Adobe Flash Player

[emmie]

can anyone give me simple explanation of what use is Adobe flash player, i have various applications on the computer, and get pop up box to install or update, not sure what it's for if i am honest.

[yogasun]

Hi em

I'm not in the least bit technical but I know I had to update to the latest version to be able to view a Corrie episode I couldn't record on ITV player recently.

[emmie]

i have gone right off corrie, but wondered because one of the things i could do which was view bank accounts statements can't do now, opens the page, then hangs, says firefox not responding, it may be a plug in or add on,
sometimes it says install Adobe whatever and not sure whether need to..

[albaqwerty]

I think, only think, that adobe is needed to view certain web-pages.

Pusskin's thread in related posts might be of help too.

[emmie]

these are the programmes, are they all needed, useful?

Adobe Reader X1 (11.03.13)
Adobe Flash Player 11 plug in
Adobe Reader 11 Active X

[emmie]

after yesterdays titanic disaster, i almost sank without trace, very wary of installing any new data.

[kloofnek]

good morning,em...I had a problem a while ago...it`s somewhere on AB..it was the lack of a Flash Player...I have all three you mention and don`t have a problem with them....but they are often needed so get them in your computer.

[emmie]

they are installed, i just wondered what is interfering in opening out the banks page, it didn't have a problem at all, something i undoubtedly installed has stopped it working properly.

[kloofnek]

here are the two links to the problems I had and put on AB...

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Computers/Question1219060.html

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Computers/Question1192721.html

don`t know if will help ...but ..you never know.

[daffy654]

Without Adobe flash player you will be unable to play many online games, view some animated adverts or watch videos on many sites. Adobe products are considered safe as long as you install updates and are very careful to untick any toolbars (ask toolbar etc.) that are offered with updates and downloads occasionally.

[VHG]

Adobe Reader allows you to view PDF files.

Adobe Flash and Adobe Shockwave both allow you to view web pages with fancy graphics and other clever features.

It is a good idea to have Adobe Reader, Flash and Shockwave on your computer and keep them up to date.

[Wak]

Hi Em, Just read about your bank account problems and wondered if it is a scam program trying to get you to install one of their nasties and not the real Adobe site that's popping up???
Just a thought!

[emmie]

don't think its a scam, it worked fine for a long time, then suddenly it doesn't, i have asked advice on here before and some suggested a plug in or add on that's causing it not to open properly, it works fine in IE8, which is a nuisance as i have to skip between the two browsers, where i would prefer just to use firefox.

[emmie]

ah that might be difficult, i just downloaded the newer version, 20.1
but it was happening with the old version, whatever that was... x

[Buenchico]

The solution that usually works for problems with Adobe Flash Player is as follows:
1. Go to Add or Remove Programs (or whatever your version of Windows calls it, such as 'Programs and Features')
2. Uninstall Adobe Flash Player Plug-in.
3. RESTART YOUR COMPUTER.
4. Reinstalll Adobe Flash Player Plug-in from here:
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
(NB: Deselect the option to install McAfee Security Scan Plus before clicking 'Download now')

[emmie]

hi chris i remember the hassle i had once before when it downloaded Mcafee and couldn't get the thing off the computer. Like the Ask.com i didn't tick any box, it just did it, how annoying...

[emmie]

if you look back at my post 7.17 those are the three adobe programmes i have on computer,

[Buenchico]

With regard to 'Adobe Reader' . . .

There's nothing 'wrong' with using Adobe Reader for viewing PDF files. However it is incredibly cumbersome an it can take ages to load big files. The current issue of Web User magazine lists it as one of the 'top 10' (or should that be 'bottom ten'?) programs in an article entitled 'The Worst Software Ever'.

The most frequently recommended alternative (here on AB) is Foxit but the Web User article suggests using Sumatra PDF instead. I installed it myself yesterday and I'm very impressed with the difference. (Big PDFs, that were taking several minutes to download and open with Adobe Reader, now open almost instantaneously with Sumatra PDF). If you fancy trying it, the download is here:
http://download.cnet.com/Sumatra-PDF/3000-18497_4-10698785.html
(When you get to the installation dialog, click on the button at the bottom left which allows you to choose your installation options before clicking n the 'Install' button. Then tick the box which sets Sumatra PDF to be your default PDF viewer).