Damn thee Quicktime!
 

I don't know what I clicked (or didn't click), but flash (.SWF) files and some other things (like video in Google Video), are broken on my internet browser. What I currently see is the blue Quicktime "Q" with a question-mark, like it thinks the file(s) is Quicktime-related but it doesn't know what to do with it/them.

The problem seems to be that Windows is associating Flash with Quicktime instead of Shockwave or Macromedia. I checked the MIME settings and its not clicked.

Removing Quicktime yields an error message saying I'm missing the Quicktime plug-in.

I also tried uninstalling my browser, Quicktime, Macromedia Player and Shockwave, then resetting the computer, reinstalling and resetting again. Nothing works so far. Any ideas?

Download a flash, then right-click it and select "Open with..." and choose your stand-alone Flash player. Make sure that "Always use this program to open this type of file" is selected.

Ya know the same idea came to be as I went to bed. If it works, I'll let you know.

Double Post:
Didn't work. The problem lays within my internet browsers (Mozilla-Foxfire & Internet Explorer both will not play flash)

Try downloading and installing this and this and see if it works. The first one will install flash player for your browsers and the 2nd will install QuickTime (it let's you play QT on WMP and MPC, it also works perfectly well on your browsers).

If that doesn't work try this:
1. Open My Computer
2. Select Tools -> Folder Options
3. Select the file type tab
4. Find the file type with the SWF extension (if you can't find it, select all the QuickTime files and see if any of the desciptions for them includes the SWF extension)
5. Click delete and push yes
6. Reinstall Flash (if you also uninstalled QuickTime, install that first)
7. Hopefully it works.

Still not working... I tried a system restore and that didnt help either.

Damn, you just might have to use Irfanview, it can only view flash videos from version 4 or sooner, but it's better than nothing...
Maybe you did something to muck up the system, it could have warped your abililty to play flash videos properly.

In Firefox, go to "about:plugins" and check what's handling the *.swf stuff.

If it's Quicktime/Quicktime Alternate, confirm flash media isn't checked for the default player settings. Also confirm what Mr. Japanese Sega suggested above with the file types in Windows. Also check what's handling *.swf files in Firefox's Download Actions (Tools->Options...->Downloads->View & Edit Actions). There's probably similar settings for IE, but I have lost most of my familiarity with it.

I'm not sure where 'About Plugins' is, but according to Options>Downloads>Change & Edit Actions... SWF is suppose to be opened by Macromedia Flash Player.

Also, Flash is not clicked/checked on Quicktime's settings.

is a URL you'd type in your address bar. Go into QuickTime's configuration and make sure it's not grabbing SWF, if you've not done so already.

It is being associated with Quicktime.
HOWEVER... According to the MIME settings/Configuration on Quicktime Alternative... It is not checked.

Now... How do I UN-associate it?

My bad. I forgot about this thread. As for unassociating, I thought what I mentioned in my post earlier would work.

You may have done this, but uninstall Quicktime/Quicktime Alternate (I supposed also make sure no registry entries exist for it too). Re-install Flash Player and verify it works in browsers (so this is without Quicktime on the system). If not, check the "" again. Let us know what's up then.

Where the hell is that "Disable Smilies in Post" checkbox?

Well NOW it works... Here's the thing, the last time I uninstalled quicktime in any form, I got an 'error' sound and that little pop-up telling me the plug-in was missing. Hopfully its a permanent fix and I wont relive this frustration when I shut off my computer tonight.