TechNote (Archived)

Error 1904: flash.ocx failed to register (Flash Player, Flash Paper)

Issue

When installing Flash Player or FlashPaper 2.0, the following error message is displayed:

"Error 1904.Module C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash\Flash8.ocx failed to register. HRESULT -2147220473. Contact your support personnel"

Reason

This is caused by insufficient permissions in the Windows registry.

Solution

Solution 1: Verify that you have local administrator permissions when installing FlashPaper.

1. Log into Windows with an account that has local administrator privileges.
2. To check to see if you are a local administrator:
   • Right-click on My Computer.
   • Select Manage.
   • Expand Local Users and Groups, select Groups, double-click on Administrators and verify your account is listed.
3. After confirming that you are a member of the Administrator group, install FlashPaper from the software installer.
   

Solution 2: Check existing Registry keys for permissions for Flash Player.

1. Follow the troubleshooting steps in "Troubleshooting system registry issues that prevent Flash Player installation" (TechNote kb400116).
2. In addition, check in the registry to find the following keys (if they exist). Right-click on the keys and grant read/full control to Administrator.
   • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash
     • ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.1
       Note: (There is NO ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.2)
     • ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.3
     • ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.4
     • ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.5
     • ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.6
     • ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.7
     • ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.8
   • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.spl
   • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.swf
   • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mfp
   • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.sol
   • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.sor
   • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}
   • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\InprocServer32
   • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MIME\Database\Content Type\application/x-shockwave-flash
   • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MIME\Database\Content Type\application/futuresplash

Solution 3: Correct the registry permissions via command line using SubACL.

• Correct the registry permissions via command line. For instructions on how to do this, please see " Download SubInACL from Microsoft to fix permission issues that prevent the Flash Player Installation" (TechNote fb1634cb).

Solution 4: Register the flash.ocx file manually.

If none of the previous three solutions work, try registering the flash.ocx manually (version number may vary depending on your error message).

For example:

1. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash\ and locate the flash file that the error message identifies.
2. Choose Start > Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then click OK.>
3. Type regsvr32 Flash8.ocx (or the version number listed in your error message), and then press Enter.

A pop-up window should confirm the change with the following message:

"DllRegisterServer in in Flash8.ocx succeeded".

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