Win 10 Pc Probs

I have a win 10 PC which has started to run very slowly in the last week or so, despite having made no changes or additions, I have posted to the Malware forum with logs who don't think its malware related, the main issues being:

- start button stops working
- cntrl/alt/del not working
- some simple tasks like closing a window take 30 secs and/or result in freeze and hard restart to clear
- other issues such as Flash player on BBC fails to work

Win 10 Prof, Intel i5, 16gb ram, 2tb ram. 2yrs old

Any suggestions welcomed.

Regards.

 

1. Make sure you have the LATEST adobe flash: 22.0.0.209 from
https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

2. Next run sfc/ scannow
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929833
make sure you ALSO scroll down to here
"More information
How to view details of the System File Checker process"
to create a text document of the results to your desktop.
DON'T waste time with the cbs.log

There are other steps but only after you have done these two above first.

 

Attempting to update flash results in message saying that "flash is now incorporated into M/S Edge"?

The sfcdetails.txt is attached.

 

There are THREE different plug ins for Adobe Flash - 1. Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge have it loaded in Win 10 via Windows Update, so make sure they are up to date there. 2. Google Chrome incorporates it in its periodic update, so if you use GOOGLE Chrome check it is up to date. 3. Other versions of Chrome require an adobe flash plugin that you must install via the website link I gave but when using a non-google version of Chrome. 4. Firefox and Opera requires you to use that same link when using either of those browsers.

In the SFC text there are only two items that it seems not to be able to repair but I'm not sure whether they are important, or related to your freezing issues.

If you still have freezing issues, it's probably best to now look at Start Ups in Task Manager, and I would suggest also using Autoruns to examine that in detail:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/microsoft_autoruns.html

 

If you're running Avast!, you could be running into the issue this fix relates to.

 

Many thanks, guess have to wait until Microsoft updates Flash via Edge, although could be issues with BBC iplayer also as others have had same problem.

Using Avira not Avast, so not related.

 

1. You can tell whether Flash for IE/Edge has been updated by going to Settings > Updates & Security > Advanced Options > VIEW YOUR UPDATE HISTORY just look at the date for it - the last update was the week of Tuesday 12 July 2016. If no such applied update called 'Security Update for Adobe Flash Player for Windows 10" appears there, then you must run a CHECK FOR UPDATES.

2. You need to check whether your problems with Flash on the BBC iPlayer is exclusively with Edge - which means you MUST try with a different type of browser (NOT Internet Explorer) - eg Chrome, Firefox, Opera etc
If you don't you are not doing standard troubleshooting.

 

Flash with the iPlayer is wrapped in Adobe's Air, different to the website Flash.

 

Adobe Air is irrelevant. When BBC iPlayer is used, either it asks for Adobe Flash to be activated (if set in plug ins to 'always ask to activate') or it just works if set to 'always activate'.
I don't have adobe air installed on any of 4 systems, and it does not need to be installed separately, and iPlayer works just fine. But it does need Adobe Flash Player latest version to be installed.

 

Check what's inside the iPlayer folder...

 

It might be easier if you check and then post the description here. But the point remains, I've no idea what post #8 was meant to be telling people and what relevance and help it was. Adobe Air is a developer tool. It is NOT needed to play flash content. It risks just confusing readers here.

"Adobe AIR is a software program developed by Adobe, which is designed to permit the usage of JavaScript, ActionScript, HTML, Flex, and Adobe Flash to make simple Web Application development. This feature offers the developers the chance to break free from the limitations of Web browsers and only about their projects creativity."

 

The BBC uses flash for media playback on it's site, unless you opt-in to the HTML5 trial.

BBC iPlayer, the stand alone player for downloaded BBC media content, uses Adobe Air, which is a wrapper for Flash, to playback that content.

So, it's important to differentiate between what's needed for the BBC site generally and the BBC iPlayer standalone.

The BBC iPlayer Help/Support site doesn't currently make it clear but this snippet from Process Explorer should help:

 

You still are not saying why it is relevant to this thread. It isn't. Adobe Air is a separate software programme (that does incorporate Flash) but is NOT needed.
The BBC only advise installation of Adobe Flash Player:
http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/tv/stream_howto

BBC iPlayer help guide:
http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/tv/troubleshooting_pc_mac

The reference to Adobe Air in BBC iPlayer downloads folders is a red herring to any problem here.

Now as these references to Adobe Air are essentially sending this thread down a never ending garden path, I'm leaving it now.

 

Do try to keep up Max, the relevance is in #6

Other complaints that mention iPlayer could be referencing either part of the BBC site (Flash), or the iPlayer standalone (Air).

