[SOLVED] Bug #173890 flashplugin-nonfree md5 mispatch support thread

[daradib]

This fix has bugs when used with Konqueror and Opera (see Apparent Problems with These Fixes).

This problem has been officially fixed. See Official Fix (in blue) for more information

The fix provided here is no longer relevant and no longer works due to Adobe's update.

Please use the flashplugin-nonfree package included in Ubuntu.

This is the support thread for Launchpad Bug# 173890. Posts non-developer related should be put in this thread, rather than in the bug comments to prevent Ubuntu developers from being flooded by unnecessary information.

Bug Symptoms

The flashplugin-nonfree package fails to install with the following error (viewable only in detailed or verbose mode):

md5sum mismatch install_flash_player_9_linux.tar.gz
The Flash plugin is NOT installed.

Note: If you install the Adobe flash player plugin without viewing the detailed terminal text, the package will appear to be installed, but Flash will not work in Firefox (Launchpad Bug# 175255). If one gets repeated messages in Firefox about installing the Adobe Flash Plugin, then this bug is at fault. There is Lauchpad Bug #175255 for the apparent successful installation of a package when the md5sums fail.

This is a very recent bug, caused by Adobe's update of Flash 9.0 update 3 (9.0.115.0) codename "Moviestar" on December 4th.

The change causes Ubuntu to not install the flash plugin, detecting a change in the flash plugin installer file (via MD5 checksums). This bug has been fixed in the next release of Ubuntu (Hardy 8.04) and it should soon come as an update to Ubuntu 7.10.

Official Fix

*** IMPORTANT NOTICE *** The fix for this plugin has been released (let's hope that it will last and adobe won't change the md5sum again) From the menu: System -> Administration -> Software sources -> be sure than you have selected the "main", "universe", "restricted" and multiverse". Then go to the Updates tab -> check "security", "updates" and "proposed" Now "Close" and "Reload". after that, do this in the terminal: sudo apt-get remove --purge flashplugin-nonfree sudo apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree *** IMPORTANT NOTICE no.2 *** For all of you that *STILL* complain, which repositories do you use? Check if your repositories are up to date: https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archivemirrors Otherwise, try switching to "Download from" -> "Main server" (at system -> administration -> software sources) Close and Reload. Then do this in terminal: sudo apt-get clean sudo apt-get autoclean sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get remove -y --purge flashplugin-nonfree sudo apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree If the above don't work, please post your Ubuntu version release and apt-cache policy flashplugin-nonfree info, it will be easier to track down.

Main Fix

The fix for this bug has been uploaded to all proposed Ubuntu repositories. Please see this. This is for all Ubuntu releases from 6.06 through 7.10. This means the fix should be available very soon through the repositories (the binary packages have been built) if the proposed repository is enabled. Of course, this is still susceptible to the same problems as this fix (including no flash plugin support in Konqueror).

Remember to completely remove gnash before installing flashplugin-nonfree.

To enable the proposed repository, go to System -> Administration -> Software Sources. Under the Updates tab, check pre-released updates. When you close the window, it will then say package information is out of date, so click Reload. You may need to uninstall the package obtained through the immediate fix to download the package through the repositories.

Currently unnecessary: Ubuntu 7.10 releases have been built by me and I have attached a mirror of the other releases when they were hosted by the Ubuntu repository (not anymore).

32-bit packages: The Ubuntu 7.10 package is available here. Just download the package for your release, double-click the file, and install the package. For other releases, download and extract this archive and double-click the corresponding file to your release.

64-bit packages: The Ubuntu 7.10 package is available here. Just download the package for your release, double-click the file, and install the package. For other releases, download and extract this archive and double-click the corresponding file to your release. However, I do not believe you will be able to use 64-bit flashplugin-nonfree packages without modifications on Ubuntu releases before 7.10.

Ubuntu 6.06 32-bit: flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu0.6.06_i386.deb
Ubuntu 6.06 64-bit: flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu0.6.06_amd64.deb
Ubuntu 6.10 32-bit: flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu0.6.10_i386.deb
Ubuntu 6.10 64-bit: flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu0.6.10_amd64.deb
Ubuntu 7.04 32-bit: flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu0.7.04_i386.deb
Ubuntu 7.04 64-bit: flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu0.7.04_amd64.deb
Ubuntu 7.10 32-bit: flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu0.7.10_i386.deb
Ubuntu 7.10 64-bit: flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu0.7.10_amd64.deb
Ubuntu 8.04 32-bit (development-Hardy): flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu2_i386.deb
Ubuntu 8.04 64-bit (development-Hardy): flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu2_amd64.deb

Apparent Problems with These Fixes

These problems are relevant to all of the supplied fixes. That is because all of these fixes are almost identical to each other, all employing Flash 9 Update 3. The fixes are only different packages or sometime just different locations from the same package.

