Yesterday I tried to click on a slideshow and a screen appeared saying that I needed to have Adobe Flashplayer 8. I clicked on the link and was redirected to the ADobe site. On the page where the download info is, everything was there BUT the button to start the download. Moving the cursor over the area showed nothing. It was then I noticed that the page had loaded with errors, and it was also at this time I remembered I had the same problem a few weeks ago.

I changed my location from U.S. to Italy (and back again!) to see if this would somehow change the situtaion, but with no luck. So now 2 questions: why am I unable..no matter how many times I refresh or retype in the address...to get this page to load properly? and I'm guessing that I need to get the page to load properly to get the 'launch' button to load?

You browser may be blocking the download pop-up. Here is the US Link. There should be a Continue button (if you use IE) on the left or a Download button (if you use Firefox).

In IE, if you click continue, you may get prompted to select if you want to also download the google toolbar for IE. After making your selection, There is a download reader button on left.

For both, you will then be taken to a screen that says "Thank you for downloading Adobe Reader". Under that is another sentence that says "If it does not start, click here to download."

Do you get this far? Another item to try if you don't seem to be seeing a button graphic is to clear your internet temp file (internet cache).

Thanks Marta, I WAS able to use that link, but it was for Adobe Reader, not Flashplayer. I'm going to use that same link to try to get to the Flahsplayer download now. thanks!

Okay, I used the ljnk to get to the Flahsplayer download. I got a bar at the top telling me to click to install the ActiveX control, which I did. I thought it was going to install, then I got a quick...as in too quick to read it!..message saying that my computer had blocked the installation, something about using the ActiveX control in an unsafe manner...blahblahblah.

I have no idea what to change to unblock whatever's preventing the install...plus I don't know if I would need to turn the blocker back ON after I was finished. Any thoughts?

Sorry Barb. I totally missed that. I was still thinking about Earline's problem. The install page does explain that you will need to be able to run Active X controls to install and run Flash. Here is the FAQ for installing the Flash Player. The FAQ mentions what settings you need to change for Active X and later down in the article it does say that if Active X is blocked you can not run flash so I would probably not change the settings back.

In general turning on Active X controls is sometimes considered a security risk. When it is on, there is a potential that mal-ware might be installed and run on your machine. They have you change the settings to "prompt" so you will see something if there is an attempt to download or run something on your machine using Active X.

So in the end I should just forget this new version and make do with the older one? If so, it's not a big deal. I always just assume that if only I were more tech savvy I'd be able to figure out (and work around) problems like this on my own.

I'm not certain if I understand. If you are asking if I recommend turning it on, I find that difficult to answer.

I used to use IE and I had a bad incident with malware about 2 years ago. I switched to Firefox. It was not related to having Active X enabled but more related to not using a firewall. I installed a firewall and switched to Firefox.

Since that time, Microsoft has made more changes to their browser that make it harder and harder to run Active X controls. But there are still sites that need to use it to run their application from the web. Personally, my recommendation is not to use IE at all but that is probably a little drastic.

At work, I have to use IE. I also have to have Active X controls on so I can run some of the applications I need to do my job. So here is a scenario where I have to use it.

You will need to decide for yourself. There are a lot of sites that use flash so you may eventually want to.

Or you could get a Mac.

Thanks for the explanation Marta. I didn't mean to put you in the awkward position of telling me what to do...but I guess Idon't realize all the options and all the ramifications of doing or not doing different things.

At this point I'm probably not going to switch to Firefox...I'm too afraid of getting myself into a jam Maybe when I get a new laptop, which will probably be sometime in the next year.

As for switching to Mac, I know all the good reasons, but still I don't hink I'll make that drastic a change.