Macromedia plugin

Is there anyway to uninstall flash and shockwave plugins from internet explorer and prevent the users to install them again?

In a class, some kids use the PCs to play online games and I've been asked to find a sollusion.
The PCs are running on WinXp-SP1 and some on WinXp-sp2

Any kind of help is much appreciated.

 

Christer,
Thanks for your replys. Following your knowledge and links, now I have the ability of uninstalling macromedia plugins.

Now, I'm facing a second problem. Is there any sollution to prevent the kids installing the plugin once more? As you pointed out, this plugin installs when a page containing a flash file is accessed.



I appreciate your help.

 

MnInShdw--
1) Use IE's Content Advisor. (IE Tools|Internet Options|Content tab).
2) Put Macromedia site into Hosts file.
3) Disable "Run ActiveX Controls and Plugins" in IE Tools|Internet Options|Security tab|Custom Level. (I am almost certain you need to permit ActiveX controls to run before you can download from the Flash website.) I also do not believe Flash automatically downloads when a page needs it. Rather there will be a message directing the viewer to the Macromedia site to download Flash.

 

Christer and Welshjim,

I just don't know how to thank you for sharing your knowledge. I will follow your instructions and will wait to see if the kids can find a sollution against them. (These days the kids have a good knowledge of what to do to gain their needs).


Thanks a million

MnInShdw

 

Christer,

thank you very much for trying to help once more. Following your (and Welshjim's) instructions, I was able to do what I was trying to do. Up to now everything is just fine.

For a newbie like me, there are lots of things to study. I appreciate your link. A bunch of usful information.

MnInShdw

 

I mistakenly told the security centre to allow Macromedia plug-ins; is there any way to get the certificate prompt to activate again so I can agree to installing per site basis XP Pro SP2 - thanks

Edit: I have just found it under IE Content 'trusted publisher certificates' should this be there or do I remove it and the prompt for download will activate again? The only other one in there is a Microsoft one.

 

MiniB--Are you saying that you have Macromedia Flash installed, but now there are times you wish it was not (or at least would not run when a site has Flash content)?
What you want is a Flash Killer.
SpywareBlaster has one. It is an excellent (free) program and should be on your PC anyway, but this extra wrinkle will allow you to toggle Flash on or off as you wish.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
There are others, but this is simple and works well.
Another way is to not permit ActiveX controls to run, since I am almost certain Flash cannot run without ActiveX.

 

Hi Welshjim

I have SpywareBlaster installed on my computer already I was trying to get a site to work last night which used Flash (the site has gone a bit weird previously on me) I then clicked their link to go to Macromedia to check my Flash player and when I arrived it just told me it was installed without any certicate prompt BUT when I thought about this last night (early hours of this morning) I realised it would not prompt me if it was already there (hope that makes sense) Sorry for the confusion

 

miniB--

Actually I think that statement, though logical, is not correct. If your setting for IE Tools|Internet Options|Security tab|Custom Level| "Run ActiveX controls and plugins" is set at Disable, you will often get the message that you need to install Flash. Assuming that you do have Flash installed, set ActiveX to Enable and try that site again.

 

Thank you Welshjim - the site is working perfectly again I was just about to shut down the computer (too tired to do anything more) but came here first. Thanks for your extra help.

 

miniB--Thanks for posting back. Glad to hear the good news.