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Why does Firefox think that I am using an old version of Shockwave Flash add-on when in fact I am using latest version (recognized by both IE & Chrome)?

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  • Last reply by James

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I'm using Firefox V34.0.5. Firefox blocks my view of certain puzzles on the NY Times puzzle page because it claims that my version of Adobe Shockwave add-on is out of date. It claims I am using Shockwave v. 15.0.0.223. However, v. 16.0.0235 is actually installed on my PC. I do not have a similar problem when using IE or Chrome, both of which recognize Shockwave v. 16.0.0235. How do I get Firefox to recognize that the latest version is installed?

I'm using Firefox V34.0.5. Firefox blocks my view of certain puzzles on the NY Times puzzle page because it claims that my version of Adobe Shockwave add-on is out of date. It claims I am using Shockwave v. 15.0.0.223. However, v. 16.0.0235 is actually installed on my PC. I do not have a similar problem when using IE or Chrome, both of which recognize Shockwave v. 16.0.0235. How do I get Firefox to recognize that the latest version is installed?

Chosen solution

IE and Chrome use different installs of Flash, updating them won't update Firefox's Flash. Download and install http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/download/?installer=FP_16_for_Firefox_-_NPAPI&standalone=1

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Chosen Solution

IE and Chrome use different installs of Flash, updating them won't update Firefox's Flash. Download and install http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/download/?installer=FP_16_for_Firefox_-_NPAPI&standalone=1

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IE uses a ActiveX version and Chrome comes with a Pepper version so as said they are not the same.

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You can find the latest Flash player versions for Firefox on this page:

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cor-el said

You can find the latest Flash player versions for Firefox on this page:

The above answer doesn't help without knowing whether to download the EXE intaller or the MSI installer. I'm in Win 8.1.

My exact problem is that for the past hour or so, videos are stopping after maybe 10 seconds and buffering for 5, then run 10, buffer 5+,... The plug-ins page says that version .0.0.296 is out of date, but updating it doesn't change that. (After updating, closing Firefox and reopening it, the page still shows .0.0.296 as a security risk and needs updating.) I tried a related question's solution of uninstalling Flash then reinstalling, but that made no difference either, except to take Flash out of the plug-ins list (which doesn't seem like a positive development).

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Use the Plugin-based browsers .exe version for Firefox.

The 16.0.0.296 is the latest from Adobe at moment even though it is vulnerable. https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsa15-02.html

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Thanks, James. And now I'll know to look at the Adobe site before taking your time. (I think I recall a similar problem a couple of years ago, where an update to a plug-in was still vulnerable.) Thanks doubly for that.

Could you please explain why .exe rather than .msi? Is that something the average user should know, since Adobe posted it without explanation? (I haven't been an expert since at least XP, and maybe Me. I am completely flummoxed by 8.1, after fighting with it for 8 months.)

Meanwhile, my lagging-video problem is sporadic, so I'll go elsewhere to look for its cause.

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Actually you can use either. Since I am a Linux user primary I am used to using .exe whenever I used Windows. System admins may use msi more as it is a silent install.