There are 2 versions of Adobe Flash:

• an ActiveX version for IE only
• a Plugin version for most other browsers including Firefox
• On a Windows system, you should always update both individually.

You do not appear to have the Plugin version for Firefox installed. If you did, in Add-ons > Plugins you would see "Shockwave Flash (version)". If "Shockwave Flash" is there and is disabled, click the "Enable" button.

Check your Plugins often --> http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/

• only the most popular/used Plugins are known by this page
• page will detect only installed, enabled Plugins

Install or update Adobe Flash

1. Using Firefox, go to the following link and SAVE the download to your desktop so you can find it later. Un-check any items on that page that you do not want to download (i.e., "McAfee Security Scan Plus":
   • http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer
2. When the download is finished, close Firefox (File > Exit OR Firefox button > Exit)
3. Click or double-click on the file you just saved to your desktop
   • In the installation window that appears, click the box to the left of "I have read and...." to place a check mark in the box
   • The "Install" button in the lower right corner will now be highlighted, click it.
   • The installation is quick.
4. Start Firefox and test your installation here: https://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/
5. To update/install the ActiveX version for IE only, repeat the process, but use IE to go to the above website.

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"Manage my add-ons"
That sounds like the IE option Tools > Manage Add-ons

"I downloaded the latest version of Java because I read somewhere that Flash requires Java to work; I installed the "Add-On Compatibility Reporter" so I could force Java to be enabled. It made no difference whatsoever, as best I can tell."

• Flash does not require Java. JavaScript on the other hand is/may be used to format the screen
  • https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/JavaScript
  • http://kb.mozillazine.org/JavaScript_is_not_Java
  • http://www.htmlgoodies.com/beyond/javascript/article.php/3470971/Java-vs-JavaScript.htm
• The Java Console is automatically disabled by Firefox
  • https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Add-ons%20are%20disabled%20after%20updating%20Firefox

Java Console
Unless you do Java programming/development or debug Java applets on web pages, you do not need Java Console. Java update will install a new Java Console with each update. Removing the Java Console extensions has no effect on the functioning of Java for web browsing. You can see, but not remove, the Java Console extensions in Add-ons > Extensions. Java Console extensions can be safely removed manually by following the instructions in this article:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Java#Multiple_Java_Console_extensions

Not related to your question, but...

You can check your plugins and update the following items as needed. Check your plug-ins and update as necessary:

• Plug-in check --> http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/
• Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in: Installing (or Updating) the Shockwave plugin with Firefox
• Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape: Installing/Updating Adobe Reader in Firefox
• Shockwave Flash (Adobe Flash or Flash): Updating Flash in Firefox
• Next Generation Java Plug-in for Mozilla browsers: Installing or Updating Java in Firefox

Did you even read my post?

I did indeed. Sounds like your are downloading Flash using IE which will only download the version for IE and will not download the version for Firefox.

Did you read my post?

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Yes, and I've read it as an answer to about five other similar questions on this forum.

Maybe I wasn't clear, but every single step I described in my original post occurred in Firefox, and I would think that this sentence (from the fourth paragraph of my original post) would have made it pretty clear that I downloaded Flash from Mozilla:

"I also went to Adobe's page where you can see what version of Flash you're running (http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/) and it doesn't even show that I have Flash installed. In Internet Explorer, it does show that I have Flash installed, but it's the previous version (but that is likely due to the fact that I downloaded Flash from Mozilla, not IE, and they use different modes in each browser - so an update that you download from one browser does not necessarily apply to the other browser). "

Try doing it again following my step-by-step instructions that have worked for many users. If you do not follow the steps exactly, the results can not be guaranteed.

I have directly experienced occurrences of Flash installations not showing in IE until the computer is re-booted; that was, in the past, caused by Flash being in use and therefore could not be immediately updated.. With the new installation method, Adobe forces the user to close the open browser before proceeding with the installation and that seems to have resolved that problem.

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I followed your instructions exactly the first time I read them, approximately four hours ago.

