TechNote (Archived)

Add or Remove Programs Control Panel will not uninstall updated Flash Player files

Issue

Selecting "Flash Player Update" for Flash 8 or Flash MX 2004 from the Add or Remove Programs Control Panel will not uninstall the updated Flash Player files from the Players directory.

Reason

Flash Player Update replaces the files that shipped with Macromedia Flash 8 or Macromedia Flash MX 2004. These files are registered with the parent Flash application and not the Flash Player Update.

Solution

To remove the updated Flash Player files, uninstall the parent program (Macromedia Flash 8 or Macromedia Flash MX 2004). Or manually delete the Flash Player files from the Players folder.

The Flash Player files are located in located in the<installation path>\Macromedia\<Flash 8 or Flash MX 2004>\Players folder. (To restore these files Flash must be reinstalled.)

To uninstallFlash Playeronly, you should run the Flash Player Uninstaller. See How to uninstall the Macromedia Flash Player plug-in and ActiveX control (TechNote tn_14157).

Note: The uninstaller can not uninstall files currently in use.

If you have any instances of the player open in your web browsers, instant messaging clients, stand-alone SWFs or projectors, for example, the uninstaller will complete but some files may not be deleted. If this occurs, you may close all your applications and run the uninstaller again to ensure all files are removed.

Ref: 155362