Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2017 July 1

= July 1 =

Adobe Flash in Chrome
Has Chrome recently changed how it deals with Flash? I'm suddenly getting "Plugin Blocked" notifications when I try to play certain games (Crossword, Trivial Pursuit) at pogo.com. I've got the latest versions of Flash and Chrome installed, on Win 10. The Flash plugin is enabled. Rojomoke (talk) 05:15, 1 July 2017 (UTC)


 * I have similar problems at Miniclip.com (and at least one other site) using both Firefox and Edge, which have only manifested within the last six months (I think). I find Windows 10 to be so much more difficult to control and configure than previous Windows versions (which I've been using personally and professionally for some 20 years) that I've given up on the problem, but I'll be immensely grateful if anyone can supply a viable solution here. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 2.122.58.120 (talk) 19:59, 1 July 2017 (UTC)
 * As I mentioned below, Windows 10 doesn't change how you control or configure Firefox, so I'm not sure what your problem is there. Mozilla does plan to move Flash to click to activate with domain blocking soon with Firefox 55 [//developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Plugins/Roadmap] [//www.ghacks.net/2017/05/17/firefox-55-flash-runs-only-on-http-or-https/] but it hasn't happened yet so I'm not sure why you're having problems there assuming you aren't running a developmental build. Mozilla as with other browser developers has steadily disabled uses of Flash which are considered unimportant or used for tracking [//blog.mozilla.org/futurereleases/2016/07/20/reducing-adobe-flash-usage-in-firefox/] [//github.com/mozilla-services/shavar-plugin-blocklist] so there's a slight possibility this behaviour arises from that but I doubt it. Maybe more likely is either you disabled Flash for the site (I think this is possible but I'm not sure and am lazy to search as it doesn't seem that important) or it's trying to move to HTML5 only but failed.  Firefox has disabled support for most NPAPI plugins since version 52 in March, I'm pretty sure this includes Shockwave. (Difficult to search since some people mean Flash when they refer to Shockwave.) So stuff relying on Shockwave isn't going to work although I don't believe Shockwave was ever supported on the x86-64 version of Firefox and this doesn't relate to Flash per se. (For x86-32 I think it may be possible to allow Shockwave at the moment, but without knowing if this is the problem I don't see much point worrying about it.)  Nil Einne (talk) 04:38, 2 July 2017 (UTC)
 * It occurred to me when writing the answer below that one final possibility is the site is getting ready for a click to run world and is just assuming there's no Flash and so instead always putting the download Flash thing. But I tried miniclip.com on Firefox and it doesn't seem to be the case there for me. Nil Einne (talk) 05:17, 2 July 2017 (UTC)


 * As for Edge they too have disabled support for unimportant Flash elements [//blogs.windows.com/msedgedev/2016/04/07/putting-users-in-control-of-flash/] but again I don't think this is likely the cause of the problems. They have turned Flash into click to run [//blogs.windows.com/msedgedev/2016/12/14/edge-flash-click-run/], for most users this came I believe with the version of Edge shipping with the Creator's Update which is fairly recent. As per that link, I believe Edge does not tend to show the prompt by default in general or always. Instead there is a puzzle piece near to the favourites icon you have to click on to show the prompt. Sometimes they may instead show a dialog which points out you can use the puzzle piece to enable Flash but I'm lazy to search if this is always shown or what. (I suspect it's probably only a one time thing per site at most.) Unlike with Chrome, I'm not sure there is an easy way to accidentally permanently block a site, I think the puzzle piece will generally always be there unless the site doesn't try to use Flash. According to [//forums.adobe.com/docs/DOC-8541], there's no way to disable click-to-run for Edge other than by a Group Policy which would require Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise. Note that also explains how to get the puzzle piece if it doesn't appear, click on the download flash and it should appear along with the prompt. This I believe is because of the way the site handles the situation when Flash support isn't detected on the browser. It seems to be the way everyone has decided to handle it, Chrome and I think Firefox will work similar and Chrome specifically suggests it as the way people should get the prompt to show up if it doesn't currently due to the SEI.  (I don't think Shockwave was ever supported on Edge so that probably isn't the problem here although again this is a bit difficult to search.)  Nil Einne (talk) 05:12, 2 July 2017 (UTC)