Regarding this: "I have directly experienced occurrences of Flash installations not showing in IE"

I am not using IE in any way, shape or form. The only reason I ever mentioned IE for any reason was to say that I tested whether this link - http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/ - worked by trying it in IE when I still couldn't see anything in Firefox and had already gone through the Flash download/installation process several times. Every time I have downloaded Flash, I have downloaded it from Firefox. Every time I have tested to see if Flash works, I have tested it from Firefox. And there is a "Manage Add-ons" button under Tools--> Options --> General (tab) ---> Manage Add-ons (button), and I have looked there to see if it's showing the Flash plugin (it doesn't show it at all). And, just to be able to say that I've tried everything, I also rebooted my computer.

So unless you have something different to offer besides your original set of instructions, I'm afraid nothing in your instructions is helping solve this problem for me. I'm not trying to be bitchy at all, but I have done everything that you said to do (and actually, I did all of it before I ever read your post on someone else's issue, and still went through and followed your instructions again, just to be thorough). I am not an idiot. I have a decent working knowledge of computers, programs, the internet, etc. I can also follow instructions. So while I am happy to take responsiblity for user error if you can point out something that I'm missing here, I am inclined to think that something else is going on here. Maybe there is some disconnect between Firefox and Flash that has not been reconciled yet with a patch? Or maybe there is a setting/option somewhere that I need to change, but I don't know what it would be or where I would find it.

It may even be the case that despite the fact that I have downloaded Flash no fewer than 10 times today, the download didn't "take" somehow (except that when I look in this folder - C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash - I see this file - FlashUtil64_11_1_102_Plugin - and this file - NPSWF64_11_1_102.dll - both with the most recent version numbers for Flash in their file names).

Just for the sake of pointing it out, to show you that I have been through your instructions, here are the steps in your instructions that did not apply to me (parts that were not applicable are in bold; explanation follows in italics):

1. Using Firefox, go to the following link and SAVE the download to your desktop so you can find it later. Un-check any items on that page that you do not want to download (i.e., "McAfee Security Scan Plus":

       http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer 

Went to that link (every single time I have downloaded Flash today, actually, which has now totaled at least 10 times); unchecked the McAfee option; clicked the "Download now" button. As a sidenote, a paragraph above the button says "By clicking the Download now button, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the Adobe Software Licensing Agreement and the McAfee Security Scan Plus License Agreement." (This will be important in Step 3 of your instructions.) Back to the bolded material from your step - your instructions say to save it to my desktop. The dialog box does not offer me the option of selecting a location to save the file - it just asks me whether I want to save it at all. I choose yes; it automatically saves it to my Downloads folder, which can be found by going to C:\Users\<username>\Downloads. Just for shits and giggles though, I went ahead and right-clicked on the file from my Downloads window that pops up in Firefox, selected "Open Containing Folder" and copied the installation file to my desktop - just to make sure that the location from which I ran the file didn't have something to do with it not working for me previously. I know I'm getting ahead of your steps here, but it seems relevant to note now that the results were the same when I copied and pasted the file to my desktop.

2. When the download is finished, close Firefox (File > Exit OR Firefox button > Exit)

Did that.

3. Click or double-click on the file you just saved to your desktop

          In the installation window that appears, click the box to the left of "I have read and...." to place a check mark in the box

Does not apply; see note from Step 1 where I agreed to the terms and conditions by clicking the "Download now" button in the first place; this step does not occur when I double-click the installation file. Double-clicking the file just begins the installation.

The "Install" button in the lower right corner will now be highlighted, click it.

Again, does not apply. Double-clicking the file causes a dialog box to pop up that asks me if I want to run the file (see this link for a screenshot: Adobe Screenshots of Installation Process ).

  The installation is quick. 

4. Start Firefox and test your installation here: https://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/

Firefox starts *automatically* once the installation is complete, and loads a page on Adobe's website that says that the installation was successful. However, when I go to the link that you provided in Step 4 above, I can't see the Flash object that I'm supposed to see. (I should note that I described this in my original post.)

I have screenshots of pretty much every single thing that I've done. I would be happy to upload them in sequential order if you think that I've missed something.

It appears you are getting the 64-bit version of Flash. Is your Windows 7 64-bit?

I did not read your entire post, but did notice NPSWF64_11_1_102.dll which is 64-bit Flash; this is turning into a novel when it should have been a short story.

First, un-install all Flash from your system following these Adobe instructions

• http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/141/tn_14157.html

Second, get the 32-bit versions from the following. Why? Unless you are running an un-official 64-bit build of Firefox, the regular Firefox is a 32-bit browser and needs the 32-bit Flash.

