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Usage of the Adobe Flash Player

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tapsklaps
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Usage of the Adobe Flash Player

On the Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition Support website I have read something about installing of plugins. In particular, the use of Adobe Flash Player interests me.

According to the instructions there it should be sufficient, that I copy the file "NPSWF32_11_4_402_265.dll" from the folder C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash (I use the OS Windows XP SP3) and paste it in the folder FirefoxPortable\Data\plugins. Consequently I can now uninstall the Flash Player from my PC. Still it's possible that I can use the Adobe Flash Player with FirefoxPortable browser. Is that right? But I found a lot of other files in the folder C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash. Is it enough anyway, that I just copy and paste the file "NPSWF32_11_4_402_265.dll" as described above?

gluxon
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You also need

You also need FlashPlayerPlugin_11_4_402_265.exe and flashplayer.xpt.

The documentation you linked is a bit outdated. I think the flash plugin started requiring FlashPlayerPlugin***.exe around version 11.

tapsklaps
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Necessity of these files

Why I need these files, which you mentioned? And what should I make with these files exactly?

By the way I found the following files within the folder C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash:

  • Flash32_11_4_402_265.ocx
  • FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_4_402_265_Plugin.exe
  • FlashInstall.log
  • FlashUtil32_11_4_402_265_ActiveX.dll
  • mms.cfg
  • flashplayer.xpt
  • FlashUtil32_11_4_402_265_ActiveX.exe
  • NPSWF32_11_4_402_265.dll

May it be, that I need some of these files? If yes, what I must make with these files?

gluxon
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Copy these three files to

Copy these three files to FirefoxPortable\Data\plugins.

  • NPSWF32_11_4_402_265.dll
  • FlashPlayerPlugin_11_4_402_265.exe
  • flashplayer.xpt

You didn't list the FlashPlayerPlugin exe file, was that a mistake, or is it not in your Flash folder?

Edit: Ah, I figured it out. You have Adobe Flash for Internet Explorer installed. Download the version for Firefox and you should have those three required files.

tapsklaps
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false assumption

Your assumption is incorrect, because I have installed the Adobe Flash Player both for Internet Explorer as well for Firefox browser. I suspect, that your mentioned file "FlashPlayerPlugin_11_4_402_265.exe" is identical with the file "FlashUtil32_11_4_402_265_Plugin.exe" in my above list.

Therefore I conclude, that I should copy the following files in the folder FirefoxPortable\Data\plugins:

  • NPSWF32_11_4_402_265.dll
  • FlashUtil32_11_4_402_265_Plugin.exe
  • flashplayer.xpt
gluxon
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Please try a re-install of

Please try a re-install of Adobe Flash for Mozilla based browsers and check if you have the file I mentioned. I'm pretty sure the FlashUtil file you listed is for ActiveX.

tapsklaps
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"FlashUtil32_11_4_402_265_Plugin.exe" file NOT for ActiveX

With the following procedure I will prove, that the file "FlashUtil32_11_4_402_265_Plugin.exe" is NOT for ActiveX.

In a first step I have uninstalled the Adobe Flash Player accordingly the instructions on the Adobe website. In a second step I have installed ONLY the Adobe Flash Player for the Firefox browser. In the folder C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash now was listed the following 6 files:

installed files by the Adobe Flash Player installer for Firefox

  • FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe
  • FlashUtil32_11_4_402_265_Plugin.exe
  • FlashInstall.log
  • mms.cfg
  • flashplayer.xpt
  • NPSWF32_11_4_402_265.dll

Now I have again uninstalled the Adobe Flash Player accordingly the instructions on the Adobe website. Afterwards I have installed ONLY the Adobe Flash Player for the Internet Explorer. In the folder C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash now was listed the following 6 files:

installed files by the Adobe Flash Player installer for Internet Explorer

  • FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe
  • Flash32_11_4_402_265.ocx
  • FlashInstall.log
  • mms.cfg
  • FlashUtil32_11_4_402_265_ActiveX.dll
  • FlashUtil32_11_4_402_265_ActiveX.exe

Now you can see, that the file "FlashUtil32_11_4_402_265_Plugin.exe" will created ONLY in conjunction with the installation of the Adobe Flash Player for Firefox. Accordingly is this file NOT for ActiveX.

ottosykora
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only the dll

NPSWF32_11_4_402_265.dll

this is the only file you need for portable firefox to be in the plugin folder.

