Try running this Microsoft Fixit tool: http://support.microsoft.com/mats/Program_Install_and_Uninstall

After you run it, please do the following.

1. Disable your antivirus application. Most modern security apps of this nature incorporate file scanners which spring into action to check for viruses as soon as the user attempts to install or uninstall a program. While this is a good thing when installing unknown apps, you should disable your AV when installing legitimate applications like Flash Player to prevent the AV file scanner interfering with the installation. If you have AVAST antivirus, right click the orange icon in systray, go to "AVAST shields control" and choose to disable all shields for one hour. If you have a different AV, consult this list for info on how to disable it: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic114351.html
2. Next, download the Flash uninstaller. You don't say whether you're running a 64-bit browser of a 32-bit version, so here are both: Flash Player uninstaller 64-bit  Flash Player uninstaller 32-bit Even if you don't think Flash is installed, please run the appropriate uninstaller after you download it to your own machine. This means that when you see the IE prompt, choose "Save" and save the file somewhere where you can find it again easily. Do not choose "Run" even though that's an option.
3. Next, close Internet Explorer, then go to the location you saved the uninstaller to and then double click it to uninstall Flash.
4. Next, go here and download the full installer: http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/installation-problems-flash-pla yer-windows.html#Install_in_a_firewall_proxy_server_environment You have to choose whether you need the 64-bit installer or the 32-bit version, but in any event, if you're using Internet Explorer, you must choose the "ActiveX" version. If you're not sure whether it's a 64-bit version or not, click the blue question mark and go to "About Internet Explorer". If you don't see "64-bit" anywhere, then you have the 32-bit version.
5. When the download initiates, choose "Run" to install it immediately.
6. Re-enable your antivirus and then reboot. Flash should remain accessible in IE.

GJSchaller wrote:

 

I'm running into the same issue with one computer on my network, also running Windows 7 x64 SP1.  A complete uninstall using the Adobe Uninstaller, then a full re-install, does not fix the issue - after rebooting, Flash stops working in both IE and Firefox.

 

I should note that I am not getting any errors during installation, or uninstallation.  Everything seems to run smoothly, and Flash works fine... until you reboot.  At that point, both IE 9 and FF 11 act as if the Flash add-on is not installed.

Open Firefox and in the address bar, type: about:plugins Do you not see Shockwave Flash as shown in the screenshot?

Sorry this took so long to reply - because it works until he reboots, he opted not to reboot for a week, so he could get work done.  I have exclusive access to his PC now, so I can work on this.

Within Firefox 11.0, when I type about:plugins, I see the following:

However, when I go to a page that contains Flash (such as https://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/), the content does not load.

The problem is persisting in IE as well, and Flash content will not load.  When I look in IE's add-ons, I see the following:

This is after multiple attempts to uninstall (using the Adobe uninstaller tool), reinstalling using the full downloads, and running the MS FixIt tool linked above.  I've also made it a point to disable anti-virus, and also go through all the steps on this support page.

When I look in IE under "View and manage your Internet Explorer add-ons" I see the following:

Name:                   Shockwave Flash Object

Publisher:              Not Available

Type:                   ActiveX Control

Version:                0.0.0.1

File date:             

Date last accessed:     ‎Today, ‎April ‎09, ‎2012, ‏‎1 minute ago

Class ID:               {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000}

Use count:              38

Block count:            34

File:                   Flash32_11_2_202_228.ocx

Folder:                 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash

Deleteing the user's profile and recreating it does NOT resolve the issue - when the new profile is created, the same issue is still there.

The only difference between this computer, and the other 12 like it on the same network, is that this one has an ATI FirePro 2640 video card (for 4 monitors) instead of the standard ATI card (for two).

Are there any known conflicts between Flash, and ATI's video drivers or software?

Message was edited by: GJSchaller

That fixed it - thank you, VERY much!

From the looks of the number of comments all over the internet regarding this problem, there are thousands of computer users suffering this issue.

I hope this problem gets fixed in the next release of Flash Player so that it doesn't take the expertese of an IT expert to correct it, and soon.  This is not the only major problem in the latest release.  Adobe, you've done better.

Please stop sending me emails.  Thanks.

Chris:

I see a long list of plugins including:

Shockwave Flash

  File: NPSWF32_11_4_402_265.dll

  Version: 11.4.402.265

  Shockwave Flash 11.4 r402

      MIME Type Description Suffixes

      application/x-shockwave-flash Adobe Flash movie swf

      application/futuresplash FutureSplash movie spl

And:

Shockwave for Director

  File: np32dsw.dll

  Version: 11.5.7.609

  Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in, version 11.5

      MIME Type Description Suffixes

      application/x-director Shockwave Movie dir,dxr,dcr

Disabling Ad-Ons didn't help, so I tried disabling all Plug-ins in Firefox manually except Shockwave Flash and reinstalled Flash.  I then verified that Flash was working with Youtube and rebooted the computer.  After reboot, Flash did not work with Youtube.  Shockwave Flash was still listed as enabled in Firefox Plug-ins.

Thanks for your continued help.

Chris:

There are a lot of comments on the Firefox site re: this problem but I haven’t had the time to work it there yet.  Thanks for trying.