WinXP Home, MSN 6.1

Clean install of XP today. Have been to the macromedia site and
installed Flash and Shockwave. I've no firewall problems.
Yet when I try to play a game with a friend, I get the "Flash Player
Required" screen, but no prompts to download it - does it know I have it
and is just adding to my problems ? :)

Any pointers as to the problem please ?

P.