 * Under Win 7 it asks me if I want to run a plug-in or not. Is there no option to handle it that way in Win 10 ? StuRat (talk) 02:21, 2 July 2017 (UTC)


 * See [//www.forbes.com/sites/kevinmurnane/2017/02/20/heres-why-chrome-browsers-may-be-behaving-oddly-with-flash/#179b4eec143f] for some explanation of why Flash may be blocked without a prompt. I'm not sure what recent is here, as those links say, the change fully happened with Chrome 56 which was released in February so if you had auto updates enabled it would probably have been the case since March or so at the latest. (Unlike Firefox it doesn't seem Chrome has a LTS or reduced rollout update schedule for those who want it.) However as those links also say, the way Chrome decides whether to show the prompt changes depending on how people use the site and changes; although Chrome is also increasing the chance it shows the prompt.  Of course it's also possible you or someone else using the computer blocked Flash on the site inadvertently or intentionally. Because of the way everyone is dropping Flash support like a leadbrick even on the desktop, it's also possible sites may try to provide a HTML5 only experience but fail at it. Note as the last links says, Chrome as with most other browsers has disabled support for Flash portions of a website considered unimportant, e.g. those used for tracking but these tend to be even less new and don't seem likely to be the cause of your problems.  As to how to change the browser behaviour see . I don't think the screenshots are up to date, but visiting chrome://settings/content/flash is still the way to manage Flash on Chrome. You don't really have to remember the URL to visit. If you go to the 'Settings' option under the 'burger'/settings icon menu and type in 'Flash' under 'Search Settings' you should see a 'Content settings' showing it has a Flash menu, which is the base of the above URL. Changing these settings won't necessarily help with sites which try to be HTML5 only but fail at it, unfortunately fixing those is likely to be more complicated if even possible.  Note there are other changes planned, see [//www.chromium.org/flash-roadmap#TOC-HTML5-By-Default-Target:-Chrome-55---Dec-2016-] for more details. So you may have to change things again in the future.  Actually searching settings applies to a lot of application settings management options including Windows since Vista (or was it 7?) although the switch with 8 then 8.1 and 10 to having some settings in the classic Control Panel and some in the new style management options combined with some IMO less effective search terms has made the search sometimes less effective from my experience.  In any case note that it doesn't matter whether you are using Windows 10 or 7, managing Chrome is the same. (The same for Firefox; and for that matter Chrome management is similar on all desktops.)  Nil Einne (talk) 04:47, 2 July 2017 (UTC)
 * Forgot to note that as mentioned in one of the links, (or maybe it was a link I didn't include, I can't remember now), Chrome recommends, putting a download Flash link on the site as a way to get the prompt to show up when people click on it. As I mentioned above, this also seems to be a recommended thing in Edge and probably with other browser. And in any case, I'm pretty sure lots of sites have been doing it for a long time when Flash wasn't detected (maybe some abandoned it when Flash became common). So if you see a link to download Flash on a website clicking on it will probably get the prompt for running Flash to show up. Unless you blocked the site, in that case, it will probably show a plugin blocked on the address bar and if you click on it it will take you to the settings option to remove the block. Note that I believe what I said above about Shockwave applies to Chrome too but Chrome dropped NPAPI even longer ago. Nil Einne (talk) 05:22, 2 July 2017 (UTC)

