Flash 9

[galahs]

I use Win98 SE on a Pentium Pro 200 with 256MB or RAM.

Since updating from Flash Player 7 to Flash Player 9 I have been having lots of crashes when trying to access different websites (especially intense multimedia based sites)

I commonly get the error flash9b.ocx has caused an error etc etc.

I have had the errors in Firefox, IE 6 SP1 and Opera 9. I reverted back to version 7, the problems go away but I can't access some sites now as they require version 9.

Would this problem be a hardware (driver conflicct, lack of MMX processor for example) or a Windows 98 issue?

Win 98 SE

DirectX 9.0c

WMP 9

Java 1.6

Pentium Pro 200

26MB Ram

Voodoo 4 Graphics

Ensoniq SoundScape Audio

[galahs]

Here's my error log from a Microsoft Windows Vista page:

IEXPLORE executed an invalid instruction in

module FLASH9B.OCX at 016f:300512e8.

Registers:

EAX=02994b60 CS=016f EIP=300512e8 EFLGS=00010246

EBX=00000002 SS=0177 ESP=00649dec EBP=00649e20

ECX=029c6060 DS=0177 ESI=029c6100 FS=22af

EDX=30206708 ES=0177 EDI=00000005 GS=0000

Bytes at CS:EIP:

0f 77 8b 46 38 db 80 88 00 00 00 51 db 40 64 51

Stack dump:

0064a32c 029c6100 029c5780 00000000 00649eec 029c6100 0064a32c 3e800000 fe6fb8d8 00000000

[RJARRRPCGP]

Here's my error log from a Microsoft Windows Vista page:

IEXPLORE executed an invalid instruction in

module FLASH9B.OCX at 016f:300512e8.

Registers:

EAX=02994b60 CS=016f EIP=300512e8 EFLGS=00010246

EBX=00000002 SS=0177 ESP=00649dec EBP=00649e20

ECX=029c6060 DS=0177 ESI=029c6100 FS=22af

EDX=30206708 ES=0177 EDI=00000005 GS=0000

Bytes at CS:EIP:

0f 77 8b 46 38 db 80 88 00 00 00 51 db 40 64 51

Stack dump:

0064a32c 029c6100 029c5780 00000000 00649eec 029c6100 0064a32c 3e800000 fe6fb8d8 00000000

"invalid instruction" looks like corrupted Flash, processor or RAM malfunction. You can test your Pentium processor with Prime95 and the RAM with the Prime95 blend test or Memtest86.

[ldb]

I would try uninstalling the player, you can get an uninstaller here:

http://www.adobe.com/support/flashplayer/

Then go into your downloaded programs file in the windows directory and remove all the active X objects related to shockwave that may still be there. Then go and reinstall the palyer and see if that helps.

[RainyShadow]

Doesn't "invalid instruction" mean an opcode not supported by the CPU ? Like MMX, SSE, 3DNow, etc. ?

I've seen an MMX emulator "driver" some time ago. Although too slow for general use, it should clarify this.

Unfortunately, i don't remember where i found it. Try Google.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Doesn't "invalid instruction" mean an opcode not supported by the CPU ? Like MMX, SSE, 3DNow, etc. ?

I've seen an MMX emulator "driver" some time ago. Although too slow for general use, it should clarify this.

Unfortunately, i don't remember where i found it. Try Google.

Yep. Also can occur if your processor overclock isn't stable, especially if you get that for Prime95.

But, it's possible that your processor revision is bugged.

Early Pentium processors (dunno about the Pentium Pro) reportedly has a floating point bug.

Edited January 31, 2007 by RJARRRPCGP

[galahs]

I had already tried wiping every trace of Flash content from my computer using both that un-install tool and then manually hunting down the remains both in the windows folder and registry and then reinstalling it. Bad news is I still get the error.

I also have the suspicion it might be the Processors lack of MMX as it seems to only run into errors if a large multimedia file attempts to run and only if it was made with Flash 8 or 9.

From memory I think Adobe claim the minimum system req to be a Pentium II which of course does have MMX.

I have no troubles on YouTube however. p***es me off that more and more websites are made using only Flash. Very bad for accessibility. Their web designers should be shot!

Looks like my trusty PPro is finally running out of puff, but boy its done well to last this long!

I also have Win2000 duel booting on it, so I might give it a go on there and see if it makes any difference.

[erpdude8]

I use Win98 SE on a Pentium Pro 200 with 256MB or RAM.

Since updating from Flash Player 7 to Flash Player 9 I have been having lots of crashes when trying to access different websites (especially intense multimedia based sites)

I commonly get the error flash9b.ocx has caused an error etc etc.

I have had the errors in Firefox, IE 6 SP1 and Opera 9. I reverted back to version 7, the problems go away but I can't access some sites now as they require version 9.

Would this problem be a hardware (driver conflicct, lack of MMX processor for example) or a Windows 98 issue?

Win 98 SE

DirectX 9.0c

WMP 9

Java 1.6

Pentium Pro 200

26MB Ram

Voodoo 4 Graphics

Ensoniq SoundScape Audio

Get rid of Flash9b.ocx file from your PC, galahs! Flash 9 requires a PENTIUM 3 (like my 1.2 Ghz Pentium 3 machine) with 128Mb (or even 256Mb) of RAM. Flash 9 was not designed to be used on anything slower than a 500Mhz Pentium III processor.

