Microsoft Silverlight shouldn't be an issue, however the flash plugin can conflict with other plugins as well as Java. Note: Java will cause slowdowns specially with Firefox webpage loading. It also has a number of security holes. Make sure your using the latest version of Java Runtime as well.
Since your using 64bit OS, make sure your web-browsers your using is
not also 64bit version (IE8 in this case will have two version). Flash Player does not run well or at all in most 64-bit browsers. If your wanting to use the 64bit IE, first un-install the original and then re-install square (note: this is a beta version - preview release and might have issues, I don't recommend using it yet).
See here for more details about Flash and 64bit:
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/000/6b3af6c9.htmlI suggest you clear the temporary internet files and flash cache. Then...
Test your shockwave:
http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/welcome/With shockwave loaded, right click the object and select 'Properties'.
Select 'Obey Content Settings' and tick 'Allow backward compatiblity', you can also untick 'provide anonymous usages'.
Test your flash plugin install:
http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/With the flash object loaded, right click it and select 'Settings'.
If supported by your system ensure 'Hardware Acceleration' is enabled.
http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager03.htmland
http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager07.htmlUnder Storage, it will ask how much information the website is allowed to use. This should be just around 100k, increase that to 1MB. Normally this is just used for saving data and doesn't need much, but if it's streaming objects into it or loading too much to your local storage it can lock up or even crash. Ensure 'Never ask again' isn't ticked. Tick 'allow third party flash content' and 'store common flash' components. Click 'Delete all websites' if limited (they will be recreated next time you visit them).
http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager08.htmlUser protected content, click 'reset license files'. These content licenses are automatically downloaded to your computer, for example, when you rent or purchase the protected content. Flash Player saves these licenses on your computer. If corrupted it can cause crashing to occur, resetting them will just re-download a fresh copy again if needed.
http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager09.htmlFor security reasons, tick 'disable P2P uplink for all' if you don't use any peer assisted networking features or have it on 'always ask'. This can be used to upload files from your computer if enabled.