It's best to remove the software via Synaptic. You can search for Gnash/Flash then mark for complete removal then click Apply. You can then re-install Flash via Synaptic. I also highly recommend that you install Medibuntu if you can to watch videos.
http://packages.medibuntu.org/lucid/index.html
BTW, I have found smplayer to work very well with playing videos...give it a try.
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