Internet Explorer 9 Adobe Flash YouTube Streaming Video

You attempt to open a web site with streaming video or other content rendered by Adobe Flash Player in Internet Explorer 9 64-bit. Instead of the video playing, You receive the message "You need to upgrade your Adobe Flash Player to watch this video."

1. What is Adobe Flash? According to Wikipedia it is "a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements and games." (source:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Flash)
2. Why do I need it? Many popular websites (e.g. YouTube) use Adobe Flash for streaming videos and other content.
   
3. When you attempt to go to YouTube (www.youtube.com) or another website that has flash content you receive a message similar to:
   
   
   
4. After installing the latest version of Adobe Flash player, you still receive the same message.
   
5. This is common with any 64-bit version of Internet Explorer to include the version that comes with Windows 7. As of the writing of this article, there is not a released version of Adobe Flash Player that supports 64-bit browsers.
   
6. Windows 7 comes with two versions of Windows Internet Explorer, a 64-bit version and a 32-bit version.
   
7. To determine which version of Windows Internet Explorer you are using click the Tools icon in the upper right of Internet Explorer.
   
   
   
   
8. This will display the drop down menu and click "About Internet Explorer" at the bottom of the list.
   
   
   
   
9. The About Internet Explorer window will open. If you are using the 64-bit edition it will say 64-bit edition after the version number.
   
   
             Internet Explorer 9 64-bit edition                     Internet Explorer 9 32-bit edition
   
   
10. You will need to switch to the 32-bit edition of Internet Explorer.
    
11. Click "Start," go to "All Programs" and select the menu item labeled "Internet Explorer" without 64-bit after it.
    
         
12. The content should now display if you already have Adobe Flash Player installed.
    
    

How to Upgrade from Windows 7 32-Bit (x86) to 64-Bit (x64)

Direct upgrade from 32-bit (x86-based) operating system of either Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 to 64-bit (x64-based) Windows 7 OS is not a supported upgrade paths to Windows 7. When the user tries to run 64bit setup.exe Windows 7 installer from within 32bit operating system, the following error message will occur.

If the user attempts to run the setup.exe stored in the root and “sources” folder of DVD disc media or ISO image, the following error will occur:

The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you’re running. Check your computer’s system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program, and then contact the software publisher.

So how to “upgrade” from 32-bit OS to 64-bit Windows 7? Unfortunately, there is no direct way to perform an in-place upgrade from 32-bit operating system such as x86 Windows XP or x86 Windows Vista to x64 Windows 7, with existing application programs and data retained. The only way to install x64-based Windows 7 on existing 32-bit Windows installation (or vice versa to downgrade from 64-bit to 32-bit OS), is to do a clean install, which indicated by “Custom (advanced)” installation during set up Windows 7 installation wizard.

Here’s the brief guide for user who wishes to upgrade to 64-bit platform from a 32-bit Windows:

1. Backup and save existing application settings and data to migrate to new system with Windows Easy Transfer. Note that installed programs won’t be migrated or ported over to new Windows. Alternatively, just manually do a backup and copying of all data files and personal documents, photos, images, videos, bookmarks and etc.
2. Boot and start up computer using the 64-bit (x64) Windows 7 installation DVD disc media or a Windows 7 install USB key flash drive. Setting correct device boot sequence may be required at BIOS. Check out how to access BIOS. User who has Windows 7 ISO should burn the image to a physical disc with a CD/DVD optical burning software such as Nero and Ashampoo Burning Studio, or uses official Windows 7 DVD/USB ISO Download Tool to create bootable Windows 7 USB flash key drive or write to DVD. In Windows 7, it’s also possible to burn the ISO direct from Windows 7 Explorer without third-party software. User with x86 setup1.box and setup2.box ESD Windows 7 installation files or x64 setup1.box and setup2.box ESD Windows 7 installation files should follow steps to create and make a bootable ISO prior to burning.
3. When prompted by Set up Windows installation wizard, select Custom (advanced).
   
   
   
   
   
   The user is free to create, delete, modify, create or format partition volumes and hard disk drives before continuing the setup installation of Windows 7. If user choose to install over a partition or drive with existing Windows, user will be informed that current installation of Windows will be moved to Windows.old directory.
4. Install and activate Windows 7 as usual.

Tip: For end-user with a Windows 7 upgrade license, media and product key, an existing installation of Windows must exist for the upgrade version product key to be able to entered and activated properly. Thus, do not format the hard disk drive prior to loading the Windows 7 setup even if you intend to clean install, or else user has to use hack to complete the clean install the Windows 7 Upgrade. The user can create or delete hard disk drive or partition during the setup via Custom (advanced) » Drive options (advanced) option (note: a 100 MB system reserved partition may be created by Windows 7 Setup), or let Windows 7 install wizard backup the existing configuration to Windows.old folder, and then delete and wipe clean the whole partition volume prior to install Windows 7.

32-bit setup installer can be read and run in 64-bit operating system, but the in-place “downgrade” is equally not supported, with the following error been shown in compatibility report after a run of compatibility check:

The following issues are preventing Windows from upgrading. Cancel the upgrade, complete each task, and then restart the upgrade to continue.

 - You can’t upgrade 64-bit Windows to a 32-bit version of Windows. To upgrade, obtain a 64-bit version of the installation disc, or go online to see how to install Windows 7 and keep your files and setting.

The above workaround to clean install Windows 7 works to downgrade from 64-bit to 32-bit Windows 7 too.

Reference:
Microsoft Support. 32-bit and 64-bit Windows: frequently asked questions. http://bit.ly/aP3wnH

Microsoft Support. Windows 7 installation problems: frequently asked questions. http://bit.ly/fV9w15

Microsoft Support. Installing and reinstalling Windows 7. http://bit.ly/4Ajb6C

32 or 64-bit?

A common question that we get here at Tech Support is: how can I tell if my computer is 32 or 64-bit? To find out what type of system that you have is easy. Go to My Computer on your Desktop. Right-click on the icon and select Properties. Under the System component list, look for the System type. The menu should state whether your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit Operating System. An alternate way to get to this menu is to go to Control Panel -> System. The information that is listed is the same.

Once you know what type of system that you have, it is critically important when selecting the type of software to install. Many manufacturers offer both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of their programs, so before you buy, you need to have this information handy. You cannot run a 64-bit program on a 32-bit computer, because the system lacks the processor speed and memory. But, you may be able to run a 32-bit program on a 64-bit machine depending on the manufacturer's specifications.  For more on 32-bit and 64-bit Windows, go to Microsoft Support: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/compare/32-bit-64-bit-faq.aspx