Ubuntu

I broke flash plugin in Firefox - Help

Asked by Claude Ryan

OK, this is probably my fault. I saw something that said that there was an update to the Adobe Flash player. I didn't see any updates so I went to "Add/Remove" applications and clicked on a bunch of things that said they were flash players.

Next time I went into Firefox I get a plug in needed - Click here to add plugin. I click on something that looks like a Lego and it gives me 3 options:

Adobe Flash Player (installer)
Swfdec player for Adobe/Macromedia Flash
Gnash SWF player

It doesn't matter which I select. I get a .... already installed [FINISH] screen and flash videos still do not play.

I've seen various pieces of advice about adobe-flashplayer and flash-nonfree including a --reinstall --purge version and still no success.

I accept that this is probably dumb user error, but I would like to get flash working again, so Please Help!

I am running Hardy Ubuntu 8.04 and Firefox 3.0.8.

I know just enough about Ubuntu Linux to get myself in trouble (obviously) so please send detailed instructions if possible with the "Why" as well as the "How" so I can learn and avoid problems in the future.

Many Thanks!

Thanks!

BTW: I ran about:plugins and the results are below Please note that there are multiple plugins that supposedly play flv files.

Installed plugins
Find more information about browser plugins at mozilla.org.
Help for installing plugins is available from plugindoc.mozdev.org.
Default Plugin

    File name: libnullplugin.so
    The default plugin handles plugin data for mimetypes and extensions that are not specified and facilitates downloading of new plugins.

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
* All types .* No
Demo Print Plugin for unix/linux

    File name: libunixprintplugin.so
    The demo print plugin for unix.

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
application/x-print-unix-nsplugin Demo Print Plugin for Unix/Linux .pnt Yes
Totem Web Browser Plugin 2.22.1

    File name: libtotem-basic-plugin.so
    The Totem 2.22.1 plugin handles video and audio streams.

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
application/x-ogg - ogg Yes
application/ogg Ogg multimedia ogg Yes
audio/ogg Ogg Audio oga Yes
audio/x-ogg Ogg Audio ogg Yes
video/ogg Ogg Video ogv Yes
video/x-ogg Ogg Video ogg Yes
application/annodex - anx Yes
audio/annodex - axa Yes
video/annodex - axv Yes
video/mpeg MPEG video mpg, mpeg, mpe Yes
audio/wav WAV audio wav Yes
audio/x-wav WAV audio wav Yes
audio/mpeg MP3 audio mp3 Yes
application/x-nsv-vp3-mp3 NullSoft video nsv Yes
video/flv Flash video flv Yes
Helix DNA Plugin: RealPlayer G2 Plug-In Compatible (compatible; Totem)

    File name: libtotem-complex-plugin.so
    The Totem 2.22.1 plugin handles video and audio streams.

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin RealAudio document rpm Yes
VLC Multimedia Plugin (compatible Totem 2.22.1)

    File name: libtotem-cone-plugin.so
    The Totem 2.22.1 plugin handles video and audio streams.

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
application/x-vlc-plugin unknown Yes
application/vlc unknown Yes
video/x-google-vlc-plugin unknown Yes
Windows Media Player Plug-in 10 (compatible; Totem)

    File name: libtotem-gmp-plugin.so
    The Totem 2.22.1 plugin handles video and audio streams.

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
application/x-mplayer2 AVI video avi, wma, wmv Yes
video/x-ms-asf-plugin ASF video asf, wmv Yes
video/x-msvideo AVI video asf, wmv Yes
video/x-ms-asf ASF video asf Yes
video/x-ms-wmv Windows Media video wmv Yes
video/x-wmv Windows Media video wmv Yes
video/x-ms-wvx Microsoft ASX playlist wmv Yes
video/x-ms-wm ASF video wmv Yes
application/x-ms-wms Windows Media video wms Yes
application/asx Microsoft ASX playlist asx Yes
audio/x-ms-wma Windows Media audio wma Yes
DivX® Web Player

    File name: libtotem-mully-plugin.so
    DivX Web Player version 1.4.0.233

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
video/divx AVI video divx Yes
QuickTime Plug-in 7.2.0

    File name: libtotem-narrowspace-plugin.so
    The Totem 2.22.1 plugin handles video and audio streams.

