You may need to physically remove the unwanted plugin from disk.

Is this issue on your Android device or on a desktop operating system? If it's on desktop, what is your OS (e.g., Windows 7, 64-bit)?

I have an Acer Aspire laptop, am not tech savvy, so all I can tell you is it is Windows 7 Home Premium...yes, I have looked, and it is 64 bit OS. I DO not understand what you mean by, OR how to physically remove the plugin from disk.

No worries, I was just getting started.

The Flash plugin is stored in this folder:

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash

The file names for the plugin used in Firefox have this pattern:

NPSWF32_13_0_0_206.dll

where the middle part (no bolded) is the plugin version number.

Adobe's updater should normally clean out old versions but if they are actively in use, it's possible that the updater is not able to remove them.

If you find the old file, try deleting it or moving it to the Desktop temporary.

Firefox may not realize immediately that the file is gone, but hopefully will detect that after the next time you exit and start it back up when it updates its plugin scan.

Any luck?

Assuming this is a desktop Flash issue as there is no Flash 13 for Android. Use the Flash uninstaller tool then reinstall Flash from adobe.

• http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-windows.html
• http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-mac-os.html

then

• http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

to re-install

@jscher2000: I used the file path you sent, the older Flash was indeed there. I right-clicked it, and deleted it, and then went to one of the sites that I frequent, and watch videos there. For the record, NONE of the sites to which I refer are porn sites! So, I actually got a couple of videos to play, and this is a site where I have the MOST difficulty. Then, the videos stopped, and no more would play at this site. I went to my add-ons page, and THERE IT WAS AGAIN...the old version that I THOUGHT I had deleted. Even though it was disabled, my newest version, (the one I should be using) was also disabled. I left the old version disabled, enabled the new one, and went BACK to the site I was at before. No videos at all would play. I went BACK to my add-ons, and the new version had been disabled ON IT'S OWN, God knows how, and the old version was ENABLED! I guess I should have been MUCH LESS verbose, and just said, the two versions, EVEN THOUGH I HAD SUPPOSEDLY DELETED THE OLDER ONE, are disabling and enabling on their own, and changing the new one does no good, except VERY temporarily...for two or three videos, and then they will not play anymore. I do need to mention that the old version is still in my recycle bin, on the advice of my wife, (the computer geek here), in case I might need it for something in the future??? smh

That's a little nuts, for files to appear that you know you removed...

To check on the file locations, you can type or paste about:plugins in the address bar and press Enter. Use Find to skip to Shockwave Flash and see which version is where.

Sometimes the pluginreg.dat file becomes corrupted. You can remove it and have Firefox re-scan for plugins. As a side effect, any plugins you have disabled on the Add-ons page probably will be re-enabled, so you'll need to go back to that page one more time.

Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
• Help menu > Troubleshooting Information

In the first table, click the "Show Folder" button.

Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit (either "3-bar" menu button > "Power" icon, or File menu > Exit)

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename pluginreg.dat to something like pluginreg.old

Start Firefox up again. (If you want to restore your previous non-private session, use History > Restore Previous Session.)

When you return to the Add-ons page, any improvement?

@jscher2000: I'm not sure if I need to go through your procedure or not. I took the same file path that you first sent me earlier this afternoon, and deleted a dll file that was associated with version 11. I then went to the add-ons page, and it was different this time, showing an "options"button, an enable, disable, and one or two more, perhaps an "activate" button. Version 11 was disabled, version 13, enabled. I closed the add-ons page, went to a video site that I frequent, and, of course, it did not play.It just sat there loading, loading, ad nauseam. I went BACK to add-ons, and version 11 had completely DISAPPEARED! btw, here are some of the file names when I navigate your original path: Flash32_13_0_0_214.ocx, an Active X control, FlashInstall, a text document, flashplayer.xpt, an XPT document, FlashPlayerPlugin_13_0_0_214, an 1821kb Application, FlashPlayerUpdateService, a 252kb Application, FlashUtil32_13_0_0_214_ActiveX.dll:Application ext., FlashUtil32_13_0_0_214_ActiveX, 828kb Application, FlashUtil32_13_0_0_214_Plugin, 828kb Application, NPSWF32_13_0_0_214.dll, a 15.9Mb Application extension, plugin.vch, a 1.6Mb VCH file. Version 11, or anything to do with it, is gone, BUT, IT IS in my recycle bin, if that means anything. So there you have it. STILL TOTALLY SCREWED UP VIDEO PLAYBACK. Someone else from Mozilla support answered my inquiry, and suggested that I uninstall Flash and then re-install it. I checked the page that explains the procedure, and frankly, IT SCARES ME TO DEATH! If my wife knew that I was even THINKING ABOUT DOING THAT, she'd come at me with a knife!! LOL...no, really, she would! wtf??? SMH!!!

@kbrosnan: As I am a far cry from tech savvy, upon viewing the web page that explains the uninstall / re-install procedure, it is very frightening, looks very complicated for someone like me, and it is very possible that I could RUIN this laptop trying it. Thank you so very much for your reply, trying to help me, but I will have to give this some serious thought. My wife is the computer whiz. She's also a HELLCAT. But, tomorrow, I'll ask her anyway...what she thinks about doing what you suggest. Again, thanks. You are very kind in trying to help me find a solution to this MADDENING situation. I WILL CERTAINLY NOT disregard the possibility of using your suggestion.