BBC iPlayer standalone comes with Air, which is a wrapper for Flash.

I managed to track down an iPlayer Press release, in case Process Explorer's view of it isn't enough for you:
BBC unveils BBC iPlayer Desktop on Adobe AIR

 

Watching iPlayer online, and watching downloaded iPlayer programs via the installed stand alone player are two different processes.
NEITHER requires a user to install Adobe Air, either for online watching or via iPlayer download. The BBC iPlayer stand alone program has all that is needed for the latter.

That 8 year old link is irrelevant.
The BBC uses Adobe Air for its web program but does not require a user to install it on their system.
So for goodness sake I still see your reference to it here as unhelpful, irrelevant and a dis-service to anyone reading this thread, since it isn't the cause of flash problems.

I suggest you keep up as post #6 makes no reference to the stand alone iPlayer downloading program, no reference to Adobe Air. If the OP ever comes back and says whether they have actually done the simple troubleshooting steps listed and required, me and you are wasting our breath.

 

Don't assume it's the same problem, iPlayer might mean either the iPlayer section of the BBC website, or the standalone BBC iPlayer for downloaded content playback.

The standalone installer for iPlayer contains Adobe AIR and doesn't require Flash. See my screenshot from Process Explorer above.

 

You're talking technical rubbish now. And once again you are 'assuming' the OP is downloading programs rather than watching them online. In any case, in order to actually DOWNLOAD an iPlayer advertised program the user's web browser MUST have Adobe Flash active or they can't access the program page to click on the 'download' button.
Satrow - do you actually use iPlayer much?

 

I use iPlayer, and have done for years, both online, ie. the BBC website, and via the standalone iPlayer, which, if you've ever installed it and are familiar with using Process Explorer, you'll be able to see that the BBC iPlayer standalone does indeed use Adobe AIR, as shown in my screenshot above.

Flash is only needed (if you haven't opted-in to the HTML5 Beta) for media playback on the BBC site.

EDIT: Oh, and I'm not assuming anything, just clarifying that when someone else comments about problems with iPlayer (see #6 above and my previous reply), it's important to find out which iPlayer they're referring to.

 

So did the BBC ever suggest or insist you install Adobe Air onto your system? No they didn't. Because all that is needed is the iPlayer installed program. Nothing else. But neither online viewing nor being able to download on a standard PC/Laptop is possible without the latest Adobe Flash Player.
Do I have to repeat it? YOU CANNOT DOWNLOAD a BBC iPlayer PROGRAM VIA THE WEB WITHOUT ADOBE FLASH PLAYER:
See this image - the bottom right 'download' button will NOT appear if Flash is not activated!!!


I started using iPlayer when it was beta. I use it every single day of every single week.
So you are not clarifying anything at all but muddying waters.

 

Nope the BBC never suggested installing Adobe AIR, it's downloaded and installed as part of their iPlayer standalone.

Oh, the image above is of me playing back and triggering a download from iPlayer - without Flash - see the right-click overlay, iPlayer standalone is the highlighted icon in the Taskbar, highlighted because I've just sent it a download from the site.

 

It is NOT installed at all unless a user opts for the stand alone download player.
You CANNOT access the BBC iPlayer sets of available programs from the stand-alone player itself without clicking a link to go to the BBC website and you CANNOT choose to download any program unless Adobe Flash is activated in that browser because the download button will NOT appear - FACT.
You can playback a pre-downloaded program from the stand alone player but you CANNOT choose a new download without Flash.
Adobe Air - in the files for the stand alone player - INCLUDES FLASH so you couldn't play back a download if it didn't have flash as part of it.

 

So, despite my statements to the contrary, and today's screenshots that back those up, you're continuing in the same vein. Might I suggest you have a cuppa and biscuit before working back through the topic, please?

It might also help if you actually look at what's installed alongside iPlayer, if you still use it. Try playing something back on it whilst checking what .dlls load with it and where those .dlls are stored, using Process Explorer.

 

Your screenshots back up nothing at all. You need to show me a screenshot of a stand alone player download option for a NEW iPlayer program that does NOT involve this link - 'go BBC website' at bottom right that doesn't land you back on a FLASH activated page, or basically stop going on about it:


Adobe Air is totally irrelevant to this thread *unless* the OP (we don't actually know) is using the stand alone iPlayer program and it is corrupt. But since the OP said the problem was a flash one in EDGE Browser, it clearly has nothing to do with Adobe Air.
If you think you need to persist in saying black is white, you might need a stronger drink than Tea.

 

NB: BBC use of HTML5 beta will *only* activate if Flash is not installed on the system at all, and the browser being used is HTML5 compatible.
But every time you navigate to it a reminder that Flash is needed will still be at the top of the screen in most browsers.