The rest is for nothing, those are things for the flash 'calling home' etc.

Otto Sykora
Basel, Switzerland

tapsklaps
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already figured out

I already figured out, that only this file is needed. Please look at my comment with the subject "Adobe Flash Player necessary in special cases", where I have mentioned that fact under "EDIT:".

For example is the file "FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe" obviously responsible for the update of Adobe Flash Player. The importance of the other 4 files (FlashUtil32_11_4_402_265_Plugin.exe, FlashInstall.log, mms.cfg, flashplayer.xpt) I can not exactly judge, but they are not absolutely necessary.

tapsklaps
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HTML5-capable browser

In the meantime I have detected two interesting facts.

  1. Firefox is a HTML5-capable browser

    Due to the fact, that Firefox is a HTML5-capable browser, it's possible, Firefox without an installation of the Adobe Flash Player to use.

  2. Necessity of 3 files in the folder FirefoxPortable\Data\plugins

    It may be, that for certain matters the Adobe Flash Player is required, although Firefox is a HTML5-compliant browser. I have analyzed, which files will be installed by the Adobe Flash Player installer for Firefox. And indeed are the 3 files, which I have mentioned in my previous post, must be copied in the folder FirefoxPortable\Data\plugins. The main problem is, how I get these 3 files after an update of the Adobe Flash Player. For that purpose I must again install the Adobe Flash Player for Firefox on the host PC. Afterwards I must uninstall the Flash Player. It's a bit awkward.

gluxon
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Confusing

I'm a bit confused by what you mean when you say Firefox is an HTML5 capable browser. What does this have to do with the Flash installation? You also didn't finish your first paragraph, was something cut off?

Adobe uses a proprietary algorithm for extracting its files from its installer. I'm afraid you'll have to update Flash on your host computer to update the files for Firefox each update.

tapsklaps
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Adobe Flash Player or HTML5-capable browser

Adobe Flash Player use your browser to view animations and interactive content from websites. The Flash FLV format (Flash Video) and SWF format (Shockwave Flash) you find in multimedia Internet on every corner: YouTube videos, animated images galleries or browser games usually need an installed Adobe Flash Player.

After uninstalling the Adobe Flash Player I found out, that it is still possible to watch Youtube videos with the Firefox browser. Then I switched to the Internet Explorer 8 and here I also tried to view a Youtube video, but it wasn't possible. I received a message, that I needed either an installed Adobe Flash Player or an HTML5-capable browser for viewing of Youtube videos. Due to this information I have been concluded, that Firefox 14.0.1 is a HTML5-capable browser. Therefore I need no installed Adobe Flash Player in that case. However, I do not know whether it is necessary in specific cases to install the Adobe Flash Player.

You wrote the following:

Adobe uses a proprietary algorithm for extracting its files from its installer. I'm afraid you'll have to update Flash on your host computer to update the files for Firefox each update.

I tried to extract the files of the Adobe Flash Player installer with the Universal Extractor. But without any success. But how I can contained the above mentioned 3 files in case of an update of the Adobe Flash Player? I see only one possibility: Uninstalling of the old Adobe Flash Player and installing of the updated Adobe Flash Player on the host PC.