The new version of Flash is incompatible with Konqueror because it requires XEmbed (Launchpad Bug# 174343). 9.0.48.0 is the last version of flash to support Konqueror in its current state.

The new version of Flash is only compatible with 9.50 Beta 2 of Opera (and later).

Some sites, including disney.com and nick.com do not load properly. It would be great if someone tests these sites with an older flash plugin and with Windows Flash Update 3. This only appears to affect 64-bit SMP/SMT machines (i.e. multicore, multiprocessor, including presumably Intel HyperThreading). See Fixes for Further Problems for a solution.

On Launchpad Bug Comments, by selivanow

Adobe updated the flash plugin. Due to their license, we must download and install their file. This breaks the Gutsy package. We have TWO choices: 1) Don't update the package and have a broken package that no-one can use (aside from the more technically minded) 2) Update the package and have a package that everyone can use, except for konqueror users. It seems that because we have no control over Adobe, the ball is in konqueror's court and they need to patch. (If their users plan on using flash) A third solution, if possible, would be to see if Adobe keeps older versions of flash available for download and update the package to pull that.

Indeed, Adobe does keep older version of Flash available for download. However, it is not feasible for end users. The only way is through this archive of flash 9 releases (over 65 MB in size), including installers for all supported platforms).

How to Avoid This Problem Again

If no action is taken, incidents like these will occur every time a new flashplugin is released. Therefore, and as a result of Saïvann Carignan's bug comment on Launchpad Bug 175255, I recommend everyone to contact Adobe as specified in the below quote so that incidents like these will not happen again (i.e. permanent location of flash plugin releases, keep older versions of flash as separate downloads, and/or permission to redistribute the flashplugin binary within Ubuntu).

I contacted Adobe and they suggest that linux users ask for this [avoid updating the flash plugin without renameing the file (to reflect the version)] at www.adobe.com/go/wish To every ubuntu users that does not want flashplugin-nonfree to get into problems at each update of flash from adobe, I suggest to ask Adobe to provide permanent links for all recent linux version of flash.

Fixes for Further Problems

This release of flash is generally less stable in comparison with the older release (9,0.48.0). However, there is a specific issue which exists and fortunately can be fixed that only apparently affects 64-bit SMP/SMT machines (i.e. multicore, multiprocessor, including presumably Intel HyperThreading).

The flashplugin can crash on certain websites, causing a white or grey area to be displayed where the flash content should exist. The web browser must be restarted to use the flashplugin again.

The bug that causes the crash is Launchpad Bug# 177856 and it only affects 64-bit systems, which rely on nspluginwrapper to run the 32-bit flash plugin.

The nspluginwrapper author has provided a patch: http://launchpadlibrarian.net/110556....gthreads.diff

And Rashad Tatum built a fixed package: http://launchpadlibrarian.net/112249...ntu2_amd64.deb

Thanks Riccardo Pellegrini and nspluginwrapper author.

Why the packages have been removed from the proposed repository

Updated packages have been now added to the proposed repository, so this information is presently irrelevant, and exists for historical reasons.

Bug Comment:

ok , I'm reopening this task as the fix in -proposed was not good for all and has been removed from the archive ( e.g. FF and Konq and Opera ) I have another fix in the works that will be uploaded to -proposed shortly ( before Wednesday hopefully but dont hold me to this ) Please dont add any more "works for me" or "dosent work for me" comments to this bug for now, untill I upload a new version to proposed. see this Ubuntu-Devel post for more details on the exact situation and possible solutions ( Development wise, not end user solutions ) https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ub...er/024877.html

