Install Flash Plugin Manually in Firefox on Vista

Manually Installing the Flash Plugin in Firefox on Windows Vista

Encountering difficulties installing the Flash plugin in Firefox on Windows Vista is a common frustration. Despite clicking the "Install Missing Plugins" button and following the prompts, the plugin may remain absent. Fortunately, a manual installation process offers a reliable solution.

This method isn't limited to Flash; it can be applied to install any desired plugin within Firefox. Let's explore the steps for a successful manual installation.

Downloading the Plugin File

The initial step involves downloading the plugin file directly. Right-click on the following link and select "Save Link As..." to download the file to your computer.

http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/xpi/current/flashplayer-win.xpi

Preparing the Downloaded File

Once the download is complete, rename the file extension from .xpi to .zip. This simple change allows you to access the contents of the file.

Double-clicking the renamed .zip file will open it, revealing its internal structure.

Copying the Necessary Files

Within the extracted files, locate and copy the following two files:

• flashplayer.xpt
• NPSWF32.dll

The destination for these files depends on whether you want a system-wide installation or a user-specific installation.

Installation for All Users

For a system-wide installation, navigate to the Firefox plugins directory using Windows Explorer:

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugins

If you are using a 64-bit version of Vista, the path may include "(x86)". For Portable Firefox users, locate your Firefox installation folder and navigate to the plugins directory within it.

Paste the copied files into this directory. User Account Control (UAC) may prompt for confirmation. After pasting, restart Firefox to complete the installation.

Installation for a Single User Account

If you lack administrator privileges or prefer a user-specific installation, browse to the following path:

%APPDATA%\Mozilla

Within this directory, create a new folder named "Plugins" if one doesn't already exist.

Paste the two copied files into the newly created "Plugins" directory. Restart Firefox to finalize the installation.

Verifying the Installation

To confirm the successful installation, type "about:plugins" into the Firefox address bar and press Enter.

Alternatively, simply revisit the webpage that initially prompted you to install Flash. If the content now loads correctly, the installation was successful.