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
video/quicktime QuickTime video mov Yes
video/mp4 MPEG-4 video mp4 Yes
image/x-macpaint MacPaint Bitmap image pntg Yes
image/x-quicktime QuickTime image pict, pict1, pict2 Yes
video/x-m4v MPEG-4 video m4v Yes
DivX Browser Plug-In

    File name: mplayerplug-in-dvx.so
    mplayerplug-in 3.55

    Video Player Plug-in for QuickTime, RealPlayer and Windows Media Player streams using MPlayer
    JavaScript Enabled and Using GTK2 Widgets

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
video/divx DivX Media Format divx Yes
video/vnd.divx DivX Media Format divx Yes
QuickTime Plug-in 7.4.5

    File name: mplayerplug-in-qt.so
    mplayerplug-in 3.55

    Video Player Plug-in for QuickTime, RealPlayer and Windows Media Player streams using MPlayer
    JavaScript Enabled and Using GTK2 Widgets

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
video/quicktime Quicktime mov Yes
video/x-quicktime Quicktime mov Yes
image/x-quicktime Quicktime mov Yes
video/quicktime Quicktime mp4 Yes
video/quicktime Quicktime - Session Description Protocol sdp Yes
application/x-quicktimeplayer Quicktime mov Yes
application/smil SMIL smil Yes
RealPlayer 9

    File name: mplayerplug-in-rm.so
    mplayerplug-in 3.55

    Video Player Plug-in for QuickTime, RealPlayer and Windows Media Player streams using MPlayer
    JavaScript Enabled and Using GTK2 Widgets

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
audio/x-pn-realaudio RealAudio ram,rm Yes
application/vnd.rn-realmedia RealMedia rm Yes
application/vnd.rn-realaudio RealAudio ra,ram Yes
video/vnd.rn-realvideo RealVideo rv Yes
audio/x-realaudio RealAudio ra Yes
audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin RealAudio rpm Yes
application/smil SMIL smil Yes
Windows Media Player Plug-in

    File name: mplayerplug-in-wmp.so
    mplayerplug-in 3.55

    Video Player Plug-in for QuickTime, RealPlayer and Windows Media Player streams using MPlayer
    JavaScript Enabled and Using GTK2 Widgets

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
application/asx Media Files * Yes
video/x-ms-asf-plugin Media Files * Yes
video/x-msvideo AVI avi,* Yes
video/msvideo AVI avi,* Yes
application/x-mplayer2 Media Files * Yes
application/x-ms-wmv Microsoft WMV video wmv,* Yes
video/x-ms-asf Media Files asf,asx,* Yes
video/x-ms-wm Media Files wm,* Yes
video/x-ms-wmv Microsoft WMV video wmv,* Yes
audio/x-ms-wmv Windows Media wmv,* Yes
video/x-ms-wmp Windows Media wmp,* Yes
application/x-ms-wmp Windows Media wmp,* Yes
video/x-ms-wvx Windows Media wvx,* Yes
audio/x-ms-wax Windows Media wax,* Yes
audio/x-ms-wma Windows Media wma,* Yes
application/x-drm-v2 Windows Media asx,* Yes
audio/wav Microsoft wave file wav,* Yes
audio/x-wav Microsoft wave file wav,* Yes
mplayerplug-in 3.55

    File name: mplayerplug-in.so
    mplayerplug-in 3.55

    Video Player Plug-in for QuickTime, RealPlayer and Windows Media Player streams using MPlayer
    JavaScript Enabled and Using GTK2 Widgets

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
video/mpeg MPEG mpg,mpeg Yes
audio/mpeg MPEG mpg,mpeg Yes
video/x-mpeg MPEG mpg,mpeg Yes
video/x-mpeg2 MPEG2 mpv2,mp2ve Yes
audio/mpeg MPEG mpg,mpeg Yes
audio/x-mpeg MPEG mpg,mpeg Yes
audio/mpeg2 MPEG audio mp2 Yes
audio/x-mpeg2 MPEG audio mp2 Yes
video/mp4 MPEG 4 Video mp4 Yes
video/3gpp MPEG 4 Video mp4,3gp Yes
audio/mpeg3 MPEG audio mp3 Yes
audio/x-mpeg3 MPEG audio mp3 Yes
audio/x-mpegurl MPEG url m3u Yes
audio/mp3 MPEG audio mp3 Yes
application/x-ogg Ogg Vorbis Media ogg Yes
audio/ogg Ogg Vorbis Audio ogg Yes
audio/x-ogg Ogg Vorbis Audio ogg Yes
application/ogg Ogg Vorbis / Ogg Theora ogg Yes
audio/flac FLAC Audio flac Yes
audio/x-flac FLAC Audio flac Yes
video/fli FLI animation fli,flc Yes
video/x-fli FLI animation fli,flc Yes
video/x-flv Flash Video flv Yes
video/vnd.vivo VivoActive viv,vivo Yes
application/x-nsv-vp3-mp3 Nullsoft Streaming Video nsv Yes
audio/x-mod Soundtracker mod Yes
audio/basic Basic Audio File au,snd Yes
audio/x-basic Basic Audio File au,snd Yes
iTunes Application Detector

    File name: librhythmbox-itms-detection-plugin.so
    This plug-in detects the presence of iTunes when opening iTunes Store URLs in a web page with Firefox.