Archived Instructions

Immediate Fix (New) These instructions are now outdated, as Launchpad has built 32-bit and 64-bit packages. Please use the main fix (above). These instructions use the currently existing source packages in the official Ubuntu proposed repository and compile them to create installable binary packages. Please check the official fix first and use the binary package if it is available. Otherwise, use these instructions. You may use a binary package I built, or build it yourself following the method I used (the packages you create will be identical to mine). It is therefore optional and unnecessary to build your package as I have provided binary packages, but instructions are in this post here if you wish to do so. Using Synaptic Package Manager, completely remove (right-click the package, "Mark for Complete Removal") the package flashplugin-nonfree. Alternatively, you can run this command in the Terminal (Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal): sudo apt-get remove --purge flashplugin-nonfree For 32-bit Ubuntu: Please see Official Fix above. For 64-bit Ubuntu 7.10: Just download [REMOVED] this package (attachment to this post), double-click the file, and install the package. You can always wait for the update through an official repository. A 64-bit flashplugin-nonfree package is only available for Ubuntu 7.10 and newer. For 64-bit Ubuntu 8.04: Just download [REMOVED] this package (attachment to this post), double-click the file, and install the package. You can always wait for the update through an official repository. Immediate Fix (Old) These instructions are now outdated, as release-specific packages have been released. Please use the main fix (above). Using Synaptic Package Manager, completely remove (right-click the package, "Mark for Complete Removal") the package flashplugin-nonfree. Alternatively, you can run this command in the Terminal (Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal): sudo apt-get remove --purge flashplugin-nonfree For 32-bit Ubuntu: Just download this package (requires Launchpad account) or the [REMOVED] attachment to this post (they are identical to the current package in the next release of Ubuntu, Hardy 8.04), double-click the file, and install the package. You can always wait for the update through an official repository. For 64-bit Ubuntu 7.10 only: You should be aware that an "official" package has not been built. However, I built this package from the "official" source package uploaded to the Hardy repositories by Brandon Holtsclaw. This package should be identical to the "official" package that will be created, but you can always wait for the update through an official repository. Build Package from Source (optional) These instructions are now outdated, as Launchpad has built 32-bit and 64-bit packages. Please use the main fix (above). New Fix These instructions are for Ubuntu 7.10. Make the necessary minor adjustments for older releases (32-bit only). Do not use these packages on 64-bit Ubuntu releases older then Ubuntu 7.10. The Ubuntu proposed repository and source code must be enabled. To enable the proposed repository, go to System -> Administration -> Software Sources. Under the Updates tab, check pre-released updates. Under the Ubuntu Software tab, check Source code. When you close the window, it will then say package information is out of date, so click Reload. You can build your own package from source using the following terminal instructions (Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal). sudo apt-get install build-essential fakeroot sudo apt-get build-dep flashplugin-nonfree apt-get source flashplugin-nonfree cd flashplugin-nonfree-9.0.115.0ubuntu0.7.10 dpkg-buildpackage -b -rfakeroot The first line and second lines download and install all of the dependencies for the flash plugin (including development dependencies). The third line downloads the source package. The fourth line changes into the directory created by the extracted file. The fifth line builds a binary package. Now if you go to Places -> Home you should see a file named flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu0.7.10_amd64.deb or flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu0.7.10.deb (depending on your architecture). Double-click the file and install the package. It is perfectly normal to get the following warning and messages while compiling: dh_builddeb -pflashplugin-nonfree warning, `debian/flashplugin-nonfree/DEBIAN/control' contains user-defined field `Npp-Applications' warning, `debian/flashplugin-nonfree/DEBIAN/control' contains user-defined field `Npp-Mimetype' warning, `debian/flashplugin-nonfree/DEBIAN/control' contains user-defined field `Npp-Name' warning, `debian/flashplugin-nonfree/DEBIAN/control' contains user-defined field `Original-Maintainer' dpkg-deb: building package `flashplugin-nonfree' in `../flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu0.7.10_amd64.deb'. dpkg-deb: ignoring 4 warnings about the control file(s) dpkg-genchanges -b dpkg-genchanges: warning: unknown information field 'Xb-Npp-Mimetype' in input data in package's section of control info file dpkg-genchanges: warning: unknown information field 'Xb-Npp-Applications' in input data in package's section of control info file dpkg-genchanges: warning: unknown information field 'Xb-Npp-Name' in input data in package's section of control info file dpkg-genchanges: binary-only upload - not including any source code signfile flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu0.7.10_amd64.changes gpg: skipped "Brandon Holtsclaw <imbrandon@kubuntu.org>": secret key not available gpg: [stdin]: clearsign failed: secret key not available dpkg-buildpackage: binary only upload (no source included) (WARNING: Failed to sign .changes file) Just install the binary package you generated (probably in your home directory). You can ignore the warnings. And you don't want a source package (only a binary for installation). You also don't need any GPG keys, as you don't need to verify that Brandon's package is his and sign the package. Everyone will have exactly the same message as you if they do the same instructions (and assuming they haven't added Brandon's GPG keys- which is pointless for building a binary package). Old Fix Alternatively, you can build your own package from source using the following terminal instructions (Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal). sudo apt-get install build-essential fakeroot sudo apt-get build-dep flashplugin-nonfree wget http://launchpadlibrarian.net/10756602/flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu2.tar.gz tar -zxvf flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu2.tar.gz cd flashplugin-nonfree-9.0.115.0ubuntu2 dpkg-buildpackage -b -rfakeroot The first line and second lines download and install all of the dependencies for the flash plugin (including development dependencies). The third line downloads the tar.gz file. The fourth line extracts the downloaded file. The fifth line changes into the directory created by the extracted file. The sixth line builds a binary package. Now if you go to Places -> Home you should see a file named flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu2_amd64.deb or flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu2_i386.deb (depending on your architecture). Double-click the file and install the package. It is perfectly normal to get the following warning and messages while compiling: dh_builddeb -pflashplugin-nonfree warning, `debian/flashplugin-nonfree/DEBIAN/control' contains user-defined field `Npp-Applications' warning, `debian/flashplugin-nonfree/DEBIAN/control' contains user-defined field `Npp-Mimetype' warning, `debian/flashplugin-nonfree/DEBIAN/control' contains user-defined field `Npp-Name' warning, `debian/flashplugin-nonfree/DEBIAN/control' contains user-defined field `Original-Maintainer' dpkg-deb: building package `flashplugin-nonfree' in `../flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu2_amd64.deb'. dpkg-deb: ignoring 4 warnings about the control file(s) dpkg-genchanges -b dpkg-genchanges: warning: unknown information field 'Xb-Npp-Mimetype' in input data in package's section of control info file dpkg-genchanges: warning: unknown information field 'Xb-Npp-Applications' in input data in package's section of control info file dpkg-genchanges: warning: unknown information field 'Xb-Npp-Name' in input data in package's section of control info file dpkg-genchanges: binary-only upload - not including any source code signfile flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.115.0ubuntu2_amd64.changes gpg: skipped "Brandon Holtsclaw <imbrandon@kubuntu.org>": secret key not available gpg: [stdin]: clearsign failed: secret key not available dpkg-buildpackage: binary only upload (no source included) (WARNING: Failed to sign .changes file) Just install the binary package you generated (probably in your home directory). You can ignore the warnings. And you don't want a source package (only a binary for installation). You also don't need any GPG keys, as you don't need to verify that Brandon's package is his and sign the package. Everyone will have exactly the same message as you if they do the same instructions (and assuming they haven't added Brandon's GPG keys- which is pointless for building a binary package).

