Microsoft has a method to easily disable certain ActiveX controls, using a "kill-bit". It is documented at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/240797
The "kill-bit" for Flash Player is documented in http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/190/tn_19091.html
What does that mean?
Flash Player may not be working on Internet Explorer, and the 'Shockwave Flash Object' add-on may not show up at all. Most likely because the FP ActiveX has been "kill-bited" by some anti-malware app.
How to check and remove the "kill-bit"?
WARNING! Fiddling with the Windows Registry may render Windows or installed components unusable. Always make a registry backup or a System Restore Point before attempting to manually change anything in the registry!
- open the registry editor: Start | Run | type
regedit.exe - navigate to this registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} - if that key does not exist, then the "kill-bit" for Flash Player is not set
- if it contains a DWORD entry with the name
Compatibility Flagsthat has any value other than 0x00000000, then the "kill-bit" for Flash Player may be set - to remove the "kill-bit" do any of the following
- change the value from 0x00000400 to 0x00000000 (right-click | Modify | change value data to 0)
- or delete the registry key (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000}) completely
- close the registry editor when done