• http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/191/tn_19166.html#main_Install_in_a_firewall_proxy_server_environment
  • Download/SAVE both of the following, close all browsers, then install.
    • 32 bit Flash Player for ActiveX (Internet Explorer)
    • 32 bit Flash Player Plug-in (All other browsers)

Third, test Flash on sites where you had a problem before.

If that does not work, my final suggestion to you is to follow Adobe's instructions for troubleshooting. I do not know what is going on with your system that could possibly be causing the problem.

• Adobe's troubleshooting: http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/191/tn_19166.html

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NOTE: Just discovered that Adobe is making a bigger mess than any previously.

They now have a 32-bit uninstaller for Flash AND a separate 64-bit uninstaller for Flash. You will need the 64-bit uninstaller for what you had installed above.

• 32-bit uninstaller: http://download.macromedia.com/pub/flashplayer/current/uninstall_flash_player_32bit.exe
• 64-bit uninstaller: download.macromedia.com/pub/flashplayer/current/uninstall_flash_player_64bit.exe

We are finally on the same page. Thank you for sticking it out with me and troubleshooting.

I do have a 64-bit version of Windows 7, and I didn't have to select a version of Flash to download (Adobe's download page just selected it for me). And because it told me that it was basing the version it selected on a Windows 64-bit system using Firefox, I assumed Adobe knew what they were doing (which is never really a safe assumption to make, I know).

However, there is a note on that same page (the Flash download page) that says that the 64-bit installer contains both a 32-bit and 64-bit version of Flash player - so there is clearly still a disconnect between what my system chooses to use automatically (apparently it selected which plugin to use based on my OS rather than the version of Firefox I was using).

Rather than uninstalling everything and starting over with 32-bit (although I'm sure I will do that eventually), I decided to download Mozilla's Nightly build just to check it out (I read a couple of good reviews). The Flash media that I was previously unable to access is now working perfectly in Nightly, the 64-bit browser (with the 64-bit version of Flash still installed).

I know Nightly is still in testing and stuff, so I'm sure I'll have some crashes and may revert back to the 32-bit version of Firefox. But at least I now have the links to selectively uninstall the 64-bit version of Flash (thank you for those) should I need to go back to Firefox.

Is there a way to tag this post so that other people with Windows 7 64-bit OS can find this if they're having the same issue that I am? Because the 64-bit vs. 32-bit issue never occurred to me - I don't know if we would have figured this out if I hadn't posted those file names in an attempt to show you that the Flash installer and the Flash plugin were in fact downloaded to my computer despite the fact that Mozilla couldn't find them.

Anyway, thanks again for all your help. Sorry I had to type a novel in order to convey my point; I generally try to err on the side of including too much information rather than not enough so that other people have access to clues that I might not know/think are relevant to my problem (like this one).

unable to install flash player 11 on a windows 7 64bit system. I am not the smartest one around. Each time I attempt I receive a 'general error' message.

This issue is definitely not solved. Unable to install adobe flash player with firefox. Am able to enjoy my web browsing again with IE-9 and adobe flash player. Have been having problems with firefox for quite sometime, I guess since firefox has been committed to frequent releases and an attitude of we will remain on schedule no matter what. To say that the fault lies with adobe is using a 'scape goat' to cover your errors and lack of concern for the end user.

Maybe not solved for you. You should have started your own thread rather than posting in a thread that was already marked as solved. The fault here is with you, and far as lack of concern - we're all volunteers here, devoting our spare time to helping users who many times aren't dealing from a full deck.

Firefox is a 32-bit browser and needs to have 32-bit plugins, regardless of whether you have a 64-bit operating system or not.

Hi heart just got the same problem with fire fox and trust me it gave me a brain freezer to hehehe.. anyways i got it fix i have windows xp 32 bit and i cant install it using manual or automatic so what i did was to find a manual installer for adobe flashplayer  :) >>> download here for manual install >> http://filehippo.com/download_flashplayer_ie/ This is for non ie so mozilla will be fine if you have 64 bit OS this is the link http://filehippo.com/search?q=flash+player+for+non+ie or you can just chose which one is your Operating system , any how just download and enjoy ^_^ feel free to Message me with any issue you can come up with i will be happy to assist " Onimusha "