The answer you have been given is for a different problem. The publishing
progress bar should go across the screen for the publishing of both swf and exe
files.

Someone in my office recently had this problem as well, but I don't know if an
answer has been found. Are you on a Mac or PC? If there is a swf file in the
publish location with the same name does it disappear?

Sorry I can't offer more, but will be interested in learning anything you find
out.