Windows 8.1 update scans slow down for Flash updates?

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I can’t replicate the experience, but here’s an observation from JA: This doesn’t seem logical to me, and I’ve seen nothing about it on your website,
[See the full post at: Windows 8.1 update scans slow down for Flash updates?]

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I can confirm this. It took me 25 minutes to check for updates this past Tuesday with the Flash update… the time before was just 1-3 minutes without a Flash update.

Flash is a real thorn in the side of Windows 8.1, but at the same time you might as well not use the internet without it. It’s a real double-edged sword that we battle.

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I suggest never doing any Flash updates from Microsoft, just the same as never doing any driver updates from Microsoft.

The best solution I have found to using Flash is to choose one browser (I recommend Chrome), and leave Flash activated on it. Chrome automatically updates to the latest Flash. Then delete Flash on all other browsers. Make sure to uninstall all Flash related browser add-ons from all browsers.

After that you need to uninstall the operating system Flash. For the latter you need to use the official Adobe Flash Uninstaller, or else you will fail. Make sure to search for and delete the directories listed on the Adobe Uninstall page. To verify Flash has been removed from your operating system, go to Control Panel, System & Security, and type Flash in the upper right search box. If you then try to install Flash on any other browser, it likely also re-installs the operating system Flash as well.

Then use Firefox (remember, no Flash on it), or any other browser without Flash, for your main internet access. Only use Chrome if you absolutely need Flash for something.

For one thing, the Flash in Chrome often interacts negatively with the operating system Flash, even if they have the same build number.

If you start to have any Flash problems with Chrome, then delete the Flash cache and try again.

Even though some other browsers are Chrome-based, don’t use Flash on them. The lone exception is the Torch browser, and that is because it uses a very old version of Flash. While this is obviously unsafe in general terms, in specific terms sometimes this is the only way you can get Flash to work in where the latest Flash fails.

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Why should anybody install a third browser just to use Flash Susan?

I have Flash on Firefox and it’s set to ask me each time to be activated. Works like a charm if/when I need it and Firefox updates Flash automatically too.

And as far as the “operating system Flash” as you call it goes… as long as the Flash add-on is DISABLED in Internet Explorer Flash is pretty much harmless.

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weird. I’m not experiencing the long WU scan problem on my dad’s Toshiba laptop with Win8.1. Perhaps I have both KB3161606/KB3163023 and KB3168965 updates installed and have a somewhat outdated flash player activex installed on there and the WU scans are about 5 to 7 minutes long.

anyways I manually download & install the Win8.1 based flash player updates either thru MS Download Center or MS Update Catalog rather than relying in Windows Update/Microsoft Update to obtain Flash player updates.

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Hi Ed, I apologize for trying to be helpful by detailing what has worked well for me with Flash. I promise not to bother you any more.

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Don’t take it personally. There’s lots of room for multiple approaches to solving a fundamental problem.

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I am still running Vista on my Computer and will continue to do so until it is no longer supported. As you suggested, I am using Firefox. I do not know if disabling Flash (as you suggested) was the reason for the increased speed of Windows Defender, but it is faster. Go figure?

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Except in Windows 10, where the Flash Player updates are automatic and tied with OS updating, I find that Adobe Flash (not Google’s Pepper Flash for Chrome Browser) downloads are slow. Here’s why I think this is so:

Adobe keeps strict controls on downloads of its own Flash Player plugins. The Microsoft Updates actually have to act as downloaders, relying on the (slower) Adobe download process to actually obtain the Adobe Flash plugin updates.

In IE 11 (Win 8.1 and Win 10 only) and Edge, there may be Microsoft Updates hosted on Microsoft’s own servers, but for every other installation, i believe Adobe’s servers are the only source. Third-party sites host stand-alone installers, but these are not whaat are used by Microsoft Updates for any but the “embedded” Flash Plugins I listed here.

Flash Player updating itself seems to take a long time, and I wonder if this is due to some sort of uploading of user data (telemetry) to Adobe, in addition to the usual Microsoft telemetry. If data is being uploaded during the update process, this could make the scan appear to take longer.

In any event, I am not surprised that a third-party plugin makes updating slower than usual.

In my Ubuntu Linux, Adobe Flash Player is downloaded from Adobe’s servers, and this is slower than the usual Ubuntu Updates process. Installation also is slowed, as this is when the actual download takes place.

Pepper Flash from Google does not suffer from these slowdowns in Ubuntu or my Windows installations. But I do often have to download the whole Chrome Browser to get a timely Flash Player update for that browser, regardless of OS.

And regarding advice on managing Flash Player in browsers (Susan’s comment) I am glad to receive this additional information. I find the comment helpful.

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It’s not about the nail!

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You must try this http://abopc.blogspot.com/2016/05/windows-update-memory-leaksolved.html
Me also have simlar problem, i came to know about the solution from twitter it worked well.

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It’s unfortunate you feel my comment was a personal attack Susan, it certainly wasn’t posted in that manner and by all means you’re not “bothering” me. I posed the question why another browser would need to be installed exclusively for using Flash if Firefox is already installed.

In your post you pointed out that Chrome updates Flash automatically and then advised to use Firefox with no Flash. That led me to believe you aren’t aware that Firefox updates Flash automatically too and that it also provides the user with several options for its use.

Like Woody said… there’s nothing wrong with different approaches for reaching the same goal, my question was pointed towards installing multiple browsers to perform specific functions that are all readily available within Firefox.

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… and that, I believe, is the final statement on the matter. Cheer up folks. We’re all in this leaky boat together.

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