Bug reports that Adobe Flash can crash  internet browsers of all types in Windows 7 is true and accurate. The “Adobe Flash Crash” affects all browsers in Windows 7 and, when it does occurs, is not browser specific ( meaning it affects every type of browser ). Affected browsers include:

• Chrome
• Firefox
• Internet Explorer
• Safari
• and others…

The Flash Crash bug does not affect all Windows 7 installations ( 64 bit Windows is completely unsupported by Adobe ) but the crash is occurring frequently enough on 32 bit installs to warrant attention across then net ( blogged yesterday on ZDnet.com as example ). Ultimately, patching the code will be the responsibility of Adobe as the Flash Crash can occur in every browser.

The obvious solution to repair Adobe Flash on Win7 is to first uninstall and reinstall Flash.

According to Adobe: Due to recent enhancements to the Adobe Flash Player installers, you can now remove the player only by using the Adobe Flash Player uninstaller.

To remove Flash Player, simply download and run the appropriate uninstaller for your system. Use the following link to acquire Flash unintaller.

Uninstall and Reinstall Flash

Download and run the Adobe Flash Uninstaller here http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/141/tn_14157.html

Read the Adobe FAQs and Troubleshooting for specifics relating to your system

• Flash Player Support FAQ
• Adobe Flash Player Help and Support
• Troubleshooting Flash Player crash or freeze for developers and end users (Windows XP and Vista)

Beyond the Basics – Repairing Adobe Flash Installations in Windows 7

Solving Adobe Flash Crash issues in Windows 7 under more complex circumstances is best approached in process of steps elevating the solution(s) in order of Severity.

• Obtain an Adobe Flash Crash Log
• Uninstall Adobe Flash using Flash Player Uninstaller
• Check your Security Anti-Virus software and confirm Adobe Flash is NOT blocked
• Disable Hardware Acceleration in Adobe Flash
• Reset your Internet Browser

Severity 1 – Uninstall and ReInstall Flash

As mentioned above, the first step is generally to Uninstall and Re-install Adobe Flash as described above using the approved Flash Uninstaller. Attempt this most simple fix  first.

• Uninstall Adobe Flash
• Re-Install Adobe Flash

The Adobe Flash Player Uninstaller Setup will execute


Output folder: C:\Users\Home\AppData\Local\Temp
Extract: FlashUtil.exe
Execute: "C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\uninstall_plugin.exe"
Execute: "C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\uninstall_activeX.exe"
Unregistering: C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\Flash10d.ocx
Execute: "C:\Users\Home\AppData\Local\Temp\FlashUtil.exe" -uninstallUnlock
Delete file: C:\Users\Home\AppData\Local\Temp\FlashUtil.exe
Delete on reboot: C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\NPSWF32.dll
Delete file: C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\Flash10d.ocx
Delete on reboot: C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil10d.exe
Delete file: C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\uninstall_activeX.exe
Completed


If uninstalling and reinstalling does not work, move on to Severity 2…

Severity 2 – Uninstall and Reinstall Flash, CHECK SECURITY AND ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE FOR BLOCKING OF YOUR ADOBE FLASH VERSION

Today’s security software is more highly tuned then ever to fight malware ( malicious software ) on your system. The virus signatures used today normally identify the version number of software as an identifiable trait. If the latest release of Adobe Flash ( or any program for that matter ) has a version number that is not recognized by your Security Anti-Virus software ) then it may be BLOCKED from running properly. Check and Confirm that Adobe Flash is NOT BLOCKED

• Uninstall Adobe Flash
• Restart your computer
• Re-Install Adobe Flash
• Your Security Ant-Virus software may prompt you to ALLOW the program, if so, click ALLOW
• If it does not or you are unsure about the setting, launch the Control Panel for your Security Ant-Virus software settings to check to see if Flash has been blocked

Severity 3 – Uninstall and Reinstall Flash, DISABLE HARDWARE ACCELERATION

With the release of Flash Player 10.1, Adobe has added support for hardware-accelerated H.264 decoding to further the experience of watching video online. Unfortunately, this hardware acceleration can break the very thing it’s supposed to enhance ( i.e. Flash itself ). This is especially true when Flash is installed on certain hardware that comes in combination with driver suites and utilities that run their own hardware acceleration. When requests to hardware for acceleration are being made by drivers and software other than Adobe’s (such as the latest Blu-Ray video suites, Roxio Media Suites, CyberLink Power DVD Suites for Blu-Ray, etc… ) then the result is that Adobe’s method of implementing hardware acceleration gets shut down. The additional STEP of disabling hardware accelaration may be necessary.

• Uninstall Adobe Flash
• Re-Install Adobe Flash
• Disable Hardware Accelleration in Adobe Flash

One additional (and highly severe step) may be to disable hardware acceleration in the Operating System all together. Do this only as a last resort.

• Disable Graphics Hardware Acceleration

Severity 4 – Uninstall and Reinstall Flash, Disable Hardware Acceleration, RESET YOUR INTERNET BROWSER

Under more challenging circumstances it may be necessary to Reset Your Internet Browser. Browsers use Add Ons of various types to extend functionality and what the browser is able to do. This added benefit of allowing third party software to be able to “plug in” to the browser, it’s settings, code, and or registry ( in the case of Windows ) also creates a circumstance in which the browser can be adversly affected by it’s effort to support these Add Ons. Sometimes these problems are severe enough to justify a complete RESET of the internet browser.

Be advised, performing a full Browser Reset will wipe out all settings for Add Ons currently installed in the browser. In addition, many tyipcal convience settings specified in your browser up to this point in time will also be reset. In short, once reset, your browser starts over.

Uninstall

• Uninstall Adobe Flash

Reset Your Browser

• CHROME – Reset Google Chrome
• FIREFOX – Firefox Add Ons Install Problems
• FIREFOX – Reset Firefox Preferences
• FIREFOX – Mozine article – Resetting Firefox Preferences
• IE – Reset Interent Explorer
• SAFARI – Reset Apple Safari

Reinstall

• Re-Install Adobe Flash
• Disable Hardware Accelleration in Adobe Flash ( if necessary )

Reports, forum posts, and other articles

Various posts around the internet are confirming the issue with Adobe Flash crashing Windows 7. Here are a few for reference….

• http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itproappcompat/thread/070507da-428a-4807-84dc-c8c2d6774689
• http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itproperf/thread/f096af5f-d2cc-4b8d-9dd1-c1f8c0b4bb3a
• http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/32396-flash-player-related-application-crashes-windows-7-a.html
• http://thewinforums.com/topic/59261-windows-7-crashes-when-watching-flash-videos-on-the-internet/
• http://www.w7forums.com/adobe-flash-player-crashes-ie8-t2053.html

Please note that on most installations, Adobe Flash functions perfectly. The scenario in which the Adobe Flash Crash occurs will vary based on hardware, drivers, other software installed which also uses hardware acceleration, potentially conflicting audio drivers, and the user of the latest multi-media gaming and home entertainment Media PC’s that use a variety of high end DVD and Blu-Ray media suites that also accelerate hardware in Windows 7.

Please contact us for further details and help if you require.

thank you…

WIGITAL Computing Pros serves computing and network infrastructure needs in Southern California.
Mark Raborn
WIGITAL