed to upgrade. I then decided to try a different video. I went to YouTube, selected a video, and tried again. Same story. I again downloaded the install file and ran it, but after I did so IE again claimed I needed to upgrade my version of Flash. I closed IE, reopened it, and tried again. Same story. I rebooted, thinking that might help. It didn't. Belarc Advisor assures me that I have Flash version 11.1.102.55 installed on my Windows 7 Professional 64-bit computer. Since I rarely use IE (Firefox is my default browser), I'm not sure what the problem is or what to do. I should add that I did try to play the video on Firefox, and it had no problem whatsoever.

I'd welcome advice about how to get IE to play flash on my computer. Thanks in advance.

[JoeP517]

Download the Flash uninstaller for Windows. Download the 64-bit version at Flash player 11.1.102.155. Shut down IE. Run the uninstaller. Run the installer.

Joe

[cyberdiva]

Thanks very much, Joe, but I'm surprised that I need to do this. When I went to download the version of Flash that I did, Adobe recognized that I had Win 7 64-bit and said "NOTE: The 64-bit Flash Player installer includes both a 32-bit and a 64-bit version of Flash." So then why wouldn't the right version have been installed? And if a wrong version had been installed, why did Firefox have no trouble playing the Flash videos?

BTW, the page you referred me to offered the same version number as the version I have already downloaded: 11.1.102.55, not 155. Should I not believe Adobe that the installer I downloaded included both the 32-bit and the 64-bit version?

[JoeP517]

Oops, sorry about the version typo on my part. The 64-bit installer most likely did try to install the correct versions. Sometimes a Flash installation get corrupted and the only the only way to get it resolved is to use the Adobe uninstaller.

Joe

[cyberdiva]

Well, I've now tried about half a dozen times to do what Joe said. I have not succeeded in getting a version of Adobe Flash that can be used by Internet Explorer. I went to the site that Joe recommended as the place to download the 64-bit Flash player, carefully followed the directions for uninstalling whatever I had, rebooted, made sure that no browser was running, installed the 64-bit version for IE (that uses Active X), rebooted, went to the page that was supposed to tell me what version of Flash I had installed (http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/ ), only to find that it didn't think I had any version installed. I tried again. Same story, but this time there was something on the page I just mentioned that supposedly gave me the opportunity to download the right version. Since I was in IE, I figured that perhaps I should click on that. I did, installed Adobe Flash, and found that again it was not recognized. I then tried to go to the same page in Firefox, but there, too, I was told I had no Flash. So I went back to the page Joe gave me and this time chose a 64-bit version that is supposedly needed by Firefox, Opera, and Safari. I downloaded that, went through all the steps. Bingo, at least the Adobe page now recognized that I had the right version of Flash installed, but it was the right version for Firefox, not, apparently, for IE. I then tried to ALSO install the version for IE. According to Revo Uninstaller, I now have both versions installed on my computer. If I go to YouTube in Firefox, I have no problem watching videos. But if I go to YouTube in Internet Explorer, I'm again told that I have to upgrade my Adobe Flash. I'm totally stymied.

Sorry, Joe, I posted my message without seeing that you had responded. I am really very grateful to you for the help you've given me thus far, and I'm hoping that you can suggest something that will make Flash work in IE.

[JoeP517]

Rather than step 2 of "exit all browsers...", I'd recommend re-booting, then after the uninstall re-boot again before the install.

Joe

[JoeP517]

If all that still does not work, I'd recommend checking the Adobe support forum.

Joe

[cyberdiva]

Thanks very much, Joe, for your help and your patience. I'm happy to report that I think the mystery has been solved. I tried rebooting rather than just exiting all browsers, but that still didn't produce the results I needed. I then started poking around in the IE settings, something I never do because I so rarely use that browser. But sure enough, I found a Manage add-ons tab and discovered that Shockwave Flash Object with today's date had been DISABLED! I certainly didn't do that, but.... Anyway, I quickly enabled it, and that was all it took to get IE to work with Flash. But the version that works for IE doesn't work for my other browsers (Firefox and Opera). So I again tried to install the version of Flash that was supposed to work in 64-bit non-IE browsers. Bingo, that too worked, and it did so without disabling Flash in IE. So I think I've now got Flash working in all my browsers. Until the next time. :-)

Again, many thanks. I've learned a lot from what you said.

[JoeP517]

You quite welcome. Better yet. Nice detective work. Thanks for posting back.

Joe