does it work when you're downloading & using the offline installer for flash? http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/licensing/win/install_flash_player_11_plugin.exe

I tried it from the site you gave which is one I have used before & got this error message which I have also gotten:

A required file (C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash\flashplayer.xpt5) could not be written due to insufficient permission,

then please try to do a clean install of flash like it is described in the adobe forums: http://forums.adobe.com/thread/928315

also, are you sure that your user accounts has sufficient right on the system to install new software?

After replying to you, I decided to go into add-ons and see if it might be there. IT WAS!!! I have spent hours researching, downloading over and over again. This happened with last months update too. I have no idea how it showed back up. I wish I knew of a quick and easy way to make this happen the next time there is an update. Any suggestions?

I'm the only computer administrator in user accounts. I hate to have to uninstall then reinstall because I'm worried it will still tell me I don't have sufficient privledges/permission install.

If you see this error again the try to run the Flash installer after having saved the file to the desktop as Administrator via the right-click context menu: Run as > Administrator

I will definitely give it a try the next time it needs an update. I'm not sure I understand the following: "...after having saved the file to the desktop as Administrator via the right-click context menu: Run as > Administrator" Where do I find how to save the file as Administrator?

You don't save the file as Administrator, in this case on the Desktop for easy access.
You save the file just like you always do as a regular user.
It is about running the file and instead of starting the file with a double-click you click the icon with the right mouse button to open the context menu and click the "Run as" entry and choose Administrator in the next menu to run the program as Administrator.

Thank you so much for the explanation. It always downloads for IE with no hassle. I can't figure out why in the last two Firefox updates it says I don't have permission??? Plus, why does it go away in Firefox after trying to download many, many times? Then, after all this and hours of frustration it still says insufficient permission but actually reappears in Firefox with the update?