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
application/itunes-plugin Yes
Java(TM) Plug-in 1.6.0_07-b06

    File name: libjavaplugin_oji.so
    Java(TM) Plug-in 1.6.0_07

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
application/x-java-vm Java Yes
application/x-java-applet Java Yes
application/x-java-applet;version=1.1 Java Yes
application/x-java-applet;version=1.1.1 Java Yes
application/x-java-applet;version=1.1.2 Java Yes
application/x-java-applet;version=1.1.3 Java Yes
application/x-java-applet;version=1.2 Java Yes
application/x-java-applet;version=1.2.1 Java Yes
application/x-java-applet;version=1.2.2 Java Yes
application/x-java-applet;version=1.3 Java Yes
application/x-java-applet;version=1.3.1 Java Yes
application/x-java-applet;version=1.4 Java Yes
application/x-java-applet;version=1.4.1 Java Yes
application/x-java-applet;version=1.4.2 Java Yes
application/x-java-applet;version=1.5 Java Yes
application/x-java-applet;version=1.6 Java Yes
application/x-java-applet;jpi-version=1.6.0_07 Java Yes
application/x-java-bean Java Yes
application/x-java-bean;version=1.1 Java Yes
application/x-java-bean;version=1.1.1 Java Yes
application/x-java-bean;version=1.1.2 Java Yes
application/x-java-bean;version=1.1.3 Java Yes
application/x-java-bean;version=1.2 Java Yes
application/x-java-bean;version=1.2.1 Java Yes
application/x-java-bean;version=1.2.2 Java Yes
application/x-java-bean;version=1.3 Java Yes
application/x-java-bean;version=1.3.1 Java Yes
application/x-java-bean;version=1.4 Java Yes
application/x-java-bean;version=1.4.1 Java Yes
application/x-java-bean;version=1.4.2 Java Yes
application/x-java-bean;version=1.5 Java Yes
application/x-java-bean;version=1.6 Java Yes
application/x-java-bean;jpi-version=1.6.0_07 Java Yes
DivX Browser Plug-In

    File name: gecko-mediaplayer-dvx.so
    Gecko Media Player 0.6.0

    Video Player Plug-in for QuickTime, RealPlayer and Windows Media Player streams using MPlayer

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
video/divx DivX Media Format divx Yes
video/vnd.divx DivX Media Format divx Yes
QuickTime Plug-in 6.0 / 7

    File name: gecko-mediaplayer-qt.so
    Gecko Media Player 0.6.0

    Video Player Plug-in for QuickTime, RealPlayer and Windows Media Player streams using MPlayer

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
video/quicktime Quicktime mov Yes
video/x-quicktime Quicktime mov Yes
image/x-quicktime Quicktime mov Yes
video/quicktime Quicktime mp4 Yes
video/quicktime Quicktime - Session Description Protocol sdp Yes
application/x-quicktimeplayer Quicktime mov Yes
RealPlayer 9

    File name: gecko-mediaplayer-rm.so
    Gecko Media Player 0.6.0

    Video Player Plug-in for QuickTime, RealPlayer and Windows Media Player streams using MPlayer

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
audio/x-pn-realaudio RealAudio ram,rm Yes
application/vnd.rn-realmedia RealMedia rm Yes
application/vnd.rn-realaudio RealAudio ra,ram Yes
video/vnd.rn-realvideo RealVideo rv Yes
audio/x-realaudio RealAudio ra Yes
audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin RealAudio rpm Yes
application/smil SMIL smil Yes
Windows Media Player Plug-in

    File name: gecko-mediaplayer-wmp.so
    Gecko Media Player 0.6.0

    Video Player Plug-in for QuickTime, RealPlayer and Windows Media Player streams using MPlayer

