Everytime when I click on a file ending with .swf a Quicktime "Q" emblem appears on my screen with a question (?) mark in the middle of it. I've tried researching this file extension and it directs me to "Flash File" format and "Macromedia." I'm running WinXP Home and IE for my browser. I've downloaded the plug-in from Adobe for macromedia but nothing seems to work. Can anyone suggest anything or has anyone else had this problem.

Sounds like your application is mixing Quicktime with Macrimedia Flash.

There are dozens of reasons why this mix may not work (e.g. the quicktime is older than the Flash, The quicktime is newer than the Macromedia... etc)

There is a fairly long list of fixes listed at http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=tn_14041

Hope this helps...

Thanks harperwill for your input. I checked the site you indicated but unfortunately I didn't get any answers that helps solve my problem with the .swf file extension. It appears others have had the same problem but no solutions.

Check out FileHippo. Also, if you have Crescendo (now defunct) installed at any time it uses a file called BeGoneQT.exe which can sometimes block QuickTime - search for it on your hard drive and if you've got it consider uninstalling it.