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Am I the only one who can't watch youtube videos after updating Flash?

  • 14 replies
  • 121 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by astalvey

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I am using Firefox 8 in a Mac OSX Lion version. Just a few hours ago, I updated Adobe Flash and from that moment, youtube videos won't show up in FF. I get a black screen instead of the video. Doesn't happen in Safari though, where videos are shown perfectly. That's why I assumed it has something to do with FF. Anybody else? Any help? Thanks in advance!

I am using Firefox 8 in a Mac OSX Lion version. Just a few hours ago, I updated Adobe Flash and from that moment, youtube videos won't show up in FF. I get a black screen instead of the video. Doesn't happen in Safari though, where videos are shown perfectly. That's why I assumed it has something to do with FF. Anybody else? Any help? Thanks in advance!

Chosen solution

Hi

Here is Adobe's archived Flash page (with a link for uninstallation instructions):

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/142/tn_14266.html


Also, here's a link to the old version on OldApps:

http://www.oldapps.com/flash_player.php


Be sure to uninstall completely, first, and run CCleaner, before installing the older version.

Read this answer in context 👍 4

All Replies (14)

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I just posted a thread about this issue as well. I have this problem as well! Very frustrating!!

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The latest Adobe Flash plugin adds a 64-bit player as well as the standard 32-bit player. Youtube seems to set a cookie that conflicts with the 64-bit version and therefore causes you to see a black screen when trying to play videos. The following steps should fix your issue if it is related to this update:

  1. Click the Firefox menu on the top left (or the Tools menu if you use the menu bar).
  2. Go to History -> Clear Recent History (Omit first part from the Tools menu).
  3. Make sure both Cookies and Cache are check-marked (feel free to uncheck everything else)
  4. Set the Time range to clear drop-down box to Everything.
  5. Click the Clear Now button.

You should now be able to play Youtube (and presumably) other videos again. Doing this worked for me anyway...

Modified by Ketonom

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Last time I saw this problem was over a year ago. While there were various workarounds, all of them bad, the short-term solution was to roll back the flash player to the previous version, which worked fine, until the Flash plug-in fixed the problem. It was a flash problem, not a FireFox problem.

I'm not sure about this time but from what ketonom wrote, I would think it's similar, this time.

I wouldn't bother with the history clearing. That came with a lot of problems, last year. I would suggest rolling back the flash plug-in until this problem is fixed.

Of course, if anyone who knows more can offer a better solution, without having to disable cookies, disable hardware acceleration or clearing history, I bow to their greater expertise.

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Kosh, actually that's what I had thought as well. Just go back to a previous version until it's fixed by either FF or Adobe... I'll try and if it works, I'll tell you all. Cheers!

Modified by paramoreta

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Ketonom, good idea, but it didn't work... :(

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Thanks, para. Yes, there were workarounds, last time, similar to the one suggested, revolving around cookies and other data, but they always came with a pretty serious limitation or another. When I simply tried rolling back Flash, all was well (I also reported the bug to Adobe). When I saw the next update, I tried it, and it worked.

In my experience, often it's best to not update right away; at least on anything you actually USE (as opposed to test).

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Kosh, completely agreed on the last part: "In my experience, often it's best to not update right away; at least on anything you actually USE (as opposed to test)."

Still not downgraded to previous Flash version. Got a lot of work and little time for youtube procastrination. ;) As I said, I'll tell you as soon as I get back to the older version. Cheers!

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Thanks again, para. Yes, let us know from what version to what version you reverted, and if it works as expected. Then people can be assured of a solution!

As for procrastination... I live it, daily  ;-)

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Can someone tell where I can get the previous version of Adobe Flash Player! I have done everything!! And it still won't WORK!

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Or at least a link where I can contact Adobe or Firefox support directly!

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Chosen Solution

Hi

Here is Adobe's archived Flash page (with a link for uninstallation instructions):

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/142/tn_14266.html


Also, here's a link to the old version on OldApps:

http://www.oldapps.com/flash_player.php


Be sure to uninstall completely, first, and run CCleaner, before installing the older version.

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Hm. Suddenly, and not having performed an uninstallation and installation of an older version of Flash, it seems to work again!

Weird...

In any case, I did in another computer exactly what Kosh said and that is how it should be done. Way to go!

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YouTube videos , or daily motion videos load maybe 30 seconds and then stop. But the damn commercials for intel or whatever ALWAYS Plays.

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Following the instructions found in the following "Troubleshooting Flash Player 11.3 when using Firefox with RealPlayer installed" YouTube video solved my problem immediately. Of course to see the video you'll have to use a non-Firefox browser if you're still unable to view YouTube videos :-)

http://goo.gl/QNO7c