>mainly via Terminal but also through a Firefox dup-detection add-on

have you tried from adobe's site? they have an ubuntu version on there.

Several times from adobe, apparently.

I've told him to try a complete removal in synaptic with a re-installation from software centre - see if that works. I'm not convinced it will, though. :(

Is it possible that it is an "authorisations"/ "security" problem in the config of his flash ?

Thanks. Any idea what/where the file is?

It's a long search for the file but I'm looking for it now on one of my own machines. I'll post back if I find anything.

I'm still working on this, but very sporadically (it's not my computer and I don't get to see it often).

Latest attempt is to install gnash but that (so far) hasn't worked either.

Bear in mind this is a problem in FF and in Opera so it's likely an OS problem (I've gone over everything I can find in that). Next phase will probably be an upgrade to 11.04 or 12.04.

A possible pointer to its problem is that the Plug-In check (for out-of-date plug-ins) returns a page showing ONLY an error.

In passing, following up information on the adobe site, it appears they are dropping linux platforms. The current version of Flash will be maintained for bugs but that's it. Which will hopefully allow gnash to catch up (hadn't heard of it until this debacle).

Adobe is also dropping a variety of mobile platforms from its support.

Shame. It has always been such an exploitable app. :)

Flash-Aid 2.2.3 is another plug in checker. I have no involvement, just a satisfied user.

Flash-Aid
Remove conflicting flash plugins from Ubuntu/Debian Linux systems, install the appropriate version according to system architecture and apply some tweaks to improve performance and fix common issues.

Download from the Firefox Add-Ons page. Lubuntu 12.04 & Firefox 13.0.1 here FWIW.

Yeah, we tried that one some time ago. Removed it because we thought it might be over-riding something vital but it wasn't. Thanks anyway. :)

I'm fairly confident this is actually an OS problem rather than a browser problem since it's both FF and Opera. I've also asked my brother to csee if he can view a Flash file locally (ie outside of a browser) but no response yet.

For manual flash installs/updates ( might be a problem with the version he has ) in firefox on linux you can go here and follow the instructions, with the location of where the unrolled files should go..http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/keep-flash-up-to-date-and-troubleshoot-problems?redirectlocale=en-US&redirectslug=flash-plugin-install-update-and-troubleshoot

local flash viewing would normally be done via an installed player ..and those in linux don't seem to have any problems with flash built using the more recent versions..plus VLC will play any of them

Thanks, but as I mentioned, I do not think this is specifically a FF problem.

I am currently looking at VLC for other reasons (trying to get a foot-pedal to work with it) and noticed its flash-ness yesterday. When I work out what/how I'll try that.

Have you tried logging in as a different user?

Good point. The only other user is root, which I think we've tried but I'll see if that fixes it. Thanks.

My brother stripped the machine and loaded Windows to wipe the disk, then re-installed Lucid.

I asked him to try gnash before installing flash - that failed and now so has flash. I'll go and kick the machine about in a week or so but still very puzzling.

I really need to have the machine on my own desk to fiddle with in my spare time (HA!) but alas, no transport.

A warning re: installing ubuntu (and probably other OS's: He uses a screen/keyboard/mouse switch so he only needs one set of these on his desk. You cannot install (at least) ubuntu using this hardware. Obvious when you think about it: the OS needs very simple interaction with the keyboard during installation.

I have considered this hardware as being a factor in the flash fiasco but a) it used to work and b) it seems very unlikely.