Monthly Archives: January 2013

Windows 7, Windows Server, Windows Vista, Windows XP

Adobe Flash Player Error 2753

While trying to push out the 2 different Adobe Flash Player .msi install files via Group Policy, I noticed a few computers were not being updated by one or both of the installers.  I looked in the Event Viewer of these computers and found my error on the Applications tab.  The error was 2753: The file “InstallAX.exe” is not marked for installation.  I found the file name varied based on the system and which file or files were not installing.

The files names could be any of these:
InstallAX.exe
InstallAX64.exe
InstallPlugin.exe
InstallPlugin64.exe

You may also receive this error if you try to manually install the .msi file.  After a little research I found that this error is caused by some incorrect registry values for Adobe Flash Player.

Resolution

Uninstall the current version of Adobe Flash Player.  It is best to uninstall both the plugin and the activex version if they are both installed, but I found if you are only having problems with the plugin or activex you only need to uninstall that version of it if you are careful when modifying the registry in the next step.

Open up the registry editor (regedit.exe), and navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInstallerProducts.  The sub-keys in this registry key contains the installer registry settings the the software installed on the computer.

Before editing the registry, it is always best to make a backup in case you accidentally delete or change you didn’t mean to.

Every piece of software installed will be represented with a unique GUID.  Use the find function (CTRL+F) in this registry key only and search for “Adobe Flash”.  Delete the corresponding GUID key.  If you only unistalled the plugin or activex version pay attention that you only delete the keys associated with that version.  There could be more than one GUID entry that needs to be deleted so make sure to continue searching the entire HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInstallerProductskey for “Adobe Flash” until you have deleted all the keys.

After you have deleted all the keys, close the registry editor.  Your Flash Player .msi file should now install correctly.