Windows 7: 32-bit IE8 crashes in Flash10d.ocx

When closing this web page, 32-bit IE8 ver 8.0.7600.16385 crashes consistently in Flash10d.ocx. Flash version: 10.0.42.34. Web page: Game of the Year Category - GameSpot's Best Games of 2009

Neither Chrome 3.0.195.38 nor FireFox 3.5.6, nor 64-bit IE8 crash. Of course 64-bit IE8 can't run 32-bit flash, but Chrome and FF do.

Solution: in IE8 Tools | Internet Options | Advanced, click Reset button labeled "Reset Internet Explorer Settings". After that IE8 doesn't crash on the above web page.

Event log details:



Faulting application name: iexplore.exe, version: 8.0.7600.16385, time stamp: 0x4a5bc69e
Faulting module name: Flash10d.ocx, version: 10.0.42.34, time stamp: 0x4ae7baed
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x0012c8a7
Faulting process id: 0xb60
Faulting application start time: 0x01ca864aaebc0dab
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SysWow64\Macromed\Flash\Flash10d.ocx
Report Id: 2a739930-f23e-11de-8d26-001fbc0862f3

Other info: despite the Event Log showing the crash in Flash10d.ocx, ver 10.0.42.34, that version wasn't listed in IE8 Tools | Internet Options | Programs | Manage add-ons, at least before doing the IE8 reset. The version was older, I think 10.0.32.18 but am not sure.

After doing the IE8 reset, no Flash extension is shown in IE8 Manage add-ons.

When I first noticed the problem, I removed Flash ActiveX and plug-in via Control Panel add/remove programs, then downloaded and installed the latest 10.0.42.34 versions. The problem was still persistent at that point. Despite the version update, the IE8 Manage add-ons dialog still showed the old Flash version.

After the IE8 reset, the Manage add-ons dialog shows no Flash version, but Flash pages work OK in IE8, and it no longer crashes on the previously-listed page.

To summarize, if you have a persistent IE8 crash, verify in Event Viewer | Custom Views | Administrative Events what module is crashing. If in Flash, remove via Control Panel add/remove programs, then download and install new Flash version from their web site. If that doesn't work, do the IE8 reset (Tools | Internet Options | Advanced | Reset).