Adobe Flash Player Update Released

plodr · December 13, 2020, 02:21:29 PM

Paddy's link makes the uninstall as clear as mud. I'm not sure if MS's answer just uninstalls flash from its browsers or IE and Edge only.

You might want to read this
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-completely-uninstall-remove-adobe-flash-player-from-windows-10
Showing 3 ways to remove flash:
1. Adobe's tool
2. MS's KB
3. Manually

Method 1 is probably the easiest but don't forget to check each browser. Fire up a browser, head here https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player.html
and scroll down to step 5.

pastywhitegurl · December 13, 2020, 08:44:06 PM

I'm glad its not just me. I must have read through that 5 times and still don't get it. And, it seems to not include Win10 version 2004.

I will probably be coming back to this thread in the near future.

ky331 · February 02, 2021, 02:07:44 PM

I was among those people who found that, even after running the Flash Uninstaller on Win10, I still had files in Windows/System32/Macromed/Flash and Windows/SysWOW64/Macromed/Flash that were protected... I could NOT delete them. (It would prompt me for permission to proceed, but then couldn't follow-through.)
One of the files in each of those Flash subfolders was FlashUtil_ActiveX.exe ; it's another uninstaller. By running it, once from each of the Flash folders, it removed some of the files therein... but more importantly, removed protection from what was left over, so I was then able to delete them. Moreover, the Flash program icon in my Control Panel has also finally disappeared.
(Note: My EDGE Chromium had already been updated, so as to no longer access Flash.)

winchester73 · February 02, 2021, 02:14:41 PM

I don't have that utility in either folder :(

I hope Microsoft releases something next week with the other updates that will easily remove Flash without any intervention by me 8)

ky331 · February 02, 2021, 02:42:53 PM

I just checked, and see that the page
https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/search.aspx?q=4577586
now offers Flash Removal for Win10 20H2 (3 separate versions for x86, x64, ARM64).

winchester73 · February 02, 2021, 08:10:34 PM

That did the trick, thanks! Folders in both locations totally removed. Flash removed from Control Panel. No reboot required (but I'm going to do one anyway).

ky331 · February 02, 2021, 08:16:35 PM

Glad to have helped.
Had I seen it before I tried the utility method, I probably would have gone for it as well.

winchester73 · February 02, 2021, 08:37:50 PM

Quote from: pastywhitegurl on December 13, 2020, 08:44:06 PM
And, it seems to not include Win10 version 2004.

Look on page 2 :)

https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/search.aspx?q=4577586

There are 3 options for you to pick. If you don't know which you need, go to your Windows Update/Check for Updates, then View Update History ... you'll find which version of monthly updates Microsoft installs on your computer (x64, x86 or ARM64).

plodr · February 03, 2021, 02:41:08 PM

If it works as Windows 7 catalog updates did, when I mistakenly tried to install the wrong update (sometimes forget I'm on 32 bit and try to install 64 bit), I'll get a popup "this update is not applicable for your computer". So you can't install or run the incorrect update.

DR M · February 04, 2021, 12:19:07 PM

I didn't understand this.

How do we uninstall Flash player?

Using the Uninstaller?
From the Control Panel > Uninstall a program feature?
Using this update to complete the process?

I just uninstalled it from the Control Panel... Then removed the Macromed folder manually. I guess I should use the Uninstaller and then the update?

winchester73 · February 04, 2021, 01:53:48 PM

There are several things going on:

Removing Flash from Firefox, Opera, etc, is relatively straightforward, use the Adobe uninstaller and it will take care of the remnants.

Removing from IE and Edge (Windows for that matter) is not as simple, if you try to manually delete the Macromedia System32 and SysWOW files/folders, you'll need permission from TrustedInstaller to make changes, and you won't get it. Hence the Microsoft uninstaller from the catalog ky331 linked.

DR M · February 04, 2021, 02:33:41 PM

So the recommendation when helping a user is to use the Uninstaller, right? For IE and Edge in Windows 8.1 and 10, a new update will remove it, normally. For now, we have to disable it as indicated here: https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player.html

Please correct me if I am not right.

Corrine · February 04, 2021, 03:12:49 PM

The link to https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player.html is how to install Flash Player. Since this is for when you are helping someone, I suggest providing the link from the Microsoft Update Catalog for their OS.

DR M · February 04, 2021, 03:21:10 PM

That link above basically includes info about Enable/Disable Flash Player in the browsers. Besides there isn't a way to install it anymore.

Question: We expect Microsoft to include Flash uninstaller in an update, right? It's a bit strange to provide a separate update only for that.

Corrine · February 04, 2021, 04:25:34 PM

Why not link directly to the instructions at Uninstall Flash Player for Windows?

As to the Microsoft update, looking at the catalog dates, the most recent was January 22. I would expect it to be included with the February 9th security updates.