Cannot open swf files

I have tried installing Adobe Flash Player and Shockwave Player but they seem to have no effect. The swf files won't open and although the installation was successfully completed the hardware is not in the Program files and the search engine can't find it. I can only see it when I run Add Remove Program where I can uninstall it and then I try downloading and installing again but to no effect. Can anyone tell me why this is happening? I am already tired of it so if anyone can suggest some other hardware? (I already tried SWF opener, it's ok but it views some files partially or distorted. Anything else?) Please..