I don't want to provoke a knife attack...

Among the various files in the Flash folder, Firefox only uses the ones that start with NPSWF32, so you can ignore the others.

@jscher2000: Didn't mean to lose contact. I still don't have my playback problem solved, if you can believe that. I've downloaded the uninstaller / installer links with someones help that's on this forum, used them in the exact same order. It did nothing to help. However, I was in the process of attempting your solution. I made sure all browsers were closed; in fact, I went offline before this procedure. When I used find, and typed in Shockwave, it came back..."no search results". I recalled a path I had previously used, and had to use it instead of find, C:/ Acer/ Windows/SysWOW64/ Macromed/ and here there were files for Shockwave AND Flash. I opened Shockwave, says " this folder is empty". Flash Player and Flash Util plugin, Util32 Active X, NPSWF32_13_0_0_214.dll...all files appear correct, BUT why aren't there ANY files in the Shockwave folder? NONE of the buttons you describe in your steps to let Firefox "clean up" the pluginreg.dat file show in my window...if I am in the right window. My username is at the top, and it's drop-down is "3 button"+sign out. One says settings, but it doesn't take me to any "help", Trobleshooting info, "show folder", nor any way to exit Firefox or to start it back up. Settings goes to "edit settings", and has a list of checkboxes...all with something to do with threads in one aspect or another, and one concerning private messages. Sounds to me like I don't know what I'm doing, am on entirely the wrong Mozilla /Firefox page, and I'm NEVER, EVER going to get this damn video playback crap fixed once and for all. Some sites will let a video play, but they are rare. Vikings.com is the one that has me red-faced. NOTHING plays there. Except ads, of course. You can't get those to STOP.

I'm not sure where you are in the process, but I do not think C:\Acer\Windows is your active Windows folder. It should be C:\Windows.

There is no C:\Windows...I MUST take the path C:/Acer/Windows. That is the ONLY option I have on my Acer laptop. I don't understand why going through the Acer path has anything to do with any of my problems.

Let's start at the beginning:

(1) Do you still have duplicate Shockwave Flash plugins on your Add-ons page? Either:

• Ctrl+Shift+a
• "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Plugins.

(2) If yes:

Try using the about:plugins page to learn their locations on disk. Type or paste about:plugins in the address bar and press Enter.

(3) If no:

What is the current problem with Flash?

I have a Shockwave Flash13.0.0.214, and a Shockwave for Director12.1.1.151, and below the plugin's title it reads "Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in, version 12.1.1.151. that's it. Nothing else in the add-ons manager about Shockwave at all. Also, nothing about FlashPlayer13., Are these 2 the same thing? Is the ONE add-on Shockwave Flash supposed to be the only one I need? What about this "Director Netscape"12.1.1.151? I'm almost 110% positive that I've nothing in this laptop about Netscape. The problem is that, on perhaps 80% of websites that I am on, and going to play some video(s), they just do not play. I have either a black or a gray screen, or the loading, loading,...circle that is just continuous. I JUST REALIZED, (DUH!), the 3 bar menu button you are referring to is my menu button at top right , next to "home", download progress, and "bookmarks"...Correct? Again, DUH! To the prob at hand. There are also NO DUPLICATE anything concerning Shockwave Flash and no plug-ins at all that say FlashPlayer...just Shockwave. I do have the latest IE as well. Would Media Player have anything to do with this? Is it possible to install Quicktime on a PC that isn't an Apple? Doesn't Quicktime cause a lot of people, a lot of headaches? ?????? SMH

Okay, Shockwave Flash is the flash player plugin and you can ignore the others. Sites usually are very specific about how they want media played, and Flash-specific media will not play in QuickTime.

Does Flash run on Adobe's test page? https://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/

I have attached a screen shot of the kind of think you would expect to see during the animation and in the version detection box.

The animation DOES WORK, but, as I said, the Vikings.com website is where I cannot get ANY video to play AT ALL, but I don't know if their videos are FlashPlayer specific, or what type of player is needed to make their videos play, just that they won't playback. I do have the latest version installed, and it says that I do not need any updates.

Okay, good. In case one of your extensions is involved, could you test the Vikings site in Firefox's Safe Mode? That's a standard diagnostic tool to deactivate extensions and some advanced features of Firefox. More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
• Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

Not all add-ons are disabled: Flash and other plugins still run

After Firefox shuts down, a small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Reset).

Any difference?

The only extensions I have are an "add bookmark here", and an "inline Google definitions". That's it. Just the two. I don't think they have anything to do with Shockwave, right? Is starting in "safe mode" risky for someone that knows very, very little about computers? Even though I have no extensions for Shockwave and /or Flash, is starting in "safe mode" still something that I need to consider?

Those two extensions do not sound as though they would affect video in any way.

The Vikings site displays video from the NFL network (nfl.com, nflcdn.com). It seems to require a script from googletagservices.com. Can you think of any reason that those might be blocked?

Or is it possible you are blocking "third party cookies" that need to be exchanged to make this complex arrangement work?

Best would be to uninstall all Flash plugins and resinstall the Flash player for Firefox and the ActiveX version for IE.

• http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-windows.html

You can find the latest Flash player versions here:

• http://www.adobe.com/special/products/flashplayer/fp_distribution3.html