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
application/asx Media Files * Yes
video/x-ms-asf-plugin Media Files * Yes
video/x-msvideo AVI avi,* Yes
video/msvideo AVI avi,* Yes
application/x-mplayer2 Media Files * Yes
application/x-ms-wmv Microsoft WMV video wmv,* Yes
video/x-ms-asf Media Files asf,asx,* Yes
video/x-ms-wm Media Files wm,* Yes
video/x-ms-wmv Microsoft WMV video wmv,* Yes
audio/x-ms-wmv Windows Media wmv,* Yes
video/x-ms-wmp Windows Media wmp,* Yes
application/x-ms-wmp Windows Media wmp,* Yes
video/x-ms-wvx Windows Media wvx,* Yes
audio/x-ms-wax Windows Media wax,* Yes
audio/x-ms-wma Windows Media wma,* Yes
application/x-drm-v2 Windows Media asx,* Yes
audio/wav Microsoft wave file wav,* Yes
audio/x-wav Microsoft wave file wav,* Yes
gecko-mediaplayer 0.6.0

    File name: gecko-mediaplayer.so
    Gecko Media Player 0.6.0

    Video Player Plug-in for QuickTime, RealPlayer and Windows Media Player streams using MPlayer

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
video/mpeg MPEG mpg,mpeg Yes
audio/mpeg MPEG mpg,mpeg Yes
video/x-mpeg MPEG mpg,mpeg Yes
video/x-mpeg2 MPEG2 mpv2,mp2ve Yes
audio/mpeg MPEG mpg,mpeg Yes
audio/x-mpeg MPEG mpg,mpeg Yes
audio/mpeg2 MPEG audio mp2 Yes
audio/x-mpeg2 MPEG audio mp2 Yes
video/mp4 MPEG 4 Video mp4 Yes
video/x-m4v MPEG 4 Video m4v Yes
video/3gpp MPEG 4 Video mp4,3gp Yes
audio/mpeg3 MPEG audio mp3 Yes
audio/x-mpeg3 MPEG audio mp3 Yes
audio/x-mpegurl MPEG url m3u Yes
audio/mp3 MPEG audio mp3 Yes
application/x-ogg Ogg Vorbis Media ogg Yes
audio/ogg Ogg Vorbis Audio ogg Yes
audio/x-ogg Ogg Vorbis Audio ogg Yes
application/ogg Ogg Vorbis / Ogg Theora ogg Yes
audio/flac FLAC Audio flac Yes
audio/x-flac FLAC Audio flac Yes
video/fli FLI animation fli,flc Yes
video/x-fli FLI animation fli,flc Yes
video/x-flv Flash Video flv Yes
video/vnd.vivo VivoActive viv,vivo Yes
application/x-nsv-vp3-mp3 Nullsoft Streaming Video nsv Yes
audio/x-mod Soundtracker mod Yes
audio/basic Basic Audio File au,snd Yes
audio/x-basic Basic Audio File au,snd Yes
audio/midi MIDI Audio mid,midi,kar Yes
audio/x-scpls Shoutcast Playlist pls Yes
Adobe Reader 8.0

    File name: nppdf.so
    The Adobe Reader plugin is used to enable viewing of PDF and FDF files from within the browser.

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
application/pdf Portable Document Format pdf Yes
application/vnd.fdf Acrobat Forms Data Format fdf Yes
application/vnd.adobe.xfdf XML Version of Acrobat Forms Data Format xfdf Yes
application/vnd.adobe.xdp+xml Acrobat XML Data Package xdp Yes
application/vnd.adobe.xfd+xml Adobe FormFlow99 Data File xfd Yes
mplayerplug-in 3.55

    File name: mplayerplug-in.so
    mplayerplug-in 3.55

    Video Player Plug-in for QuickTime, RealPlayer and Windows Media Player streams using MPlayer
    JavaScript Enabled and Using GTK2 Widgets

MIME Type Description Suffixes Enabled
video/mpeg MPEG mpg,mpeg Yes
audio/mpeg MPEG mpg,mpeg Yes
video/x-mpeg MPEG mpg,mpeg Yes
video/x-mpeg2 MPEG2 mpv2,mp2ve Yes
audio/mpeg MPEG mpg,mpeg Yes
audio/x-mpeg MPEG mpg,mpeg Yes
audio/mpeg2 MPEG audio mp2 Yes
audio/x-mpeg2 MPEG audio mp2 Yes
video/mp4 MPEG 4 Video mp4 Yes
video/3gpp MPEG 4 Video mp4,3gp Yes
audio/mpeg3 MPEG audio mp3 Yes
audio/x-mpeg3 MPEG audio mp3 Yes
audio/x-mpegurl MPEG url m3u Yes
audio/mp3 MPEG audio mp3 Yes
application/x-ogg Ogg Vorbis Media ogg Yes
audio/ogg Ogg Vorbis Audio ogg Yes
audio/x-ogg Ogg Vorbis Audio ogg Yes
application/ogg Ogg Vorbis / Ogg Theora ogg Yes
audio/flac FLAC Audio flac Yes
audio/x-flac FLAC Audio flac Yes
video/fli FLI animation fli,flc Yes
video/x-fli FLI animation fli,flc Yes
video/x-flv Flash Video flv Yes
video/vnd.vivo VivoActive viv,vivo Yes
application/x-nsv-vp3-mp3 Nullsoft Streaming Video nsv Yes
audio/x-mod Soundtracker mod Yes
audio/basic Basic Audio File au,snd Yes
audio/x-basic Basic Audio File au,snd Yes
audio/x-scpls Shoutcast Playlist pls Yes

