TechNote

Registry permissions required for Flash Player install or update

Issue

A damaged Windows system registry or incorrect permissions in the registry may prevent Flash Player from installing or registering correctly.

Symptoms of a damaged registry or incorrect permissions may include:

Error during Flash Player installation:
'Failed to install. For Troubleshooting please see: http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_19166'
Flash Player installer finishes with no error, but Flash content cannot be viewed in Internet Explorer.
Some sites tell you that you do not have the correct version of Flash Player, even though you just installed the latest version.
Some sites tell you to reinstall Flash Player, but after reinstalling the same message occurs.

Reason

The user may not have the correct operating system permissions to update or install the Flash Player.

Solution

Download SubInACL.

Download SubInACL from Microsoft to fix permission issues that prevent the Flash Player installation. For instruction on how to run SubInACL to fix these permission issues please refer to "Download SubInACL from Microsoft to fix permission issues that prevent the Flash Player installation" (TechNote fb1634cb).

Additional Information

If you are an IT Administrator or knowledgeable Windows users, you can manually edit the registry.

Important: These instructions should only be used as a last resort if the solution above does not work. Always use the SubInACL tool solution described above whenever possible.

Disclaimer: The following solution involves the Windows System Registry. Editing or manipulating the registry incorrectly can result in serious system damage which may require reinstallation of the operating system. If you are not comfortable editing the registry, then take your system to a professional. If you choose to proceed, then it is essential that you create a complete system backup and a Windows System Restore Point before proceeding. Adobe Systems cannot be held responsible for damage resulting from this information.

To allow a member of the Users group to update their Flash Player, you must give them access rights to the following registry items.

Note: Some machines will not have all of these keys. In this case, give access rights to the registry keys actually available.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.3
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.4
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.5
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.6
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.7
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.8
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.9
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.10
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D4304BCF-B8E9-4B35-BEA0-DC5B522670C2}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{1171A62F-05D2-11D1-83FC-00A0C9089C5A}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{2E4BB6BE-A75F-4DC0-9500-68203655A2C4}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{FAB3E735-69C7-453B-A446-B6823C6DF1C9}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{57A0E746-3863-4D20-A811-950C84F1DB9B}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.spl
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.swf
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mfp
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.sol
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.sor
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FlashFactory.FlashFactory
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FlashFactory.FlashFactory.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FlashProp.FlashProp
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FlashProp.FlashProp.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MacromediaFlashPaper.MacromediaFlashPaper
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MIME\Database\Content Type\application/futuresplash
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MIME\Database\Content Type\application/x-shockwave-flash

They will also need write access privileges to the following directory (for users with Windows XP and Vista):

C:/Windows/System32/Macromed/

After setting permissions on these keys and folders, reboot the machine.

Next, download (do not run yet) the Flash Player uninstaller from How to uninstall the Adobe Flash Player plug-in and ActiveX control (TechNote tn_14157). Before you run the uninstaller quit ALL running applications, including all Internet Explorer windows, AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger or other messengers. Check the Windows system tray carefully to make certain no applications that might use Flash Player are still in memory.

Finally, reinstall Flash Player from the Adobe Flash Player Download Center.