problem solved
After months on this new drive (replaced after drive failure), I got my first notice that Java was not installed. It's hard to believe that in all the banging around on the internet, it has not come up until I tried to run one particular app within a browser.
So, and you can see this coming, after installing Java, the movies in question now run.
It never occurred to me that Java might be involved, my emphasis was on Flash and Shockwave players, but so be it.
So, in the interest of clarity, there's your answer. At least for me.
Thanks for your input,
Robert