Ubuntu
firefox package

cant play flash content flv files in browser

Asked by Prashant Prabhulkar

Binary package hint: firefox

i can not view any flash content like .swf files and flash video like .flv files in firefox 4.0.1for Ubuntu canonical-1

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: firefox 4.0.1+build1+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.11.04.2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia wl
Architecture: amd64
Date: Thu May 26 01:09:57 2011
FirefoxPackages:
 firefox 4.0.1+build1+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.11.04.2
 flashplugin-installer N/A
 adobe-flashplugin N/A
 icedtea-plugin N/A
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Release amd64 (20110427.1)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_US:en
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: firefox
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

Question information

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Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu firefox Edit question
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Solved by:
actionparsnip
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This question was originally filed as bug #788311.

Revision history for this message
Micah Gersten (micahg) said : 		#1

Thank you for taking the time to report this issue and helping to make Ubuntu better. Examining the information you have given us, this does not appear to be a bug report so we are closing it and converting it to a question in the support tracker. We appreciate the difficulties you are facing, but it would make more sense to raise problems you are having in the support tracker at https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu if you are uncertain if they are bugs. For help on reporting bugs, see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#When%20not%20to%20file%20a%20bug. There is also a vibrant support community available at http://askubuntu.com and you might consider asking your question there.

Revision history for this message
Micah Gersten (micahg) said : 		#2

Please try installing flashplugin-installer in software center.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

Can you give the output of:

lsb_release -a; uname -a; dpkg -l | grep flash; dpkg -l | grep gnash; dpkg -l | grep swf

Thanks

Revision history for this message
Prashant Prabhulkar (prashantprabhulkar) said : 		#4

hi actionparsnip,
administrator@ubuntu:~$ lsb_release -a;uname -a; dpkg -l|grep gnash;dpkg -l|grep swf
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 11.04
Release: 11.04
Codename: natty
Linux ubuntu 2.6.38-8-generic #42-Ubuntu SMP Mon Apr 11 03:31:24 UTC 2011 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#5

and the output of:

dpkg -l | grep flash

Thanks

Revision history for this message
Prashant Prabhulkar (prashantprabhulkar) said : 		#6

yes Micah I did it but it not works!

Revision history for this message
Prashant Prabhulkar (prashantprabhulkar) said : 		#7

Hi actionparsnip,

administrator@ubuntu:~$ dpkg -l|grep flash
ii flashplugin-installer 10.3.181.14ubuntu0.11.04.1 Adobe Flash Player plugin installer

Revision history for this message
Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#8

ok try:

sudo apt-get --purge remove flashplugin-installer
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sevenmachines/flash
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install flashplugin64-installer

Restart all browsers to load the new plugin and try some flash content

Revision history for this message
Prashant Prabhulkar (prashantprabhulkar) said : 		#9

Thanks actionparsnip, It works. wow! :)

Revision history for this message
Prashant Prabhulkar (prashantprabhulkar) said : 		#10

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#11

64bit flash for a 64bit OS
Makes sense :)

Revision history for this message
Micah Gersten (micahg) said : 		#12

Installing the PPA shouldn't be required for flash. 32 bit flash works fine for most people on 64 bit systems.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#13

Sure but as you saw, 32bit flash was installed and wasn't working. 64bit OS using the 'normal' way uses 32bit flash and a 64bit wrapper called nspluginwrapper. This is incredibly ungraceful, especially when there is a native 64bit plugin which removes the need for the clunky wrapper nonsense. This makes it use less CPU too. There is also a PPA for Java 64bit too:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ferramroberto/java
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin sun-java6-fonts

Again, the 'normal' way uses the stupid wrapper approach. It is completely unnecessary as Sun make a 64bit Java.