Problems installing Adobe Flash Player from tar.gz file

[capt-zero]

I downloaded and installed 12.04 Precise a couple of weeks ago and installed Mozzila Firefox, but had not browsed PBS online until last night. I always like to keep up with a couple of shows they run, but can't always be sitting in front of the TV when they are scheduled. I never had problems watching these shows on my version of 11.10 Oneric. However, when I tried it out, the videos wouldn't play. I checked out their site to find out what flash player I needed and they said I needed the latest version of Adobe Flash Player. All other sites needing Flash Player I have no problem with, YouTube, DailyMotion, ect. I went to Adobe's site and downloaded the latest linux version (version 11) in a tar.gz format. After extracting, the read me file says I have to copy files to the browser plugins file, but can't seem to find that particular file. I've looked in the root/usr/share/kubuntu-firefox-install files but was unable to find plugins there. I ran a "locate firefox" command in the CLI and got a lot of entries but no plugins entries. Does anyone know into which file firefox stores it's plugins? Or does anyone know what I need to install this file? I know there has been some issues between Adobe and Linux lately, can this be part of the problem?

capt-zero

[Snowhog]

I enabled the Ubuntu Partner Repository and then installed adobe-flash-properties-kde adobe-flashplugin libkutils4 and I have no problems viewing the movies at http://www.pbs.org/. I'm running Chromium, so i can't speak to what Firefox would do.

[capt-zero]

Thanks, snowhog, I'll try it out and get back to you.

thanx,
capt-zero

[dancingmadrb3]

Flash is dead in linux anyway, just use chrome as it will carry flash from now on.
I know how some users feel about chrome, but adobe screwed us and none of the open source alternatives really work so you are stuck if you want working flash.

[capt-zero]

dancingmadrb3,

I agree that Adobe screwed us. So did Google, with their about face on privacy. At least Adobe never promised to protect my privacy, then made it available to all on the open market. One must choose one's demons.

capt-zero

[SteveRiley]

I've ditched Chromium and returned to Firefox as my backup browser (for when Rekonq can't get something right). I can confirm that the player from the partner repository works with Firefox -- I just checked and successfully viewed a YouTube video.

[capt-zero]

SteveRiley,

I never had trouble with YouTube, DailyMotion or any other flash videos, only PBS. I've been busy with a project and haven't tried Snowhog's suggestion yet. I will first thing tomorrow. Although I still would like to know what file Firefox stores it's plugins in. If anybody knows.

capt-zero

[SteveRiley]

Just checked for ya... PBS works, too.

Plugins can wind up in a variety of places. Some might land in ~/.mozilla/extensions. Others might land in ~/.mozilla/firefox/profile/extensions. In the case of Flash from the partner repo, it installs to /usr/lib/adobe-flashplugin, along with the symlink /etc/alternatives/mozilla-flashplugin that points to the the actual binary.

[capt-zero]

snowhog,

I installed "Ubuntu Canonical partners repositories", and it said I already had the latest version. Was that the right "Ubuntu Partner Repository", there are several "Partner Repositories"? Pbs.org flash still wont play. Thanks for your input.

SteveRiley,

Copying the files as per the readme file indicates makes no change. Not sure what I'm doing wrong, but I do appreciate the information as to the files location.

thanx,
capt-zero

[SteveRiley]

In situations like these, I think it's best to clean up and start over. So let's begin by seeing what you have. Please show us the output of

dpkg -l | grep -i flash

and

cat /etc/apt/sources.list

Then we can work through a proper uninstall followed by a reinstall. This will also avoid the need to hand-copy anything.

(Oh, and I'm flying to San Francisco later today and won't be online until the evening.)

[capt-zero]

SteveRiley,

These are the readouts from the two commands:

capt-zero@capt-zero-3302:~$ dpkg -l | grep -i flash
ii adobe-flash-properties-gtk 11.2.202.235-0precise1 GTK+ control panel for Adobe Flash Player plugin version 11
ii adobe-flash-properties-kde 11.2.202.235-0precise1 KDE control panel Adobe Flash Player plugin version 11
ii adobe-flashplugin 11.2.202.235-0precise1 Adobe Flash Player plugin version 11
rc flashplugin-installer 11.2.202.235ubuntu0.12.04.1 Adobe Flash Player plugin installer
capt-zero@capt-zero-3302:~$ cat /etc/apt/sources.list
# deb cdrom:[Kubuntu 12.04 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release i386 (20120423)]/ precise main restricted

# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any
## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise universe
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise universe
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates universe
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates universe

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
## security team.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise multiverse
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise multiverse
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates multiverse
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates multiverse

## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security main restricted
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security universe
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security universe
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security multiverse
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's
## 'partner' repository.
## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by Canonical and the
## respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu users.
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner
deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner

## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by third-party
## developers who want to ship their latest software.
deb http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise main
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ precise partner
deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ precise partner
deb-src http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise main
capt-zero@capt-zero-3302:~$

Hope this gives you an idea.

Thanx,
capt-zero

[SteveRiley]

Looks almost fine, except I see that the config files from flashplugin-installer remain lurking about. So let's restore to a pristine condition and reinstall.

First:

sudo apt-get purge flashplugin-installer adobe-flashplugin adobe-flash-properties-gtk adobe-flash-properties-kde
sudo apt-get --purge autoremove
sudo update-alternatives --remove-all mozilla-flashplugin
rm -rfv ~/.macromedia
rm -rfv ~/.adobe

Next, close all your browsers.

Then:

sudo apt-get install adobe-flashplugin adobe-flash-properties-kde

Finally, restart Firefox. Now, in Add-ons | Plugins, do you see "Shockwave Flash"?

[capt-zero]

SteveRiley,

Yes, "Shockwave Flash" along with "Silver Light" and "Skype Buttons for Kopete" are all installed.

capt-zero

[capt-zero]

Just wanted to post this "after" report. I've attempted everything suggested so far without any luck. I'm having problems understanding this, as far as I can tell, the basic settings after this last install are the same. Prior to this I have never had trouble getting PBS flash videos. Every other flash works fine, Youtube, Metacafe, DailyMotion, ect., all play just fine without a hitch., but for some reason when I try to watch PBS I get the black square screen with the little loading circle, then nothing. Any other ideas out there?

Thanx,
capt-zero

[SteveRiley]

Well, Capt, this is rather a mystery. I can think of only one other suggestion for you: try the Flash-Aid add-on. I've read a number of reports where this tool manages to get Flash working on otherwise recalcitrant situations like yours.