Use Flash 7 since your computer is really slow and can't properly handle the latest versions of Flash.

And your old and slow Pentium pro 200 computer has 26 megs of RAM!! GEEEZ LOUISE! Put some high capacity RAM chips into your machine and give your old computer a lot more brainpower. Come on and start giving your PC a LOT more memory to handle those memory hungry programs out there. 128Mb or even 256Mb of RAM should do the trick.

Edited January 31, 2007 by erpdude8

[BenoitRen]

He could try Flash 8. As for the 26 MB RAM bit, I think that's a typo, as you can't have that amount of RAM, and a missing 5 fits right in to form 256.

[RJARRRPCGP]

And your old and slow Pentium pro 200 computer has 26 megs of RAM!! GEEEZ LOUISE! Put some high capacity RAM chips into your machine and give your old computer a lot more brainpower. Come on and start giving your PC a LOT more memory to handle those memory hungry programs out there. 128Mb or even 256Mb of RAM should do the trick.

I dunno about that, because there were reports of slowdowns with more than 64 MB of RAM

on some pre-1997 chipsets.

Edited January 31, 2007 by RJARRRPCGP

[galahs]

lol, my system has 256MB's. It was a typo.

Flash 7 works great BUT..... some web pages wont even display with Flash 7 any more

I ran Prime95 for 5 hours with no errors.

I can only find virtualpc software (bohcs) that emulates a pc (to allow mmx, sse sseII to be done in software) but I don't want to reinstall another copy of windows just for that (a requirement of the program). Another mmx emulator exists but only for Linux.

Maybe a Pentium II 333MHz Overdrive chip might be this ol things last hope. I love her too much to put her into retirement just yet.

She's been such a trojan horse of stability. Its use has slipped from high end gaming use, to office work, to internet use over the years. I also have two Pentium 4 machines for real work, but this girl together with Windows 98SE has been a fantastic internet access machine.

And people with their Pentium 166's laughed at me when I bought a Pentium Pro 200 for 4 times the price of theirs. Well, I think 10 years of service without too many compromises has proven the price was well worth it!

Long live the Pro!

Edited February 1, 2007 by galahs

[shaddam]

hello

<snip>

IEXPLORE executed an invalid instruction in

module FLASH9B.OCX at 016f:300512e8.

Registers:

EAX=02994b60 CS=016f EIP=300512e8 EFLGS=00010246

EBX=00000002 SS=0177 ESP=00649dec EBP=00649e20

ECX=029c6060 DS=0177 ESI=029c6100 FS=22af

EDX=30206708 ES=0177 EDI=00000005 GS=0000

Bytes at CS:EIP:

0f 77 8b 46 38 db 80 88 00 00 00 51 db 40 64 51

Stack dump:

0064a32c 029c6100 029c5780 00000000 00649eec 029c6100 0064a32c 3e800000 fe6fb8d8 00000000

<snip>

i'm not totally sure but...

the instruction pointer points to the hex-code "0f 77" which is the mmx instruction 'emms' (clear mmx register -> ready for FPU instructions) ... but mmx is not supported by pentium pros.

so it is a REAL bug which should be reported to the flash developers and fixed by them because their program detected CPU capabilities wrong which is dangerous also for newer hardware.

pentium pro capabilities

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/cpu/fam/g6PPro-c.html

cpu instruction list: (search for "0f 77")

http://nasm.sourceforge.net/doc/html/nasmdocb.html

hope this helps...

lol, my system has 256MB's. It was a typo.

Flash 7 works great BUT..... some web pages wont even display with Flash 7 any more

I ran Prime95 for 5 hours with no errors.

I can only find virtualpc software (bohcs) that emulates a pc (to allow mmx, sse sseII to be done in software) but I don't want to reinstall another copy of windows just for that (a requirement of the program). Another mmx emulator exists but only for Linux.

Maybe a Pentium II 333MHz Overdrive chip might be this ol things last hope. I love her too much to put her into retirement just yet.

She's been such a trojan horse of stability. Its use has slipped from high end gaming use, to office work, to internet use over the years. I also have two Pentium 4 machines for real work, but this girl together with Windows 98SE has been a fantastic internet access machine.

And people with their Pentium 166's laughed at me when I bought a Pentium Pro 200 for 4 times the price of theirs. Well, I think 10 years of service without too many compromises has proven the price was well worth it!

Long live the Pro!

Edited February 8, 2007 by shaddam

[galahs]

Well I'm glad someone has confirmed my suspicion that it was the Processors lack of MMX.

I have reported the "Error Log" to Adobe.

I should have a Pentium II Overdrive for my PPro on its way. That should allow me to confirm if MMX is required in Flash 8 and 9

[galahs]

Well I have now upgraded my Pentium Pro 200 with on Overdrive Chip to a Pentium II 333MHz

So basically I have just added 66% more clock speed and MMX.

So I'm off to do some Flash 9 testing.

Wish me luck

[galahs]

I can now watch the videos off the Vista site.

Conclusion: as the only added feature my upgrade gave me was MMX....... you need an MMX processor if you want compatibility with Flash 8 and Flash 9 content!