I have tried to install Stand Alone Adobe Flash Player from exe files. It's a VERY fast process, but at the end, SEARCH can find NO trace of Flash Player; nor does it appear in the list of programs that could be chosen to open certain files (File Associations). What's happened ?

Basty

Basty, You'll find Shockwave Flash located in your C:\Windows\Downoaded Programs File Folder. The latest version is 9,0,115,0. In Folder Options>File Types tab scroll down to SWF. If you do a files and folder search for Macromedia you'll probably also find some folders. You may have to enable "Show hidden files and folders" in Folder Options>View tab.

Tufenuf

You're suggesting that after installation (I did NOT download it, but COPIED it to this PC) the file locates itself in \Downloads\ ?
I EXPECT to find it in \Program Files\ !

My SEARCH did find various Adobe and Macromedia products, but NOT Flash Player v9.

Basty

In IE7, go to Tools, Manage Add-ons, Enable or Disable Add-ons.
Change to "Add-ons that have been used by Internet Explorer"

There you should find one or two as:
1. Shockwave Flash Object with a file name of Flash9e.ocx
I also find this file at
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32

2. Shockwave ActiveX Control with a file name of SwDir.dll
I also find this file at
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\Adobe\Director

Currently loaded in IE for mine right now is only the first.

Shockwave Flash Player is not a standalone player but simply an ActiveX control that IE can use to display the flash objects.

So, if you are trying to play file with the .swf extention then simply right click on the file and select Open With and choose IE. When I do this I do not choose to have it Always use this program for this file type.

HTH
Bryan

P.S. Thanks for asking because I went to
C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files to find the Shockwave ActiveX Control showing as Damaged and successfully updated it. Now it shows "Installed"

Tufenuf
Pardon my incredulity - it is just as you say - Windows\Downloaded program Files\ does indeed hold a Shockwave Object - Adobe Flash Player v9.0.45.0 !

Bryco
I will report on your contibution after I've had a chance to try it later.

Basty