 

I don't need to show you anything, especially when you don't appear to be taking any notice of what I've already written, linked to and attached here today. You appear to be stuck in a rut.

Re-read #6:

As you can see above (emboldened), it was about the OP's reference to 'others'. Without knowing or stating whether they were referring to the iPlayer site, or to the standalone iPlayer, you cannot be sure 'their problems' are from the same software as yours (the OP's)



It's not so hard to download and start Process Explorer, where, as my screenshot clearly shows, AIR is loaded from within the iPlayer folder). Have you looked in your iPlayer folder yet?

I'm not going to reverse-engineer the BBC/AIR iPlayer software (it's probably illegal and I cba anyway) just to show you a screenshot with a link removed.

Clicking that built-in link merely takes anyone to the default browser, opening at the iPlayer site, if Flash is active in that browser you see a screenshot like yours, if HTML5 is active, you don't (obviously). Either way, you get to watch/download from the iPlayer site, see my latest screenshot for the non-Flash version playing.

However, if you have neither Flash nor HTML5 active there, you'll presumably get a prompt to visit the Adobe site to download it.

 

Red: incorrect.

Blue: so it's either shown or not, you're not sure... nice.

 

You could easily have shown a screenshot of a program download button appearing on the BBC iPlayer site on a system that does not have flash installed. But you didn't.
But since the issue posed in this thread suggested Flash errors in Microsoft Edge, all the above about Adobe Air is not relevant.

 

HTML5 Beta activates automatically on BBC iPlayer on a system without Flash installed and where the browser in use is compatible with HTML5.

But the original problem indicates that Adobe Air is utterly irrelevant and when you introduced it, you gave no explanation about what you meant or how it would help the OP, so it was annoying rubbish.

 

Okay, the OP introduced the possibility of iPlayer standalone in #6. That player includes AIR, as you'll discover, should you feel the urge.

Part of any troubleshooting process is to rule in or out the 'same here' claims of others through investigation, or you need to ignore them from the start. Those claims mentioning iPlayer, meaning 2 different things, might require following up. I indicated the differences (which you seem to claim don't exist).

Actually, the real answer to both of your versions is: HTML5 Beta activates automatically on BBC iPlayer on a browser without Flash installed, or is disabled (not just click to play) and where the browser in use is compatible with HTML5.

Note that, as I believe you mentioned earlier, there are several versions of Flash: IE/Edge, Chrome and Mozilla/Opera.

So, you can have Flash installed and active or click to play in one browser, or two, and still open your default browser from the iPlayer standalone to the BBC iPlayer HTML5 site and download/play.

 

Many thanks for your contributions above, I have opted to use the BBC iplayer HTML5, which works perfectly well for all the BBC content.

 

No worries, Steve, I'm pleased you've found a workaround for your original issue and hoping that MS/Adobe/your security software, whatever, will get the original bug fixed with an update soon

 

It's fine that the OP will use HTML 5 for iPlayer but - as long as they are using Edge or IE or Google Chrome where Flash is correctly installed by default - most of the rest of the BBC website - which includes any video uploads - will still require Flash since most of the non-iPlayer content is not HTML5 based. You can check that yourself - with no flash installed things like latest news videos wont play.
There is no indication in post #6 at all regarding the stand alone downloader for iPlayer. That's just wishful interpretation.
As for what the stand alone player consists off I already knew its constituent parts but the fact remains Adobe Air, in the context of your post #8 is still meaningless and had no relevance to the issue or a way of resolving a problem.
Part of any troubleshooting is the steps I outlined - check the correct installation of Flash and if necessary sfc /scannow - at the beginning, and not a meaningless reference to Adobe Air which is neither relevant when watching online, or even with the stand alone player as it is a part of it by default.

 

Neither is there any reference to the iPlayer website, thus the need to either ignore the comments of those others, or to find out. All I did was to point out the differences between iPlayer (website) and iPlayer (standalone) to enable Steve to check those comments for further clues as to their relevance to his problem.

 

Since the OP identified the problem as Flash errors on the BBC website - and using Edge for it - it never remotely suggested a stand alone installed program issue. The stand alone player doesn't use any web browser to replay content. The clues were at the beginning in terms of Flash. Sorting that out would work.
In post #8 you pointed out nothing of the sort but an irrelevant reference to Adobe Air.
There were additional errors that brought the OP here to begin with, unconnected to Flash or Adobe Air or HTML5 and you provided no options for troubleshooting that either. If those other issues are now resolved, it is quite likely the sfc/ scannow helped. If they still remain then other steps might help.