Question information

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Status:
Solved
For:
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Assignee:
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Solved by:
Sam_
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Rolando Blanco (rolando) said : 		#1

Hi claude,
Close Firefox and then:

please try to reinstall the flash. you can do it in a terminal (Applications > Accesories > Terminal)

Then type:

     :~$ sudo aptitude reinstall flashplugin-nonfree

Then open Firefox, and try

Cheers!!

Revision history for this message
Claude Ryan (cryan2) said : 		#2

Hi Rolando,

Thanks for trying, but id did not work. After leaving firefox I did as you suggested and the results are below. Please note the 404 error and "The Flash plugin is NOT installed" message. Any other ideas?

Thanks,
Claude

:~$ sudo aptitude reinstall flashplugin-nonfree
sudo: unable to resolve host dadslaptop
[sudo] password for dad:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Initializing package states... Done
Writing extended state information... Done
Building tag database... Done
The following packages will be REINSTALLED:
  flashplugin-nonfree
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 reinstalled, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B/18.8kB of archives. After unpacking 0B will be used.
Writing extended state information... Done
Preconfiguring packages ...
(Reading database ... 271428 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace flashplugin-nonfree 10.0.1.218+10.0.0.525ubuntu1~hardy1+really9.0.124.0ubuntu2 (using .../flashplugin-nonfree_10.0.1.218+10.0.0.525ubuntu1~hardy1+really9.0.124.0ubuntu2_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement flashplugin-nonfree ...
Setting up flashplugin-nonfree (10.0.1.218+10.0.0.525ubuntu1~hardy1+really9.0.124.0ubuntu2) ...
Downloading...
--13:43:45-- http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/install_flash_player_9_linux.tar.gz
           => `./install_flash_player_9_linux.tar.gz'
Resolving fpdownload.macromedia.com... 96.6.146.70
Connecting to fpdownload.macromedia.com|96.6.146.70|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 404 Not Found
13:43:46 ERROR 404: Not Found.

download failed
The Flash plugin is NOT installed.

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done
Building tag database... Done
:~$

Revision history for this message
Antonio Sánchez (antoniosanchez) said : 		#3

It seems that flashplugin-nonfree package points to a download site that doesn't work.

Its possible that you have already this files in your computer. Try to do:

sudo ln -s /usr/lib/flashplugin-nonfree/libflashplayer.so /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/

and then restart Firefox.

Revision history for this message
Sam_ (and-sam) said : 		#4

>unable to resolve host dadslaptop

Please correct hosts file

gksudo gedit /etc/hosts

Options:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/NetworkAdmin

https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+faq/93

Revision history for this message
Best Sam_ (and-sam) said : 		#5

Remove any rests of flashplayers to avoid conflicts, dependency problems and that an older version will be used.
Terminal:
locate libflashplayer.so

Best practice with Synaptic - remove complete - incl. config files.
Search for 'flash'
gnash, swfdec, adobe

Reload packages list and install app of your choice.

Worse case scenario rename or remove firefox profile. Backup bookmarks, the rest will be gone.
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/firefox-3.0/+question/43645

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/Flash
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats

Revision history for this message
codeslinger (codeslinger) said : 		#6

also check you preferences and make sure that firefox knows to use flash.

edit/Preferences

Choose "Applications"

type "flash" in the search entry field

verify that it says something sensible... such as
 "Use Shockwave Flash (in Firefox)"

Revision history for this message
Claude Ryan (cryan2) said : 		#7

First off - Thanks to all who offered help on this problem. It is now solved.

Sam - I was wondering about the unresolved host and your previous answer fixed that. I followed your instructions and they worked perfectly. In the end I ended up going with the adobe flash. gnash took me part way but in the end didn't work, swfdec displayed a play button even on things that shouldn't need it and adobe gave me the fully expected behavior. I did not need to rename/remove the firefox profile.

Many thanks!
Claude