Flash player

Vincenzo

New Member
Power User
Messages
299
I upgraded a Win 7 computer which I had never installed Flash on, to Win 8, and now it seems to have Flash installed because Windows Update wants to update it (something I've never seen before in Windows Update), and the Flash About page indicates it is installed. Yet I do not see it listed in Programs and Features.

Does this come packaged in Win 8? and can it be uninstalled?
And why is Windows Update wanting to update an Adobe product?

I know there is a standalone uninstaller, but I am not sure what would happen if it is somehow an integral part of Windows 8.

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
If you're worried, just disable Flash in the IE (and other browsers) extension managers. Then there isn't anything to worry about.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    CPU
    Intel i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 650
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
    Hard Drives
    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
    Case
    Antec SOLO II
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech MX
And why is Windows Update wanting to update an Adobe product?

Because Microsoft know the great risk to have Flash and not keep it up to date,

here more info

"Windows 8 testers using Microsoft's Internet Explorer 10 browser risk running afoul of security exploits, as critical vulnerabilities in Adobe's Flash remain unresolved. Microsoft's decision to bake Flash directly into Internet Explorer 10 leaves the browser at risk: Adobe closed the security hole with a patch in August, but the browser will remain susceptible until Microsoft releases an update of their own."
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 enterprise x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pc-Quebec / Area 66
    CPU
    i7-3960X Extreme Edition
    Motherboard
    Rampage IV Extreme
    Memory
    Gskill 4x4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    4 x HD 7970
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Screen Resolution
    2560*1600
    Hard Drives
    C:\Intel series 520 SSD , 250 GB
    D:\ WD 750 black with Intel 40gb SSD cache Intel RST
    E:\ WD 2TB Black
    PSU
    Corsair AX 1200
    Case
    TT Mozart TX
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-15
    Other Info
    Windows 8 VM is install on his own SSD.
Flash (the ActiveX version) is bundled with IE 10 and is updated periodically via Windows Update. And no, you can't uninstall it AFAIK - nor should you need to. Like Mystere said, it can be disabled in IE. That particular version has no bearing on any other browser, as Firefox, Chrome, etc. use a completely different plugin API.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
Microsoft only controls the Flash in Metro IE App, not the desktop IE version. The Metro IE App will only access Flash sites that have been put on the white list as opposed to the desktop IE which will access any Flash site. So when you see Adobe Flash updates with the Windows Updates it is only for Metro IE.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7, Windows 8 RP
"when you see Adobe Flash updates with the Windows Updates it is only for Metro IE"

That's not true, actually. It's the same ActiveX control for both.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
"It's the same ActiveX control for both"

It seems there are, in fact, two flash files - one for desktop and one for Metro - but they're both updated together.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
It's not baked directly into IE10. It's just that Adobe has not yet released a public version that's compatible with IE10 yet. So Microsoft is providing the updates until that happens. I have the Adobe install package in my Programs And Features dialog and can uninstall it if necessary, but getting it back is the problem.. since Adobe doesn't yet have this version on their site.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    CPU
    Intel i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 650
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
    Hard Drives
    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
    Case
    Antec SOLO II
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech MX
It's my understanding that Microsoft will be continuing to release updates for Flash in IE 10 for the same reason that Google bundles Flash with Chrome. The whole point is so that the end user doesn't have to worry about heading over to Adobe for a patch every time a new Flash exploit appears... It's just automatically taken care of through Windows Update.

That said, the latest Adobe release is 11.5, whereas the latest "official" Microsoft version is 11.3, so they're a bit behind - and if you try to install Flash 11.5 (ActiveX), you get a nice error message from Adobe's installer that basically says "you're running IE 10, so it's Microsoft's problem."
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
That said, the latest Adobe release is 11.5, whereas the latest "official" Microsoft version is 11.3, so they're a bit behind - and if you try to install Flash 11.5 (ActiveX), you get a nice error message from Adobe's installer that basically says "you're running IE 10, so it's Microsoft's problem."

This is the most bothersome part of it all. If we have to wait for Microsoft's monthly updates in order to get Flash updates, it will be a security risk.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
Back
Top