On 11 Jul 2015, "Bill Bradshaw" wrote in
alt.comp.os.windows-8:

I want to manually update flash from 184 to 203. When I run the
flash install program windows 8.1 pops up a message box informing
me I already have the latest version so it will not let me update
to 203. How do I change windows 8.1 so it quits doing this so I
can load 203? I do know how to go into IE and check the add-ins
versions.

The version of Flash that's in the version of IE that's included in
Windows 8 is updated by Microsoft Update. Updates from Adobe won't
work, as you discovered.