Can't open Flash files on Windows XP

[WalstonNet]

I have Flash Player 9 installed. I can view Flash files online in my browsers
(IE and Firefox), but when I try to open a Flash file on my computer to just
play it in Flash Player, it asks me what I want to use to open the file. I have
searched the support documents and looked online everywhere, but can't seem to
find the problem. Basically, I can't find the actual Flash Player program file
on my machine. I know it's there, otherwise I wouldn't be able to view Flash
files in the browser, but I can't view them on my local machine.

I have tried setting the program associated with .swf files in folder options
to the following, but none of them work. When associating .swf files with any
of these, it says an update for Flash is available. I go through the update,
reboot because it says it's required, but when I start back up, it just does
the same thing. I cannot open Flash files (.swf) on my computer, only in the
browser and none of the paths I have tried setting .swf files to open with are
actually the Flash Player application. I need to know where the Flash Player is
on Windows XP. HELP?!?!?!

The paths I've tried are:

C\WINDOWS\stsyem32\Macromed\Flash\Flash9b.ocx
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil9b.exe
C:\i386\Flash.ocx
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugins\NPSWF32_FlashUtil.exe

None of them will open Flash files on my local computer. I have searched my
machine, and those are the only paths I can find that have anything to do with
the Flash Player. Even though it's an Adobe product now instead of a Macromedia
product, I can't find anything for Flash in any Adobe directories, just
Macromedia directories.

Does anyone know how to remedy this? Has anyone else had this same problem?
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!!! It seems like I started
having this association problem as soon as Flash was switched from Macromedia
to Adobe.

Thanks!

[WalstonNet]

I found the solution. After searching the web for what seemed like an eternity,
I found the following on a Google Groups page:

[Q]1 - How can I make my PC play a flash file on my local hard drive?

Unless you buy Macromedia Flash (the authoring environment) you can't play
them just straight off, you have to open them with a browser which has the
Flash Player plugin installed. To do this, either right-click on the .swf and
select open with... (internet explorer) or open IE and then go to file...
open.... etc.[/Q]

Then I realized that I started having the problem about the time I got my new
laptop. I didn't install Flash MX on my new laptop because I don't really use
it anymore, I use Swish, so I didn't install it because I hate installing
programs I don't use. Anyways, I installed Flash MX on my new laptop and walla,
I can open .swf files on my machine again.

I didn't realize I had to have Flash installed (the program, not the player)
in order to be able to open .swf files on my machine as opposed to viewing them
in a browser. Guess I know now!

I thought I'd post what I found in case anyone else had the same problem and
didn't realize it.

Thanks!

[Jeckyl]

> I use Swish

SWiSH Max also comes with a Flash player exe .. so you don't need to install
Flash in that case to get a standalone player.

Look for SWiSHpla.exe
--
Jeckyl

[WalstonNet]

I use Swish too, but I didn't want a standalone, I wanted to view an .swf. It's fixed though, so no biggie. Thanks.

[Jeckyl]

>I use Swish too, but I didn't want a standalone, I wanted to view an .swf.

> It's fixed though, so no biggie.

Thats what swishpla.exe does .. its standalone for viewing SWF files .. its
what Max uses when you test in player.
--
Jeckyl