Bill Bradshaw wrote:
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 "About" page hints at what is going on. The part after
the arrow is my interpretation.

http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/

Windows
Internet Explorer ActiveX 18.0.0.203 --- download based
Internet Explorer (Windows 8.x) ActiveX 18.0.0.203 --- IE Built-in
Firefox, Mozilla NPAPI 18.0.0.203 --- download based
Chrome (embedded), Opera,
Chromium-based browsers PPAPI 18.0.0.203 --- Pepperflash
built-in

Windows 8 is IE10 and IE11.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Flash_Player

Internet Explorer 10/11 (Windows 8.x): 18.0.0.203 (8 July 2015; 1 day ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Explorer_10

"Adobe Flash integration

On Windows 8, Internet Explorer 10 includes a built-in Adobe Flash Player."

I presume the same applies to IE11.

This means your Flash Update might be waiting for you in Windows
Update.

*******

And here it is. This should update IE10/IE11 flash on Win8.
If for some reason you don't use WU, try the separate
installer file available on the page.

"Adobe Flash Player in Internet Explorer: July 8, 2015"

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3065823

Paul