a few questions regarding using Twitter
I'm reloading the following questions, after raising them yesterday in the 'reference desk', wrongly.
 * It seems that there's no way to contact Twitter for any sort of direct appeal or questions, eventhough, sometimes, it's very necessary, and even expected. Is it so ? There must be a way, afterall !
 * E.g., I want to change my username from a current, say, @aaaaaaaa to another, chosen by myself - how can this be done ?
 * Suppose I wish to make a personal contact with someone there - how can this be done ? Unlike Facebook, and, of course, Wikipedia, there's no way to make a personal contact directly (email address or otherwise), or am I wrong ?
 * Is it possible to be followed by a 'hidden' follower ? I ask that because, since tomorrow, the counter gives a count which is higher than the actual number of followers (which can visually be seen).
 * How can I set a button of 'tweet to aaaaa', just under 'photos & videos' (and other possible tools) ? בנצי (talk) 08:33, 1 July 2017 (UTC)
 * Have you tried Twitter Support, or looked at The Best Way to Contact Twitter Through Email Support or even just Google? CambridgeBayWeather, Uqaqtuq (talk), Sunasuttuq 15:20, 1 July 2017 (UTC)
 * Yes, I did - I tried what's included in your 1st link. Thank you. They don't include direct, free contact, and when having an issue that isn't included in their prepared categories, one gets stuck in the air. I wasn't aware of your 2nd link - it's helpful, indeed. Are you sure about the 3rd link ? It doesn't seem to related. בנצי (talk) 15:24, 1 July 2017 (UTC)
 * If they do lack a way to rename your account, you could just create a new name, and notify your old followers of the change. As for hidden followers, I suspect that this is Twitter itself, who, along with other Internet giants, has recently committed to watching for terrorists, etc.  (Probably by doing a keyword search on your posts and then referring those which seem suspect to human readers to determine if your posts are problematic.) StuRat (talk) 16:00, 1 July 2017 (UTC)
 * WTF are we talking about hypotheticals when a 5 second internet search should find [//support.twitter.com/articles/14609]. I second CambridgeBayWeather suggestion that בנצי really needs to learn to search. This is a very, very basic query which as I've said a 5 second internet search should find the answer to. If you can't, you have little hope of ever doing anything useful on the internet. Nil Einne (talk) 16:35, 1 July 2017 (UTC)
 * And Twitter following you to watch out for terrorists? WTF? They clearly have a variety of automated monitoring systems in place, much more sophisticated than a simple keyword search, and yes these are backed up by humans moderators where needed. But these do not rely on 'following' you in the form of a Twitter follower. Nil Einne (talk) 16:46, 1 July 2017 (UTC)
 * Likewise another 5 second search will find [//support.twitter.com/articles/14606]. Note that I was aware this function was called Direct Message but I intentionally tried both the normal terms for the functionality 'personal message twitter' and 'private message twitter' and both searches work both on Google on Bing. There's really no reason you shouldn't be able to find this out yourself. Nil Einne (talk) 16:39, 1 July 2017 (UTC)
 * I don't think you know me enough just on the basis of a question regarding a search, let alone my search capabilities. Your attitude is unproportional, overexaggerated & overjudging, instead of just contribute professionally, rather than personally, and, thus, it is unpleasant & insulting. Thank you. בנצי (talk) 17:13, 1 July 2017 (UTC)
 * I do know that two (probably three, I haven't explored CBW's search or more) were answered via 5 second search. I provided two links which directly answer two of your questions instead of pointless comments which do not like Sturat's response. So far someone has provided again one of the links I'ce provided. Of course people often refrain from providing answers which have already been provided so it's possible someone else would have answered if I had not, but my experience is that a lot of these easily searchable questions go unanswered because people can't be bothered providing answers which are findable with a 5 second search. Especially on the computing desk for these tech support type questions. In other words, one of your questions may have gone unanswered if I had not answered. Note that I did not provide a search and force you to find the answer yourself as some people do. (Which is also a fine response, just something I've given up on.) I provided a link in my first sentence with the answer direct from Twitter then pointed out how trivial it was to find. So I'm fine with my attitude, the most likely reason you find it insulting is if you know you have completely failed at searching. If you don't want direct answers to your questions which my response was then, don't ask. If you don't want people to point out your questions are answerable with a 5 second search when they provide direct answers, don't ask questions which are answerable with a 5 second search. If you want to learn how to search, you should ask about that instead of asking questions which are answerable with a 5 second search. Nil Einne (talk) 03:29, 2 July 2017 (UTC)
 * If you want to change your Twitter handle, see this page. — Melab±1 &#9742; 00:44, 2 July 2017 (UTC)
 * Already linked by me above found as I said after a 5 second search. Nil Einne (talk) 03:19, 2 July 2017 (UTC)