Ken Herbert
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YouTube and a few select sites only

Not all websites serve their content in a way that is accessible via both Flash or HTML5.

tapsklaps
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not my concerns

It may be, that exist such websites. But I want only point out on the circumstance, that the Adobe Flash Player is superfluous in case of the usage of a HTML5-capable browser.

gluxon
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I tried to extract the files

I tried to extract the files of the Adobe Flash Player installer with the Universal Extractor. But without any success. But how I can contained the above mentioned 3 files in case of an update of the Adobe Flash Player? I see only one possibility: Uninstalling of the old Adobe Flash Player and installing of the updated Adobe Flash Player on the host PC.

Is that not what I said? Adobe's algorithm hasn't been cracked yet, so that's your only legal option at the moment.

tapsklaps
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Adobe Flash Player necessary in special cases

I have found a Youtube video, for whose viewing with the Firefox Portable 14.0.1 browser the Adobe Flash Player is necessary (with the Google Chrome Portable browser it's possible to view this video without installation of the Adobe Flash Player). Accordingly I have copied the 3 files NPSWF32_11_4_402_265.dll, FlashUtil32_11_4_402_265_Plugin.exe and flashplayer.xpt in the folder FirefoxPortable\Data\plugins. And now I can see that video with the Firefox browser. In addition I want mention, that this does not mean complete portability. Because in the folders "%appdata%\Adobe\Flash Player" and "%appdata%\Macromedia\Flash Player" will created new folders with content.

EDIT: I found out, that I only need the file "NPSWF32_11_4_402_265.dll" in the folder FirefoxPortable\Data\plugins.

Aluísio A. S. G.
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Chrome has bultin Flash

Google Chrome is shipped with a custom Flash plugin (GCSWF32.dll). This is why you don't need to install Flash with it.

Also, I believe that specific video is not available without Flash likely because it is encoded in H.264, which had been removed previously from Firefox. However, Mozilla recently went back with its decision and the next Firefox releases will ship with the codec.

Previously known as kAlug.

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Never Included

H.264 has never been included in a released version of Firefox due to it being patent-encumbered and was a ticking time bomb in terms of licensing fees to producers and streamers. That plus the fact that the MPEG LA folks wanted Mozilla to pay $5,000,000 per year, growing each year, with no guarantee that fee wouldn't double, triple, quadruple, etc down the line. Google and Mozilla wanted WebM to succeed instead since it would be totally free. Sadly, Google didn't go all-in on it. And Apple was fighting against WebM because they get a piece of those MPEG fees and don't have to pay any more themselves to add it to iPhone or Safari. So, they can use it as a way to force Android and Mozilla and Google Chrome to spend more. MPEG LA has said (non-bindingly) that streaming would be free forever. But all products have to pay to encode or decode. And the fee per year to Mozilla et al has been upped to $6.5 million (so Mozilla has to give up almost 2% of their revenue every year just for a single codec). It will go up again in 2015.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

Aluísio A. S. G.
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Ah

Thanks for clarifying that.

Previously known as kAlug.

tapsklaps
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Features of a HTML-enabled browser

As I have mentioned above, you have meanwhile the choice, wether you use the Adobe Flash Player or a HTML5-Player for viewing of Youtube videos. Please look at the screenshot HTML5 or Flash 1 for more detailed informations. Though the content of this screenshot is only in german language, I have translated the necessary sentence in english.

You wrote the following:

Also, I believe that specific video is not available without Flash likely because it is encoded in H.264 ...

This assumption is definitely wrong. Please look at the screenshot HTML5 or Flash 2 for more detailed informations. You should read especially the red-framed text carefully. For a better understanding I have translated this text again in english. There is explained, that if your browser is supported, you can play most of the videos with the HTML5 player instead of the Flash Player. It will supported browser, that support both the video tag in HTML5 and either the h.264 video codec or the WebM format using the VP8 codec. Finally are listed all supported browser.

Accordingly is the cause for the possibility of viewing a Youtube video with the Google Chrome browser the fact, that this browser is HTML5-enabled and not - as you have mentioned - a custom Flash plugin (GCSWF32.dll).

