I really need help with this one

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Rikkitic

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#1395225 27-Sep-2015 13:32

Boy they sure do know how to enrage people. I'm surprised some crazed gunman hasn't targeted Silicon valley.

I have just spent the morning trying to download the Chrome version that matches the one on my working Windows 7 computer. I can't change the Flash version to an older one because Flash is 'smart' and automatically embeds itself with the latest update. The only way to get the earlier version is to install the older Chrome.

So I can't install the Chrome version I need because every site I try (dozens) links back to Google, which forces the wrong version on me. Google, you see, is also 'smart'. In its infinite wisdom it has decided not to let people download older Chrome versions. The only reason my Win 7 machine still works is because I have disabled updates on it. I'm sure there is a valuable lesson here somewhere.

At the moment all I feel is an overwhelming desire to do violence to 'smart' things. They are not smart, people. They are as dumb as the idiots who programmed them.

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mdf

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#1395229 27-Sep-2015 14:05

Check the downloads folder on the working PC. With any luck, you might still have the install files for the working version of Chrome. Though there is a (probably better than even) chance that you downloaded the installer stub and it will still try and download the latest version.

Firefox is more forgiving and has a long list of previous versions. It also has a long list of "don't download an old version" warnings, but I suspect you're beyond listening to those.

https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/

mdf

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#1395231 27-Sep-2015 14:08

You could also try a forced uninstall of flash and reinstalling from here, but I've never done that so not sure how well (or badly) it would work.

https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/archived-flash-player-versions.html

Rikkitic

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#1395246 27-Sep-2015 15:01

OK. I have an update and maybe a little bit of progress. As you suggest, I found an older version of my browser (Slimjet, based on Chrome but much better) and installed it on an old testbench computer that the browser and Flash had never been on and that is not set for updates. The stream works perfectly! Since it also wouldn't work on the other computer in this room with Edge, I have to conclude that this problem, like all others, lies entirely with bloody Flash!!! When will sites quit using this worthless piece of garbage?

As an added test I just connected my laptop to the same LAN switch everything else in this room is on, thus eliminating the wi-fi in the other room. The laptop didn't work before and it still doesn't work now. Again, this points the figure squarely at Flash, which did indeed update the other day exactly when the stream quit working for me. Something in it seems to affect this stream only, and no other. Who would have thought?

So, now the question becomes how can I roll back Flash, or the browser+Flash, without losing all my many shortcuts and settings? I have made a lot of URL application shortcuts on the desktop and it would be a pain to have to re-create them all. I will also have to stop Flash from updating. I can stop the browser but I'm not sure about Flash. So still welcoming tips and advice. At least this #$%^@#$ thing is finally starting to make sense!

(Note to Dairyxox: This one also qualifies as fairly weird but I did absolutely nothing to bring it on myself, except foolishly allow automatic updates (as recommended). This kind of thing just seems to happen to me a lot.)

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mdf

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#1395250 27-Sep-2015 15:18

Sounds like a real pain.

Other suggestions that may or may not work:

- Try setting up some kind of remote connection from your HTPC/streaming PC to the PC that actually works. I tend to use RDP because it's hardwired in and I don't use it all that often, but there are some limitations.

- Try one of the dedicated apps, either via screen mirroring from a tablet/phone, or else running the android app inside windows (http://www.extremetech.com/computing/83812-run-android-apps-on-your-windows-pc-2).

- Set up a new windows user account on the HTPC, install the browser version that worked, then lock it down so no updates without admin permission.

- Install another browser that you don't use elsewhere just for that site (Opera, Chromium or one of Chromium's forked derivatives).

- Hope and/or pray to your deity of choice that ABC gets its act together.

Rikkitic

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#1395259 27-Sep-2015 15:30

OK, thanks for the suggestions and the interest. It really helps with this sort of thing to have someone else to think with. Much appreciated.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

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Rikkitic

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#1395631 28-Sep-2015 11:14

Update: Flash is another of the areas I never did much with before so I don't know much about it. I have now learned some more and the problem in this case seems to have to do with Pepperflash, which is specific to Chrome. I have found that disabling Pepperflash in the plugins settings forces the browser to use the older Flash version and this seems to solve the problem I am having so maybe that can be regarded as the solution. Pepperflash issues seem to have been around for a long time. Sheesh.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

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