How can I open an old Flash file?

Report · Feb 22, 2011

A tech person and I created a show in Flash in 2004 called Black on Black / 13; I'm not sure which version of Flash we used. It was put up in the Gallery of the website of a group I headed called The Lark Ascending, and sometime between then and now it disappeared off that website. I have about half a dozen Flash files of the show, but they will not play in the current Flash player or open in the current version of Flash, both of which I own.

I have the original jpegs and music and intend to recreate this work in another program and post it on Vimeo, but it would be very helpful and time-saving if I could use the original show as a reference as it is a highly complex work, and without the reference, it will take me a VERY long time to re-create it.

Is there any way to get one of those old files to play? I have older versions of Flash and probably the player from previous Creative Suites? Should I reinstall them and try them? Is it a lost cause?

Thanks for whatever, including the awful truth,

Karla

Report · Feb 23, 2011

Usually Flash Player is backwards compatible and should be able to play older Flash content.

What exactly happens when you try to play it?

Report · Feb 23, 2011

Exactly nothing happens in the Flash Player. In Flash itself, some of the files open, but these are only the loader.

Report · Feb 23, 2011

It sounds important to you, so you should try a few things.

You mention the year 2004; that was when Flash Player 7 was around. Try downloading Flash Player 7 from the archive page http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/142/tn_14266.html

Make sure to uninstall the current version first with the uninstaller linked on that page.