Aluísio A. S. G.
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Another posibility; opt-in

This assumption is definitely wrong. Please look at the screenshot HTML5 or Flash 2 for more detailed informations. You should read especially the red-framed text carefully. For a better understanding I have translated this text again in english. There is explained, that if your browser is supported, you can play most of the videos with the HTML5 player instead of the Flash Player. It supported browser, that support both the video tag in HTML5 and either the h.264 video codec or the WebM format using the VP8 codec. Finally are listed all supported browser.

The 2nd screenshot tells me your browser is not HTML5-capable.
Another possibility I'd forgot: does the video contains ads?

Accordingly is the cause for the possibility of viewing a Youtube video with the Google Chrome browser the fact, that this browser is HTML5-enabled and not - as you have mentioned - a custom Flash plugin (GCSWF32.dll).

YouTube + HTML5 is an opt-in program, not opt-out (i.e. it's not enabled by default).

Previously known as kAlug.

tapsklaps
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Youtube video contains ads

Indeed the Youtube video contains advertising. In such a case videos with ads are not supported (by the HTML5-Player). They will played with Flash Player. In the screenshot HTML or Flash 3 it will explained by the blue-framed text. Accordingly you have right, that the built-in Adobe Flash Player-Plugin (gcswf32.dll) of the Google Chrome browser makes it possible, that I can view this special kind of video Smile

gluxon
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You're misunderstanding it.

You're misunderstanding it. HTML5 Video is not Flash video. It's an alternative, different technology for video playback. A lot of websites (like YouTube) support both, but even more only have compatibility for Flash video at the moment.

And another misconception. HTML5 is not video technology. It's a whole new standard for Hyper-Text (Web) content. Native support for video is only a subset of the standard.

By definition, no browser is completely HTML5 capable yet, since the standard has not been finalized.

tapsklaps
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the same view as you

Regarding HTML5 I have the same view as you. So I can not quite understand your objection.

It's absolutely clear, that HTML5 is only an alternative for video playback. And it's also totally clear, that HTML5 is not a video technology. Have I at any point claims otherwise? Maybe I have expressed a little unclear sometimes. Sorry Sad

gluxon
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You expressed that you didn't

You expressed that you didn't need Flash anymore after finding Firefox's HTML5 video capabilities, so I somehow got the notion that you thought it was a full replacement.

jamvaru
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good

thank you
i copied the three files you mention
it works fine on rt.com now

much thanks

;>jamvaru

5keeve
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FireFox 14 hangs with NPSWF32_11_3_300_271.dll

I already tried this before and installed FlashPlayer on my Mac's Virtual Box running Windows XP. I then copied NPSWF32_11_3_300_271.dll to my PortableApps drive into \PortableApps\FirefoxPortable\Data\plugins but now FireFox doesn't start up properly. It simply hangs for quite some time when I visit a page requiring that plugin.

tapsklaps
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different causes

You should not only copy the file "NPSWF32_11_3_300_271.dll", but copy all flash related files as I described it here (see the listed 6 files under "Regarding to your second enumeration point:").

Another solution may be, that you use Flash 10.3. On the german Firefox help website Flash 11.3 is crashing is described a solution for the case, that Firefox is crashing. That is of course not the same as your described problem, where Firefox hangs. But you should try it, even if it's an outdated Flash plugin.

5keeve
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Tried it - makes no difference - 10.3 seems to work

The page I'm trying to load (A BMC Remedy page) simply is extremly unresponsive and does not load. I even get the popup warning me about a long-running script.

Will try 10.3 later

10.3 seems to work!

Thank you!

operat0r
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FU-LASH

FU-LASH AUTOMATIC FLASH UPDATE SCRIPT FOR PORTABLE FIREFOX

http://rmccurdy.com/scripts/FU-LASH.exe

This is a SFX file you can view the source by extracting the install.bat

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