By the way, I am Cyrus Jones on Launchpad.

[JanC]

Thanks for moving this here!

I'm not an Ubuntu developer myself, but I give support (among other things) in the Dutch-speaking community & contacted the developers about this bug after someone on IRC asked questions about this problem.

Please also keep in mind that building your own packages is not the best solutions for most users (because it's way too complicated for them). That's why I reminded that people could wait for official packages. It's always good to explain this for less-experienced users (this is Ubuntu after all, not Gentoo or Slackware).

[daradib]

Originally Posted by JanC Please also keep in mind that building your own packages is not the best solutions for most users (because it's way too complicated for them). That's why I reminded that people could wait for official packages. It's always good to explain this for less-experienced users (this is Ubuntu after all, not Gentoo or Slackware).

Agreed.

[buntunub]

This does not work for me. Neither your prebuilt package nor your build instructions. Here are the errors resulting for the buildpackage:

dpkg-buildpackage -b -rfakeroot
dpkg-buildpackage: source package is flashplugin-nonfree
dpkg-buildpackage: source version is 9.0.115.0ubuntu2
dpkg-buildpackage: source changed by Brandon Holtsclaw <imbrandon@kubuntu.org>
dpkg-buildpackage: host architecture amd64
dpkg-buildpackage: source version without epoch 9.0.115.0ubuntu2
fakeroot debian/rules clean
/usr/bin/dpkg-buildpackage: 224: fakeroot: not found

Any ideas?

[buntunub]

Ok I installed fakeroot and built the package lol. However, that simply builds the package that you already did, which does not work properly. It only works on youtube, but wont load other flash sites like disney.com or nick.com. Any ideas?

[kitomokito]

This solved my problem. Thanks a lot daradib

[firephoto]

Updating things to pull in the latest flash plugin won't work for kubuntu and konqueror because the newer flash plugin is incompatible so i'm not sure how the 'soon to be released" update will work...

Is there a reason why the original package wasn't updated to download the correct version of flash?

[daradib]

Originally Posted by buntunub Ok I installed fakeroot and built the package lol. However, that simply builds the package that you already did, which does not work properly. It only works on youtube, but wont load other flash sites like disney.com or nick.com. Any ideas?

I don't know. I realized I have the same problem, but I never used those sites before. What is interesting, however, is that the page loads (I see animations) and then is covered by a dark blue screen.

[daradib]

It would be good if someone tests Windows with the new flash player. Do disney.com and nick.com work?

[daradib]

Originally Posted by firephoto Is there a reason why the original package wasn't updated to download the correct version of flash?

Well there does not seem to be any easy way to download old flash plugin from Adobe's website.

The only way is through the following archive of older flash 9 releases (over 65 MB in size)

http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get...p9_archive.zip

And maybe Macromedia does not permit redistribution of the flash player so it might not be legally possible to only host 9.0.48.0 somewhere else. You should check their license (EULA).