Why would 32-bit Flash Player be installed on a new 64-bit computer?

[John_Latter]

Hi,

I've a 5-day old Windows 8.1 computer using Internet Explorer 11.

The Control Panel has an entry that reads, "Flash Player (32 Bit)".

When I click on it and go to "Advanced", the update options are all greyed-out - though next to the CHECK NOW box it says, "Plug in version - not installed"

By searching the hard drive, I've discovered that the Flash Player version is 12.0.0.38 - is this OK for a 64-bit machine?

Also, should I install the missing plug in? (and where would I find it!)

Can I "un-grey" the update options?

Any help or advise would be appreciated!

John Latter

[C_F_McBlob · Accepted solution]

What you see in the Control Panel is the Global Settings Manager... which IS a 32 bit app and... per Microsoft insistence, MUST be listed as a (32bit) app in the Control Panel in 64 bit systems.

The Flash Installer puts BOTH the 64 bit and 32 bit plugins on your system.

C/Windows/System32/Macromed

and

C/Windows/SysWOW64/Macromed

Those are the file locations for the plugins.

[John_Latter]

Thank you for your reply, Mike. I've tracked down the sys-files and both look OK.

I still have the update problem, though, that I described in the first post (edited for readability):

The Control Panel has an entry that reads, "Flash Player (32 Bit)".

When I click on it and go to "Advanced", the update options are all greyed-out - though next to the CHECK NOW box it says, "Plug in version - not installed"

Should I install the missing plug in? (and where would I find it!)

How can I "un-grey" the update options?

John Latter

[C_F_McBlob]

Flash Player for ActiveX (Internet Explorer)

Flash Player Plug-in (All other browsers)

Those are the FULL offline istallers. (Nothing else to download)

[John_Latter]

Thanks, Mike

When I tried to run the first one it encountered errors saying IE11 already contained the latest version of Flash Player built-in.

It then went on to say that Windows Update will inform me when new versions of the Flash Player are available - I guess this is why the options were greyed-out as described above!

I do appreciate your help on this, but could I ask one further question, please?

Before receiving your first reply, I tried to sort the problem out myself. I went to one of the sys folders and clicked on a Flash exe file there - then I bottled out and cancelled it when I was asked, "Are you sure you want to allow this program to change your computer settings?" (or something similar).

This resulted in a critical event that said Flash Player had stopped working and has affected my "reliability index".

I'm hoping Windows will catch up with itself and realize everything is OK - or have I done any lasting damage? (and if so, how do I rectify it!)

John Latter

[C_F_McBlob]

or have I done any lasting damage? (and if so, how do I rectify it!)

Reapir IE: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318378

[John_Latter]

Thanks again, Mike. I've reset IE 11 and made sure that the Flash Player add-on is installed. I take it that cancelling the Flash exe file I found in the sys folder has had no ill effects. If so, I should be good to go!