I know this is an old problem but here is a new twist. I had IE8 and could use the x86 version for videos (facebook,BBC etc) using Adobe Flash player so I put both x64 and x86 shortcuts on my desktop. MS encourages me to upgrade to IE9,so I do and now no videos!.Not even using x86 version. So I switch back to IE8 but again can no longer view videos in the x86 version of that. So I'm stuck. I've tried the beta version of the x86 Adobe Flash with no luck. Would I be better off getting Windows 7,do you think? Would that help? 
My wife has Vista Basic 32-bit. She has no problems with videos.

My wife has Vista Basic 32-bit. She has no problems with videos.