Flash player 18.0.0.232 not uninstalling 17.x and older versions during upgrade

[Jaganat]

Hi,

When upgrading from flash player "17.x or any older versions -> 18.0.0.232", the 232 installer is not uninstalling the 17.x version from the machine. Anyothers facing this issue ?

I'm using offline MSI and EXE installers

Is this a bug will it be fixed ?

=O====== M/17.0.0.169 2015-08-12+06-04-34.988 ========

0000 00000010 "C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\InstallAX_17_0_0_169.exe" -install -msi

0001 00001036 Software\Macromedia\FlashPlayer\SafeVersions/17.0 2

0002 00001036 Software\Macromedia\FlashPlayerActiveX/PlayerPath 2

0003 00000020 C:\Windows\system32\FlashPlayerCPLApp.cpl

0004 00001037 SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Adobe Flash Player ActiveX/ 2

0005 00000013

0006 00000015 C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil32_17_0_0_169_ActiveX.exe

0007 00000016 C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil32_17_0_0_169_ActiveX.dll

0008 00000023 C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\activex.vch

0009 00000019 C:\Windows\system32\FlashPlayerCPLApp.cpl

0010 00000021 C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe

0011 00000012

=X====== M/17.0.0.169 2015-08-12+06-04-43.868 ========

2015-8-12+6-7-10.887 [error] 1226 1062

=O====== M/18.0.0.232 2015-08-12+06-06-53.329 ========

0000 00000010 "C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\InstallAX_18_0_0_232.exe" -install -msi

0001 00001036 Software\Macromedia\FlashPlayerPlugin/PlayerPath 2

0002 00001036 Software\Macromedia\FlashPlayerPepper/PlayerPath 2

0003 00001036 Software\Macromedia\FlashPlayer\SafeVersions/18.0 2

0004 00000020 C:\Windows\system32\FlashPlayerCPLApp.cpl

0005 00001037 SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Adobe Flash Player ActiveX/ 2

0006 00000013

0007 00000015 C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil32_18_0_0_232_ActiveX.exe

0008 00000016 C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil32_18_0_0_232_ActiveX.dll

0009 00000023 C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\activex.vch

0010 00000019 C:\Windows\system32\FlashPlayerCPLApp.cpl

0011 00001024 C:\Windows\system32\FlashPlayerCPLApp.cpl 183

0012 00001024 C:\Windows\system32\FlashPlayerApp.exe 183

0013 00000021 C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe

0014 00001106

0015 00001106

0016 00001024 C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe 183

0017 00000012

=X====== M/18.0.0.232 2015-08-12+06-07-14.597 ========

[_maria_]

Hi Jaganat,

The excerpted FlashInstall.log file contents show an upgrade from 17.0.0.169 (MSI) to 18.0.0.232 (MSI).  Following this upgrade path, I found that it results in two (2) entries in Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features however Flash Player is upgraded to 18.0.0.232.  I am not seeing two entries when using the EXE (EXE > EXE, EXE > MSI, or MSI > EXE) installer.  I'm only seeing this when upgrading using the MSI installers, for these 2 versions.

Please do the following:

1. Install 17.0.0.169 using the MSI and upgrade to 18.0.0.232 using the MSI (this is what your FlashInstall.log file shows is the upgrade path)
2. Go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features.  Are there 2 entries, one for 17.0.0.169 and one for 18.0.0.232?
3. After upgrading to 18.0.0.232 go to helpx.adobe.com/flash-player.html and click the 'Check Now' button.  The widget will display the OS, browser, and Flash Player version installed.  Take a screenshot of this information (see How to post a screenshot in the forum)
4. In Windows Explorer, go to C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash and take a screenshot of the directory contents.
   1. If this is a 64-bit OS, also go to C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash and take a screenshot of the directory contents.

Post all requested screenshots in your reply.

Thank you.

--

Maria

[Tamil]

Hi Maria,

1. Installed 17.0.0.169 MSI and upgraded to 18.0.0.232 MSI

2. Yes, There are two entries. One for 17.0.0.169 and one for 18.0.0.232

3. The helpx.adobe.com/flash-player.html page displayed the following

4. The Screenshot of mentioned directory contents

Thanks,

Tamil.

[_maria_]

Hi Tamil,

According to the screenshots you posted you installed the NPAPI plugin for Firefox, and other NPAPI-based browsers, but you are using Internet Explorer to check if Flash Player is installed.  Internet Explorer uses the ActiveX Control.  If you'll need to either install Flash Player ActiveX, or check if Flash Player is installed using Firefox (or both, if you use both IE and Firefox).

--

Maria

[jims52771991]

the problem is in the upgrade table look at the previous 209 version (top) compared to the 232 version (bottom) and you will see they did it wrong. this same issue is on the NPAPI msi as well. I placed a bug Bug 4035695 on this but there is no action on it but you seem to be watching this forum. 

