reinstalling plugins after reinstalling Firefox?

I just re-installed Firefox, and am getting a message toward the top of my screen that I need to install a plugin to fully view a particular page. I clicked on the puzzle piece icon associated with the message, and it tells me me I need Macromedia FlashPlayer7. I'd downloaded this plugin when I'd originally installed Firefox, and when I run a Search on my computer right now, a Flashplayer folder shows up under C:\Windows\Application Data\Macromedia (the date associated with the folder indicates that it was the actual plug-in, in other words, not something I'd downloaded previously with IE or anything). I still have the plug-in's exe file that I downloaded in July.
Since my current installation of Firefox obviously isn't detecting the plug-in from before, should I delete the folder in the Application Data folder and just run the exe for the plug-in anew? Or do I actually have to click on the "download the plugin" link all over again?
Interestingly, the plugin manager at http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/pi_manager.jsp shows that my Java plugin from the same date IS recognized as being installed.
Why one and not the other?
Thanks,
Rebecca

 

Absolutely do not just delete the folder. Uninstalling all programs through Add/Remove is always the way to go. You will need to reinstall the Flash Player. You can download here for the latest version, which is 7,0,19,0: Flash Player.

When you are installing the Flash Player, you will have to direct it to the correct folder for your Firefox install. There will be a screen which will list several browsers, but Firefox isn't listed. Click on the "Other" button, then navigate to the Firefox Plugins folder.

When Firefox is installed, there are registry entries which allows the program to recognize Java automatically, the same when Java is installed. As to why one and not the other, it depends on whether you have other browsers installed which are using Flash, and Java, different systems, etc.

Ramona

 

I've downloaded the latest version of Flashplayer, but have yet to install it because the version I installed as a plugin last time does not show up on my list of programs to add/remove (under Control Panel), so I can't get rid of the old version that way. If I can't get rid of the old folder by deleting it, would renaming it something else resolve any conflicts that might arise from having two folders of the same name (assuming the new installation would create another folder called Flashplayer7).
Thanks,
Rebecca

 

rebecca,

Try the Online Flash Uninstaller.

Ramona

 

Yep, that took care of it for me - thanks a million!
Rebecca