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Adobe Flash says it updated, but it actually didn't -- even though Firefox now says "up-to-date"

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  • Last reply by Rick216

Rick216
Rick216
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Instead of automatic updating, I always have Adobe Flash set to download updates automatically, but ask before installing. Today after my computer booted up, the Adobe notification appeared on my desktop saying a new version was ready for installation. (Since Firefox is my default browser, such updates are always applied to the Firefox Flash plug-in after I accept it.) So I accepted it, and the installation bar moved across, and I got the message that the installation was complete.

After this occurs, I then sometimes go to the Firefox Plugin check to double-check that Flash now shows as up-to-date, AND that it lists the same version number shown as latest-available for Firefox on the Adobe Flash website. IIRC that has always checked out OK until today. While the Plugin check said Flash is up-to-date, it showed the full version number as 21.0.0.18x (I forget the last digit), whereas it was supposed to be 21.0.0.197. I then looked in Windows 7 Programs & Features and it showed that the latest Firefox (NPAPI) Flash version was installed on 3-17-16 (a week ago), and was still version 21.0.0.18x. I tried closing FF and rebooting, but nothing changed.

So I downloaded the Flash standalone installer for Firefox from the Adobe Flash website, and installed it that way. NOW both the Plugin check and Programs & Features show the expected version 21.0.0.197. And Programs & Features now lists the install date as today (3-24) instead of 3-17.

Any ideas on why this might have happened? (I suppose it's at least partially an Adobe question instead of solely a Firefox question, but I thought I'd start here.) Thanks.

Instead of automatic updating, I always have Adobe Flash set to download updates automatically, but ask before installing. Today after my computer booted up, the Adobe notification appeared on my desktop saying a new version was ready for installation. (Since Firefox is my default browser, such updates are always applied to the Firefox Flash plug-in after I accept it.) So I accepted it, and the installation bar moved across, and I got the message that the installation was complete. After this occurs, I then sometimes go to the Firefox Plugin check to double-check that Flash now shows as up-to-date, AND that it lists the same version number shown as latest-available for Firefox on the Adobe Flash website. IIRC that has always checked out OK until today. While the Plugin check said Flash is up-to-date, it showed the full version number as 21.0.0.18x (I forget the last digit), whereas it was supposed to be 21.0.0.197. I then looked in Windows 7 Programs & Features and it showed that the latest Firefox (NPAPI) Flash version was installed on 3-17-16 (a week ago), and was still version 21.0.0.18x. I tried closing FF and rebooting, but nothing changed. So I downloaded the Flash standalone installer for Firefox from the Adobe Flash website, and installed it that way. NOW both the Plugin check and Programs & Features show the expected version 21.0.0.197. And Programs & Features now lists the install date as today (3-24) instead of 3-17. Any ideas on why this might have happened? (I suppose it's at least partially an Adobe question instead of solely a Firefox question, but I thought I'd start here.) Thanks.

Rick216 modificouno o

All Replies (3)

Rick216
Rick216 Question owner
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No ideas?

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Firefox may report the wrong version if the newer installer didn't remove the old files. If Firefox finds multiple NPSWF32_21_....DLL files in the

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash

folder then Firefox may list them all on the Add-ons page, Plugins list, and the about:plugins page.

That's just a guess, but since you already solved the problem, it's hard to test any hypotheses.

Rick216
Rick216 Question owner
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Thanks. Although, Flash was not appearing twice on the Plugins list during the post-update period, unless perhaps I just didn't notice a second listing because it was greyed out. But that seems unlikely.