[_maria_]

Hi jims52771991,

Thanks for posting the bug number.I have followed-up on it.  So far, we've found that this issue (dual ARP entries) exists with upgrading 17.0.0.169 > 18.0.0.232 using the MSI installers.  I've not reproduced it in other upgrade paths (newer than 17.0.0.169) and I've not reproduced it using the EXE installers, which the OP mentions in the first post.  If you're able to reproduce it with a version other than 17.0.0.169 please add it to the bug record.

The upgrade does occur, however, it does leave 2 entries in the Control Panel, as you have reported.

--

Maria

[jims52771991]

I have updated the Bug and noted the issue happens on many previous installs. Will there be a newer MSI created soon with proper updating so we can deploy a proper install soon?

[_maria_]

Hi jims52771991,

In the bug record you added "so far reproducible on all 17.x MSI's I have tried: 17.0.0.134, 169, 188. Even happens on 16.0.0.305."  Is it upgrade path for all these 17.0.0.XXX > 18.0.0.232 using ONLY the MSIs? Is the result that Flash Player is updated, but two entries remain in the Control Panel?  I'd like to confirm to ensure we're not seeing behaviour related to a different bug that was fixed in 16.0.0.305.

Thank you.

--

Maria

[jims52771991]

Issue is still there on the new 19.0.0.185 we got the source from the Adobe Flash Player Distribution | Adobe

[_maria_]

Hi jims52771991,

Yes, the bug was fixed in version 18, but unfortunately made it into 19.  Flash Player is correctly upgraded to version 19, but entries for the previous version remain in the Control Panel.

--

Maria

[jims52771991]

Yup.. too bad they can’t figure out how to add the proper info in the upgrade table

[Cades]

Should I upgrade my clients to this newest release, assuming that the next update will fix this and will remove the entries for 18? Or should I just wait for the next release and hope they've fixed it by then?

[_maria_]

Hi Cades,

Since each release contains security fixes, I recommend upgrading to the latest version to take advantage of those fixes.  The only ramification is that the dual entries will remain in the Control Panel.

For more information on what's included in this release please see the release notes, Release Notes | Flash Player® 19 AIR® 19, and the Security Bulletin Adobe Security Bulletin (apsb15-23).

The fix for this, in version 19, will be included in the next release.

--

Maria

[dheerajt86258482]

Do we have a  timeline when will have new version that removes dual entries ?

[Minutemaid]

Hi Maria,

Is there a timeline for new releases of Flash Player ActiveX and NPAPI that removes the older versions?

Thanks,

Chris

[_maria_]

The fix is scheduled to be including in the next regularly scheduled monthly release.

[nashwans23221390]

Hi Maria,

Will deploying Flash Player version 19.0.0.185  ActiveX/Plugin and having both versions on the workstation (19.0.0.185) & (18.0.0.232) leave the workstations exposed to vulnerability found in version 18.0.0.232 or will it be patched with just version 19.0.0.185?

Will the next version of Flash Player automatically remove (19.0.0.185) & (18.0.0.232) after it has been deployed or will there any special configuration/deployment to remove (19.0.0.185) & (18.0.0.232) before deploying the latest version?

Regards,

Nash

[_maria_]

Hi nashwans23221390,

Two different versions of Flash Player for a given browser cannot exist simultaneously on a system (e.g. two different versions of the Plugin for Firefox, or the ActiveX for IE).  Flash Player IS being correctly upgraded to 19.0.0.185.  The only thing that remains of the previous version is the Control Panel entry.

The fix is in the next scheduled release of Flash Player and will correctly upgrade Flash Player and remove orphaned Control Panel entries for previous versions.  No special configuration/deployment steps will be necessary.

--

Maria

[_maria_ · Accepted solution]

Hi,

This issue (upgrade using MSI is not removing previous version from Control Panel) has been fixed in today's Flash Player (19.0.0.207) release.

--

Maria

[Xemanth]

This problem occurs also with v20. We've now several machines which have v17, v18 and v19 and v20 plugin installed... Annoying.

[_maria_]

Hi xemanth,

Please provide the following information:

• OS, including version, of the impacted system(s)?
• Which installer files are you using (EXE or MSI, or combination of both)?
• The FlashInstall.log file from an impacted system.  The FlashInstall.log file is saved at C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash.  If this is a 64-bit OS, the FlashInstall.log file saved at C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash is also required.
• If you are using the MSI installers, provide a verbose MSILog file from one of the impacted systems.

Upload the requested log files to cloud.acrobat.com using the instructions at How to share a document or a file sharing service of your choice.  Post the link to the uploaded files in your reply.

Thank you.

--

Maria